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lizabethstucker's review
3.0
A trip to Jupiter and back, scientists caught up in their personal cycle of pain and hatred, an engineer who brings some comfort and support. And a Skinner box filled with nanites.
There are layers upon layers upon layers in this intense story of experimentation and conditioning, the cost of freedom and, ultimately, love. In essence, there are three reveals. The first was expected almost from the start. The second was almost suspected after we met Boris. But it was the third that, for me, saved the story from the coldness. 3.5 out of 5.
There are layers upon layers upon layers in this intense story of experimentation and conditioning, the cost of freedom and, ultimately, love. In essence, there are three reveals. The first was expected almost from the start. The second was almost suspected after we met Boris. But it was the third that, for me, saved the story from the coldness. 3.5 out of 5.
thesundaywriter's review
2.0
This felt a little disjointed, like reading parts of a longer story or novel.
cgoiris's review
2.0
Too brutally cruel for me. It's arguably cleverly written, but I enjoyed none of it.
crunden's review
4.0
Can a cognitive neuroscientist be fooled? Can an expert in the field of deep learning and AI evolution be unknowingly coerced? Can a genius be corrupted? Can a manipulator be manipulated?
Wow. This started out one kind of intense and then turned into a whole other kind of intense and I'm fairly darn impressed. Be sure to mind the warnings at the top, but I definitely recommend this! A very dark, riveting sci-fi short.
Wow. This started out one kind of intense and then turned into a whole other kind of intense and I'm fairly darn impressed. Be sure to mind the warnings at the top, but I definitely recommend this! A very dark, riveting sci-fi short.
jamsreadsbooks's review
4.0
Skinner Box is a clever little story that blends psychological horror and hard science fiction seamlessly. Evie is a neuropsychologist aboard a shuttle with her husband, an abusive and terrifying man, and a young male engineer who is infatuated with her. The three are trapped in tight quarters with each other as they carry out their work separately on board far from home.
“I know why. If the reward is big enough, wanted or needed enough, a rat will endure pain past the point of recovery. Of sense. And that’s obvious why too. All life, after all, is just pushing levers and hoping.”
The narrative is dizzying and the very real domestic horror is felt keenly with distressing detail. The name of the story comes from Evie’s experiments with nanotechnology and a skinner box, alluding to a famous invention by B.F. Skinner to condition behavior in rats. The story creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that makes the passengers on board feel like they’re trapped in a box hurtling through space. This is the type of story that is best to go into knowing as little as possible, it’s a mind-bending adventure that could have easily spanned a much longer novel.
✮ Read this review and more like it on my blog ✮
“I know why. If the reward is big enough, wanted or needed enough, a rat will endure pain past the point of recovery. Of sense. And that’s obvious why too. All life, after all, is just pushing levers and hoping.”
The narrative is dizzying and the very real domestic horror is felt keenly with distressing detail. The name of the story comes from Evie’s experiments with nanotechnology and a skinner box, alluding to a famous invention by B.F. Skinner to condition behavior in rats. The story creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that makes the passengers on board feel like they’re trapped in a box hurtling through space. This is the type of story that is best to go into knowing as little as possible, it’s a mind-bending adventure that could have easily spanned a much longer novel.
✮ Read this review and more like it on my blog ✮
kjharrowick's review
4.0
Why I picked up this book:
I was directed to this shorter, novella-style story from a writer friend of mine. The jacket copy didn’t really pique my interest (too vague), but the trigger warning did as I prefer darker, more tumultuous stories.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
I was really drawn into the voice of this story. Very clear and engaging.
I also really enjoyed some of the deeper tension and conflict as the story unpacked more of the nanites and the main character’s mission.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
The ending and ‘revealed truth’ is something I wasn’t a big fan of, but it’s my personal tastes. The whole ‘what is humanity’ question is overdone, and it felt like there was a stronger story with the nanite technology, not with another AI asking the ‘Am I human?’ question. Again, just personal tastes.
Overall:
I really enjoyed the tone and mood of this darker tale. I’d recommend for adult readers who still love exploring all facets of the humanity question and enjoy reading both soft and harder science fiction.
I was directed to this shorter, novella-style story from a writer friend of mine. The jacket copy didn’t really pique my interest (too vague), but the trigger warning did as I prefer darker, more tumultuous stories.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
I was really drawn into the voice of this story. Very clear and engaging.
I also really enjoyed some of the deeper tension and conflict as the story unpacked more of the nanites and the main character’s mission.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:
The ending and ‘revealed truth’ is something I wasn’t a big fan of, but it’s my personal tastes. The whole ‘what is humanity’ question is overdone, and it felt like there was a stronger story with the nanite technology, not with another AI asking the ‘Am I human?’ question. Again, just personal tastes.
Overall:
I really enjoyed the tone and mood of this darker tale. I’d recommend for adult readers who still love exploring all facets of the humanity question and enjoy reading both soft and harder science fiction.
mackenzi's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
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