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A review by looseleafellie
Roko's Labyrinth by Michael Blackbourn
5.0
Having read [b:Roko's Basilisk|29635837|Roko's Basilisk|Michael Blackbourn|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1459167325s/29635837.jpg|49994045], I was excited to read Roko's Labyrinth. The story is set sixteen years after the events of the first book, and follows a young computer programmer, Nick Rose, as he is tasked with breaking into an AI system to find the secret to saving humanity.
I loved the advances in technology since the first book. Most notably, humans have now developed a way of splicing robotic cells into their bloodstream, which give them the ability to slow down the senses and give them more time to think. The AIs have also evolved -- Roko's Basilisk has multiplied into hundreds of individual AIs, all of them fighting against humanity and each other.
As for the actual story, it was filled with twists and turns. There were a couple of Big Reveals which I loved, and the entire plot kept me on edge. The descriptions of how Nick breaks into the AI system (and then breaks into several other systems trying to find out the truth about his employer) were reminiscent of the hacking scenes in [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One|Ernest Cline|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1406383612s/9969571.jpg|14863741]. I love scenes like this, partly because they're great fun to read, and partly because they make me feel like a genius hacker myself.
The ending is, in my opinion, the perfect ending for the middle of the series -- there is closure, but I want to know what happens next.
In a nutshell, Roko's Labyrinth is a must-read if you like stories about computers and AI. I'd recommend starting with Roko's Basilisk, so you get the full story.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author, though I am reviewing it of my own volition.
I loved the advances in technology since the first book. Most notably, humans have now developed a way of splicing robotic cells into their bloodstream, which give them the ability to slow down the senses and give them more time to think. The AIs have also evolved -- Roko's Basilisk has multiplied into hundreds of individual AIs, all of them fighting against humanity and each other.
As for the actual story, it was filled with twists and turns. There were a couple of Big Reveals which I loved, and the entire plot kept me on edge. The descriptions of how Nick breaks into the AI system (and then breaks into several other systems trying to find out the truth about his employer) were reminiscent of the hacking scenes in [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One|Ernest Cline|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1406383612s/9969571.jpg|14863741]. I love scenes like this, partly because they're great fun to read, and partly because they make me feel like a genius hacker myself.
The ending is, in my opinion, the perfect ending for the middle of the series -- there is closure, but I want to know what happens next.
In a nutshell, Roko's Labyrinth is a must-read if you like stories about computers and AI. I'd recommend starting with Roko's Basilisk, so you get the full story.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author, though I am reviewing it of my own volition.