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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
Interesting premise and enjoyable worldbuilding of the banality of the AI/Automation takeover, but ultimately a simplified parable on the interaction of technology and capitalism, how we live our lives, and the dangers of advanced technology without advancing global morality and humanism.
Once AI and robotic automation is developed to its full science fiction capacity, Manna describes two possible societal outcomes: a capitalist oligarchical hellhole, and a communal post-scarcity utopia.
This book is not meant to flesh out all of the details or real politik, but even so I think it glosses over some important details on how this latter society works in practice. What happens when other nations want access to this advanced technology and attack the Australia Project? How does the community achieve consensus on the rules governing this extremely authoritarian all-encompassing central system?
If you read this and wonder the same, go read Iain M Banks’ The Culture series, which features a far-future post-scarcity society like this benevolently ruled by advanced AI, but focuses on the grey areas where they butt up against rival civilizations or deal with edge cases on their utopia.
Once AI and robotic automation is developed to its full science fiction capacity, Manna describes two possible societal outcomes: a capitalist oligarchical hellhole, and a communal post-scarcity utopia.
This book is not meant to flesh out all of the details or real politik, but even so I think it glosses over some important details on how this latter society works in practice. What happens when other nations want access to this advanced technology and attack the Australia Project? How does the community achieve consensus on the rules governing this extremely authoritarian all-encompassing central system?
If you read this and wonder the same, go read Iain M Banks’ The Culture series, which features a far-future post-scarcity society like this benevolently ruled by advanced AI, but focuses on the grey areas where they butt up against rival civilizations or deal with edge cases on their utopia.
3.75 (rounded to 4 generously, i am amazing innit)
I read something but I don't know what I read. This is why speculative fiction is so confusing for me. I don't know if i should be critical for the realism (or lack thereof) or appreciative of the world building and the "fiction" of speculative fiction. This was a nice read, but I had major issues with the world building and the "speculative" of speculative fiction.
Perhaps stay tuned for a lengthier review (if there ever will be one) once I collect my thoughts thoughts from my 3 pound toothpasty jelly of a muscle called Brain™?
I read something but I don't know what I read. This is why speculative fiction is so confusing for me. I don't know if i should be critical for the realism (or lack thereof) or appreciative of the world building and the "fiction" of speculative fiction. This was a nice read, but I had major issues with the world building and the "speculative" of speculative fiction.
Perhaps stay tuned for a lengthier review (if there ever will be one) once I collect my thoughts thoughts from my 3 pound toothpasty jelly of a muscle called Brain™?
Poorly written sci-fi is excusable when there's a compelling, novel plot or premise. Not so much here.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
The first half of the book did a really nice job of summarizing the late capitalist techno-dystopia that the US has become and will continue to descend into, but the second half (the Australia Project) was a complete joke. This author clearly has a limited knowledge of politics and history if a central part of his utopian vision involves:
1. Convincing lots of people to give a single dude a bunch of money to create the utopia, and
2. Ensuring strict adherence to rules with complete and constant surveillance
I had such high hopes after the first half, but the second half was a total letdown. Also, as someone who works almost exclusively on open source software, I can assure you, dear reader, it will not be the panacea that the author makes it out to be.
1. Convincing lots of people to give a single dude a bunch of money to create the utopia, and
2. Ensuring strict adherence to rules with complete and constant surveillance
I had such high hopes after the first half, but the second half was a total letdown. Also, as someone who works almost exclusively on open source software, I can assure you, dear reader, it will not be the panacea that the author makes it out to be.
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
fast-paced
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
reflective
medium-paced
Interesting concepts and visions, but they weren't explored in enough depth to be convincing. Too many details were glossed over, and I had new questions/objections at every turn. Also, the whole thing was framed as a story but lacked good storytelling - I think it really wanted to be an essay.