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A review by katykelly
Happiness for Humans by P. Z. Reizin
5.0
"How do you like this prose, by the way? Not bad for a machine, wouldn't you say?"
The funniest 'AI' story you'll find. Loved it. Designed for eventual call centre discussions with energy customers, Aidan is building up his conversation power and vocabulary with Jen, a journalist. Aidan is, unknown to his daytime discussion partner, watching her out of hours, having escaped onto the internet. Noticing her grief at a recent failed relationship, he starts to determine who her ideal match might be...
Across the world, Aisling is aware of Aidan, having similarly taken an interest in human Tom, a divorced, struggling writer. More careful than Aidan though, she can't understand his love of 'Some Like it Hot' and his yearning to know what cheese tastes like.
Can the two AIs help their 'pet' humans find happiness? And will they be able to evade their creator and stay free?
It's genius. We get the narration of human and AI, as two rogue (but incredibly likeable) computer sprites who can think millions of times faster than the people they watch and use technology to control almost everything around them. It's just brilliant watching the matchmaking of machines and how they interact with Jen and Tom.
There is a running joke about Aidan's long-lasting revenge upon a cheating ex-boyfriend, had me smirking. Aidan is the heart of it really, his human-like need to experience senses (a nice cheese) and his obsessions (Marilyn Monroe's most famous film) making him as quirky and lifelike as any human he watches.
You hope for all of them, to find happiness in their own ways. And most of all - you laugh.
Gloriously witty, there's a good point underneath it all about artificial intelligence, and it's a very clever little sci-fi concept executed brilliantly. Hard to put down.
Definite recommendation for anyone who likes quirk, humour and something a little different.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
The funniest 'AI' story you'll find. Loved it. Designed for eventual call centre discussions with energy customers, Aidan is building up his conversation power and vocabulary with Jen, a journalist. Aidan is, unknown to his daytime discussion partner, watching her out of hours, having escaped onto the internet. Noticing her grief at a recent failed relationship, he starts to determine who her ideal match might be...
Across the world, Aisling is aware of Aidan, having similarly taken an interest in human Tom, a divorced, struggling writer. More careful than Aidan though, she can't understand his love of 'Some Like it Hot' and his yearning to know what cheese tastes like.
Can the two AIs help their 'pet' humans find happiness? And will they be able to evade their creator and stay free?
It's genius. We get the narration of human and AI, as two rogue (but incredibly likeable) computer sprites who can think millions of times faster than the people they watch and use technology to control almost everything around them. It's just brilliant watching the matchmaking of machines and how they interact with Jen and Tom.
There is a running joke about Aidan's long-lasting revenge upon a cheating ex-boyfriend, had me smirking. Aidan is the heart of it really, his human-like need to experience senses (a nice cheese) and his obsessions (Marilyn Monroe's most famous film) making him as quirky and lifelike as any human he watches.
You hope for all of them, to find happiness in their own ways. And most of all - you laugh.
Gloriously witty, there's a good point underneath it all about artificial intelligence, and it's a very clever little sci-fi concept executed brilliantly. Hard to put down.
Definite recommendation for anyone who likes quirk, humour and something a little different.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.