katiep84's review
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
fourestxx's review against another edition
2.0
A Strange and Brilliant Light focuses on three main characters: Lal, Janetta and Rose who are living in a time of technological development and advancement, with AI (Auts) gradually replacing humans within the workforce leading to high levels of unemployment, discontent and social upheaval.
The three perspectives are all very different and I found Rose the most relatable – an ordinary worked wanting to see change in her society but unsure how best to approach it.
Lal on the other hand is a huge fan of innovation and is seeking to better herself in the corporate world of AI. While Janetta, the hardest of the three to connect with in my opinion, is a genius level student of AI but seems to spend much of the story wallowing in her failed relationships.
I didn’t find the three girls to be particularly strong characters and they each seemed to maintain relationships with or pander to the feelings of other more obnoxious characters (i.e.: Malin, Taly, Alec, etc).
The concept of human jobs being replaced by AI is really interesting and I liked the sci-fi approach with a political twist. I did, however, find the book a bit meandering in places and I couldn’t tell whether it was actually going anywhere or just offering a brief glimpse of a potential future society.
The final few chapters felt a little rushed with no real resolution for any of the characters and the open ending was unsatisfying.
Unfortunately not for me!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The three perspectives are all very different and I found Rose the most relatable – an ordinary worked wanting to see change in her society but unsure how best to approach it.
Lal on the other hand is a huge fan of innovation and is seeking to better herself in the corporate world of AI. While Janetta, the hardest of the three to connect with in my opinion, is a genius level student of AI but seems to spend much of the story wallowing in her failed relationships.
I didn’t find the three girls to be particularly strong characters and they each seemed to maintain relationships with or pander to the feelings of other more obnoxious characters (i.e.: Malin, Taly, Alec, etc).
The concept of human jobs being replaced by AI is really interesting and I liked the sci-fi approach with a political twist. I did, however, find the book a bit meandering in places and I couldn’t tell whether it was actually going anywhere or just offering a brief glimpse of a potential future society.
The final few chapters felt a little rushed with no real resolution for any of the characters and the open ending was unsatisfying.
Unfortunately not for me!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
mazza57's review against another edition
1.0
i received a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest reveiw
It should be called A strange and largely unreadable book. The writing is awful, there is no world building for something that obviously takes place in a fantasy world that world largely remains a strange and unwieldy mystery.
The characters were plastic fantastic and I lost interest around 30 %. I read every word but my POV was not altered.
It should be called A strange and largely unreadable book. The writing is awful, there is no world building for something that obviously takes place in a fantasy world that world largely remains a strange and unwieldy mystery.
The characters were plastic fantastic and I lost interest around 30 %. I read every word but my POV was not altered.
gentlyreads's review against another edition
2.0
A Strange and Brilliant Light follows the story of three wildly different women and the way their lives are affected by the rise of artificial intelligence within society. It presents lots of moral questions about governments, class inequality and the state of society.
I got Black Mirror-y vibes from this one, although it was a little heavier on the theoretical side so can be a bit difficult to sink your teeth into at first. It's worth sticking around for though, and brings up some interesting moral questions throughout which really get you thinking about the way our real society is heading!
The characterisation is something I wasn't a massive fan of - Lal is immediately unlikeable and seems to be completely void of human nature. Whilst I was really happy to see some LGBT+ rep with Janetta, she seems quite spineless, and Rose doesn't feel that interesting either. I would've much preferred this book if I had felt more invested in the characters, but unfortunately they are the let down in this case.
Overall, this is an interesting work of fiction focusing on the social narrative of AI and would be great for strongly political/theoretical sci-fi fans.
{gifted by netgalley and the publisher}
I got Black Mirror-y vibes from this one, although it was a little heavier on the theoretical side so can be a bit difficult to sink your teeth into at first. It's worth sticking around for though, and brings up some interesting moral questions throughout which really get you thinking about the way our real society is heading!
The characterisation is something I wasn't a massive fan of - Lal is immediately unlikeable and seems to be completely void of human nature. Whilst I was really happy to see some LGBT+ rep with Janetta, she seems quite spineless, and Rose doesn't feel that interesting either. I would've much preferred this book if I had felt more invested in the characters, but unfortunately they are the let down in this case.
Overall, this is an interesting work of fiction focusing on the social narrative of AI and would be great for strongly political/theoretical sci-fi fans.
{gifted by netgalley and the publisher}
kpletscher's review
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
treestan's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
heloise_h's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leni4's review
1.0
The idea of a world with artificial intelligence felt like more of a sub-plot rather than the main focus of the book until the last few chapters. Many details about the characters were never explored or developed, therefore making a lot of the book feel like filler.
Lal was extremely unlikeable, which isn't necessarily a negative thing, however her actions and way of thinking wasn't justifiable, and she went through little to no character development.
Rose had a lot of potential, however fell flat, and the mystery around her family that was alluded to be of significance was never really mentioned again and felt completely unnecessary, rather than something that's actually integral to the plot. Not everything has to have meaning, however it was difficult to find anything in the book that actually progressed the story, and with the end being the only interesting part, it felt very rushed, as if the painstakingly long 250 pages previous meant nothing.
Janetta had little substance as a character,
However, I did like the ending, but I was disappointed in the wasted potential that this book had, as I really liked the philosophy and economic concerns relating to AI, and the theoretical solutions for people loosing their jobs to AI that were brought up.
Lal was extremely unlikeable, which isn't necessarily a negative thing, however her actions and way of thinking wasn't justifiable, and she went through little to no character development.
Spoiler
Her relationship with Los could have never been mentioned and it would have in no way effected her character or the plot, and it felt like a poor excuse for a sex scene.Rose had a lot of potential, however fell flat, and the mystery around her family that was alluded to be of significance was never really mentioned again and felt completely unnecessary, rather than something that's actually integral to the plot. Not everything has to have meaning, however it was difficult to find anything in the book that actually progressed the story, and with the end being the only interesting part, it felt very rushed, as if the painstakingly long 250 pages previous meant nothing.
Janetta had little substance as a character,
Spoiler
and I wish that her thought process when trying to create conscious AI was explained rather than it just suddenly happening.However, I did like the ending, but I was disappointed in the wasted potential that this book had, as I really liked the philosophy and economic concerns relating to AI, and the theoretical solutions for people loosing their jobs to AI that were brought up.
analogn's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0