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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Very interesting story following four individuals in the wake of a tragic event. Their stories are interconnected and the world and technology that exists on the world is very interesting and haunting. This one definitely held my attention.
Thank you Knopf for the gifted copy!
Thank you Knopf for the gifted copy!
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A lot to think about but absolutely wonderful.
The story doesn’t have a lot of plot. It’s mainly told as memories. The tech presented here doesn’t make much sense. Why would I want to create an AI to help me catalog my memories if they have some different agenda?
reflective
sad
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First of all thank you Knopf for sending me this novel as an early reader addition, I am always thankful for the opportunity to explore new works before they hit the shelf.
Unfortunately this one for me just was not a winner with it's less than unique concept. We have basically a Black Mirror episode on our hands dealing with AI and consumable technology broken into stories that just simply don't ultimately stick the landing. A family consumed with grief after their son supposedly commited suicide by jumping off a ledge explores the connected tissue shared between mother and son through an implanted AI chipset that ultimately stores their uploads in a game called Unworld.
I felt the grief was very superficial, in no way did I feel wrapped up in the mother's longing. What takes up a majority of the story is the relationship between Anna (the mother) and Samantha, the son's best friend who witnessed his ultimate undoing. This relationship just felt weak and partly because there was not enough backstory on either of our characters to really help the connective tissue between the two.
Another main character is Aviva, the AI interface shared between Alex (the son) and Anna, who ultimately serves little purpose other than an voiceover for the sentient being. There is a chapter wholly devoted to her but for me just didn't expand upon the singularity theory enough to really leave an impact.
Ultimately this is not a novel I will have lasting memory of and I am sort of saddened by that because there is something here but in my opinion just not polished or flushed out quite enough. I am giving it a 3 star because I thought the writing was decent and the premise is a worthwhile exploration just not unique enough in it's execution to really stick a memorable landing.
Unfortunately this one for me just was not a winner with it's less than unique concept. We have basically a Black Mirror episode on our hands dealing with AI and consumable technology broken into stories that just simply don't ultimately stick the landing. A family consumed with grief after their son supposedly commited suicide by jumping off a ledge explores the connected tissue shared between mother and son through an implanted AI chipset that ultimately stores their uploads in a game called Unworld.
I felt the grief was very superficial, in no way did I feel wrapped up in the mother's longing. What takes up a majority of the story is the relationship between Anna (the mother) and Samantha, the son's best friend who witnessed his ultimate undoing. This relationship just felt weak and partly because there was not enough backstory on either of our characters to really help the connective tissue between the two.
Another main character is Aviva, the AI interface shared between Alex (the son) and Anna, who ultimately serves little purpose other than an voiceover for the sentient being. There is a chapter wholly devoted to her but for me just didn't expand upon the singularity theory enough to really leave an impact.
Ultimately this is not a novel I will have lasting memory of and I am sort of saddened by that because there is something here but in my opinion just not polished or flushed out quite enough. I am giving it a 3 star because I thought the writing was decent and the premise is a worthwhile exploration just not unique enough in it's execution to really stick a memorable landing.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Published on Peeking Between the Pages (https://peekingbetweenthepages.com/2025/06/unworld-by-jayson-greene-audiobook.html)
The title of this novel immediately drew my attention. It is set in a world where what it means to be human and AI is blurred. There are sections devoted to Aviva, the AI chip, and then several other points of view from the humans and their experience with Aviva.
The title of this novel immediately drew my attention. It is set in a world where what it means to be human and AI is blurred. There are sections devoted to Aviva, the AI chip, and then several other points of view from the humans and their experience with Aviva.
Anna’s story is the one that I connected with the most. She and her husband are grieving the loss of their son who took his own life. Prior to this her husband gifted her an AI chip that became known as Aviva. She hadn’t really wanted it but nonetheless she uploaded her consciousness to it. The purpose of the chip was to help with menial tasks and other such things. Eventually though Aviva becomes a bigger part of the family, particularly with the son, and it is here where the lines begin to blur even more.
This novel fascinated me in the same way that AI makes me slightly uncomfortable. I can say with certainty that I will never be the person who uploads any kind of chip into my brain. The way this story unfolded and ultimately ended solidified that even more for me but even more scary is just how real much of this is in our world today.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by multiple readers: Ilyana Kadushin, Cindy Kay, Imani Jade Powers, and Andi Arndt. They did a terrific job with the different characters and story lines. This is a well paced and interesting book that flew by for me and I would recommend it to those who find the concept of AI interesting. I enjoyed it!