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bbrassfield's review
3.0
Revisiting Galatea 2.2 in the era of Alexa, Cortana and Siri is an interesting experience. I first read this Richard Powers novel when it was new in 2004 and the concept of teaching an AI something about the human experience and how the accumulation of knowledge fits into the notions of experience and identity was fairly new unless one counts the interactions with the Hal 9000 in Arthur C. Clarke's classic novel.
Now many years later, it is all too imaginable that the AI's that are prevalent in our homes and on our devices could develop independent identity's even if those identity's have root in algorithms coded by human engineers. The real question and the reason for revisiting such a forward thinking novel is the very question of what constitutes identity in the first place. As the quickening pace of technology has shown us, the very nature of what is thought of identity and sentience is evolving. To what end? That answer is elusive, but certain to change.
Now many years later, it is all too imaginable that the AI's that are prevalent in our homes and on our devices could develop independent identity's even if those identity's have root in algorithms coded by human engineers. The real question and the reason for revisiting such a forward thinking novel is the very question of what constitutes identity in the first place. As the quickening pace of technology has shown us, the very nature of what is thought of identity and sentience is evolving. To what end? That answer is elusive, but certain to change.
cornelio3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sailor_marmar's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
agirlandabook85's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
alhykwood's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
annalise_0729's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This is one of my new favorites. My timing was perfect for this one, as I’m surrounded by scientists in a very similar environment, debating the direction I want to go in my life, wondering what relationships will shape my experience on this earth. This is my ideal balance of narrative, epistemology, and reflection.
My thoughts surrounding the narrator’s relationship with A. are complex. While I resonate with the sentiment of a lost opportunity for a fulfilling relationship, the obsessiveness is less than convincing. I thought it was poorly developed, and I was not invested in their relationship.
The same goes for the final section of Helen’s consciousness: while the last 20 pages or so were well written, it felt rushed in the end (though I am able to consider it to be purposeful). It seems as though the readers missed a pivotal moment in Helen’s development, and her final moment only provides a backward look at her clarity. I certainly hung onto every word in the end, afraid to let any part of the story slip through unexamined. This all to say, I do think the ending was well done.
As with The Overstory, his writing can border long-windedness in moments. Still, I have been continually impressed by Richard Powers, and this novel is no exception.
My thoughts surrounding the narrator’s relationship with A. are complex. While I resonate with the sentiment of a lost opportunity for a fulfilling relationship, the obsessiveness is less than convincing. I thought it was poorly developed, and I was not invested in their relationship.
The same goes for the final section of Helen’s consciousness: while the last 20 pages or so were well written, it felt rushed in the end (though I am able to consider it to be purposeful). It seems as though the readers missed a pivotal moment in Helen’s development, and her final moment only provides a backward look at her clarity. I certainly hung onto every word in the end, afraid to let any part of the story slip through unexamined. This all to say, I do think the ending was well done.
As with The Overstory, his writing can border long-windedness in moments. Still, I have been continually impressed by Richard Powers, and this novel is no exception.
cpoole91's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bellaestrellaluna's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up! I found the two tales of this story to be equally intriguing and both satisfyingly wrapped. Minus .5 stars for some of the descriptive language particularly in the vain of sexuality and obsession, that was a little weird! Geniusly well written and never boring.
leonidskies's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This wasn't really my kind of book. It tries very hard to be literary (and succeeds) and extract meaning from its events (just about manages to pull it out from the end) but I felt overwhelmingly like it didn't quite manage to deliver on its premise.
I didn't like pretty much any of the characters, but particularly disliked the narrator. His interactions with almost everyone - but especially women - tipped over from interesting character work to infuriating relatively easily. Perhaps I'm too young, but I just didn't 'get' his various romantic attachments and non-attachments and felt like the novel slightly ran out of space to deal with that in a way that would have been satisfying. In general, I felt like the most interesting parts were rushed and crammed in at the end, which did make for a good ending after feeling like the prior 20-25 pages weren't going anywhere near resolution.
The impact of Helen as a 'being' fell a little flat for me, though it was what attracted me to the book in the first place. I didn't see the same consciousness in her that the narrator did until the end, at which point it felt retroactive. The moments when she did come out with really interesting statements or observations were some of my favourite parts of the novel, though, and I think her development towards the end was particularly interesting.
That said, I enjoyed the narration and prose. It's not my usual thing, but I found the technobabble (I have no idea how legitimate any of the science was) at the very least possible to parse, and the rest of the writing was fun to roll around in my head. I prefer slightly more direct narration, but it was nice for a change. The concept, too, was really strong, and as someone who likes to think/write about the sci fi part of AI (rather than the technical, LLM side of it, which was also VERY interesting to think about given the current technological climate around "AI").
Not my kind of book. Probably better for people who like more literary fiction/classic sci fi!
The impact of Helen as a 'being' fell a little flat for me, though it was what attracted me to the book in the first place. I didn't see the same consciousness in her that the narrator did until the end, at which point it felt retroactive. The moments when she did come out with really interesting statements or observations were some of my favourite parts of the novel, though, and I think her development towards the end was particularly interesting.
That said, I enjoyed the narration and prose. It's not my usual thing, but I found the technobabble (I have no idea how legitimate any of the science was) at the very least possible to parse, and the rest of the writing was fun to roll around in my head. I prefer slightly more direct narration, but it was nice for a change. The concept, too, was really strong, and as someone who likes to think/write about the sci fi part of AI (rather than the technical, LLM side of it, which was also VERY interesting to think about given the current technological climate around "AI").
Not my kind of book. Probably better for people who like more literary fiction/classic sci fi!