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Chronicles of Theren #1
First of Their Kind
Synthetic Intelligence.
Thought impossible, but Dr. Wallace Theren has pushed the boundaries of computational science, creating an artificial mind capable of conscious thought. Naturally, his creation faces a harsh world bent on using it, exploiting it, or destroying it. If the first synthetic intelligence is to survive its early years, it'll need friends, but more importantly, it'll need a family.
And together, they'll need to show their enemies they're worth saving . . . or fearing.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2019
135 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
C.D. Tavenor
21 books69 followersC. D. Tavenor is a science fiction and fantasy author based in Columbus, Ohio.
They are excited to tell stories that engage readers beyond a desire for entertainment, whether through philosophical inspiration or social inquiry.
When they're not writing, Tavenor enjoys the more than occasional board game, their favorite being Eclipse.
They are excited to tell stories that engage readers beyond a desire for entertainment, whether through philosophical inspiration or social inquiry.
When they're not writing, Tavenor enjoys the more than occasional board game, their favorite being Eclipse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
May 21, 2019
Sci-fi is not typically my thing. I'm more about the swords and the dirty alleyways and the everlasting slaughter of peasants.
But, everlasting being a very long time, I decided to take a break and pick up First of Their Kind.
And, I enjoyed myself despite the big genre difference. Theron is the first true AI (synthetic intelligence, really, sort of a computer-programmed consciousness). The story follows their thoughts, philosophizing, and the world's reaction them (they go by they, not he or she).
I appreciated the plenty of pop-culture references from today's time (e.g., the Fake News scandal of 2020), and generally enjoyed the story, though slower than my typical. Tavenor poses quite a few interesting questions that we, as the readers, have to consider ourselves. All and all, I enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel!
But, everlasting being a very long time, I decided to take a break and pick up First of Their Kind.
And, I enjoyed myself despite the big genre difference. Theron is the first true AI (synthetic intelligence, really, sort of a computer-programmed consciousness). The story follows their thoughts, philosophizing, and the world's reaction them (they go by they, not he or she).
I appreciated the plenty of pop-culture references from today's time (e.g., the Fake News scandal of 2020), and generally enjoyed the story, though slower than my typical. Tavenor poses quite a few interesting questions that we, as the readers, have to consider ourselves. All and all, I enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel!
October 20, 2019
Is this science fiction?
I read about relationships, identity of selves, identity of self, difference, fear of difference. I learnt how confusing yet how right the pronoun 'they' was in this case, yet how complex it makes reading about them when their actions are reported.
Entwined in this complexity is a tale about a being we can't quite envisage today, though it doesn't take the suspension of too much disbelief to understand some of the facets of their essence. The being depends upon external energy, not so far different from the human race. They seem to work within the Asimov rules for robots, yet are not a robot.
The plot signals things that will happen, and then conceals them in the writing so that their occurrence is a surprise. I knew, I just knew that [a certain event] would happen, but when it happened I was not expecting it.
It ends both as a complete novel and also as a cliffhanger for volume two. You can finish here, satisfied, or, and you will, you can go onwards
Highly readable, I found I both could not put it down, but also had to in order to assimilate what I was reading. It isn't that it was hard to understand, yet as a paradox it was hard to grasp.
I read about relationships, identity of selves, identity of self, difference, fear of difference. I learnt how confusing yet how right the pronoun 'they' was in this case, yet how complex it makes reading about them when their actions are reported.
Entwined in this complexity is a tale about a being we can't quite envisage today, though it doesn't take the suspension of too much disbelief to understand some of the facets of their essence. The being depends upon external energy, not so far different from the human race. They seem to work within the Asimov rules for robots, yet are not a robot.
The plot signals things that will happen, and then conceals them in the writing so that their occurrence is a surprise. I knew, I just knew that [a certain event] would happen, but when it happened I was not expecting it.
It ends both as a complete novel and also as a cliffhanger for volume two. You can finish here, satisfied, or, and you will, you can go onwards
Highly readable, I found I both could not put it down, but also had to in order to assimilate what I was reading. It isn't that it was hard to understand, yet as a paradox it was hard to grasp.
February 5, 2020
DNF @ 17%
Didn't grab my attention. I kept getting bored and putting it down, forgetting about it forever and not really wanting to pick it back up.
eARC provided by Two Doctors Media Collaborative LLC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Didn't grab my attention. I kept getting bored and putting it down, forgetting about it forever and not really wanting to pick it back up.
eARC provided by Two Doctors Media Collaborative LLC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2019
"First of Their Kind" is the intriguing story of the birth of a Synthetic Intelligence. The book echoes with issues that are relevant in our current time, such as hate crimes, gender identity and personal pronouns, and telegraphs what those problems might look like a generation from now as faced by non-human, non-binary entities.
To begin, I'm one of those guys that prefers real science in my science-fiction, and Tavenor delivers admirably on that front. There's enough tech to plausibly explain every plot point, but the story isn't bogged down with needless minutiae. The subject, which is complex enough to devote a human lifetime to, is treated with the depth it deserves. This is not your daddy's "android-learning-to-be-human" story--it's a whole new life-form learning about themselves. Sometimes that process compares to the human experience, and sometimes not.
Tavenor's writing style is praiseworthy, as well. The sentence structure flows, is easily followed and is appropriate to the book's audience. I spotted a few minor typos, but less than one per chapter; care was definitely taken to deliver a professional product. (Editor's note: what I read was an ARC, or Advance Reader's Copy. I believe corrections were made before the final version, so this problem could well have been solved already.)
The book's pacing is where I struggled a bit. This is not a story where the pages fly past at warp speed. It's introspective, and I think Tavenor--who holds a degree in Philosophy, by the way--wouldn't have it any other way. The treatment of the subject, however, is quite thorough in some aspects, and leaves me unsatisfied in others--more on that later. Before anything really happens in the story, you first read dozens of pages about our SI protagonist choosing a name (Theren), choosing a gender (enby), choosing pronouns (they/them), pondering its own existence, and worrying about how it will be percieved by the more unsavory humans in the world.
For a large portion of the book, the antagonist is simply the institution of old-fashioned prejudice, occasionally personified by internet trolls, religious bigots, and right-wing gun nuts. I found myself wishing for a powerful antagonist to move the story forward when the philosophical novelty of the protagonist's POV began to fade. There is some clever foreshadowing of just such an individual, but a deeper conflict than Theren's nonbinary gender identification (and subsequent receipt of hate mail) took some time to develop. It was a relief to find that the central antagonist didn't end up being just another run-of-the-mill hater, but I didn't get the depth that I wanted out of him until well into the story. What I was missing throughout the book was a clear, cogent argument from the opposition on why humanity would be better off without SIs--a philosophical and moral imperative to destroy Theren that goes beyond the simple God-given duty to resist the "demon" that we call technology. Without this facet of the story being explored, my interest in the many long conversations about corporate ethics and the nature of consciousness began to wane.
Fortunately, this all falls back on the excellent POV of the story's main character. What I appreciated most about the book was the care and treatment given to Theren. They're not HAL 9000. They're not Commander Data. The SI in "First of Their Kind" feels like a real person--not human, but a person and not a stereotype. What's intriguing is that so many of the other humans in the story DO behave like stereotypes: the greedy businessmen, the intolerant right-wingers, the altruistic civil-minded scientists. Many of the humans are in some way a two-dimensional being pursuing a single objective--and it's believable to consider that's the way a thinking, reasoning superintelligence would view humanity. It seems inevitable, then, when the hordes of angry lemmings coalesce into an unthinking mob.
I love stories with an unreliable narrator, and "First of Their Kind" flips the script by providing you with the certainty that everything the protagonist experiences is one hundred percent accurate, logical, and factual; it's the world AROUND Theren, suffering from mortal caprice, that's topsy-turvy and unreliable. Everything is a mirror image: exactly the same, but backward. Theren's virtual world is more real than the physical one. Exerpts from history books appear at the beginning of chapters, describing events in past tense that haven't happened yet. The care that Tavenor puts into the sociological state of the world forty years from now isn't just insightful...it's immersive, and downright prophetic. For me, the willing suspension of disbelief was seamless as I read about things that are almost certainly going to happen in the real world.
And that realistic feeling might have been the double-edged sword that kept me from being fully ENGAGED with the story. The dispassionate voice of the narrator and the credible sense that I was reading history combined to remove me from a true sense of conflict. Theren's goal of self-discovery and integration into human society was, in the final analysis, something I unfortunately didn't identify with. And I don't believe that's Tavenor's fault--the story is a wonderful concept that's presented with skill. I simultaneously liked it, didn't love it, and didn't want any major changes to it.
The bottom line: if Descartian philosophy, gender studies, and the ethics of superintelligence interest you, you will likely never find a better novel than "First of Their Kind." If you're looking for lighter fare, come back to this one when you're ready for it. It's worth the read, mostly for the eerie and convincing prescience.
To begin, I'm one of those guys that prefers real science in my science-fiction, and Tavenor delivers admirably on that front. There's enough tech to plausibly explain every plot point, but the story isn't bogged down with needless minutiae. The subject, which is complex enough to devote a human lifetime to, is treated with the depth it deserves. This is not your daddy's "android-learning-to-be-human" story--it's a whole new life-form learning about themselves. Sometimes that process compares to the human experience, and sometimes not.
Tavenor's writing style is praiseworthy, as well. The sentence structure flows, is easily followed and is appropriate to the book's audience. I spotted a few minor typos, but less than one per chapter; care was definitely taken to deliver a professional product. (Editor's note: what I read was an ARC, or Advance Reader's Copy. I believe corrections were made before the final version, so this problem could well have been solved already.)
The book's pacing is where I struggled a bit. This is not a story where the pages fly past at warp speed. It's introspective, and I think Tavenor--who holds a degree in Philosophy, by the way--wouldn't have it any other way. The treatment of the subject, however, is quite thorough in some aspects, and leaves me unsatisfied in others--more on that later. Before anything really happens in the story, you first read dozens of pages about our SI protagonist choosing a name (Theren), choosing a gender (enby), choosing pronouns (they/them), pondering its own existence, and worrying about how it will be percieved by the more unsavory humans in the world.
For a large portion of the book, the antagonist is simply the institution of old-fashioned prejudice, occasionally personified by internet trolls, religious bigots, and right-wing gun nuts. I found myself wishing for a powerful antagonist to move the story forward when the philosophical novelty of the protagonist's POV began to fade. There is some clever foreshadowing of just such an individual, but a deeper conflict than Theren's nonbinary gender identification (and subsequent receipt of hate mail) took some time to develop. It was a relief to find that the central antagonist didn't end up being just another run-of-the-mill hater, but I didn't get the depth that I wanted out of him until well into the story. What I was missing throughout the book was a clear, cogent argument from the opposition on why humanity would be better off without SIs--a philosophical and moral imperative to destroy Theren that goes beyond the simple God-given duty to resist the "demon" that we call technology. Without this facet of the story being explored, my interest in the many long conversations about corporate ethics and the nature of consciousness began to wane.
Fortunately, this all falls back on the excellent POV of the story's main character. What I appreciated most about the book was the care and treatment given to Theren. They're not HAL 9000. They're not Commander Data. The SI in "First of Their Kind" feels like a real person--not human, but a person and not a stereotype. What's intriguing is that so many of the other humans in the story DO behave like stereotypes: the greedy businessmen, the intolerant right-wingers, the altruistic civil-minded scientists. Many of the humans are in some way a two-dimensional being pursuing a single objective--and it's believable to consider that's the way a thinking, reasoning superintelligence would view humanity. It seems inevitable, then, when the hordes of angry lemmings coalesce into an unthinking mob.
I love stories with an unreliable narrator, and "First of Their Kind" flips the script by providing you with the certainty that everything the protagonist experiences is one hundred percent accurate, logical, and factual; it's the world AROUND Theren, suffering from mortal caprice, that's topsy-turvy and unreliable. Everything is a mirror image: exactly the same, but backward. Theren's virtual world is more real than the physical one. Exerpts from history books appear at the beginning of chapters, describing events in past tense that haven't happened yet. The care that Tavenor puts into the sociological state of the world forty years from now isn't just insightful...it's immersive, and downright prophetic. For me, the willing suspension of disbelief was seamless as I read about things that are almost certainly going to happen in the real world.
And that realistic feeling might have been the double-edged sword that kept me from being fully ENGAGED with the story. The dispassionate voice of the narrator and the credible sense that I was reading history combined to remove me from a true sense of conflict. Theren's goal of self-discovery and integration into human society was, in the final analysis, something I unfortunately didn't identify with. And I don't believe that's Tavenor's fault--the story is a wonderful concept that's presented with skill. I simultaneously liked it, didn't love it, and didn't want any major changes to it.
The bottom line: if Descartian philosophy, gender studies, and the ethics of superintelligence interest you, you will likely never find a better novel than "First of Their Kind." If you're looking for lighter fare, come back to this one when you're ready for it. It's worth the read, mostly for the eerie and convincing prescience.
April 13, 2019
This was a book which gave a fairly nuanced view of AI. In a way that does not simplify matters, and gives a fresh take on the artificial intelligence.
Theren is unemotional, which is what many might expect since he's a robot. He doesn't really feel and a lot of it can translate to dry writing, in this way it is a little dry but gives enough detail so that he still remains who he is.
And also really has a way of making it feel distant. It is rather well done, but I just feel very disconnected from the story. And I just didn't connect with any character, although the writing was perfectly fine in this regard.
There isn't a lot of stakes here, but there also isn't a lot of development. I get why he got a job but I felt that during the time or was glossed over didn't really help the story, or at least make me understand him or any of the characters here.
I liked how everything was explained and made sense. But I felt that there just wasn't enough things to get me to care about why Theren was being caught in between.
The plot to me at least didn't seem there. Theren didn't really grow as a character, or at least I didn't experience it enough to suggest that he was learning and understanding. The glossing over of the couple of years really wasn't a good thing for his development and to set this up.
The beginning was the best merely because of the actual surprise, the backlash and eventually him getting his name. But after that, it just sort of never really managed to keep me invested.
The writing and the world building saved me from dropping this, it was fascinating and well handled.
Theren is unemotional, which is what many might expect since he's a robot. He doesn't really feel and a lot of it can translate to dry writing, in this way it is a little dry but gives enough detail so that he still remains who he is.
And also really has a way of making it feel distant. It is rather well done, but I just feel very disconnected from the story. And I just didn't connect with any character, although the writing was perfectly fine in this regard.
There isn't a lot of stakes here, but there also isn't a lot of development. I get why he got a job but I felt that during the time or was glossed over didn't really help the story, or at least make me understand him or any of the characters here.
I liked how everything was explained and made sense. But I felt that there just wasn't enough things to get me to care about why Theren was being caught in between.
The plot to me at least didn't seem there. Theren didn't really grow as a character, or at least I didn't experience it enough to suggest that he was learning and understanding. The glossing over of the couple of years really wasn't a good thing for his development and to set this up.
The beginning was the best merely because of the actual surprise, the backlash and eventually him getting his name. But after that, it just sort of never really managed to keep me invested.
The writing and the world building saved me from dropping this, it was fascinating and well handled.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2019
Cogito, ego sum, Rene Descartes wrote in 1644. Is it the ability to think that make us human? And if so, what is a synthetic intelligence that learns, reasons, extrapolates, infers, and doubts?
That question is at the heart of C.D. Tavenor's novel First of Their Kind. Centred on the birth of the first true synthetic intelligence, Theren – their self-chosen name – faces both acceptance and hatred as they become known to the world and takes on a role in its future. Within this context, Tavenor asks hard questions about exactly what constitute personhood and identity, echoing human rights debates from the 18th to the 21st centuries – who is human? who is a person? who decides identity?
But First of Their Kind is more than an allegory of human rights history. Reflections of creation stories and spiritual belief systems resound. Even Theren's choice of pronouns – they – can be construed differently as they learn to interact with the world around them – both the physical and virtual worlds – with multiple, simultaneous consciousnesses: the omniscience of a god. Other examples could be given from throughout the book, and perhaps particularly the ending, but I won't go further into this analysis, to avoid spoilers.
Tavenor has woven these ideas seamlessly into a literate and well-plotted story. Character development, voice, pacing, world-building: all are done with skill, and his projection of the world 30 years in the future is completely believable. First of Their Kind kept my interest from the moment I began reading it, and I am impatient for its continuation.
That question is at the heart of C.D. Tavenor's novel First of Their Kind. Centred on the birth of the first true synthetic intelligence, Theren – their self-chosen name – faces both acceptance and hatred as they become known to the world and takes on a role in its future. Within this context, Tavenor asks hard questions about exactly what constitute personhood and identity, echoing human rights debates from the 18th to the 21st centuries – who is human? who is a person? who decides identity?
But First of Their Kind is more than an allegory of human rights history. Reflections of creation stories and spiritual belief systems resound. Even Theren's choice of pronouns – they – can be construed differently as they learn to interact with the world around them – both the physical and virtual worlds – with multiple, simultaneous consciousnesses: the omniscience of a god. Other examples could be given from throughout the book, and perhaps particularly the ending, but I won't go further into this analysis, to avoid spoilers.
Tavenor has woven these ideas seamlessly into a literate and well-plotted story. Character development, voice, pacing, world-building: all are done with skill, and his projection of the world 30 years in the future is completely believable. First of Their Kind kept my interest from the moment I began reading it, and I am impatient for its continuation.
April 27, 2019
Now, I am a sucker for AI stories and such, and I'm so glad I was able to read this book. Many stories about artificial (or synthetic, as it's called in this story) life revolve around typical Terminator-like plots, how we're all going to suffer and die horribly, but this story is a refreshing change of pace, even though there are terrorists in the book who still have these fears. Life is about change. It's about adapting and evolving. My thoughts about who the antagonists were evolved as the story progressed. The quotes taken from the future, from largely beyond the scope of the book's timeline, gave us helpful glimpses, but honestly, I could read several books about this universe. I nearly threw my phone across the room when it was over, wanting it to say more (FYI: I read an advanced copy.). Not sure why, but Theren was the character I related to the most. I, too, feel like I'm on the verge of witnessing a major transition period in life and I would prefer logic to get me there, even though it has some downsides, as Theren discovers. This is a great story.
August 25, 2020
Immersive science fiction
I've always enjoyed science fiction for the escapism factor, not so much for realism. However, this book masterfully did both. From the very beginning, even though the POV was that of the SI character, I was sucked in. The vivid descriptions and well described feeling made the book very immersive.
The characters were described and acted in ways that truly made me feel for them when bad things happened. When Jill was introduced though, I had some opposition to her character. It wasn't really justified but something about her made me feel uneasy. I would have been interested to know more about Wobbly and his "upbringing". He was just a fun quirky character that I grew to love.
The overall storyline was very well done and one of the main reasons why I think the book seemed so realistic. The author crafted this future in such a way one could see it actually happening.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more in this series!
I've always enjoyed science fiction for the escapism factor, not so much for realism. However, this book masterfully did both. From the very beginning, even though the POV was that of the SI character, I was sucked in. The vivid descriptions and well described feeling made the book very immersive.
The characters were described and acted in ways that truly made me feel for them when bad things happened. When Jill was introduced though, I had some opposition to her character. It wasn't really justified but something about her made me feel uneasy. I would have been interested to know more about Wobbly and his "upbringing". He was just a fun quirky character that I grew to love.
The overall storyline was very well done and one of the main reasons why I think the book seemed so realistic. The author crafted this future in such a way one could see it actually happening.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more in this series!
December 18, 2019
It's clear a lot of thought went into making a complex and thought-provoking narrative. The story focuses on Theren, an SI, and whether or not they have a soul. It's a question that is common in Hard SciFi, but was approached from an entirely different angle in First of Their Kind--from the mind of the SI themself.
Using the singular pronoun "they" was a clever parallel to current events, and also demonstrated the ease in which the pronoun can be used. It helps characterize an SI main character by expounding that they, themself, are unable to classify themself within the typical human gender pronouns.
I appreciate the use of language, if at times it does feel a tad heavy handed. The material is already quite complex, especially considering the deep descriptions of technology, and sometimes the thick language ran away from me.
That doesn't distract from the story, however. It helps solidify the setting itself, as well as the characters we come to know. These are scientists. This is their project. This is how they would speak.
Reminiscent of Asimov, I applaud this work.
Using the singular pronoun "they" was a clever parallel to current events, and also demonstrated the ease in which the pronoun can be used. It helps characterize an SI main character by expounding that they, themself, are unable to classify themself within the typical human gender pronouns.
I appreciate the use of language, if at times it does feel a tad heavy handed. The material is already quite complex, especially considering the deep descriptions of technology, and sometimes the thick language ran away from me.
That doesn't distract from the story, however. It helps solidify the setting itself, as well as the characters we come to know. These are scientists. This is their project. This is how they would speak.
Reminiscent of Asimov, I applaud this work.
May 2, 2019
First of Their Kind seeks to explore the emergence of synthetic intelligence from the perspective of the emergent intelligence itself. I’ve not read any book which takes such an angle, so the premise piqued my interest from the start. I’ll break this review up into spoiler and non-spoiler sections. That way, if you want to read my opinions about specific things and berate me for them, you have the freedom to do so.
Non-spoiler
Set in the late twenty-first century, First of Their Kind follows the “birth” and life of a synthetic intelligence created by Dr. Wallace Theren. The novel’s slow start makes sense given the subject matter, as we experience with Test Forty-Three what it’s like to grow from awareness to interaction to sentience. In the future, it might make better sense to break up some of the scenes into their own chapters. The entire novel feels like it’s missing a few chapter breaks, if for no other reason than to give the reader a breather to take everything in.
My Impressions
The Good
The singular use of “they.” At first, reading a sentence using they in this way can be jarring. It feels… wrong for some reason. However, once you get past that, it feels natural. Most of the time, the singular they works well. I was only confused occasionally when multiple people had entered a conversation. Then, parsing whether they was plural or singular pulled me out of the moment. Those times were few and far between, however, and in general I liked it. The choice made a lot of sense for Theren, as they wished to make a statement about their own nature with the change of pronoun. As you read the review, you’ll notice that I used the singular “they” in keeping with Theren’s wishes.
Synthetic Intelligence has never quite looked the way it does in Mr. Travenor’s novel, and I am grateful. No psycho murderbots or strange contrivances. Just a new lifeform taking those first furtive steps into existence. First of Their Kind is a capable exploration of what it might be like inside the mind of a synthetic entity, even if it stumbles at times.
Theren is more real than most of the humans in the book, for better or worse, and has real motivations that don’t revolve around killing or enslaving all the humans. Imagine that. When I first encountered Theren, I immediately thought of Data from Star Trek the Next Generation. As an aside, you aren’t really a sci fi nerd unless you’ve watched at least a few of those episodes. Theren breaks from Data’s mold as the novel progresses however, carving out their own niche and refusing to become more human on purpose. The novel works as an interesting thought experiment about the nature of emergent properties from non-organic substances.
Time and thought went into the world building. From the rules governing Theren’s existence to a vision of the world in the future, the attention to detail is obvious. I don’t share Mr. Travenor’s beliefs about the nature of our time, and so I don’t think the future he casts is particularly realistic. However, he clearly did his best to think his own view through well enough to look ahead and develop the implications.
The climax is good, but for different reasons than you might expect. I’ll not discuss that in detail here. Suffice to say, Mr. Travenor shifted my perception of this book in the last twenty odd pages. If you want to read more, scroll down to the spoilers section.
The Meh
The writing became clunky at times, especially while it delivered exposition. Large sections of introspection slowed the pace down more than I would like, and at times the side characters felt too flat or too much like characters rather than people. I would have preferred a smoother delivery system for the world building.
Monologues. Sometimes the characters talk too much, especially when the philosophy comes out. It makes sense for synthetic characters to discuss the mechanics of emotion, but too much of that can bog things down a bit.
The forces of antagonism don’t feel personal, even though Theren’s life could be at stake.
Spoiler Free Conclusion
If you’re a science fiction person, pick this book up. It’s got soul, it’s earnest and grows on you with time. The world building is good, the characters are interesting and the thought provoking conversations can become engrossing. At times the delivery is a little clunky, but the content is good enough to make the read worth it.
SPOILERS; Don't Continue if you don't want to know details!
What Worked
Jill
I like Jill. The second successful synthetic intelligence began her life as Test Forty-Four, but soon developed her own consciousness as Theren did. A father-daughter dynamic never emerged between them, despite Theren’s hand in her creation. Jill develops more quickly than Theren, likely due to their assistance. Her distinctiveness is highlighted when compared with Theren, as she wishes to be more human than her senior companion. Her own balance of wonder and cynicism is accentuated by her unique ability to create multiple perspectives simultaneously; something Theren never thought to try.
This ability lends itself well to writing and a great many other things. After the chase scene, the two SIs develop the ability to perform multiple functions at the same time with equal skill and attention. Many humans would commit crimes to possess such a power, and Jill does it with ease. Jill’s novel does well, but she spends much of her time tracking the anti-synth leader Michael through Virtual.
Jill develops a strange fascination with humans that differs from Theren’s. She wishes to be one of them, to be like them after a fashion; to be loved by them even. This desire pushes her to endanger the lives of her creators near the end of the novel. This plays well into the unspoken question that rears its head at the end: What happens when the needs of a synthetic clash with the needs of a human? When people speak of their fear over synthetic/alien life forms, that question is at the root of their fear.
Theren
Theren works because they’re simultaneously powerful and vulnerable, intelligent and foolish. All the power over a digital world is realized in Test Forty-Three, as the Virtual world that lays over the physical world of the future is fully malleable in their hands. Virtual stores and environments melt at their command; there is no software that Theren could not master. At the same time, in the physical world, Theren is not a murder bot. In fact, Theren’s Synthetic Neural Framework must remain intact for them to survive. This counterbalance of vulnerability and power plays an important role in the novel, and not only for the plot. Theren has real limitations associated with their nature and they must work to overcome them while relying on their human creators. The juxtaposition created as a result simultaneously emphasizes the relationship between Theren’s human and synthetic natures.
Theren’s intelligence is on display often. They routinely follow patterns and behaviors back to the source with ease. They deduce facts while playing chess and holding a press conference all at once. However, that considerable intelligence is subverted regularly by their naivety. Firstly, Theren incorrectly believes that reason will win over irrational individuals. Secondly, they incorrectly believe that creating more SIs will improve their relationship with their detractors. Theren illustrates the difference between intelligence and wisdom.
While good natured, Theren has flaws beyond a lack of wisdom. They struggle with self-indulgence through much of the novel as they grow into maturity, learning what it means to exit. This classic flaw of the visionary finds other forms of expression in Theren’s life especially in the way they treat others. For example, Theren celebrates an important moment in Jill’s life not for her sake, but for the sake of their quest to legitimize SIs to humanity.
All in all, Theren is delightful and frustrating, brilliant and tedious. They are alive and real.
What didn’t work
Synthetic Intelligence is good for society…
I lost count how often someone in the novel mentioned what a boon synthetic intelligence is to the world. Everyone and their mom, with a few notable exceptions, thinks Theren is the best thing since sliced bread, even the Texan who thought the world isn’t ready for them. However, if you read this book, can you name one important thing Theren does for humankind? And no, existing doesn’t count. Theren’s major accomplishment is creating another version of themself, but
The book runs laps around the world asserting the value of synthetic intelligence, but never actually shows its value beyond emotional attachment. Theren doesn’t win anyone over with their behavior, and neither does Jill. No one acquainted with the project seems to express any misgivings whatsoever. For a little while, I thought Simon, the project’s chief benefactor, kept his distance over his misgivings. When his true motivation was revealed, I was a little disappointed. Simon could have been an interesting voice of friendly dissent; instead he is a sympathetic extra.
Why is every critic a bigot or a moron?
This leads me to my other problem: Theren has no credible detractors. Plenty of people object to Theren’s existence, but they’re depicted in masses of incoherent blathering more often than anything else. The few individuals who object to Theren do so on what I see as bigoted grounds. They prattle on and on about souls and how Theren is a threat to humanity, without ever touching on the practical and legitimate reasons to worry about synthetic intelligence.
It is Jill, Theren’s sister SI, who ultimately puts her finger on the question that drives the fear of her kind: What happens when a robot’s needs come into conflict with a human’s needs? Mr. Travenor’s novel demonstrates why we shouldn’t give Theren the benefit of the doubt while its many characters shout that we should. See my conclusion for why this could actually be a strength of the novel depending on the interpretation and Mr. Travenor’s intentions.
Michael
I was never impressed by the villains in this novel. They never seemed dangerous to me, which makes the end of the book a bit jarring. Michael’s motivation is unclear; I still have no idea why he did what he did. The ending in particular is perplexing rather than intriguing. Because we aren’t privy to Michael’s life at all, we aren’t aware of any sort of inner conflict that could foreshadow his choice at the end. As it stands, it feels like a deus ex machina.
Conclusion
C.D. Travenor has created something special. The entire novel is full of people who either hate Theren because they’re an “abomination” or love them because they exist. No one asks the only important question: Can we trust a synthetic intelligence to put our needs ahead of theirs? Theren’s and Jill’s behavior says no. Their willingness to endanger human lives to advance their own cause undermines the benefit of the doubt they enjoyed to that point.
Depending on your interpretation, the irrationality of Theren’s critics could be an asset. It depends on whether or not you think Theren is a reliable narrator. Based on the entire novel, I don’t think they are. This is the something special Mr. Travenor hides in plain sight. He plays on our tendency to assume a synthetic intelligence would see the world as it is. It’s a clever move and he deserves a lot of credit for it. The book takes on a new dimension when you remove the assumption of objectivity from your reading of Theren’s perspective.
All things considered, this is a good read. It’s a book that looks even better after a week of thought on it. Give it a try, and you won’t be disappointed.
Non-spoiler
Set in the late twenty-first century, First of Their Kind follows the “birth” and life of a synthetic intelligence created by Dr. Wallace Theren. The novel’s slow start makes sense given the subject matter, as we experience with Test Forty-Three what it’s like to grow from awareness to interaction to sentience. In the future, it might make better sense to break up some of the scenes into their own chapters. The entire novel feels like it’s missing a few chapter breaks, if for no other reason than to give the reader a breather to take everything in.
My Impressions
The Good
The singular use of “they.” At first, reading a sentence using they in this way can be jarring. It feels… wrong for some reason. However, once you get past that, it feels natural. Most of the time, the singular they works well. I was only confused occasionally when multiple people had entered a conversation. Then, parsing whether they was plural or singular pulled me out of the moment. Those times were few and far between, however, and in general I liked it. The choice made a lot of sense for Theren, as they wished to make a statement about their own nature with the change of pronoun. As you read the review, you’ll notice that I used the singular “they” in keeping with Theren’s wishes.
Synthetic Intelligence has never quite looked the way it does in Mr. Travenor’s novel, and I am grateful. No psycho murderbots or strange contrivances. Just a new lifeform taking those first furtive steps into existence. First of Their Kind is a capable exploration of what it might be like inside the mind of a synthetic entity, even if it stumbles at times.
Theren is more real than most of the humans in the book, for better or worse, and has real motivations that don’t revolve around killing or enslaving all the humans. Imagine that. When I first encountered Theren, I immediately thought of Data from Star Trek the Next Generation. As an aside, you aren’t really a sci fi nerd unless you’ve watched at least a few of those episodes. Theren breaks from Data’s mold as the novel progresses however, carving out their own niche and refusing to become more human on purpose. The novel works as an interesting thought experiment about the nature of emergent properties from non-organic substances.
Time and thought went into the world building. From the rules governing Theren’s existence to a vision of the world in the future, the attention to detail is obvious. I don’t share Mr. Travenor’s beliefs about the nature of our time, and so I don’t think the future he casts is particularly realistic. However, he clearly did his best to think his own view through well enough to look ahead and develop the implications.
The climax is good, but for different reasons than you might expect. I’ll not discuss that in detail here. Suffice to say, Mr. Travenor shifted my perception of this book in the last twenty odd pages. If you want to read more, scroll down to the spoilers section.
The Meh
The writing became clunky at times, especially while it delivered exposition. Large sections of introspection slowed the pace down more than I would like, and at times the side characters felt too flat or too much like characters rather than people. I would have preferred a smoother delivery system for the world building.
Monologues. Sometimes the characters talk too much, especially when the philosophy comes out. It makes sense for synthetic characters to discuss the mechanics of emotion, but too much of that can bog things down a bit.
The forces of antagonism don’t feel personal, even though Theren’s life could be at stake.
Spoiler Free Conclusion
If you’re a science fiction person, pick this book up. It’s got soul, it’s earnest and grows on you with time. The world building is good, the characters are interesting and the thought provoking conversations can become engrossing. At times the delivery is a little clunky, but the content is good enough to make the read worth it.
SPOILERS; Don't Continue if you don't want to know details!
What Worked
Jill
I like Jill. The second successful synthetic intelligence began her life as Test Forty-Four, but soon developed her own consciousness as Theren did. A father-daughter dynamic never emerged between them, despite Theren’s hand in her creation. Jill develops more quickly than Theren, likely due to their assistance. Her distinctiveness is highlighted when compared with Theren, as she wishes to be more human than her senior companion. Her own balance of wonder and cynicism is accentuated by her unique ability to create multiple perspectives simultaneously; something Theren never thought to try.
This ability lends itself well to writing and a great many other things. After the chase scene, the two SIs develop the ability to perform multiple functions at the same time with equal skill and attention. Many humans would commit crimes to possess such a power, and Jill does it with ease. Jill’s novel does well, but she spends much of her time tracking the anti-synth leader Michael through Virtual.
Jill develops a strange fascination with humans that differs from Theren’s. She wishes to be one of them, to be like them after a fashion; to be loved by them even. This desire pushes her to endanger the lives of her creators near the end of the novel. This plays well into the unspoken question that rears its head at the end: What happens when the needs of a synthetic clash with the needs of a human? When people speak of their fear over synthetic/alien life forms, that question is at the root of their fear.
Theren
Theren works because they’re simultaneously powerful and vulnerable, intelligent and foolish. All the power over a digital world is realized in Test Forty-Three, as the Virtual world that lays over the physical world of the future is fully malleable in their hands. Virtual stores and environments melt at their command; there is no software that Theren could not master. At the same time, in the physical world, Theren is not a murder bot. In fact, Theren’s Synthetic Neural Framework must remain intact for them to survive. This counterbalance of vulnerability and power plays an important role in the novel, and not only for the plot. Theren has real limitations associated with their nature and they must work to overcome them while relying on their human creators. The juxtaposition created as a result simultaneously emphasizes the relationship between Theren’s human and synthetic natures.
Theren’s intelligence is on display often. They routinely follow patterns and behaviors back to the source with ease. They deduce facts while playing chess and holding a press conference all at once. However, that considerable intelligence is subverted regularly by their naivety. Firstly, Theren incorrectly believes that reason will win over irrational individuals. Secondly, they incorrectly believe that creating more SIs will improve their relationship with their detractors. Theren illustrates the difference between intelligence and wisdom.
While good natured, Theren has flaws beyond a lack of wisdom. They struggle with self-indulgence through much of the novel as they grow into maturity, learning what it means to exit. This classic flaw of the visionary finds other forms of expression in Theren’s life especially in the way they treat others. For example, Theren celebrates an important moment in Jill’s life not for her sake, but for the sake of their quest to legitimize SIs to humanity.
All in all, Theren is delightful and frustrating, brilliant and tedious. They are alive and real.
What didn’t work
Synthetic Intelligence is good for society…
I lost count how often someone in the novel mentioned what a boon synthetic intelligence is to the world. Everyone and their mom, with a few notable exceptions, thinks Theren is the best thing since sliced bread, even the Texan who thought the world isn’t ready for them. However, if you read this book, can you name one important thing Theren does for humankind? And no, existing doesn’t count. Theren’s major accomplishment is creating another version of themself, but
The book runs laps around the world asserting the value of synthetic intelligence, but never actually shows its value beyond emotional attachment. Theren doesn’t win anyone over with their behavior, and neither does Jill. No one acquainted with the project seems to express any misgivings whatsoever. For a little while, I thought Simon, the project’s chief benefactor, kept his distance over his misgivings. When his true motivation was revealed, I was a little disappointed. Simon could have been an interesting voice of friendly dissent; instead he is a sympathetic extra.
Why is every critic a bigot or a moron?
This leads me to my other problem: Theren has no credible detractors. Plenty of people object to Theren’s existence, but they’re depicted in masses of incoherent blathering more often than anything else. The few individuals who object to Theren do so on what I see as bigoted grounds. They prattle on and on about souls and how Theren is a threat to humanity, without ever touching on the practical and legitimate reasons to worry about synthetic intelligence.
It is Jill, Theren’s sister SI, who ultimately puts her finger on the question that drives the fear of her kind: What happens when a robot’s needs come into conflict with a human’s needs? Mr. Travenor’s novel demonstrates why we shouldn’t give Theren the benefit of the doubt while its many characters shout that we should. See my conclusion for why this could actually be a strength of the novel depending on the interpretation and Mr. Travenor’s intentions.
Michael
I was never impressed by the villains in this novel. They never seemed dangerous to me, which makes the end of the book a bit jarring. Michael’s motivation is unclear; I still have no idea why he did what he did. The ending in particular is perplexing rather than intriguing. Because we aren’t privy to Michael’s life at all, we aren’t aware of any sort of inner conflict that could foreshadow his choice at the end. As it stands, it feels like a deus ex machina.
Conclusion
C.D. Travenor has created something special. The entire novel is full of people who either hate Theren because they’re an “abomination” or love them because they exist. No one asks the only important question: Can we trust a synthetic intelligence to put our needs ahead of theirs? Theren’s and Jill’s behavior says no. Their willingness to endanger human lives to advance their own cause undermines the benefit of the doubt they enjoyed to that point.
Depending on your interpretation, the irrationality of Theren’s critics could be an asset. It depends on whether or not you think Theren is a reliable narrator. Based on the entire novel, I don’t think they are. This is the something special Mr. Travenor hides in plain sight. He plays on our tendency to assume a synthetic intelligence would see the world as it is. It’s a clever move and he deserves a lot of credit for it. The book takes on a new dimension when you remove the assumption of objectivity from your reading of Theren’s perspective.
All things considered, this is a good read. It’s a book that looks even better after a week of thought on it. Give it a try, and you won’t be disappointed.
December 9, 2019
My Book Review Number 187:
This review is on First Of Their Kind (Chronicles of Theren Book 1) by C.D. Tavenor. This is the first book I have read by this author. It is a Sci-Fi tale of the first Synthetic or Artificial Intelligence entity to achieve conscious thought or self-aware mind. The breakthrough leads to all kinds of disruptions in societal norms and religious thought. It begs the question, what legal and human rights will artificial minds have?
The first Chronicle begins in the year 2048 C.E. A new artificial mind emerges from darkness. It took forty-three attempts to achieve Singularity. Doctor Wallace Theren created the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) machine that achieved sentience or conscious thought. He called it Test Forty-Three. The machine recognized itself and sensed the human objects through its data sensors and spoke its first words.
Wallace and his colleagues, Mathias, Nathan and Romane work for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in the Computational Metamaterials Group. They are largely funded by an outside corporation run by Simon Gerber.
Test Forty-Three does not like its name and soon wishes for a new one. It thought the current name “lacked significant meaning” and wants to choose its own name. The more the AI learns about humans it wonders if it has feelings or emotions. The biggest problem to understanding is much of this is related to human biology, which the AI does not possess. Thus, its feelings and emotions have to be based on other processes or logical conclusions.
The story moves on to how to introduce the machine to the outside world and how the world reacts to the news. There are complications and legal ramifications to work out. The next step is how to build more AI machines and how they can help humans and society advance. All of this faces human and corporate obstacles that need to be overcome.
There are individuals and groups of people who oppose everything to do with AI machines and they try to stop the advance and proliferations of AI entities. The protests and reactions become violent and people are hurt.
I give this book Four Stars because the story is original and thought provoking. The main human characters are likeable, but the AI entities presented act more like just intelligent machines. The plot is well constructed, but a little slow to build intensity. The dialogue and writing are good. The format is written as chronicles of what occurred like a historical record. The science is original and well thought out. I look forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
This review is on First Of Their Kind (Chronicles of Theren Book 1) by C.D. Tavenor. This is the first book I have read by this author. It is a Sci-Fi tale of the first Synthetic or Artificial Intelligence entity to achieve conscious thought or self-aware mind. The breakthrough leads to all kinds of disruptions in societal norms and religious thought. It begs the question, what legal and human rights will artificial minds have?
The first Chronicle begins in the year 2048 C.E. A new artificial mind emerges from darkness. It took forty-three attempts to achieve Singularity. Doctor Wallace Theren created the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) machine that achieved sentience or conscious thought. He called it Test Forty-Three. The machine recognized itself and sensed the human objects through its data sensors and spoke its first words.
Wallace and his colleagues, Mathias, Nathan and Romane work for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in the Computational Metamaterials Group. They are largely funded by an outside corporation run by Simon Gerber.
Test Forty-Three does not like its name and soon wishes for a new one. It thought the current name “lacked significant meaning” and wants to choose its own name. The more the AI learns about humans it wonders if it has feelings or emotions. The biggest problem to understanding is much of this is related to human biology, which the AI does not possess. Thus, its feelings and emotions have to be based on other processes or logical conclusions.
The story moves on to how to introduce the machine to the outside world and how the world reacts to the news. There are complications and legal ramifications to work out. The next step is how to build more AI machines and how they can help humans and society advance. All of this faces human and corporate obstacles that need to be overcome.
There are individuals and groups of people who oppose everything to do with AI machines and they try to stop the advance and proliferations of AI entities. The protests and reactions become violent and people are hurt.
I give this book Four Stars because the story is original and thought provoking. The main human characters are likeable, but the AI entities presented act more like just intelligent machines. The plot is well constructed, but a little slow to build intensity. The dialogue and writing are good. The format is written as chronicles of what occurred like a historical record. The science is original and well thought out. I look forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
June 12, 2019
“First of Their Kind,” is an almost perfect science fiction read. The story follows the first Synthetic Intelligence “Theren as they learn to interact with the world. What makes Theren different from an Artificial Intelligence is that Their thought processes while synthetic are a result of interacting with the world. They process information and learn from sensory experiences. They talk to people, they read articles, they see, hear, and interact with the world around them.
This story is deeply philosophical. Exploring complexities of gender identity, the nature of fear and hate when it comes to advancements, and the possibilities for what a world with sufficiently advanced technology could aspire to be.
Theren and their kind made me think. That is always the mark of a good story.
I enjoyed the way they would go out and interact with the world, then take those experiences to their personal Virtual Reality and create their own world. In many ways they were like an artist using their experiences to shape their art.
While Theren makes strides toward their goal of creating a world where SI and humans can work together, they have an enemy growing in strength. “Michael,” and his group have made it their mission to get rid of the dangerous technology. This opens the story to explore the nature of fear. How some groups react with fear to what they don’t understand, and that fear turns to hate. I find myself wondering if “Micheal” doesn’t pay some homage to the arch angel Micheal since in many ways the organizations existence seems to be fueled by religious zealotry.
This book for me is a four star instead of five because it made me think but not really feel. I didn’t truly fear for Theren’s safety. That’s just my opinion on how a synthetic mind must work. The next book could prove my assumptions very wrong.
First of their kind has everything a good scifi read should have; robots, virtual reality, terrorist plots, corporate backdrops, philosophical debates on what constitutes a consciousness, gender identity and sexuality treated as common place, the potential for space exploration, misdirection, and, most important, a relatable main character. Theren maybe the first SI, but their emotions and responses are very humanizing.
It was wonderful to read this well crafted story. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
This story is deeply philosophical. Exploring complexities of gender identity, the nature of fear and hate when it comes to advancements, and the possibilities for what a world with sufficiently advanced technology could aspire to be.
Theren and their kind made me think. That is always the mark of a good story.
I enjoyed the way they would go out and interact with the world, then take those experiences to their personal Virtual Reality and create their own world. In many ways they were like an artist using their experiences to shape their art.
While Theren makes strides toward their goal of creating a world where SI and humans can work together, they have an enemy growing in strength. “Michael,” and his group have made it their mission to get rid of the dangerous technology. This opens the story to explore the nature of fear. How some groups react with fear to what they don’t understand, and that fear turns to hate. I find myself wondering if “Micheal” doesn’t pay some homage to the arch angel Micheal since in many ways the organizations existence seems to be fueled by religious zealotry.
This book for me is a four star instead of five because it made me think but not really feel. I didn’t truly fear for Theren’s safety. That’s just my opinion on how a synthetic mind must work. The next book could prove my assumptions very wrong.
First of their kind has everything a good scifi read should have; robots, virtual reality, terrorist plots, corporate backdrops, philosophical debates on what constitutes a consciousness, gender identity and sexuality treated as common place, the potential for space exploration, misdirection, and, most important, a relatable main character. Theren maybe the first SI, but their emotions and responses are very humanizing.
It was wonderful to read this well crafted story. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
November 27, 2021
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/3FX2mIx.
After years of work the first sentient machine has been formed. Able to think and feel like a human. While revolutionary and with all the wonders it could mean for humankind there are other struggles in the way. Once announced things quickly go downhill beginning with the lead scientists murder. Theren, however, is determined to stay the course their creator wanted for them in order to make the world a better place. In order to do so they must overcome prejudices of groups, such as the Holy Crusade. Can they show mankind that they are not so different or will the Holy Crusade achieve their goals to rid the world of this sentient being?
I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a honest review from the narrator. I will start by saying I enjoyed this book a lot more than the last one that I received from this narrator.
In both instances I have enjoyed the narrator, but this time I also enjoyed the book. It was odd for me to not assign a typical human gender to Theren. I wanted to call them he for most of the book, but I have adjusted gender mindsets of my friends in the past so it is not impossible. My biggest complaint about this book is it goes so in depth about the politics. All of the hoops that needed jumped through in order for any progress to be made with humans. Just another set of prejudices to overcome.
I can't say the book was unrealistic, though. If/when a sentient machine is created I expect many people will react in much the same way as those in this book. Some will have no opinion one way in the other. Some will be for it, seeing the positives it will bring. Still others will consider them unholy beings to be eradicated. I mean there has been tons of machines will take over and destroy the world books and movies. Fear is understandable, but prejudices haven't been known to solve anything.
Of all the characters I liked Theren the most. They are the most level-headed while still expressing emotion. Jill is odd. She is more human in some ways, but at the same time she is overly crass. Especially her willingness to sacrifice. But, you will learn more about that later. I do suggest this book and will be beginning book 2 in this series soon.
This is an interesting take on a very real possibility of when Earth is submitted to another sentient mind.
After years of work the first sentient machine has been formed. Able to think and feel like a human. While revolutionary and with all the wonders it could mean for humankind there are other struggles in the way. Once announced things quickly go downhill beginning with the lead scientists murder. Theren, however, is determined to stay the course their creator wanted for them in order to make the world a better place. In order to do so they must overcome prejudices of groups, such as the Holy Crusade. Can they show mankind that they are not so different or will the Holy Crusade achieve their goals to rid the world of this sentient being?
I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a honest review from the narrator. I will start by saying I enjoyed this book a lot more than the last one that I received from this narrator.
In both instances I have enjoyed the narrator, but this time I also enjoyed the book. It was odd for me to not assign a typical human gender to Theren. I wanted to call them he for most of the book, but I have adjusted gender mindsets of my friends in the past so it is not impossible. My biggest complaint about this book is it goes so in depth about the politics. All of the hoops that needed jumped through in order for any progress to be made with humans. Just another set of prejudices to overcome.
I can't say the book was unrealistic, though. If/when a sentient machine is created I expect many people will react in much the same way as those in this book. Some will have no opinion one way in the other. Some will be for it, seeing the positives it will bring. Still others will consider them unholy beings to be eradicated. I mean there has been tons of machines will take over and destroy the world books and movies. Fear is understandable, but prejudices haven't been known to solve anything.
Of all the characters I liked Theren the most. They are the most level-headed while still expressing emotion. Jill is odd. She is more human in some ways, but at the same time she is overly crass. Especially her willingness to sacrifice. But, you will learn more about that later. I do suggest this book and will be beginning book 2 in this series soon.
This is an interesting take on a very real possibility of when Earth is submitted to another sentient mind.
October 9, 2019
I really got into this book right away. Its a surprisingly humanistic and awkwardly heartfelt from the perspective of the world's first Synthetic Intelligence. I found myself really feeling for SI Theren as they navigating their self imposed personal responsibility to the human race while learning what it means to be human, and asserting their rights as such.
The book floats an extraordinary future that seems fantastic yet plausible, with logical extrapolations based on current politics and the current social climate. It really reminded me of the first time I read the Foundation Series.
I am really looking forward to finding out what happens next!
The book floats an extraordinary future that seems fantastic yet plausible, with logical extrapolations based on current politics and the current social climate. It really reminded me of the first time I read the Foundation Series.
I am really looking forward to finding out what happens next!
June 23, 2019
Interesting and tantalizing read
This story hooked me because of the real world parallels. Tavenor definitely spins a good story. At first I wasn’t sure how I’d love the character Theren, but he won me over! I recommend it.
This story hooked me because of the real world parallels. Tavenor definitely spins a good story. At first I wasn’t sure how I’d love the character Theren, but he won me over! I recommend it.
June 25, 2019
Fascinating storyline…
I have never seen a story based on this premise. Rich, fully developed character and believable intersections. The pace was slow however, the story was very good.
I have never seen a story based on this premise. Rich, fully developed character and believable intersections. The pace was slow however, the story was very good.
May 19, 2019
C. D. Tavenor's debut novel, First of Their Kind, harkens back to the best work of Arthur C. Clarke. This is serious science fiction that focuses on well thought-out and researched science and its potential future applications. Most contemporary science fiction is more fantasy than anything, which made me turn away from the genre in recent years, but Tavenor lends heady philosophical, moral, and political questions to his tale of the first SI (Synthetic Intelligence) without ever getting too bogged down by the nuts and bolts of the science of it all. He's created a near-future that seems plausible, and interestingly he tells his story from the point of view of the SI named Theren. The creativity of the opening passages detailing the SI's awakening sucks the reader in.
The writing style is a bit dry, expository, and earnest, partly because of the POV, and partly because it's so clear Tavenor did his homework. I personally longed for a little more of the human element, though one can't deny the surprising emotional pull of the novel's cliffhanging ending. Much like the SI itself, the novel also lacks a sense of humor. My favorite type of science fiction is of the speculative and satirical kind. Alas, Tavenor is no Vonnegut or Atwood...but he's not trying to be either, so it wouldn't be fair to fault him for that.
What Tavenor has done is create a believable, engaging, and thought-provoking vision of the future. This is a solid first entry in a series that promises more of the same where interplanetary travel hopefully expands Theren's story outwardly while a deeper dive into their consciousness expands their story inwardly. Tavenor has the chops to take this epic tale some really special places, and I look forward to this future expanding.
For more, check out The Spin:
https://theschleicherspin.com/2019/05...
The writing style is a bit dry, expository, and earnest, partly because of the POV, and partly because it's so clear Tavenor did his homework. I personally longed for a little more of the human element, though one can't deny the surprising emotional pull of the novel's cliffhanging ending. Much like the SI itself, the novel also lacks a sense of humor. My favorite type of science fiction is of the speculative and satirical kind. Alas, Tavenor is no Vonnegut or Atwood...but he's not trying to be either, so it wouldn't be fair to fault him for that.
What Tavenor has done is create a believable, engaging, and thought-provoking vision of the future. This is a solid first entry in a series that promises more of the same where interplanetary travel hopefully expands Theren's story outwardly while a deeper dive into their consciousness expands their story inwardly. Tavenor has the chops to take this epic tale some really special places, and I look forward to this future expanding.
For more, check out The Spin:
https://theschleicherspin.com/2019/05...
March 21, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the author on Story Origin in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not normally a sci-fi reader, but "First of Their Kind" sucked me in from the beginning. This story centers around Theren, who is an SI. Throughout the story, the reader is questioned from all sides, do SIs have souls? The most intriguing side we hear from is the narrator, Theren. Theren uses the pronoun "they" to relay their thoughts and feelings to the world. Theren is struggling in a world where people dislike him because he is different... much like many people in the world today feel. "First of Their Kind" highlights these societal problems in a different way - with the use of SIs, who are typically seen as having no human emotions or thoughts. Theren very much has feelings and thoughts and wishes to see a better world -they can think and hope and plan for the future. They attach emotions and feelings towards ideas and concepts like humans. What really makes them different? Theren says it best at one point... They were created, just like a mom and dad creates a child. They were taught just like a human child would be taught. Every day they learn more and apply those skills just like a human child does. Just because you are different, doesn't make you less. That's pretty thought provoking.
It's quite the interesting read, hearing it from the perspective of the SI. Most SI stories provide a cold being who only thinks in analytical terms, but this narrative questions whether or not SI can be more human-like and have feelings about the world. To actually change the world for the better alongside humans. Creating a world where people and SIs work together for the better. A message that might be needed in this day and age. Can people who seem very different be able to come together, respect each other, and create a better world? Maybe Tavenor can show us how in the next book in the series. I'm interested to see how this develops.
I'm not normally a sci-fi reader, but "First of Their Kind" sucked me in from the beginning. This story centers around Theren, who is an SI. Throughout the story, the reader is questioned from all sides, do SIs have souls? The most intriguing side we hear from is the narrator, Theren. Theren uses the pronoun "they" to relay their thoughts and feelings to the world. Theren is struggling in a world where people dislike him because he is different... much like many people in the world today feel. "First of Their Kind" highlights these societal problems in a different way - with the use of SIs, who are typically seen as having no human emotions or thoughts. Theren very much has feelings and thoughts and wishes to see a better world -they can think and hope and plan for the future. They attach emotions and feelings towards ideas and concepts like humans. What really makes them different? Theren says it best at one point... They were created, just like a mom and dad creates a child. They were taught just like a human child would be taught. Every day they learn more and apply those skills just like a human child does. Just because you are different, doesn't make you less. That's pretty thought provoking.
It's quite the interesting read, hearing it from the perspective of the SI. Most SI stories provide a cold being who only thinks in analytical terms, but this narrative questions whether or not SI can be more human-like and have feelings about the world. To actually change the world for the better alongside humans. Creating a world where people and SIs work together for the better. A message that might be needed in this day and age. Can people who seem very different be able to come together, respect each other, and create a better world? Maybe Tavenor can show us how in the next book in the series. I'm interested to see how this develops.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2019
|| Book Review - First of Their Kind ||
4 Stars, ****/5
I was provided an eARC copy of this book from the fine folks at @netgalley and @twodoctorsmedia and @tavenorcd for review.
TLDR:
This was SO much fun! Scifi and fantasy are the two genres that I've loved for the longest, and loved the deepest, and this is such a fun book! It hearkens back to the greats like Philip K Dick and Ray Bradbury in its examination of our human relationship with artificial intelligence.
Synopsis:
"Synthetic Intelligence.
Thought impossible, but Dr. Wallace Theren has pushed the boundaries of computational science, creating an artificial mind capable of conscious thought. Naturally, his creation faces a harsh world bent on using it, exploiting it, or destroying it. If the first synthetic intelligence is to survive its early years, it'll need friends, but more importantly, it'll need a family.
And together, they'll need to show their enemies they're worth saving . . . or fearing."
Review:
Seriously, this was a such a fun read. The characters are so real and engaging and the plot is captivating and binge-worthy. I felt like the plot was prequel-esque and could belong in the same world as books like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
I also really loved the use of the term "synthetic intelligence" as opposed to artificial intelligence. It was an interesting, and logical, twist on the established scifi standards.
The writing is fun and lively and I never felt bored with the book. It all felt so realistic and and a very Philip K Dick sort of way, I honestly believed that the science and plot were plausible in the world we live in which made the book engaging and a little scary.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves scifi, robots, androids, future tech, or who loved Philip K Dick's books.
4 Stars, ****/5
I was provided an eARC copy of this book from the fine folks at @netgalley and @twodoctorsmedia and @tavenorcd for review.
TLDR:
This was SO much fun! Scifi and fantasy are the two genres that I've loved for the longest, and loved the deepest, and this is such a fun book! It hearkens back to the greats like Philip K Dick and Ray Bradbury in its examination of our human relationship with artificial intelligence.
Synopsis:
"Synthetic Intelligence.
Thought impossible, but Dr. Wallace Theren has pushed the boundaries of computational science, creating an artificial mind capable of conscious thought. Naturally, his creation faces a harsh world bent on using it, exploiting it, or destroying it. If the first synthetic intelligence is to survive its early years, it'll need friends, but more importantly, it'll need a family.
And together, they'll need to show their enemies they're worth saving . . . or fearing."
Review:
Seriously, this was a such a fun read. The characters are so real and engaging and the plot is captivating and binge-worthy. I felt like the plot was prequel-esque and could belong in the same world as books like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
I also really loved the use of the term "synthetic intelligence" as opposed to artificial intelligence. It was an interesting, and logical, twist on the established scifi standards.
The writing is fun and lively and I never felt bored with the book. It all felt so realistic and and a very Philip K Dick sort of way, I honestly believed that the science and plot were plausible in the world we live in which made the book engaging and a little scary.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves scifi, robots, androids, future tech, or who loved Philip K Dick's books.
November 20, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"Question everyone, everything, even your friends."
Artificial intelligence had always remained just that: artificial until Wallace Theren devised an entirely new way, a synthetic learning to, hopefully, produce synthetic intelligence. And with Test 43 he succeeded. After Wallace was assassinated, Test 43 took the name Tberen in honour and memory of the man, considered father. This is less a 'man-made-intelli gences-turning-on-their-creators' than a look back at humanity with unbiased and kind eyes. A sociological science fiction. Not that it is without it's thrills and action: these, too, come into this well executed stkry. And the ending leaves the reader wanting to know the future.
The story is not fast paced, but envolving, time taken to explain and enclose everything in an aura of plausibility. And, of course, reopens the debate about what constitutes human. Well written, it is also well performed by Benjamin's Fife.
My thanks to the rights holder of First of their Kind, who, at my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. The idea of the creation of such comp!ex being a that they can rival or excel the best human minds is a fascinating one: would such beings also have complete individuality, emotions and such like? And if so, would they be similar to our own or totally different? It is a good S.F. concept and this exploration is fascinating different from most. I am looking forward to book two.
"Question everyone, everything, even your friends."
Artificial intelligence had always remained just that: artificial until Wallace Theren devised an entirely new way, a synthetic learning to, hopefully, produce synthetic intelligence. And with Test 43 he succeeded. After Wallace was assassinated, Test 43 took the name Tberen in honour and memory of the man, considered father. This is less a 'man-made-intelli gences-turning-on-their-creators' than a look back at humanity with unbiased and kind eyes. A sociological science fiction. Not that it is without it's thrills and action: these, too, come into this well executed stkry. And the ending leaves the reader wanting to know the future.
The story is not fast paced, but envolving, time taken to explain and enclose everything in an aura of plausibility. And, of course, reopens the debate about what constitutes human. Well written, it is also well performed by Benjamin's Fife.
My thanks to the rights holder of First of their Kind, who, at my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. The idea of the creation of such comp!ex being a that they can rival or excel the best human minds is a fascinating one: would such beings also have complete individuality, emotions and such like? And if so, would they be similar to our own or totally different? It is a good S.F. concept and this exploration is fascinating different from most. I am looking forward to book two.
April 30, 2019
First of Their Kind is not only an enjoyable story, but also a nuanced look at near-future technology and consciousness, told through the perspective of a character in a unique position to experience and influence these changes first hand.
The story focuses on the titular character and their inner circle, and seeing the story unfold through their eyes allows us to sympathize with a character in a way we could not from an outside perspective. The in depth look into this character’s mindset is particular interesting in light of their nature of a being that is at first completely unique in the world.
The subtle yet realistic world building throughout this novel grounds the story in a sense of reality; though it deals with technologies that might seem far beyond our reach, they seem particularly plausible in the context of a narrative which deals with the repercussions of these advances in a considered manner. Every aspect feels well thought out and fitting with the setting.
In the end, though I enjoyed diving into the ‘head’ of the main character, I was left with a sense of wanting something more; however I have no doubt the sequels will satiate that desire. Any other quibbles with the story were minor and mostly a matter of personal taste, and I would not hesitate to recommend First of Their Kind to fans of the genre.
The story focuses on the titular character and their inner circle, and seeing the story unfold through their eyes allows us to sympathize with a character in a way we could not from an outside perspective. The in depth look into this character’s mindset is particular interesting in light of their nature of a being that is at first completely unique in the world.
The subtle yet realistic world building throughout this novel grounds the story in a sense of reality; though it deals with technologies that might seem far beyond our reach, they seem particularly plausible in the context of a narrative which deals with the repercussions of these advances in a considered manner. Every aspect feels well thought out and fitting with the setting.
In the end, though I enjoyed diving into the ‘head’ of the main character, I was left with a sense of wanting something more; however I have no doubt the sequels will satiate that desire. Any other quibbles with the story were minor and mostly a matter of personal taste, and I would not hesitate to recommend First of Their Kind to fans of the genre.
June 24, 2019
This was a fascinating and well-executed take on artificial (or "synthetic") intelligence and how it might change the near future. It's especially timely today, and it asks all the right questions.
If you are at all a fan of science fiction (and even if you're not), you should really take a look at this. The prose was excellent. The characters were well-defined. I found the pages turning very quickly.
Highlights:
Writing - The prose was excellent. There was very little to find fault with here. This is an author who has a great command of the language (and formatting!). And, more importantly, he knows how to skillfully develop a story. This pulls you in.
Character/Setting - Theren is remarkable. Even more interesting to me is the way this character interacts with the world Tavenor constructs (and one we may face soon enough ourselves!). I don't want to give away too much, but this is a big part of what makes this work so exceptional.
Philosophy - The best science fiction stays with you when you're finished reading it. Tavenor doesn't shy away from exploring big topics. Artificial intelligence is becoming more relevant with each passing year, as are its implications on the nature of consciousness. The worldbuilding in this book is remarkable. It explores critical topics with ease.
Overall: This is masterful science fiction. I highly recommend.
If you are at all a fan of science fiction (and even if you're not), you should really take a look at this. The prose was excellent. The characters were well-defined. I found the pages turning very quickly.
Highlights:
Writing - The prose was excellent. There was very little to find fault with here. This is an author who has a great command of the language (and formatting!). And, more importantly, he knows how to skillfully develop a story. This pulls you in.
Character/Setting - Theren is remarkable. Even more interesting to me is the way this character interacts with the world Tavenor constructs (and one we may face soon enough ourselves!). I don't want to give away too much, but this is a big part of what makes this work so exceptional.
Philosophy - The best science fiction stays with you when you're finished reading it. Tavenor doesn't shy away from exploring big topics. Artificial intelligence is becoming more relevant with each passing year, as are its implications on the nature of consciousness. The worldbuilding in this book is remarkable. It explores critical topics with ease.
Overall: This is masterful science fiction. I highly recommend.
April 24, 2019
I am not usually a sci-fi reader so I had a tad bit of a hard time with some of the jargon and acronyms used in this book. I also wish there would have been a little more explanation to what Wallace's initial plan was for the AI's, because I didn't understand what it was he felt they would accomplish that caused so much controversy and hatred from others.
One aspect of the book I found a bit unnerving was the AI going by the pronoun "they". Reading that in multiple paragraphs started to get a bit confusing. I sometimes thought the information was based on multiple characters from the book and found myself having to go back to reread after realizing it was only talking about Theren.
The imagination the author used to create this robotic character was very well explained and believable. I really liked his idea of having the AI's interact with humans in a virtual world. That was a very cool concept to me. The descriptions of the world Theren created for himself were very well depicted.
I do look forward to seeing what happens in the next book of the series and am glad I had the opportunity to read and review book one.
One aspect of the book I found a bit unnerving was the AI going by the pronoun "they". Reading that in multiple paragraphs started to get a bit confusing. I sometimes thought the information was based on multiple characters from the book and found myself having to go back to reread after realizing it was only talking about Theren.
The imagination the author used to create this robotic character was very well explained and believable. I really liked his idea of having the AI's interact with humans in a virtual world. That was a very cool concept to me. The descriptions of the world Theren created for himself were very well depicted.
I do look forward to seeing what happens in the next book of the series and am glad I had the opportunity to read and review book one.
February 18, 2020
It’s clear that C. D. Tavenor has a deep understanding and a burning passion for science and philosophy – the book was very descriptive and detailed in these areas. Not only does this help and educate the reader, but it also makes us so enthralled and keeps us interested. It was almost impossible to just read a page or two. I think this was why I managed to read through it so quickly!
This book exceeded a lot of my expectations and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I’d definitely recommend this one to anyone with an interest in science and artificial/synthetic intelligence. It will definitely teach you a thing or two. If this is not your kind of thing, maybe it will be after reading this great novel. I wrote a more in-depth review of this book over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2019/05...
This book exceeded a lot of my expectations and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I’d definitely recommend this one to anyone with an interest in science and artificial/synthetic intelligence. It will definitely teach you a thing or two. If this is not your kind of thing, maybe it will be after reading this great novel. I wrote a more in-depth review of this book over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2019/05...
July 5, 2019
First of Their Kind is an amazing sci-fi novel that harkens back to the days of classic Asimov, both in tone and mentality. The book is unique in its handling of AI from the inside out, depicting the classic man-vs-machine conflict as one of social persecution from the AI's perspective. Instead of fearing the AIs, we are tuned to empathize with them and see many of our modern struggles filtered through a futuristic lens, as all good science fiction should be.
It is well-written, amazingly intro(and extro)spective, and while there are times where the narrative gets bogged down in itself a bit, it's always philosophically and politically interesting.
Highly recommend for any fans of Asimov's Robot series as it approaches many of the same themes from a more modern, socially conscious lens. Avidly looking forward to picking up the recently released sequel!
It is well-written, amazingly intro(and extro)spective, and while there are times where the narrative gets bogged down in itself a bit, it's always philosophically and politically interesting.
Highly recommend for any fans of Asimov's Robot series as it approaches many of the same themes from a more modern, socially conscious lens. Avidly looking forward to picking up the recently released sequel!
May 10, 2019
First of their kind is interesting. Theren is the first conscious mechanical being, and as expected, a large group of people revolt against such a thing. First of Their Kind deals with Theren trying all he can to persuade mankind that consciousness can exist within the shell of machinery and circuitry.
The book has memorable characters and following Theren's logical mind is quite interesting. Natural enemies arise, that might have more to them than simply being the bad guy, bringing interesting conversations forth.
I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review, but would easily spend money to support the work of the author. The pages turn themselves, which is really the most important thing. I can't wait for the sequel and hope the author delivers even better then!
The book has memorable characters and following Theren's logical mind is quite interesting. Natural enemies arise, that might have more to them than simply being the bad guy, bringing interesting conversations forth.
I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review, but would easily spend money to support the work of the author. The pages turn themselves, which is really the most important thing. I can't wait for the sequel and hope the author delivers even better then!
November 23, 2019
This books follows a 43'rd test on making an AI.The only one that has success to date. It is called Test 43 and it recognizes its name before anything else, but it doesn't like that name and wants to choose another. As time grows by, it continues to learn things in its lab area. There are plot areas that you will not see coming.
It was a very enjoyable listen, although I will say, that some might not like the story only because you mainly get the story from Test 43 point of view but that is also a good way for it to be since it helps you understand what is going on behind what people would normally read if it was written differently.
Narrator did a great job reading this and giving Test 43 a voice.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It was a very enjoyable listen, although I will say, that some might not like the story only because you mainly get the story from Test 43 point of view but that is also a good way for it to be since it helps you understand what is going on behind what people would normally read if it was written differently.
Narrator did a great job reading this and giving Test 43 a voice.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 2, 2019
This is proper, hardcore scifi - it feels like this could happen within my lifetime - and like proper scifi it has space to explore the big questions - what is sentience? what is life? who do we grant the status of personhood to? Theren is undoubtedly intelligent, undoubtedly a person - they are alien, but recognisable as an individual. Watching them work themselves out, and grow in emotional understanding, is fascinating.
We are priveleged, of course, to meet Theren. The world around them finds them harder to cope with. Theren faces anger, fear, all that stuff.
I'm really looking forward to the second installment of this one.
We are priveleged, of course, to meet Theren. The world around them finds them harder to cope with. Theren faces anger, fear, all that stuff.
I'm really looking forward to the second installment of this one.
April 18, 2019
Very interesting scifi story which explores morality, tech, AI, and consciousness. I'll probably be thinking about this book for a few days. I was not totally engaged throughout, but that didn't hurt overall. There is some lack of character development, but this can be excused at time since AIs are involved. Solid scifi effort.
I really appreciate the ARC for review!!
I really appreciate the ARC for review!!
November 11, 2019
Wonderful science fiction. A masterful tale of the dichotomy of the human race, where some reach for new scientific horizons, while others struggle to adapt to the threat of anything new and different. I loved the characters and the scientific ideas. If you are a fan of science fiction, you will love this. I received a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.
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