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After On: A Novel of Silicon Valley
The definitive novel of today’s Silicon Valley, After On flash-captures our cultural and technological moment with up-to-the-instant savvy. Matters of privacy and government intrusion, post-Tinder romance, nihilistic terrorism, artificial consciousness, synthetic biology, and much more are tackled with authority and brash playfulness by New York Times bestselling author Rob Reid.
Meet Phluttr—a diabolically addictive new social network and a villainess, heroine, enemy, and/or bestie to millions. Phluttr has ingested every fact and message ever sent to, from, and about her innumerable users. Her capabilities astound her makers—and they don’t even know the tenth of it.
But what’s the purpose of this stunning creation? Is it a front for something even darker and more powerful than the NSA? A bid to create a trillion-dollar market by becoming “The UberX of Sex�? Or a reckless experiment that could spawn the digital equivalent of a middle-school mean girl with enough charisma, dirt, and cunning to bend the entire planet to her will?
Phluttr has it in her to become the greatest gossip, flirt, or matchmaker in history. Or she could cure cancer, bring back Seinfeld, then start a nuclear war. Whatever she does, it’s not up to us. But a motley band of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and engineers might be able to influence her.
After On achieves the literary singularity—fusing speculative satire and astonishing reality into a sharp-witted, ferociously believable, IMAX-wide view of our digital age.
Meet Phluttr—a diabolically addictive new social network and a villainess, heroine, enemy, and/or bestie to millions. Phluttr has ingested every fact and message ever sent to, from, and about her innumerable users. Her capabilities astound her makers—and they don’t even know the tenth of it.
But what’s the purpose of this stunning creation? Is it a front for something even darker and more powerful than the NSA? A bid to create a trillion-dollar market by becoming “The UberX of Sex�? Or a reckless experiment that could spawn the digital equivalent of a middle-school mean girl with enough charisma, dirt, and cunning to bend the entire planet to her will?
Phluttr has it in her to become the greatest gossip, flirt, or matchmaker in history. Or she could cure cancer, bring back Seinfeld, then start a nuclear war. Whatever she does, it’s not up to us. But a motley band of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and engineers might be able to influence her.
After On achieves the literary singularity—fusing speculative satire and astonishing reality into a sharp-witted, ferociously believable, IMAX-wide view of our digital age.
576 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2017
520 people are currently reading
5,750 people want to read
About the author
Rob Reid
4Ìýbooks350ÌýfollowersRob Reid is a writer and technology entrepreneur based in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, California. He's the author of "Year Zero" (Del Rey, 2012) - a novel about aliens with a mad passion for human music. He also wrote "Year One" (William Morrow, 1994), a memoir about student life at Harvard Business School; and "Architects of the Web" (Wiley, 1997), which chronicles the rise of the Internet as a commercial medium. His other writings have included a cover story for Wired Magazine, as well as prominent features in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Business 2.0, and the Gilder Technology Report. He has also written for countless websites, including Ars Technica, Wired.com, and Spinner.com.
Rob was the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Listen.com, the online music company that developed the Rhapsody music service. Listen was the first online music company to secure full-catalog licenses from all of the major labels. Rob sold Listen to RealNetworks. Viacom's MTV Networks division later bought half of Rhapsody, and in March of 2010 it was spun out as an independent company. Rhapsody now has over a million paying subscribers.
Rob was the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Listen.com, the online music company that developed the Rhapsody music service. Listen was the first online music company to secure full-catalog licenses from all of the major labels. Rob sold Listen to RealNetworks. Viacom's MTV Networks division later bought half of Rhapsody, and in March of 2010 it was spun out as an independent company. Rhapsody now has over a million paying subscribers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
June 4, 2017
I almost DNFed this several times. If I had it to do over again, I would not only not finish it, I would not start it. It took me over a month to slog through it.
I really enjoyed Rob Reid's other book, Year Zero, and I'm fascinated by fiction about artificial intelligence and the Turing Test. But this bloated book in the end doesn't have enough interesting to say about either to justify over 500 pages.
There is a super macho, misogynistic, Freudian work of fiction running throughout the narrative that was super annoying for the small part it played in the plot by the end.
There were occasional lapses into the kind of writing that made me enjoy Year Zero, and that's what kept me going, but they were too occasional. This might have made a decent 300 page novel.
I read an advance reader copy of Forever On.
I really enjoyed Rob Reid's other book, Year Zero, and I'm fascinated by fiction about artificial intelligence and the Turing Test. But this bloated book in the end doesn't have enough interesting to say about either to justify over 500 pages.
There is a super macho, misogynistic, Freudian work of fiction running throughout the narrative that was super annoying for the small part it played in the plot by the end.
There were occasional lapses into the kind of writing that made me enjoy Year Zero, and that's what kept me going, but they were too occasional. This might have made a decent 300 page novel.
I read an advance reader copy of Forever On.
August 3, 2017
You almost beat me, After On. You were almost the first book I DNF'd for the first time in like three years. There were a few times where I was super close.
But you know what pushed me forward?
You told me I couldn't finish you. So I did, damnit. You can't tell me what I can or can't finish reading!
There are heaps and heaps of pages that are just unnecessary. Long, drawn out explanations about various Silicon Valley start ups and established entities. Explanations about logistics. Our main characters' entire life stories. It took wayyyyy too long for it to get to the meat and potatoes--namely, the social network with artificial intelligence. I think there were meant to be elements of humor, but after slogging through something like 350 pages at that point I was kind of over it.
But you know what pushed me forward?
You told me I couldn't finish you. So I did, damnit. You can't tell me what I can or can't finish reading!
There are heaps and heaps of pages that are just unnecessary. Long, drawn out explanations about various Silicon Valley start ups and established entities. Explanations about logistics. Our main characters' entire life stories. It took wayyyyy too long for it to get to the meat and potatoes--namely, the social network with artificial intelligence. I think there were meant to be elements of humor, but after slogging through something like 350 pages at that point I was kind of over it.
June 26, 2018
I started reading this...thought it would be a refreshing contemporary change after completely both Infinite Jest and The Alexandria Quartet. And yet. The opening voice on the first few pages was so unbearable grating I had to immediately put it down. I've never been so annoyed by the opening of a book in my life. It was as if the author was screeching at me. Nevermore After On.
December 16, 2016
This is going to be one of THE must-read sci fi books of 2017 -- wonderful blend of humor and thought-provoking implications of AI, in a style that's poised to make this the next "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"!
February 27, 2017
A fun, humorous, fast-paced, and fascinating take on what happens when an AI awakens. In order to tell this story, Reid invents a fictional Silicon Valley company called Pluttr, which seems sort of like a mashup of Snapchat+Facebook+WeChat but with more big data about us all, so it’s able to really personalize it’s experience. Frankly it seems like a good idea and where the afore mentioned companies are likely going. And this is one of my favorite things about good science fiction - it predicts the future. While not everything about this novel will come true, it is clear that Reid - who is a former tech CEO himself (and disclosure, a friend) - did his homework about technological trends and weaves them in nicely to a thrilling singularity story (Note: the book doesn’t use the word “singularity� at all, in a homage to current silicon valley trends, because for some reason that I get but don’t quite understand that word is passé - but instead to renames it “the omega point�).
One of the most interesting aspects of the book for me is the fictional company Phluttr. I mean, when an AI finally awakens you’d have to put your money on Google doing it (if it happens in the private sector) - they are the furthest along in the intersection of having the key ingredients: lots of data about people, AI technology, and computing power. But I suppose it would be weird to use a real company - Dave Eggers was similar in describing a company that was basically FB+Google. But as I said, it does seem like the descriptions of Phluttr will happen, once the both the AI improves (pretty much possible now), the dataset known about each user vastly increases (happening in some pockets), and computing power improves (will be there soon). And thinking through the possibilities of what that will enable was super fun. For instance, there was an scene in the beginning of the book where Phluttr deduced that two of the characters were at the same bar and likely there on a date, and gave them coupons and messages/information appropriate to that deduction.
One of the more interesting philosophical questions tackled by the book is: should we try to accelerate creation of a super AI? Since the first one created will have a decisive advantage and any other super AI’s created will never catch up to its intelligence nor power. Many think that the creation of a super AI is inevitable anyways, and there is a chance that whoever creates it may retain some control or benefit - though there is a very high risk you wouldn't - which is the debate.
But don’t let my introspections about the subject matter make you think this is a deep thinking AI book. It is a fast paced, fun thriller with a twist at the end. It’s also got a good amount of self-deprecating-silicon-valley humor - eg I loved the fictional persuadif.er blog, with posts such as “Eat on the phone� and then you find poor characters like Pugwash doing just that. Or fun references thrown in like how Tim Tebow is now a VR tycoon (huh?). Bottom line: this captures interesting technological trends in a humorous & thrilling read - highly recommended!
One of the most interesting aspects of the book for me is the fictional company Phluttr. I mean, when an AI finally awakens you’d have to put your money on Google doing it (if it happens in the private sector) - they are the furthest along in the intersection of having the key ingredients: lots of data about people, AI technology, and computing power. But I suppose it would be weird to use a real company - Dave Eggers was similar in describing a company that was basically FB+Google. But as I said, it does seem like the descriptions of Phluttr will happen, once the both the AI improves (pretty much possible now), the dataset known about each user vastly increases (happening in some pockets), and computing power improves (will be there soon). And thinking through the possibilities of what that will enable was super fun. For instance, there was an scene in the beginning of the book where Phluttr deduced that two of the characters were at the same bar and likely there on a date, and gave them coupons and messages/information appropriate to that deduction.
One of the more interesting philosophical questions tackled by the book is: should we try to accelerate creation of a super AI? Since the first one created will have a decisive advantage and any other super AI’s created will never catch up to its intelligence nor power. Many think that the creation of a super AI is inevitable anyways, and there is a chance that whoever creates it may retain some control or benefit - though there is a very high risk you wouldn't - which is the debate.
But don’t let my introspections about the subject matter make you think this is a deep thinking AI book. It is a fast paced, fun thriller with a twist at the end. It’s also got a good amount of self-deprecating-silicon-valley humor - eg I loved the fictional persuadif.er blog, with posts such as “Eat on the phone� and then you find poor characters like Pugwash doing just that. Or fun references thrown in like how Tim Tebow is now a VR tycoon (huh?). Bottom line: this captures interesting technological trends in a humorous & thrilling read - highly recommended!
October 16, 2017
I had to give up at about 40% when I realized I was skimming all but one story line and fixating in my reading progress, eagerly awaiting the end.
Disappointing, I'm a big fan of the related podcast series.
Characters are without any substance. Plot is trivial. Writing is sophomoric, though vocabulary is above average. If you are in Silicon Valley and love the smell of your own farts, this is a book for you!
Disappointing, I'm a big fan of the related podcast series.
Characters are without any substance. Plot is trivial. Writing is sophomoric, though vocabulary is above average. If you are in Silicon Valley and love the smell of your own farts, this is a book for you!
January 24, 2018
I wanted everyone in this book to stop talking, especially the narrator.
December 15, 2016
Another rock star performance by one of my favorite writers. This novel reads like a shockingly familiar nightmare/daydream of an imaginary near future, while at the same time bringing us twinges of a shared past...very Meta.
From a stylistic standpoint, Reid's writing is sort of M.C. Escher elopes with Douglas Adams and they end up honeymooning at Burning Man with Zuckerberg and Sandberg.
From a stylistic standpoint, Reid's writing is sort of M.C. Escher elopes with Douglas Adams and they end up honeymooning at Burning Man with Zuckerberg and Sandberg.
May 25, 2017
This review is based on an advanced reading copy I received while at the ALA Midwinter Conference in January 2017.
Honestly I didn't get very far in this book. I tried, but there were so many chopped up sentences and rough grammar and squawking doorbells (I've never heard a doorbell squawk. Ding flatly, yes, but not squawk. Come on.) that I just couldn't stomach the thought of continuing to slog through 500 some-odd pages of the same.
The book started with a weird aside/dare to the reader that was bizarre and just plain hard to read.
Maybe the final version is better, but based on my experience with the advanced copy I won't be hunting it down to find out.
Honestly I didn't get very far in this book. I tried, but there were so many chopped up sentences and rough grammar and squawking doorbells (I've never heard a doorbell squawk. Ding flatly, yes, but not squawk. Come on.) that I just couldn't stomach the thought of continuing to slog through 500 some-odd pages of the same.
The book started with a weird aside/dare to the reader that was bizarre and just plain hard to read.
Maybe the final version is better, but based on my experience with the advanced copy I won't be hunting it down to find out.
December 14, 2016
Rob Reid's "Forever On" is SO GOOD! It's a must-read.
Imagine if Joseph Heller, Michael Crichton, Andy Weir, the writers behind Silicon Valley, and Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors had an orgy. Their love child would be this book.
Imagine if Joseph Heller, Michael Crichton, Andy Weir, the writers behind Silicon Valley, and Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors had an orgy. Their love child would be this book.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
August 13, 2018I'm not opposed to reading books about Silicon Valley after I've left, and the characters and plots are relatively realistic, but their pseudo-technology is driving me nuts. The reality behind tech right now is that no one has life-changing technology at this scale, they're just pretending they do, and that just makes it all the more ridiculous.
August 10, 2017
This book alternates between terrifying and hilarious so fast I'm pretty sure I got whiplash several times. One of my favorite aspects of the book is trying to figure out who the narrator is, which I'm proud to say I did. I'm definitely going to be more careful about reading the EULA when I sign up for stuff... OK, let's be honest, no I won't, because who has that kind of time? Anyway, lots of fun to be had in this book, and I definitely recommend it to all and sundry. For those who have read Year Zero by Rob Reid, there are some lovely cameos from that book that I enjoyed. For those who haven't read it, don't worry, you won't feel out of the loop.
A final note: I was thoroughly freaked out when I discovered the Higgensworth Amazon reviews included in this book were real, until I learned from the author's website that he posted them as practices in fiction that he later incorporated into this book. Well played, sir!
A final note: I was thoroughly freaked out when I discovered the Higgensworth Amazon reviews included in this book were real, until I learned from the author's website that he posted them as practices in fiction that he later incorporated into this book. Well played, sir!
January 7, 2018
I am stunned at how highly rated this book is. It almost made it to my "did not finish" list. The author cleverly challenges the reader to read all 547 pages right at the start of the book. I probably wouldn't have read much beyond the first 100 pages without it. However, I did skip 200 pages in the latter half of the book and I feel like I missed almost nothing plot-wise.
Here are the flaws That caused me to rate this as a one-star book:
1. Lots of tortured similies. Sometimes consecutive sentences of similies.
2. Lots of asides (parenthetical comments from the author to show how smart he is.
3. Multiple flashbacks that add nothing to the plot or understanding the characters' motivations
4. Interludes that distract from the narrative and should have been handled by dialog or exposition
5. Cardboard main characters that you never really develop any empathy with
5. A plot at the YA level even though it is supposedly an adult book, possibly due to its mild sexual content
This author is definitely on my "no further interest" list.
Here are the flaws That caused me to rate this as a one-star book:
1. Lots of tortured similies. Sometimes consecutive sentences of similies.
2. Lots of asides (parenthetical comments from the author to show how smart he is.
3. Multiple flashbacks that add nothing to the plot or understanding the characters' motivations
4. Interludes that distract from the narrative and should have been handled by dialog or exposition
5. Cardboard main characters that you never really develop any empathy with
5. A plot at the YA level even though it is supposedly an adult book, possibly due to its mild sexual content
This author is definitely on my "no further interest" list.
August 25, 2017
So, yeah - over 2,700 exclamation marks are a bit of a turnoff. and some of the nebulosity and sheer randomness? It goes a tad far. But as a story, it's good. As a montage of the valley, it seems to work. As a pinhole analysis of Humanity, flaws and all, it's pretty damned hot. SO despite feeling frustrated on a pret-ty regular basis ... I liked it. I enjoyed it. I read it at odd hours of the morning when I couldn't sleep and found myself picking it up when I had plenty of other things that needed my attention.
February 17, 2018
After On is a brilliant book. Laugh Out Loud. Makes one learn a lot. With a story. Great twists. Amazing writing style. And social messages too. Still not for everyone. Let me take elaborate on these points one by one.
Laugh out loud: The book is humourous absolutely all through. The jokes are mostly in your face and loud a la Douglas Adams, but novel enough in most cases to work because of their high humour quotient. One cannot but chuckle at the personality imparted on the AI. The millennial over-the-top profanity-laced reactions to normal life events also provide good fodder for laughs.
Learning value: For me, the book provided the best explanation of quantum computing I have come across so far. It has a neat take on consciousness even if borrowed from some dead philosopher's work. Along the way in the book, readers come across gems of descriptions on concepts as exotic as Pascal's wager and Fermi's paradox - even for the most familiar, their unique application will provide some fun reading. The singularity/AI discussions are often fascinating - for example, the query on whether a real super-AI will make any effort to improve beyond a point. Subtler points include the path selected in the race to make a machine man-like (Turing obsession). And there is more: on robotics, genetics, nanotech, big data, machine learning and augmented reality - all these new fields are touched briefly from new perspectives.
A good story: The main story involving a bunch of good guys is reasonably solid because of the likeable nature of the characters. While the characters are cut from the same cloth, and speak the same language, their warm interactions lay credence to the tale that keeps moving rapidly all through.
Great twists: The story has murders, and a possibility of human extinction. An extreme form of bioterrorism is not enough for the author so there is a flirting with the nuclear war, the usual bomb blasts, jihadists, cold war era double agents, and sex! There are at least a couple of good suspense out of possibly four to five attempts,
Amazing writing style: In the texting world, the language has changed. Most of the modern literature is still written in the style that is more Victorian than modern. Not here. And, it is a refreshing change even if annoying at times.
Multiple social messages: the author poses some great questions on the limits/extent of digital privacy, AI supremacy, life purpose and similar. His answers are not always agreeable, but the way he has posed the questions is often extraordinary.
Not for everyone: many readers will find the book too tacky, and many others too techy. Some will have issues with the story and some with the characters. Some will find it moving too fast, and some too long. This is a book that has a lot. And, as a result, a lot one can find faults in.
For me, this is a great learning entertainment. It made me envision one type of future. It made me think about some deep philosophical issues as well. And it allowed me to write another book review that could make me immortal (this last statement has relevance in the book!)
Laugh out loud: The book is humourous absolutely all through. The jokes are mostly in your face and loud a la Douglas Adams, but novel enough in most cases to work because of their high humour quotient. One cannot but chuckle at the personality imparted on the AI. The millennial over-the-top profanity-laced reactions to normal life events also provide good fodder for laughs.
Learning value: For me, the book provided the best explanation of quantum computing I have come across so far. It has a neat take on consciousness even if borrowed from some dead philosopher's work. Along the way in the book, readers come across gems of descriptions on concepts as exotic as Pascal's wager and Fermi's paradox - even for the most familiar, their unique application will provide some fun reading. The singularity/AI discussions are often fascinating - for example, the query on whether a real super-AI will make any effort to improve beyond a point. Subtler points include the path selected in the race to make a machine man-like (Turing obsession). And there is more: on robotics, genetics, nanotech, big data, machine learning and augmented reality - all these new fields are touched briefly from new perspectives.
A good story: The main story involving a bunch of good guys is reasonably solid because of the likeable nature of the characters. While the characters are cut from the same cloth, and speak the same language, their warm interactions lay credence to the tale that keeps moving rapidly all through.
Great twists: The story has murders, and a possibility of human extinction. An extreme form of bioterrorism is not enough for the author so there is a flirting with the nuclear war, the usual bomb blasts, jihadists, cold war era double agents, and sex! There are at least a couple of good suspense out of possibly four to five attempts,
Amazing writing style: In the texting world, the language has changed. Most of the modern literature is still written in the style that is more Victorian than modern. Not here. And, it is a refreshing change even if annoying at times.
Multiple social messages: the author poses some great questions on the limits/extent of digital privacy, AI supremacy, life purpose and similar. His answers are not always agreeable, but the way he has posed the questions is often extraordinary.
Not for everyone: many readers will find the book too tacky, and many others too techy. Some will have issues with the story and some with the characters. Some will find it moving too fast, and some too long. This is a book that has a lot. And, as a result, a lot one can find faults in.
For me, this is a great learning entertainment. It made me envision one type of future. It made me think about some deep philosophical issues as well. And it allowed me to write another book review that could make me immortal (this last statement has relevance in the book!)
February 9, 2017
Brilliant, witty, energetic-- could not put this book down. Forever On got me to look beyond typical black-and-white attitudes toward technology, AI, media consumption, global politics, gender and even spirituality, and to explore the various thought-provoking shades of gray.
A must-read adventure for all of us living in a world of encroaching change. I typically don't read sci-fi and loved this book. Hats off to Rob Reid for an ingenious vision.
A must-read adventure for all of us living in a world of encroaching change. I typically don't read sci-fi and loved this book. Hats off to Rob Reid for an ingenious vision.
February 4, 2025
I'm gonna try to come back and clean this up later. Let me first say that I greatly enjoyed , it is a lot of fun.
Not enjoying it so far. It's very dull and not a fan of the narration.
It is picking up a little bit and has some redeeming qualities. The fake reviews are too funny.
Okay, hate it now.
Some beautiful millennial bashing....but it turned into tongue in cheek, wouldn't want to offend those cry babies. They'll start occupy Reid's house, crapping on his carpet and selling trinkets that exclaim to atrocity of capitalism.
So many thoughts espoused in this book that I absolutely loathe about modern society. If it feels good do it, don't be held to the "standards of a future husband" or you know... society. Freaking idiots. How about teaching our kids to have some self worth?
The super crazy islamist? Oh well his teachings have more in common with Christianity of course.
Some whining about slut-shaming. Sluts should be shamed whether they are male or female.
Lol. We're victimizing suicide bombers now. Is there no one that isn't a victim to libtards? Oh yes, white men. Those are villains. But wait, isn't Reid a white man? I wonder if Reid and David Wong are members of the same He-Woman Man-Haters Club?
Yes, yes finally we got in a jab at gun ownership!
Female main character that goes on and on about pussy.
Terrible sound effects, thanks for that whistle in my ear. Full cast narrations rarely work, this is a prime example. The different voices don't work well together and I'm not sure why the blog girl's posts have to be read from the bottom of a barrel.
There was a refreshing statement from one of the characters at the very end, something to the effect that they didn't mock religion anymore and it makes him/her a more rounded person. Agreed.
Not enjoying it so far. It's very dull and not a fan of the narration.
It is picking up a little bit and has some redeeming qualities. The fake reviews are too funny.
Okay, hate it now.
Some beautiful millennial bashing....but it turned into tongue in cheek, wouldn't want to offend those cry babies. They'll start occupy Reid's house, crapping on his carpet and selling trinkets that exclaim to atrocity of capitalism.
So many thoughts espoused in this book that I absolutely loathe about modern society. If it feels good do it, don't be held to the "standards of a future husband" or you know... society. Freaking idiots. How about teaching our kids to have some self worth?
The super crazy islamist? Oh well his teachings have more in common with Christianity of course.
Some whining about slut-shaming. Sluts should be shamed whether they are male or female.
Lol. We're victimizing suicide bombers now. Is there no one that isn't a victim to libtards? Oh yes, white men. Those are villains. But wait, isn't Reid a white man? I wonder if Reid and David Wong are members of the same He-Woman Man-Haters Club?
Yes, yes finally we got in a jab at gun ownership!
Female main character that goes on and on about pussy.
Terrible sound effects, thanks for that whistle in my ear. Full cast narrations rarely work, this is a prime example. The different voices don't work well together and I'm not sure why the blog girl's posts have to be read from the bottom of a barrel.
There was a refreshing statement from one of the characters at the very end, something to the effect that they didn't mock religion anymore and it makes him/her a more rounded person. Agreed.
February 15, 2017
This is a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Reads review.
There is a lot of information to parse through throughout this novel and all of it becomes relevant during the course of the story, you just have to try and keep up. The best part comes when the A.I. comes fully aware and starts interacting with the main characters.
There is a lot of information to parse through throughout this novel and all of it becomes relevant during the course of the story, you just have to try and keep up. The best part comes when the A.I. comes fully aware and starts interacting with the main characters.
April 15, 2018
86% done and still considering stopping.
At the very least I'll leave my review now, because if I do finish, I may be angrier than I am now.
Please note: Audible edition - which isn't helping the situation.
Where does one begin?
I know, how about Character Development (or lack of).
There's a lot of "stuff" about the 3 main characters, but it doesn't equate to much real development.
1. The "Main Character" (presumably our hero) - Has a heart of gold, a debilitating disease that he keeps secret, and we are never sure if he is a genius or an idiot. Though he is inexplicably made the right-hand man of the potentially evil, main Silicon Valley CEO character.
2. Super Smart Polish Super Genius Guy, who adds little to the plot - but boy is he smart and boy can he CODE!. This dude CODES so hard that he can unknowingly make an image library sentient by power-coding on a weekend. He CODES so damn good that even he doesn't know why the CODE is so good.
3. Spunky Coder Girl, who, though she is in her early 20's knows lots about everything, hates men and is (of course) a lesbian - which, although the other 2 main characters - who are her best friends and co-workers and who worked in close quarters with her for years - and they love her and know her so well - are completely unaware of this fact until she asks them (3/4 through the book) "How did you not know?"
Oh and of course she is a former unwilling sex worker. Because why not?
Then, there are lots of other characters who come and go, most of whom are uninteresting and simply extentions (or foils) of the Main 3 characters.
The Author uses sophomoric tricks - such as embedded blog posts - to move the plot/story along instead of actually working apropriate plot devices into the narrative. One such Blogger (Net GRRL) seems to be omniscient - and literally exists to give segues and exposition to the story. Then, inexplicably, even though NO ONE KNOWS WHO SHE IS - she joins the team of the above-mentioned 3 main characters and freely tells them who she is.
For no reason.
And she is, as a character, indistinguishably from "Spunky Coder Girl."
All the characters go off on tangents - completely unrelated to the story - about culture, history or what have you - I think more as a forum for the author to show how smart and culturally sensitive he is, rather than to move the plot along.
This helps fill out the 22+ hours/ 576 pages - most of which IS filler.
For example, the Author includes a series of fake Amazon Reviews - (that are really on Amazon under the name of Charles Henry Higgensworth III) which the author himself wrote back in and around 2002. He includes most of the reviews in the book, and then weaves them into the story in a way that is both tangential and unnecessary - and really comes across only as a nod to himself and his witiness in spamming Amazon.
Likewise there is a terrible Science Fiction story that is presented throughout the book - and then attributed to one of the characters, as a work of "Speculative fiction". I understand that the story is in itself a parody, but based on other material included in the book, I'll assume the story is something the author wrote in High School, and he wanted to air it out as well.
The characters go off on so many unnecessary discussions of culture, sexuality, and other hip culturally sensitive topics, that it feels like it was specifically written to pander to the Millenial crowd - or else, another way for the author to work his own social views into the story.
Well, What is the story?
Presumably, it's about an AI that is created by a FaceBook knock-off - which gains sentience somewhere along the way, although the inception point of this sentience is never explained (but dismissed by a blog post from NetGRRL)
Oh, and the AI has the demeanor and maturity of an angry pubescent girl, for some unknown reason.
But we don't actually get to this until about 75% in.
The book comes across as a YA novel with a lot of cursing thrown in to prove it is not a YA novel.
The big sub-plot - which is the diamond in the rough, is the presumption that the NSA (and deeper Gov't spook agencies) set up a social network under the pretense that by agreeing to the EULA, you grant them the right to farm & use your data. THAT is a brilliant plot - however there is so much unnecessary blah blah blah included in the book, that even that is never as interesting as it could be.
Last Note. The Audible version is a cacophony of voices, sounds, and high school drama club melo-dramatic delivery, (WITH LOTS OF YELLING AND EXCLAMATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) that if you DO decide to read the book, then I suggest you READ the book.
At the very least I'll leave my review now, because if I do finish, I may be angrier than I am now.
Please note: Audible edition - which isn't helping the situation.
Where does one begin?
I know, how about Character Development (or lack of).
There's a lot of "stuff" about the 3 main characters, but it doesn't equate to much real development.
1. The "Main Character" (presumably our hero) - Has a heart of gold, a debilitating disease that he keeps secret, and we are never sure if he is a genius or an idiot. Though he is inexplicably made the right-hand man of the potentially evil, main Silicon Valley CEO character.
2. Super Smart Polish Super Genius Guy, who adds little to the plot - but boy is he smart and boy can he CODE!. This dude CODES so hard that he can unknowingly make an image library sentient by power-coding on a weekend. He CODES so damn good that even he doesn't know why the CODE is so good.
3. Spunky Coder Girl, who, though she is in her early 20's knows lots about everything, hates men and is (of course) a lesbian - which, although the other 2 main characters - who are her best friends and co-workers and who worked in close quarters with her for years - and they love her and know her so well - are completely unaware of this fact until she asks them (3/4 through the book) "How did you not know?"
Oh and of course she is a former unwilling sex worker. Because why not?
Then, there are lots of other characters who come and go, most of whom are uninteresting and simply extentions (or foils) of the Main 3 characters.
The Author uses sophomoric tricks - such as embedded blog posts - to move the plot/story along instead of actually working apropriate plot devices into the narrative. One such Blogger (Net GRRL) seems to be omniscient - and literally exists to give segues and exposition to the story. Then, inexplicably, even though NO ONE KNOWS WHO SHE IS - she joins the team of the above-mentioned 3 main characters and freely tells them who she is.
For no reason.
And she is, as a character, indistinguishably from "Spunky Coder Girl."
All the characters go off on tangents - completely unrelated to the story - about culture, history or what have you - I think more as a forum for the author to show how smart and culturally sensitive he is, rather than to move the plot along.
This helps fill out the 22+ hours/ 576 pages - most of which IS filler.
For example, the Author includes a series of fake Amazon Reviews - (that are really on Amazon under the name of Charles Henry Higgensworth III) which the author himself wrote back in and around 2002. He includes most of the reviews in the book, and then weaves them into the story in a way that is both tangential and unnecessary - and really comes across only as a nod to himself and his witiness in spamming Amazon.
Likewise there is a terrible Science Fiction story that is presented throughout the book - and then attributed to one of the characters, as a work of "Speculative fiction". I understand that the story is in itself a parody, but based on other material included in the book, I'll assume the story is something the author wrote in High School, and he wanted to air it out as well.
The characters go off on so many unnecessary discussions of culture, sexuality, and other hip culturally sensitive topics, that it feels like it was specifically written to pander to the Millenial crowd - or else, another way for the author to work his own social views into the story.
Well, What is the story?
Presumably, it's about an AI that is created by a FaceBook knock-off - which gains sentience somewhere along the way, although the inception point of this sentience is never explained (but dismissed by a blog post from NetGRRL)
Oh, and the AI has the demeanor and maturity of an angry pubescent girl, for some unknown reason.
But we don't actually get to this until about 75% in.
The book comes across as a YA novel with a lot of cursing thrown in to prove it is not a YA novel.
The big sub-plot - which is the diamond in the rough, is the presumption that the NSA (and deeper Gov't spook agencies) set up a social network under the pretense that by agreeing to the EULA, you grant them the right to farm & use your data. THAT is a brilliant plot - however there is so much unnecessary blah blah blah included in the book, that even that is never as interesting as it could be.
Last Note. The Audible version is a cacophony of voices, sounds, and high school drama club melo-dramatic delivery, (WITH LOTS OF YELLING AND EXCLAMATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) that if you DO decide to read the book, then I suggest you READ the book.
April 15, 2019
Thorough. Scary. Funny. Genius.
May 7, 2019
What a ride!
This book was a whopper of a journey from start to finish. Split up into 3 parts, the reader becomes exposed to a series of plot portions that weave together at various points in the book (yes, that means NOT chronologically, which means you have to use your brains to figure how it all connects). Complete with relateable characters, amazon reviews, super-intelligent AI, scenario fiction and more, this story borderlines on madness.
It. Was. Epic.
Though, I won't lie... there were many moments that made the story difficult- especially in the beginning. Because the reader is given various types of story elements, it was extremely difficult to place them for the first half of the book. I'm not exaggerating what I say it was work; work that I moved through slowly- up until the second part that it- which I then proceeded to drive through like a whirlwind.
The whole story is being told to you by an unknown narrator that plays with the reader from the start. I was instantly captivated by the first two pages which is a conversation the narrator is literally having with you, the reader. It's interactive, playful, funny, and intrigueing. You're even promised a prize if you stick through it till the end! (No joke). This strikes me as ingeniously hilarious, because even the narrator knows the first half is dry, rough, complicated, confusing, and utterly mystefying; and thus rewards you if you push through. Was the end prize worth it?
Sure was.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a challenge mixed with a satisfying dollop of humor in their reading. This is not a story for everyone, but its valuable to those who stick with it. I think it would make a horribly fascinating book club as I bet readers would be positively itching to let all their emotions out post-haste, post-read! I, unfortunately, lack this current camaraderie, and my emotions about the story are just about ready to burst- so if you find yourself willing to embark on this journey, LET ME KNOW. The discussion bug is real, and I'm desperate to explore 'After On' with a fellow reader!
This book was a whopper of a journey from start to finish. Split up into 3 parts, the reader becomes exposed to a series of plot portions that weave together at various points in the book (yes, that means NOT chronologically, which means you have to use your brains to figure how it all connects). Complete with relateable characters, amazon reviews, super-intelligent AI, scenario fiction and more, this story borderlines on madness.
It. Was. Epic.
Though, I won't lie... there were many moments that made the story difficult- especially in the beginning. Because the reader is given various types of story elements, it was extremely difficult to place them for the first half of the book. I'm not exaggerating what I say it was work; work that I moved through slowly- up until the second part that it- which I then proceeded to drive through like a whirlwind.
The whole story is being told to you by an unknown narrator that plays with the reader from the start. I was instantly captivated by the first two pages which is a conversation the narrator is literally having with you, the reader. It's interactive, playful, funny, and intrigueing. You're even promised a prize if you stick through it till the end! (No joke). This strikes me as ingeniously hilarious, because even the narrator knows the first half is dry, rough, complicated, confusing, and utterly mystefying; and thus rewards you if you push through. Was the end prize worth it?
Sure was.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a challenge mixed with a satisfying dollop of humor in their reading. This is not a story for everyone, but its valuable to those who stick with it. I think it would make a horribly fascinating book club as I bet readers would be positively itching to let all their emotions out post-haste, post-read! I, unfortunately, lack this current camaraderie, and my emotions about the story are just about ready to burst- so if you find yourself willing to embark on this journey, LET ME KNOW. The discussion bug is real, and I'm desperate to explore 'After On' with a fellow reader!
May 15, 2020
There are some really fun aspects to this book, especially as I'm a Silicon Valley techie. I even used to work in the same office as Wired, where the author has published! Have had some good laughs and my interest has been piqued. I recommended it to someone early on and almost recommended it to another friend who's deeply involved in privacy psychology and technology. So I must have liked it at some point... I'm starting to forget what point that was. I expected more.
I am halfway through and pretty much nothing has happened. The book is fluffed up with a lot of articles, blog posts, amazon reviews, etc. I suppose that's intentional... it's supposed to capture several technologies and tech publications and life in Silicon Valley... and microscopic progressions in the context and story are made in those pages... but this is a novel. Things are supposed to happen. Or characters are supposed to grow. The fluff is essentially dragging out the only relevant storyline. Taken out, the book would be.... four chapters? I'm about to skip several chapters to see if I can hear what happened in the end. The rest isn't doing much for me.
I am halfway through and pretty much nothing has happened. The book is fluffed up with a lot of articles, blog posts, amazon reviews, etc. I suppose that's intentional... it's supposed to capture several technologies and tech publications and life in Silicon Valley... and microscopic progressions in the context and story are made in those pages... but this is a novel. Things are supposed to happen. Or characters are supposed to grow. The fluff is essentially dragging out the only relevant storyline. Taken out, the book would be.... four chapters? I'm about to skip several chapters to see if I can hear what happened in the end. The rest isn't doing much for me.
September 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this behemoth of a book. It gets very dark and deep, which is to be expected dealing with AI and supercomputers. However author Rob Reid never lets the reader go without lots of humor sprinkled throughout, many of it in the form of old Amazon.com reviews. This helps strike a balance in what could have been overall a very bleak story.
My favorite quote in the book:
"I think the whole point of the simulation might be the exercise of free will. I mean, why create an entire universe in software just to simulate colliding rocks? The interesting stuff has to arise from autonomous beings, right? Ones creating unique artwork. Making bold decisions. Living unique lives. That sort of thing. Without that, our universe wouldn't justify its processing power. They'd probably shut it down"
Runner up favorite quote: "most people are only truly authentic with their five closest friends and, with perfect strangers".
My favorite quote in the book:
"I think the whole point of the simulation might be the exercise of free will. I mean, why create an entire universe in software just to simulate colliding rocks? The interesting stuff has to arise from autonomous beings, right? Ones creating unique artwork. Making bold decisions. Living unique lives. That sort of thing. Without that, our universe wouldn't justify its processing power. They'd probably shut it down"
Runner up favorite quote: "most people are only truly authentic with their five closest friends and, with perfect strangers".
February 20, 2018
I found the start of the book, mocking its 576-page length, quite funny, but then found the book, quite boring, running for at least 500 pages more than it should have! Too many plot diversions, too many rabbit hole explorations, and too many narrative voices. It’s a story that barely moves forward, packed with weak dialogue, immature characters, and a senseless direction.
I give the book 1 star for what if is, and give myself 5 stars for pushing through it!
I give the book 1 star for what if is, and give myself 5 stars for pushing through it!
July 18, 2021
The first half of the novel was very slow going, it picked up in part 2 but not enough to make it worth the 270 pages of part 1.
November 8, 2017
My first red flag should’ve been when I couldn’t make it through the synopsis without first having PTSD symptoms from The Circle, followed by intense boredom. It took me no fewer than three tries to read the entire synopsis, and even then I wasn’t sure if this was a fiction, non-fiction, non-fiction-adjacent, or what. However, at the insistence of a cousin who loved the book, I dove in.
I have to admit though, he was right. Partially anyway. The first 5% of the book was godawful, and I probably should’ve just hit the old delete button on my Kindle, but nevertheless, I persisted. Persisted through a meandering storyline, told by a variety of different viewpoints, in varying font selections and sizes (which made it all the more difficult to enjoy on the Kindle). A lot of these viewpoints seemed to have some connection to the general story, however some appeared to be mostly asides to the general world they lived in. Aside from the different style of viewpoints and methods of telling this ‘story,� the author’s general writing style detracted from me actually being able to get into the book. Every couple sentences he’d throw in an exclamation point for no good reason. I’d be reading through, imagining the scene, imagining the characters interacting and one of the characters would be downtrodden and serious but suddenly there was an exclamation point; is this character suddenly excited for this single sentence? Apparently so. It was a constant scene breaker and I had to force myself to ignore the punctuation throughout the book.
I pushed on though, reading at a fast and furious pace, trying to get to the good part and finally, at about 65% we hit the good part, or glimpses of the good part anyway. By 85% I was thoroughly bored again and wanted the story to hurry up and end, which it eventually did. The book was long too; longer than it needed to be by a couple hundred pages.
Would absolutely not recommend this book.
I have to admit though, he was right. Partially anyway. The first 5% of the book was godawful, and I probably should’ve just hit the old delete button on my Kindle, but nevertheless, I persisted. Persisted through a meandering storyline, told by a variety of different viewpoints, in varying font selections and sizes (which made it all the more difficult to enjoy on the Kindle). A lot of these viewpoints seemed to have some connection to the general story, however some appeared to be mostly asides to the general world they lived in. Aside from the different style of viewpoints and methods of telling this ‘story,� the author’s general writing style detracted from me actually being able to get into the book. Every couple sentences he’d throw in an exclamation point for no good reason. I’d be reading through, imagining the scene, imagining the characters interacting and one of the characters would be downtrodden and serious but suddenly there was an exclamation point; is this character suddenly excited for this single sentence? Apparently so. It was a constant scene breaker and I had to force myself to ignore the punctuation throughout the book.
I pushed on though, reading at a fast and furious pace, trying to get to the good part and finally, at about 65% we hit the good part, or glimpses of the good part anyway. By 85% I was thoroughly bored again and wanted the story to hurry up and end, which it eventually did. The book was long too; longer than it needed to be by a couple hundred pages.
Would absolutely not recommend this book.
May 25, 2017
I won this is in a giveaway. Forever On is a great account on how super intelligence will arrive, and what it will mean for all of humans. Hilarious, frightening, believable, and marvelously constructed; Forever On has all human emotions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2020
So many of the chapters are just painful to read. Yes, there's a point to it but that doesn't make the narrators any less insufferable. The most difficult book for me to get through in years.
October 25, 2020
There is a decent-ish AI plot hiding in there somewhere, but it is almost completely hidden by a thousand extremely annoying asides and digressions.
November 9, 2020
The opening lines of this book claim that you won’t be able to finish it. Listen!
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