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A review by mad_about_books
Loki's Ring by Stina Leicht
5.0
Stina Leicht is the quintessential science fiction author for the 21st century. Classical sci-fi readers have been reading about the 21st century and beyond since the 18th century. Today's reality has far outdistanced the concepts put forth even by some of the greats. Leicht writes of a time in the future where it is no longer necessary to explain personal pronoun preferences; they are a fait accompli. Yet, there still exists the us and them mentality we experience daily. In the case of LOKI'S RING, there are the humans that eschew AI in any form (acting much like the right in today's world), and there are the inclusive (much like today's left) who have embraced AGIs (Artificial General Intelligences) as full citizens.
Speculative fiction is the perfect vehicle to provide perspective on the politics of the time in which it is written. As I enjoyed the interplay between diverse characters, I couldn't help but notice the humanity of the AGIs in their interactions with their flesh and blood cohorts and the often inhumanity of those who rejected the AGIs. At its heart, LOKI'S RING falls somewhere in between hard and soft science fiction. It does, however, pack a page turning punch as the two factions come face to face over rights to an alien-made artificial solar system. No allegory of our time would be complete without a devastating disease that kills those afflicted in a most horrific way.
A good novel should provide escape from the mundane, make the reader think, and evoke an emotional response. LOKI'S RING does all of this and more.
[PS: do NOT skip the Acknowledgments pages. They are the best [insert your favorite expletive here] Acknowledgments pages I have EVER read!]
Speculative fiction is the perfect vehicle to provide perspective on the politics of the time in which it is written. As I enjoyed the interplay between diverse characters, I couldn't help but notice the humanity of the AGIs in their interactions with their flesh and blood cohorts and the often inhumanity of those who rejected the AGIs. At its heart, LOKI'S RING falls somewhere in between hard and soft science fiction. It does, however, pack a page turning punch as the two factions come face to face over rights to an alien-made artificial solar system. No allegory of our time would be complete without a devastating disease that kills those afflicted in a most horrific way.
A good novel should provide escape from the mundane, make the reader think, and evoke an emotional response. LOKI'S RING does all of this and more.
[PS: do NOT skip the Acknowledgments pages. They are the best [insert your favorite expletive here] Acknowledgments pages I have EVER read!]