Reviews

Divergence by Tony Ballantyne

wealhtheow's review against another edition

2.0

The final book in his trilogy concerning AIs, sentience and humanity, this is also the weakest book. Generations ago, an AI named The Watcher developed and set itself up as the caretaker of humanity. Under its ever-watchful gaze, all thinking beings, digital, robotic or atomic, are petted and cared for. Social Care watches over everyone, making sure no one is too depressed or lonely, ensuring that even the smallest urges toward violence or self-destruction are turned to more positive impulses. But some chafe under the eye of the Watcher—DIANA, a corporation that wants to take the Watcher’s place, and Chris, an AI that wants no Watcher at all. And while the three great powers fight for supremacy, the mindless menace of the Black Velvet Bands and Schrödinger Boxes (which attract and are attracted to intelligence, and are eventually lethal) threaten humanity’s very survival. I liked characters in the first two books, but this one has no main characters (and only one minor character, Eva) that interest me at all. Also, I find it hard to be opposed to an AI that cares for humanity—I’m sure being cared for, and helped to care for others, is a terrible threat to freedom, but I can’t get too worked up about it. I was a bit leery of the savior of the books, a system of thought/software program/way of life called Free Enterprise, and the fact that its main proponent is an alien robot who offhandedly mentions that he was built by Jesus and the Apostles. Um, fuck that.