In a world where automation runs society, Marion Sato spends her days as a judgment aid, tasked with making the manual choices deemed too difficult or complicated for computer algorithms. It seems like a dream come true – until things go horribly wrong.
When a freak accident leaves a young child in mortal danger, Marion knows she has to act fast to save his life. But the automated world … world surrounding her seems to stand in her way at every turn.
As time begins to run out and the weaknesses of a tech-reliant civilization become clear, will Marion be able to overcome the endless hurdles of a rigid autonomous society? Or will technology fail her as a child’s life hangs in the balance…
If you like suspenseful sci-fi which explores the faults of technology, then you won’t want to miss the fourth book in the Black Band Anthology series. Grab your copy now!
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When we turn over our lives to computers, will we lose what makes us human? I sympathized with the MC, Marion. I think we have all felt her frustration with automated messages and the anger at simplified, impersonal responses. The book is set in the future and shows what happens when we depend too much on impersonal algorithms to run our lives. I liked this story. Whitaker sets up the premise quickly, pulls you into the story, and doesn’t let go till the end.
I received this book as an ARC and wished to leave a review.
Having read and really enjoying another title by this author, I do my best to keep an eye out for new titles being released. As soon as I saw the cover I was intrigued as to who the woman was. If I saw this cover in a book store I would certainly pick it up from a shelf to learn more about it. Upon reading the blurb I knew I really wanted to read it as I find the futuristic, dystopian genre fascinating.
There is a smartly dressed mysterious man, Carson, he is in a nostalgic mood, having taken his shoes off so he can feel the grass on his feet and between his toes. Carson is sitting on a bench looking around pondering how things have changed around him whilst enjoying time watching his son playing in a nearby sandpit. Unfortunately, something goes wrong with a nearby robotic lawnmower and a stone ends up hitting Carson knocking him on conscious.
In the meantime, Marion is getting out of bed and getting ready to begin working from home, like she does each day. Marion literally gets out of bed and presses a few buttons which triggers the bed to move and fold up into the wall. Then the kitchen module unfolds itself so Marion can make her breakfast. Marion is soon sat in front in front of her screen ready for work. Marion works for the Sentient Judgement Service, which really simply means she makes decisions for the automated robotic features that are now all over the world in everyday life. Marion literally “problem solves” and is the “common sense” that a machine can never replace. It is a refuse truck that asks Marion to make some judgements and she sees a baby in one of the refuse boxes.
That is the basis of this short story/novella. I found this book a bit of a slow burner, however I really wanted to know where the story was going so stuck with it and when the pace picked up, I did enjoy it more. It ended up being a rather thought-provoking book. There is the question of whether this society is better now a lot of it is automatic and computer led. Which on the face of it sounds like a good idea. The high specification apartments where your kitchen or bedroom can be stored away seem amazing and space saving which has to be a good thing, doesn’t it? Then you have Marion having to deal with a computer that doesn’t understand her request, so much so she has to physically go check on the problem incident she sees.
This book leaves you with so many questions, is it something as natural as a birthmark Marion notices when she changes Carson’s son’s nappy, but if that’s the case why does it look so similar to the logo for Carson’s business empire? Also why is it so important to Carson for Marion to sign a secrecy document? I know what I think but would be interested if it’s the same as the Author intended the reader to think. I would also be interested in knowing what other readers think too. It’s a shame this is a short book as I would have loved to explore the world and society living within it much more.
Summing up, definitely recommend reading this one! I also recommend another of Channing’s short stories which I read and loved called Existence Augmented.