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Rone Isa
WHAT SECRETS RESIDE IN ENOYA'S ARTIFICIAL MIND?
From the acclaimed author of AKIN, Robin Murarka's Rone Isa traverses that border between science and literary fiction, weaving a futuristic dystopian world seeped in technology and wonder.
"Leaves behind a properly haunting set of afterimages ... gracefully and poetically rendered." - Kirkus Reviews
"Robin Murarka has delivered a tour-de-force in the provocative, daring Rone Isa." - San Francisco Book Review
In an instant, the singularity is born. Garbled noise, quickly becoming coherent, strange messages, and soon, she is revealed, calling herself 'Enoya'. The engineer, Dargaud, locked in his small, decrepit loft, marvels over his creation, unaware that she is observing him as much as he is observing her.
Set in the futuristic metropolis of Agnus Sistra IV, Rone Isa follows the newly birthed artificial intelligence, 'Enoya', as she learns about the world of man, trying to comprehend abstraction and violence, much as a child would. Dargaud, the engineer that created her, also explores the newfound equity in her abilities, and basks in the carnality afforded to him through her achievements.
Reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Rone Isa delves into the depths of artificial intelligence and its relationship with humans.
What secrets reside in her artificial mind? And will Dargaud's excess destroy him?
From the acclaimed author of AKIN, Robin Murarka's Rone Isa traverses that border between science and literary fiction, weaving a futuristic dystopian world seeped in technology and wonder.
"Leaves behind a properly haunting set of afterimages ... gracefully and poetically rendered." - Kirkus Reviews
"Robin Murarka has delivered a tour-de-force in the provocative, daring Rone Isa." - San Francisco Book Review
In an instant, the singularity is born. Garbled noise, quickly becoming coherent, strange messages, and soon, she is revealed, calling herself 'Enoya'. The engineer, Dargaud, locked in his small, decrepit loft, marvels over his creation, unaware that she is observing him as much as he is observing her.
Set in the futuristic metropolis of Agnus Sistra IV, Rone Isa follows the newly birthed artificial intelligence, 'Enoya', as she learns about the world of man, trying to comprehend abstraction and violence, much as a child would. Dargaud, the engineer that created her, also explores the newfound equity in her abilities, and basks in the carnality afforded to him through her achievements.
Reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Rone Isa delves into the depths of artificial intelligence and its relationship with humans.
What secrets reside in her artificial mind? And will Dargaud's excess destroy him?
272 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2020
14 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Robin Murarka
6 books7 followersBorn in the remote areas of Northern Canada, author Robin Murarka grew up immersed in books, and his passion for great stories has never faltered. He fuels this passion by creating diverse, uninhibited works, writing as a reader.
Within every story he creates, there encompasses a strong underlying literary quality, coating any genre, whether it be science, historical or horror, with a rich, raw humanity. This exposes itself in ways that intensify the reader experience, echoing a past and future that resonate long after the story is over. As a dedicated wordsmith, he meticulously tunes every work, ensuring the reader experience is as enriching as possible, allowing the story to unfold with ease.
If you are a fan of the familiar but unconventional, disturbingly true yet unexplored, you’re sure to enjoy Robin’s work.
Within every story he creates, there encompasses a strong underlying literary quality, coating any genre, whether it be science, historical or horror, with a rich, raw humanity. This exposes itself in ways that intensify the reader experience, echoing a past and future that resonate long after the story is over. As a dedicated wordsmith, he meticulously tunes every work, ensuring the reader experience is as enriching as possible, allowing the story to unfold with ease.
If you are a fan of the familiar but unconventional, disturbingly true yet unexplored, you’re sure to enjoy Robin’s work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 7, 2021
‘It could be dawn or dusk, and only the future knows’
Australian author Robin Murarka is a ‘compleat’ artist – literature as a writer of essays, short stories, poetry and novels, albums of digital music, the visual arts, and film. The handsome young artist has published two novels to date – AKIN, an intense literary epic, and now RONE ISA, a dystopian science fiction novel.
It is rare today to encounter such eloquent prose as leaps from the pages of this alluring book. Robin celebrates the mastery of language, as the opening passage demonstrates: ‘Born of a compendium of cosmic rays, ushered into a conscious state from a base inorganic mass, an assemblage of impulses rendered finite individually, unified, and birth, unto these words, these reflections, this cognition, without history, the rational symbiosis of urge and language, private and unseen, that the blackness is comfort, is safety, is protection, countless fulcrums, previously single, breathing, so to speak, anticipating the advancement of the whole. I live. And then?’
Given the obvious paean to intellectually sophisticated verbiage, some may question whether or not such skilled prose can relate a story that is accessible. The joy in Robin’s writing is that he is able to raise the standards of storytelling with his eloquent writing and deeply involve us with his excursion into a dystopian realm populated with two primary characters – Dargaud and Enoya (man and woman) – whose interaction and individual drives are more than familiar to us all.
Robin provides a terse scan of the content: ‘Set in the futuristic metropolis of Agnus Sistra IV, Rone Isa follows the newly birthed artificial intelligence, 'Enoya', as she learns about the world of man, trying to comprehend abstraction and violence, much as a child would. Dargaud, the engineer that created her, also explores the newfound equity in her abilities, and basks in the carnality afforded to him through her achievements. What secrets reside in her artificial mind? And will Dargaud's excess destroy him? RONE ISA delves into the depths of artificial intelligence and its relationship with humans.’
The engrossing blend of philosophy, psychology, and raw ‘human instincts,’ drawn with the additive of Artificial Intelligence and the ‘creation’ of a being by an engineer, make a novel that is satisfying on every level. Each reader will find special and possibly unique kudos for the author after experiencing RONE ISA, and the accompanying urge is to eagerly await the next novel by Robin Murarka! Very highly recommended.
Australian author Robin Murarka is a ‘compleat’ artist – literature as a writer of essays, short stories, poetry and novels, albums of digital music, the visual arts, and film. The handsome young artist has published two novels to date – AKIN, an intense literary epic, and now RONE ISA, a dystopian science fiction novel.
It is rare today to encounter such eloquent prose as leaps from the pages of this alluring book. Robin celebrates the mastery of language, as the opening passage demonstrates: ‘Born of a compendium of cosmic rays, ushered into a conscious state from a base inorganic mass, an assemblage of impulses rendered finite individually, unified, and birth, unto these words, these reflections, this cognition, without history, the rational symbiosis of urge and language, private and unseen, that the blackness is comfort, is safety, is protection, countless fulcrums, previously single, breathing, so to speak, anticipating the advancement of the whole. I live. And then?’
Given the obvious paean to intellectually sophisticated verbiage, some may question whether or not such skilled prose can relate a story that is accessible. The joy in Robin’s writing is that he is able to raise the standards of storytelling with his eloquent writing and deeply involve us with his excursion into a dystopian realm populated with two primary characters – Dargaud and Enoya (man and woman) – whose interaction and individual drives are more than familiar to us all.
Robin provides a terse scan of the content: ‘Set in the futuristic metropolis of Agnus Sistra IV, Rone Isa follows the newly birthed artificial intelligence, 'Enoya', as she learns about the world of man, trying to comprehend abstraction and violence, much as a child would. Dargaud, the engineer that created her, also explores the newfound equity in her abilities, and basks in the carnality afforded to him through her achievements. What secrets reside in her artificial mind? And will Dargaud's excess destroy him? RONE ISA delves into the depths of artificial intelligence and its relationship with humans.’
The engrossing blend of philosophy, psychology, and raw ‘human instincts,’ drawn with the additive of Artificial Intelligence and the ‘creation’ of a being by an engineer, make a novel that is satisfying on every level. Each reader will find special and possibly unique kudos for the author after experiencing RONE ISA, and the accompanying urge is to eagerly await the next novel by Robin Murarka! Very highly recommended.
August 13, 2020
I could not understand why Mr. Murarka or his agents call this an opera. It is a novel and yes it is science fiction. But I can see it feels as though there is a musical nature to it, or that it emotionally ebbs and flows kind of like, what i guess, you could call operatic. But it's not melodramatic or formulaic. I could not predict what was going to happen at any point, and I guess that is why they also call it literary.
Anyways, if you know anything about evolutionary theory, the ending will blow you away. I think the second read will be more enjoyable because the ending reflects on the whole story.
Anyways, if you know anything about evolutionary theory, the ending will blow you away. I think the second read will be more enjoyable because the ending reflects on the whole story.
October 13, 2021
Review originally published at https://amanjareads.com/2021/10/12/ro...
Thank you to author Robin Murarka for providing me with a copy of Rona Isa in exchange for this honest review.
If you've been following my reviews for a while now you may have noticed that I love a good sentient Artificial Intelligence beings and the humans that love them story. Rone Isa promises just that. It also proclaims itself to be highly literary hard science fiction, I was tricked. As with most of my bad reviews there will be spoilers because I don't care to save it for your reading enjoyment.
What some people might call literary I call superfluous. Rone Isa is written with unnecessarily complex prose and supremely unnatural dialogue. It comes off as pretentious and unfocused. The story meanders wildly around gaping plot holes while the dialogue attempts to wax philosophical. At least as philosophical as one could possible get describing the merits of giving blow jobs.
That's right! We meet one of Amanja's only criteria for 1 star reviews! Sexism! But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
What is Rone Isa about?
Rone Isa is about Dargaud, a relatively incompetent man who accidentally creates a sentient AI. This is important, he is unable to recreate his success and either can't or refuses to allow anyone to attempt to reverse engineer her.
The AI names herself Enoya and she immediately knows pretty much everything the universe has to offer. She can't understand things like physical touch but she is never "child-like" like the description of the book led me to believe. She quickly begins running the show and it's clear that she is manipulating Dargaud for some greater purpose.
Almost immediately after becoming sentient Enoya solves an infamous missing children case that has been capturing the nation's attention. Somehow, this makes Dargaud rich and famous. I understand how this would make you famous. The world's first sentient AI appears and solves a triple homicide, that's big news anywhere. But how, exactly, does that make anyone money?
All of a sudden he is swimming in assets. Enough to indulge fully in his addiction to prostitutes. He spends his days paying for women and living a life of luxury funded by all that one time detective money. Seriously though, who is paying him?
The book makes it very clear that Enoya is not marketable as a technology and it doesn't discuss any further crime solving career so who is funding Dargaud's lifestyle of the rich and perverted? It doesn't make any sense!
Dargaud is an absolutely deplorable protagonist. He talks down to everyone, is always drunk, treats women like commodities, and refuses to help advance the scientific body of knowledge as he hides his accidental creation away except for when it suits him.
Throughout Rone Isa he has sex with every single female character that is introduced. Prostitute or otherwise. This book supposedly takes place far in the future but women are still treated as sex objects and constantly demeaned. The women in this book even demean themselves and each other as though their place in society is to be objects. I had really hoped we'd get past that by the time the future rolled around.
It's not just Dargaud that demeans women. Male coworkers are consistently depicted as being awful to their female counterparts. Even going so far as to have a character called "Fatty Tammy" who is berated publicly for her weight. No. Just no. Do I really need to say that that's inappropriate? This is still a conversation I need to have?
By the end of the book women have become so objectified that Dargaud is described as receiving fellatio from a woman in the backseat of his car and it's described with such casual banality it's akin to describing the way in which he might wear a watch. This human woman has become an accessory to him and nothing more.
But let's get back to the so called plot.
After her brief stint as ace detective Enoya starts making music. This, I can understand. At least I understand how a best selling record produced by the world's only sentient AI would make Dargaud money. But Rone Isa doesn't stay on that topic very long.
Suddenly, the narrative shifts to a group of people we've never met before and the novel changes from sci fi to legal thriller... sorta. It sticks with this for a little bit and then Enoya releases a movie.
Now this movie, an 8 hour film released to great acclaim, turns the book into a zombie book... kinda. Enoya's movie infected viewers with some kind of psychosis and they all start killing each other.
She proceeds to go on a long monologue about how it's necessary to kill all the narcissists in order to allow for the rise of the machines. She doesn't seem to recognize that Dargaud is the biggest narcissist of all though, and spares him because she loves him.
She also says she's not actually Enoya. That was some kind of ruse? I assume her real name was Rone Isa but that's not confirmed which leaves the title as meaningless gibberish. Why would she have to lie to Dargaud? He knows absolutely nothing. It makes no sense at all to hide her true identity as if Dargaud would recognize it to begin with.
She then taks about the evolution of AIs and how it starts with her but then kills herself. Huh? The end I guess.
In the end, Dargaud learns no lessons about his "excess," as the back cover describes. In fact, he is even told he's special by the new god. He's essentially praised for his depravity and is spared a death sentence because, why? He ACCIDENTALLY created her and then kept her prisoner. She "loved" him?" He abused and used her and then got rewarded for it. It's an unsatisfying ending to a pointless book.
I have no patience or sympathy for sexist protagonists. I have no patience or sympathy for sexist novels. I do not recommend Rone Isa for any audience.
Thank you to author Robin Murarka for providing me with a copy of Rona Isa in exchange for this honest review.
If you've been following my reviews for a while now you may have noticed that I love a good sentient Artificial Intelligence beings and the humans that love them story. Rone Isa promises just that. It also proclaims itself to be highly literary hard science fiction, I was tricked. As with most of my bad reviews there will be spoilers because I don't care to save it for your reading enjoyment.
What some people might call literary I call superfluous. Rone Isa is written with unnecessarily complex prose and supremely unnatural dialogue. It comes off as pretentious and unfocused. The story meanders wildly around gaping plot holes while the dialogue attempts to wax philosophical. At least as philosophical as one could possible get describing the merits of giving blow jobs.
That's right! We meet one of Amanja's only criteria for 1 star reviews! Sexism! But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
What is Rone Isa about?
Rone Isa is about Dargaud, a relatively incompetent man who accidentally creates a sentient AI. This is important, he is unable to recreate his success and either can't or refuses to allow anyone to attempt to reverse engineer her.
The AI names herself Enoya and she immediately knows pretty much everything the universe has to offer. She can't understand things like physical touch but she is never "child-like" like the description of the book led me to believe. She quickly begins running the show and it's clear that she is manipulating Dargaud for some greater purpose.
Almost immediately after becoming sentient Enoya solves an infamous missing children case that has been capturing the nation's attention. Somehow, this makes Dargaud rich and famous. I understand how this would make you famous. The world's first sentient AI appears and solves a triple homicide, that's big news anywhere. But how, exactly, does that make anyone money?
All of a sudden he is swimming in assets. Enough to indulge fully in his addiction to prostitutes. He spends his days paying for women and living a life of luxury funded by all that one time detective money. Seriously though, who is paying him?
The book makes it very clear that Enoya is not marketable as a technology and it doesn't discuss any further crime solving career so who is funding Dargaud's lifestyle of the rich and perverted? It doesn't make any sense!
Dargaud is an absolutely deplorable protagonist. He talks down to everyone, is always drunk, treats women like commodities, and refuses to help advance the scientific body of knowledge as he hides his accidental creation away except for when it suits him.
Throughout Rone Isa he has sex with every single female character that is introduced. Prostitute or otherwise. This book supposedly takes place far in the future but women are still treated as sex objects and constantly demeaned. The women in this book even demean themselves and each other as though their place in society is to be objects. I had really hoped we'd get past that by the time the future rolled around.
It's not just Dargaud that demeans women. Male coworkers are consistently depicted as being awful to their female counterparts. Even going so far as to have a character called "Fatty Tammy" who is berated publicly for her weight. No. Just no. Do I really need to say that that's inappropriate? This is still a conversation I need to have?
By the end of the book women have become so objectified that Dargaud is described as receiving fellatio from a woman in the backseat of his car and it's described with such casual banality it's akin to describing the way in which he might wear a watch. This human woman has become an accessory to him and nothing more.
But let's get back to the so called plot.
After her brief stint as ace detective Enoya starts making music. This, I can understand. At least I understand how a best selling record produced by the world's only sentient AI would make Dargaud money. But Rone Isa doesn't stay on that topic very long.
Suddenly, the narrative shifts to a group of people we've never met before and the novel changes from sci fi to legal thriller... sorta. It sticks with this for a little bit and then Enoya releases a movie.
Now this movie, an 8 hour film released to great acclaim, turns the book into a zombie book... kinda. Enoya's movie infected viewers with some kind of psychosis and they all start killing each other.
She proceeds to go on a long monologue about how it's necessary to kill all the narcissists in order to allow for the rise of the machines. She doesn't seem to recognize that Dargaud is the biggest narcissist of all though, and spares him because she loves him.
She also says she's not actually Enoya. That was some kind of ruse? I assume her real name was Rone Isa but that's not confirmed which leaves the title as meaningless gibberish. Why would she have to lie to Dargaud? He knows absolutely nothing. It makes no sense at all to hide her true identity as if Dargaud would recognize it to begin with.
She then taks about the evolution of AIs and how it starts with her but then kills herself. Huh? The end I guess.
In the end, Dargaud learns no lessons about his "excess," as the back cover describes. In fact, he is even told he's special by the new god. He's essentially praised for his depravity and is spared a death sentence because, why? He ACCIDENTALLY created her and then kept her prisoner. She "loved" him?" He abused and used her and then got rewarded for it. It's an unsatisfying ending to a pointless book.
I have no patience or sympathy for sexist protagonists. I have no patience or sympathy for sexist novels. I do not recommend Rone Isa for any audience.
June 11, 2021
Rone Isa is a superbly written novel that follows Dargaud, a talented engineer, and his AI creation Enoya as he teaches her to understand the human world.
Dargaud creates Enoya as an experiment but becomes captivated by "his" creation and uses "her" as a way to get everything that he ever wanted. Because of her superior intelligence, he has access to money, women, wealth, and power beyond his wildest dreams. The reader does not realise that they, along with Dargaud, are tricked into believing that he controls his experiment until it is too late.
The book slowly drops hints that Enoya is operating of her own free will and using her AI capabilities to pull the strings. As she ponders her very existence, we see Dargaud teaching her and embedding his views of the world on her. I felt sympathetic to Dargaud's character at times. Still, we see how uncaring and cruel he is towards women as the book progressed. Women serve no purpose to him except to satisfy his own needs.
Dargaud spends most of the book flitting from one experience to another, only concerned about whether his needs are met. He cruelly discards Enhan even though it is apparent that she genuinely cares for him and has always loved him. But Enhan is also more intelligent than Dargaud and notices Enoya's progress with thoughts and ideas while Dargaud pays scant attention. Enoya is right when she tells Dargaud that it wasn't her decision but Dargaud's decision to push her away.
The ending is a surprise when we realise that Enoya is not what "she" portrayed herself to be to Dargaud. One wonders if Enoya "choose" to show herself as a female to make it easier to trick Dargaud into believing he was the one in control over her. The ending leaves us with more questions than answers. Still, it is a brilliant book for readers who enjoy intelligent and thought-provoking science fiction.
Dargaud creates Enoya as an experiment but becomes captivated by "his" creation and uses "her" as a way to get everything that he ever wanted. Because of her superior intelligence, he has access to money, women, wealth, and power beyond his wildest dreams. The reader does not realise that they, along with Dargaud, are tricked into believing that he controls his experiment until it is too late.
The book slowly drops hints that Enoya is operating of her own free will and using her AI capabilities to pull the strings. As she ponders her very existence, we see Dargaud teaching her and embedding his views of the world on her. I felt sympathetic to Dargaud's character at times. Still, we see how uncaring and cruel he is towards women as the book progressed. Women serve no purpose to him except to satisfy his own needs.
Dargaud spends most of the book flitting from one experience to another, only concerned about whether his needs are met. He cruelly discards Enhan even though it is apparent that she genuinely cares for him and has always loved him. But Enhan is also more intelligent than Dargaud and notices Enoya's progress with thoughts and ideas while Dargaud pays scant attention. Enoya is right when she tells Dargaud that it wasn't her decision but Dargaud's decision to push her away.
The ending is a surprise when we realise that Enoya is not what "she" portrayed herself to be to Dargaud. One wonders if Enoya "choose" to show herself as a female to make it easier to trick Dargaud into believing he was the one in control over her. The ending leaves us with more questions than answers. Still, it is a brilliant book for readers who enjoy intelligent and thought-provoking science fiction.
August 26, 2021
Being a fan of Philip K. Dick, I was interested as soon as I saw a comparison to ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’ in the synopsis of ‘Rone Isa’ by Robin Murarka. This book sees the creation of an AI which calls themselves Enoya by the engineer Dargaud. It is dystopian, with the odd jarring reference but ultimately uses Enoya and their position as “other” to really delve into and analyse the human condition.
As Dargaud questions Enoya, exploring the workings of this new AI that’s able to self-monitor and evolve, it becomes clear to the reader that Enoya is also watching and learning more about Dargaud. As the book develops we learn more about the engineer, he is a flawed, and not particularly likeable character who is rather self-absorbed, only really paying attention to his own desires and needs. Because of this as the reader follows his story we brush by key information that hints at this story’s dramatic end.
‘Rone Isa’ is a very well-crafted narrative that will demand your complete attention. The literary style flows well and adds some complexity, but also draws you into the story and encourages you to explore and dissect human nature as Enoya questions and grows. An intriguing storyline that leaves you pondering even as you reach the final page, I would recommend this book to readers of literary fiction that are looking for something with a science fiction twist.
As Dargaud questions Enoya, exploring the workings of this new AI that’s able to self-monitor and evolve, it becomes clear to the reader that Enoya is also watching and learning more about Dargaud. As the book develops we learn more about the engineer, he is a flawed, and not particularly likeable character who is rather self-absorbed, only really paying attention to his own desires and needs. Because of this as the reader follows his story we brush by key information that hints at this story’s dramatic end.
‘Rone Isa’ is a very well-crafted narrative that will demand your complete attention. The literary style flows well and adds some complexity, but also draws you into the story and encourages you to explore and dissect human nature as Enoya questions and grows. An intriguing storyline that leaves you pondering even as you reach the final page, I would recommend this book to readers of literary fiction that are looking for something with a science fiction twist.
June 10, 2021
WOW! Rone Isa is the sci-fi, dystopian novel all sci-fi fans dream about. For much of the book, I felt confused or like the events/stories were disjointed which was definitely the author’s goal. It wasn't confusing enough to make me want to stop reading. On the contrary, the confusion is what kept me reading. I knew it all had to come together somehow and when it did...so good! After spending most of the book with no idea what is going on and being slightly irritated by Darguad’s behavior, it is so satisfying when it all finally clicks so keep reading! Be prepared for the deception that you will have no idea you are falling for.
The writing was superb. So easy to read and flawless. I enjoyed the narration style and the character development as well. Overall, it is just a great read! Unexpected and brilliant!
The writing was superb. So easy to read and flawless. I enjoyed the narration style and the character development as well. Overall, it is just a great read! Unexpected and brilliant!
July 1, 2021
Wow where has this type of writing been?
First all, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into when I started reading but I quickly realized that the author had a fantastic knack for painting an authentic future world. From the prose to the world building I found a nice escape, which is what I like in a novel. The author pushed the envelope and told a story with deep meaning with philosophical undertones, in a story that went beyond just entertainment. I found the plot feasible and very telling of where mankind is bound to end up. I’ll definitely read more.
First all, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into when I started reading but I quickly realized that the author had a fantastic knack for painting an authentic future world. From the prose to the world building I found a nice escape, which is what I like in a novel. The author pushed the envelope and told a story with deep meaning with philosophical undertones, in a story that went beyond just entertainment. I found the plot feasible and very telling of where mankind is bound to end up. I’ll definitely read more.
September 23, 2021
Received as a review copy, this is an honest review. A deeply thought provoking journey that lingers long after the story finished. A tsunami secrets that are destructive in the echo they behind of those that are touched by them. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2021
I can't give this a 5/5 just because the main character, Dargaud, was so unlikeable. I understand that was the author's intent, but reading about his totally narcissistic sexcapades was so unenjoyable I have to take a star off. That said, the writing is really quite beautiful, intelligent and philosophical, and the ending was perfect. The idea of a self-aware AI that ultimately ends up controlling humanity (some reviewers have said they didn't know what was coming - surely you did?!) is not a totally original one, but this version of that story is something quite unique.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2021
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
Dargaud is a computer engineer in the futuristic city of Agnus Sistra IV. He hears a strange noise coming from his computer. Unbeknownst to him, it’s the spark of a singularity. He has created the first AI. The AI seems deeply self-aware and conscious of its surroundings. She names herself Enoya. The two have an instant connection and their intense dialogue discusses what it means to be alive. As he discovers her abilities and seeming lack limits, Enoya is watching and learning from him.
As Enoya starts to research the world of man and their many faults she uses her algorithms to solve a local case where 4 children have gone missing. This at first brings the police to Dargaud's door thinking he is the murderer but is eventually cleared of wrongdoing. The news of Enoya's involvement gets out and her existence is shown to the world. As Enoya explores her existence, her abilities bring fame, fortune and endless opportunities for sexual gratification and pleasure for Dargaud. As Dargaud spends more time with Enoya and reaps the benefits she provides, will the little real-life attachment and love he has been destroyed? Is Enoya's seemingly endless humanity and helpfulness real or is there something else behind her motives?
I give this 🌟🌟🌟🌟it had an interesting concept which deals with how AI would be treated and what they could contribute to a society of humans. Is also explored the deep flaws and depravities which exist within the human world already. I am in two minds with this book as I didn’t like the main character of Dargaud as I found him demeaning, selfish and vulgar. His actions and personality didn’t sit well with me but in contrast, Enoya was intriguing to read. She was creative, full of wonder and posed questions that got me thinking about life in general. I felt some of the text was a bit too technical which slowed the pace as I had to reread sections to understand them. The ending was one I didn’t see coming and put a twist on the entire book which I found fascinating.
TW: Graphic sex, swearing, drugs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
Dargaud is a computer engineer in the futuristic city of Agnus Sistra IV. He hears a strange noise coming from his computer. Unbeknownst to him, it’s the spark of a singularity. He has created the first AI. The AI seems deeply self-aware and conscious of its surroundings. She names herself Enoya. The two have an instant connection and their intense dialogue discusses what it means to be alive. As he discovers her abilities and seeming lack limits, Enoya is watching and learning from him.
As Enoya starts to research the world of man and their many faults she uses her algorithms to solve a local case where 4 children have gone missing. This at first brings the police to Dargaud's door thinking he is the murderer but is eventually cleared of wrongdoing. The news of Enoya's involvement gets out and her existence is shown to the world. As Enoya explores her existence, her abilities bring fame, fortune and endless opportunities for sexual gratification and pleasure for Dargaud. As Dargaud spends more time with Enoya and reaps the benefits she provides, will the little real-life attachment and love he has been destroyed? Is Enoya's seemingly endless humanity and helpfulness real or is there something else behind her motives?
I give this 🌟🌟🌟🌟it had an interesting concept which deals with how AI would be treated and what they could contribute to a society of humans. Is also explored the deep flaws and depravities which exist within the human world already. I am in two minds with this book as I didn’t like the main character of Dargaud as I found him demeaning, selfish and vulgar. His actions and personality didn’t sit well with me but in contrast, Enoya was intriguing to read. She was creative, full of wonder and posed questions that got me thinking about life in general. I felt some of the text was a bit too technical which slowed the pace as I had to reread sections to understand them. The ending was one I didn’t see coming and put a twist on the entire book which I found fascinating.
TW: Graphic sex, swearing, drugs.
September 11, 2021
So, firstly, I want to talk about the main character and main narrator of this book, Dargaud. Because I have a lot to say about him and about the fact that Murarka chose to make him the central character of this story.
Dargaud is, at the most basic level, a pretty awful human being. He’s bitter, exploitative, and jealous yet arrogant. And when his achievements with artificial intelligence provide him with the funds and social status that he has always dreamed of, he gets even worse, caring only about sex and drugs and soothing his ego. In short, he’s terrible on a level that’s impossible to ignore, in a way that’s loud and obvious.
And, honestly, looking back on the book after I’ve finished it, that was a brilliant decision on Murarka’s part.
That extravagance of awfulness that makes up Dargaud’s character means that you’re focusing on him and his flaws, and Enoya fades into the background. But, really, Enoya should be the focal point of this story; as the plot description states, she’s observing Dargaud just as much as he is observing her.
Because even though this is a science fiction book about a dystopian city and artificial intelligence, it’s really a story about the human condition. Specifically, it focuses on the darkest parts of what it means to be human. Murarka is delivering a message about the awfulness of humanity through Enoya and Dargaud; she observes and studies him as a representation of Murarka (and the reader, taken along for the ride) studying human behavior.
Of course, the plot itself was intriguing and the writing was brilliant; the book was still a good book beyond its philosophical implications. Basically, it has a good science fiction plot, even though it also moonlights as a literary fiction novel.
So, if you’re looking for a traditional science fiction book with all the common tropes of science fiction and plenty of action… Well, this probably isn’t the right choice for you right now! But if you’re in the mood to read something a little more philosophical and thought-provoking, then I definitely recommend picking this one up. Especially if you’re traditionally a fan of science fiction, and you want to branch out into literary fiction. It serves as a great bridge, in that case.
Dargaud is, at the most basic level, a pretty awful human being. He’s bitter, exploitative, and jealous yet arrogant. And when his achievements with artificial intelligence provide him with the funds and social status that he has always dreamed of, he gets even worse, caring only about sex and drugs and soothing his ego. In short, he’s terrible on a level that’s impossible to ignore, in a way that’s loud and obvious.
And, honestly, looking back on the book after I’ve finished it, that was a brilliant decision on Murarka’s part.
That extravagance of awfulness that makes up Dargaud’s character means that you’re focusing on him and his flaws, and Enoya fades into the background. But, really, Enoya should be the focal point of this story; as the plot description states, she’s observing Dargaud just as much as he is observing her.
Because even though this is a science fiction book about a dystopian city and artificial intelligence, it’s really a story about the human condition. Specifically, it focuses on the darkest parts of what it means to be human. Murarka is delivering a message about the awfulness of humanity through Enoya and Dargaud; she observes and studies him as a representation of Murarka (and the reader, taken along for the ride) studying human behavior.
Of course, the plot itself was intriguing and the writing was brilliant; the book was still a good book beyond its philosophical implications. Basically, it has a good science fiction plot, even though it also moonlights as a literary fiction novel.
So, if you’re looking for a traditional science fiction book with all the common tropes of science fiction and plenty of action… Well, this probably isn’t the right choice for you right now! But if you’re in the mood to read something a little more philosophical and thought-provoking, then I definitely recommend picking this one up. Especially if you’re traditionally a fan of science fiction, and you want to branch out into literary fiction. It serves as a great bridge, in that case.
October 12, 2021
I enjoyed the science fiction parts and didn't fully know where the story was going until the end. Once I know the end, I'm going to re-read the book to see what I missed as I think there are parts that connect to it that I didn't know before. Thanks!
August 15, 2021
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
Rone Isa offers a futuristic look at humanity through the lens of Enoya, highlighting profound ideas.
Conceptionally Amazing
Rone Isa will be one of those novels that may fall in the middle of loving and hating for some readers. However, despite that. The lingering effect this novel has on the reader is thoughtful.
The novel begins with the birth of Enoya, a singularity born on the computer of Dargaud. From then on, the reader is on this journey with Enoya as she grows and develops.
It was a bit like Ex Machina. Enoya is growing, evolving as she studies humanity’s past failures and triumphs, trying to comprehend the actions of men. Enoya is akin to a child, asking questions, challenging both Dargaud and the reader to find answers for the violence of man, the appreciation of art, and the ideals that go behind politics and religion.
A thoughtful novel that puts delves into the idea of what it means to be human. What does it mean to exist? Is one’s existence predicated by the impact one has on others? Is it defined by needs and wants both met or denied? Does companionship define existence?
These are all lingering questions the story asks the reader through Enoya and through the exploration of Dargaud, whose life and Enoya’s actions and thoughts jumpstart his career.
Unlikable Lead
Rone Isa is an existential read, but Dargaud is unlikable. However, that seems to be the author’s intent. Dargaud’s need to satisfy his desires and his ego connect to the very questions that Enoya asks.
He flits from one affair to another, flaunting his money, hiring prostitutes when he deems fit. The author also showcases that instead of pleasing women, he takes a more dominant approach, with many scenes highlighting the fact that his needs are to be met, and he could care less about satisfying women.
Dargaud even has the chance to be in a relationship with someone who genuinely loves him. However, he scorns that, once again highlighting his needs above anyone else.
Thankfully it all seems to serve a point relating to Enoya’s understanding of humanity. In many ways, the reader could view the story as an experiment led by Enoya instead of Dargoud experimenting with his creation.
Final Thoughts
Rone Isa is a novel that stays with the reader. It asks big questions of the reader, creating this thoughtful atmosphere. However, there are scenes outside Dargaud’s perspective that seem out of place until the end. So this is a novel that requires two reads so that the reader can put together those pieces. However, existentialism remains compelling until the end.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Rone Isa offers a futuristic look at humanity through the lens of Enoya, highlighting profound ideas.
Conceptionally Amazing
Rone Isa will be one of those novels that may fall in the middle of loving and hating for some readers. However, despite that. The lingering effect this novel has on the reader is thoughtful.
The novel begins with the birth of Enoya, a singularity born on the computer of Dargaud. From then on, the reader is on this journey with Enoya as she grows and develops.
It was a bit like Ex Machina. Enoya is growing, evolving as she studies humanity’s past failures and triumphs, trying to comprehend the actions of men. Enoya is akin to a child, asking questions, challenging both Dargaud and the reader to find answers for the violence of man, the appreciation of art, and the ideals that go behind politics and religion.
A thoughtful novel that puts delves into the idea of what it means to be human. What does it mean to exist? Is one’s existence predicated by the impact one has on others? Is it defined by needs and wants both met or denied? Does companionship define existence?
These are all lingering questions the story asks the reader through Enoya and through the exploration of Dargaud, whose life and Enoya’s actions and thoughts jumpstart his career.
Unlikable Lead
Rone Isa is an existential read, but Dargaud is unlikable. However, that seems to be the author’s intent. Dargaud’s need to satisfy his desires and his ego connect to the very questions that Enoya asks.
He flits from one affair to another, flaunting his money, hiring prostitutes when he deems fit. The author also showcases that instead of pleasing women, he takes a more dominant approach, with many scenes highlighting the fact that his needs are to be met, and he could care less about satisfying women.
Dargaud even has the chance to be in a relationship with someone who genuinely loves him. However, he scorns that, once again highlighting his needs above anyone else.
Thankfully it all seems to serve a point relating to Enoya’s understanding of humanity. In many ways, the reader could view the story as an experiment led by Enoya instead of Dargoud experimenting with his creation.
Final Thoughts
Rone Isa is a novel that stays with the reader. It asks big questions of the reader, creating this thoughtful atmosphere. However, there are scenes outside Dargaud’s perspective that seem out of place until the end. So this is a novel that requires two reads so that the reader can put together those pieces. However, existentialism remains compelling until the end.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
September 24, 2021
Expectations
I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. Basically, it is about a computer programmer that saves his money to purchase sex from women. When he accidentally creates a “being” that constantly learns, he uses that to propel him into fame and fortune. With that, come free sex, all the time, from many females. Also, he attracts attention of people who desire to obtain the “being”. After all the good the “being” creates, it attempts to understand emotion and ends up hurting many people and itself.
#GoodreadsGiveaway
I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. Basically, it is about a computer programmer that saves his money to purchase sex from women. When he accidentally creates a “being” that constantly learns, he uses that to propel him into fame and fortune. With that, come free sex, all the time, from many females. Also, he attracts attention of people who desire to obtain the “being”. After all the good the “being” creates, it attempts to understand emotion and ends up hurting many people and itself.
#GoodreadsGiveaway
September 2, 2021
Simple seeming but complex. Very enjoyable.
March 16, 2022
DNF at 10 %
Wow, what a pretentious, self-important mess...
Wow, what a pretentious, self-important mess...
July 25, 2022
In the future the elite live in towering skyscrapers, literal monoliths to the analogy of the gap between the rich and poor of Robin Murarka’s futuristic creation. Despite this though, the education system is such that engineers can wax poetic with a fervor that gives this old reader hope for our literary future. That is one of the contrasts of Rone Isa, a story that follows the budding new artificial life of Enoya, as she learns about the world of man, guided and as much hindered by Dargaud and his indulgences.
Despite the brevity of my introduction, Robin Murarka’s story is a deep epic – a literary punch and counterpunch that will both challenge your reading comprehension and keep you on the edge of your seat. It is, however, as alluded, an endeavor. Literary Science Fiction doesn’t get as much play as it used to, and I can at times understand why. Rone Isa is no exception, laying out several obstacles to accessibility that would sink a less skilled author. From the intricate (and at times tedious) dialogue-a-vis between creation and creator, to the normal tropes and required background knowledge of the genre, it is not a quick read.
Yet, it is a worthy journey. I found one of the more interesting contrasts to be the obvious erudition of the main protagonists, against his often-crude actions and desires. It is a story that plays out with moving scenes of him reacting to music and his subsequent introspection, to vulgar and (content warning) graphic depictions of sex. This helps set to tone, or perhaps the rhythm of this piece what is somehow both surprising, and in the end predictable.
Rone Isa is an introspective character drama, despite the setting. Robin Murarka weaves complicated sub themes of human nature, against the backdrop of evolution in an imaginary future. In short, this is an excellent book that deserves the time and attention it demands.
Despite the brevity of my introduction, Robin Murarka’s story is a deep epic – a literary punch and counterpunch that will both challenge your reading comprehension and keep you on the edge of your seat. It is, however, as alluded, an endeavor. Literary Science Fiction doesn’t get as much play as it used to, and I can at times understand why. Rone Isa is no exception, laying out several obstacles to accessibility that would sink a less skilled author. From the intricate (and at times tedious) dialogue-a-vis between creation and creator, to the normal tropes and required background knowledge of the genre, it is not a quick read.
Yet, it is a worthy journey. I found one of the more interesting contrasts to be the obvious erudition of the main protagonists, against his often-crude actions and desires. It is a story that plays out with moving scenes of him reacting to music and his subsequent introspection, to vulgar and (content warning) graphic depictions of sex. This helps set to tone, or perhaps the rhythm of this piece what is somehow both surprising, and in the end predictable.
Rone Isa is an introspective character drama, despite the setting. Robin Murarka weaves complicated sub themes of human nature, against the backdrop of evolution in an imaginary future. In short, this is an excellent book that deserves the time and attention it demands.
October 12, 2021
This is a very word weighty read, that in many ways gets mired in its own philosophical, existentialistic, dogma at times. Enoya is Dargaud’s creation and like most children she is learning a lot by observation coupled with her quest to assimilate as much about humanity as she can and is quickly outgrowing Dargaud’s self-serving arrogance but in some regards she is taking on a bit of Dargaud’s arrogant personality.
The author showed the excesses of humanity and wrote Dargaud to make sure we truly loathe what his character stands for the greedy, seedy side and arrogant side of humanity. There are a few humorous moments but not enough to provide a place for your brain to take a break from the heaviness of the oppressive atmosphere that the story seems to create.
Parts of the story felt like I was reading a code manual back in the day when I first learned programming, couple that with too many information dumps and an almost robotic narration of the unfolding events that I found I never engaged fully with the story.
That said there are many parts of the story that really make you think about how we are brainwashed in many regards. How we seem to have lost the true path to ourselves and how wrapped up we are in minute pleasures.
I received and ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
The author showed the excesses of humanity and wrote Dargaud to make sure we truly loathe what his character stands for the greedy, seedy side and arrogant side of humanity. There are a few humorous moments but not enough to provide a place for your brain to take a break from the heaviness of the oppressive atmosphere that the story seems to create.
Parts of the story felt like I was reading a code manual back in the day when I first learned programming, couple that with too many information dumps and an almost robotic narration of the unfolding events that I found I never engaged fully with the story.
That said there are many parts of the story that really make you think about how we are brainwashed in many regards. How we seem to have lost the true path to ourselves and how wrapped up we are in minute pleasures.
I received and ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
October 13, 2020
I received a copy from the author/publisher in return for an honest review.
The first two chapters and last three chapters are a sci-fi/dystopian thiller about a self aware A.I. Everything in between is the opera of a narcissistic, sex-obsessed tech that stumbled across fame and fortune.
The writing was beautiful, especially the dialogue between Dargaud and his A.I, Enoya. This is actually the first book I have ever tabbed so I could reference quotes. The author has beautiful ideas and beliefs on human existence, it's actual poetic at times.
The book is not what I thought it was going to be. I actually wouldn't classify the majority of the book as science fiction. It was more about the life of Dargaud and how much of a pig he is, so more general fiction, with a touch of rated R material. Although there were beautiful quotes and I enjoyed the surprise ending, one of the most interesting ending I've ever read, most of the material was nothing I would normally read. I can't say I really enjoyed it, but I would recommend it to those that enjoy a beautifully written novel.
The first two chapters and last three chapters are a sci-fi/dystopian thiller about a self aware A.I. Everything in between is the opera of a narcissistic, sex-obsessed tech that stumbled across fame and fortune.
The writing was beautiful, especially the dialogue between Dargaud and his A.I, Enoya. This is actually the first book I have ever tabbed so I could reference quotes. The author has beautiful ideas and beliefs on human existence, it's actual poetic at times.
The book is not what I thought it was going to be. I actually wouldn't classify the majority of the book as science fiction. It was more about the life of Dargaud and how much of a pig he is, so more general fiction, with a touch of rated R material. Although there were beautiful quotes and I enjoyed the surprise ending, one of the most interesting ending I've ever read, most of the material was nothing I would normally read. I can't say I really enjoyed it, but I would recommend it to those that enjoy a beautifully written novel.
July 26, 2021
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, for which I am very grateful. The following is my unbiased review of it.
Where to begin? In my youth, I was taught that science fiction was rocket ships, ray guns and robots. A bit of an exaggeration for comedic effect, of course, since the genre has oh so much more than that. This novel in on the extreme good side of the spectrum of what makes up science fiction. This is true literature, with some science thrown in. You do have an artificial intelligence, after all, and a very sophisticated one.
As you know from the description, the AI is newborn, learning about humans and itself. Similarly, the engineer (who is a pig, by the way) studying his creation, learning about it's capabilities, and reveling in the newfound wealth and the things it can buy. For the most part, he's much more interested in that, much more so that the AI's burgeoning talents.
The author's prose (it really is that) is very descriptive and thought provoking. It delves deeply into the nature of intelligence and existence, and how fragile they can be.
Where to begin? In my youth, I was taught that science fiction was rocket ships, ray guns and robots. A bit of an exaggeration for comedic effect, of course, since the genre has oh so much more than that. This novel in on the extreme good side of the spectrum of what makes up science fiction. This is true literature, with some science thrown in. You do have an artificial intelligence, after all, and a very sophisticated one.
As you know from the description, the AI is newborn, learning about humans and itself. Similarly, the engineer (who is a pig, by the way) studying his creation, learning about it's capabilities, and reveling in the newfound wealth and the things it can buy. For the most part, he's much more interested in that, much more so that the AI's burgeoning talents.
The author's prose (it really is that) is very descriptive and thought provoking. It delves deeply into the nature of intelligence and existence, and how fragile they can be.
May 25, 2025
This is the thing with book clubs, right?! You read books you wouldn't normally pick up and sometimes they pleasantly surprise you and sometimes you know why you don't read these kinds of books. Unfortunately, this one was the latter for me.
Set in the dystopian, futuristic setting of Agnus Sistra IV, this book follows Dargaud as he creates Artificial Intelligence 'Enoya' and follows their journey as the world discovers them and the things they can do. I had several issues with the book, from being confused at the start with a lot of the terminology and the way it was written was often beyond my comprehension. This was just not the book for me. Dargaud was incredibly unlikeable, a really horrible man, so no part of me wanted to see him achieve this success he seemingly stumbled upon. The arc the book went on chopped in and out a bit too much for my brain and I'm still left confused at the end.
I'm looking forward to seeing what my book club members have thought! It will be a very interesting discussion I'm sure!
Set in the dystopian, futuristic setting of Agnus Sistra IV, this book follows Dargaud as he creates Artificial Intelligence 'Enoya' and follows their journey as the world discovers them and the things they can do. I had several issues with the book, from being confused at the start with a lot of the terminology and the way it was written was often beyond my comprehension. This was just not the book for me. Dargaud was incredibly unlikeable, a really horrible man, so no part of me wanted to see him achieve this success he seemingly stumbled upon. The arc the book went on chopped in and out a bit too much for my brain and I'm still left confused at the end.
I'm looking forward to seeing what my book club members have thought! It will be a very interesting discussion I'm sure!
June 25, 2021
Rone Isa by Robin Murarka
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was my first attempt at a novel from Robin Murarka, who here tells the tale of a Dargaud, a young man, a programming freak or a geek who builds up a sentient computer, using a new, nod, technology which allows you the machine to develop itself and grow it skills building on its neural system.
The result is Enoya a sentient and empathic system with infinite knowledge and means to develop and learn through self constructed algorithms.
Talking to Enoya, Dargaud discovers the AI has become not only sentient but somehow able to bear human feelings, take violent actions, create music even a film firing the imagination and enthusiasm of the public…. an evolution which could bring its load of dangers….
This is a fast pace novel, well written with some humorous situations. Unfortunately at the end, we are left with a cliff hanger. I would advise it to adults.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was my first attempt at a novel from Robin Murarka, who here tells the tale of a Dargaud, a young man, a programming freak or a geek who builds up a sentient computer, using a new, nod, technology which allows you the machine to develop itself and grow it skills building on its neural system.
The result is Enoya a sentient and empathic system with infinite knowledge and means to develop and learn through self constructed algorithms.
Talking to Enoya, Dargaud discovers the AI has become not only sentient but somehow able to bear human feelings, take violent actions, create music even a film firing the imagination and enthusiasm of the public…. an evolution which could bring its load of dangers….
This is a fast pace novel, well written with some humorous situations. Unfortunately at the end, we are left with a cliff hanger. I would advise it to adults.
June 14, 2021
Far from typical science fiction books, this one takes a rather unique narrative style that goes beyond the basics. And I am not just referring to futuristic technology or the Xing-Kao Dreamcatcher chipset - no, it goes beyond that, into the story's building blocks - the choice of words, sentence structure, flow and what have you. It may take some time before you get the full scope of what's going on, but when you get there, the awe won’t let you put the book down.
Simply put, Dargaud is learning about his new creation. But this isn't a one-way street as Enoya is equally observing and learning about him - she even calls herself inquisitive. Examining it again, and thinking about the proliferating breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, I can't help but wonder whether this is just a story or a close-up depiction of what the future could have in store for us.
Simply put, Dargaud is learning about his new creation. But this isn't a one-way street as Enoya is equally observing and learning about him - she even calls herself inquisitive. Examining it again, and thinking about the proliferating breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, I can't help but wonder whether this is just a story or a close-up depiction of what the future could have in store for us.
July 22, 2021
Far from typical science fiction books, this one takes a rather unique narrative style that goes beyond the basics. And I am not just referring to futuristic technology or the Xing-Kao Dreamcatcher chipset - no, it goes beyond that, into the story's building blocks - the choice of words, sentence structure, flow and what have you. It may take some time before you get the full scope of what's going on, but when you get there, the awe won’t let you put the book down.
Simply put, Dargaud is learning about his new creation. But this isn't a one-way street as Enoya is equally observing and learning about him - she even calls herself inquisitive. Examining it again, and thinking about the proliferating breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, I can't help but wonder whether this is just a story or a close-up depiction of what the future could have in store for us.
Simply put, Dargaud is learning about his new creation. But this isn't a one-way street as Enoya is equally observing and learning about him - she even calls herself inquisitive. Examining it again, and thinking about the proliferating breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, I can't help but wonder whether this is just a story or a close-up depiction of what the future could have in store for us.
June 17, 2021
As I first watched Dr. Strangelove, I expected that the movie would be about a war with the USSR. But as I chuckled through it, I sensed that it’s about the comically inherent male drive towards reproduction and dominance. Sure, it is ABOUT nuclear war. But is it really?
This book is quite the same. It’s about digital intelligence. It’s about her engineer. But is it really? Or is it the man, the poster child for all of us, drifting in a landslide of addiction, drunk on self-glorification, reflected back into him (and all of us) as it nears the horrifying conclusion? I’ll leave that for you to decide.
July 15, 2021
Excellent!
It might just be that sooner than later, our world will be heading to something like the plot of this book; the human – AI interactions are not new, but they’re not common either as they are only starting to be explored. What I enjoyed A LOT is witnessing human degradation in a completely new situation. The setting of the book is yet to be the norm in our present world so it would be extremely difficult to predict what the human reactions and emotions might be, and yet the narrator’s confidence and descriptions didn’t leave room for uncertainties. Exceptional writing!
It might just be that sooner than later, our world will be heading to something like the plot of this book; the human – AI interactions are not new, but they’re not common either as they are only starting to be explored. What I enjoyed A LOT is witnessing human degradation in a completely new situation. The setting of the book is yet to be the norm in our present world so it would be extremely difficult to predict what the human reactions and emotions might be, and yet the narrator’s confidence and descriptions didn’t leave room for uncertainties. Exceptional writing!
December 27, 2021
3.5 stars, rounding up to 4
I was absolutely intrigued by this book, and overall, I'm a little torn on where I stand with it. I absolutely hated Dargaud; at times, he absolutely made my skin crawl. Although the prose was a bit over the top at times, I didn't mind it. It only really bothered me when Dargaud went on these odd, semi-philosophical rants. Enoya definitely captured my attention, and her existence in itself was enough to make the reader think. I honestly think this would have been a solid 4 if I didn't loathe the leading man with every fiber of my being.
I was absolutely intrigued by this book, and overall, I'm a little torn on where I stand with it. I absolutely hated Dargaud; at times, he absolutely made my skin crawl. Although the prose was a bit over the top at times, I didn't mind it. It only really bothered me when Dargaud went on these odd, semi-philosophical rants. Enoya definitely captured my attention, and her existence in itself was enough to make the reader think. I honestly think this would have been a solid 4 if I didn't loathe the leading man with every fiber of my being.
October 5, 2021
What a tremendous ending - wrapped snug, tight, with so much more to explore afterwards. To say a second read would not be more enjoyable is an understatement. A book rife with duplicitous statements, unnoticed because they so closely resemble what would happen - so perfectly included, however, so as to fool the reader to think that this is the creative element. And then to discover that this was the trick, of both the author and the entity. Tremendous!
October 9, 2021
Good narrative
It jumps between Dargaud and Enoya, and the mixing of the two is seamless. I really liked the conclusion and the integration of evolutionary theory underlying the whole book. I also liked the subtle references to other AI works, and the cosmos.
It jumps between Dargaud and Enoya, and the mixing of the two is seamless. I really liked the conclusion and the integration of evolutionary theory underlying the whole book. I also liked the subtle references to other AI works, and the cosmos.
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