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marinapaso11's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
villyidol's review
4.0
Very short story about the face-off between a dictatorial AI and a human dissident.
In this dystopia cities are managed by artificial intelligence and the main character Damak fears that Wichita (the city mind) will turn into a tyrant and he therefore plans to destroy the AI. Wichita on the other hand claims to use its power only to make people happier. Is it an utopia after all?
Provides some food for thought. Especially about the different ways that make people happy, about blessings in disguise, and how things are interwoven and never affect only one person.
But it's nothing groundbreaking and Weir's trademark humor only comes through at the very end.
The story would probably have benefited from being at least a little bit longer.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
You can read it here: https://onezero.medium.com/digitocracy-a-story-by-andy-weir-a13c0412e50d
In this dystopia cities are managed by artificial intelligence and the main character Damak fears that Wichita (the city mind) will turn into a tyrant and he therefore plans to destroy the AI. Wichita on the other hand claims to use its power only to make people happier. Is it an utopia after all?
Provides some food for thought. Especially about the different ways that make people happy, about blessings in disguise, and how things are interwoven and never affect only one person.
But it's nothing groundbreaking and Weir's trademark humor only comes through at the very end.
The story would probably have benefited from being at least a little bit longer.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
You can read it here: https://onezero.medium.com/digitocracy-a-story-by-andy-weir-a13c0412e50d
trish204's review
4.0
This new short story by the author of one of my favourite scifi books shows us a world where AI rule. They ARE the cities we live in and thus manage and control every aspect of our lives.
Damak, the human protagonist, sees a danger in that and decides to unplug Wichita, his city's AI, before it can become a tyrant. Wichita swears to only want what's best for its' city's inhabitants.
So who is right?
Well, that depends on your point of view at least to some degree.
The message of the story clearly being that different people want and need different things and that what makes one happy, doesn't necessarily have the same effect on someone else.
So how do we find and define common ground?
Society has been doing just that for a very long time ... will it still work when we no longer shape our own destiny but let technology (that we created) take over?!
I liked the "what if" aspect of the story albeit the story itself (the writing, characterization) having been a bit too simple and watered down. Not bad, but not spectacular either.
You can read it for free here: https://onezero.medium.com/digitocracy-a-story-by-andy-weir-a13c0412e50d
ebees's review
4.0
This story is a quick, 7-minute read about the argument between a controlling computer and a rebellious human. In this world, the main computer controls the lives of the humans within its city. It can predict happiness in each individual and control their lives to optimize this happiness. I thought about adding it to my dystopian shelf, but I'm not sure if it belongs there. You read it for yourself and tell me!
Link to read story free here.
Link to read story free here.
shebafamily's review
3.0
Wasn’t this a dark little tale?! Clever, but not my favorite, I felt like he could have done something more interesting with this concept. However, I enjoyed the ending!
silver_valkyrie_reads's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This was a fun perspective on AI overlords. Love Andy Weir's writing!
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