A Spoiler Free Review of Artificial Truth: A Novel by J.M. Lee- translated by Sean Lin Halbert

Check Out The Book On Amazon - Available In KU

From J.M. Lee, a bestselling phenomenon in Korea, comes a haunting and mind-bending novel about the revolutionary possibilities of AI and the infinite mysteries of what it means to be human.
In the virtual city of Alegria, fantasies are made real, innumerable lifetimes are lived, and even death itself is a survivable experience. An escape from reality that changed the landscape of artificial intelligence, it is home to more than one hundred million people. Though it’s been six years since Alegria’s creator—revolutionary tech genius KC Kim—died of cancer, his legacy is alive in the pinnacle of KC’s genius: an AI named Allen who surges with KC’s memories.
As hard as KC’s widow, Minju, and her new husband, Junmo, try to move on, Minju can’t shake the unnerving feeling that somehow, from somewhere, KC is watching. She sees a stranger who bears an uncanny resemblance to him. A pair of KC’s custom-made shoes arrive at her doorstep. And someone has booked a Tokyo hotel room where she and KC shared happier times. Certain of nothing except KC’s mad innovation, Minju can only imagine what he is accomplishing without even existing.
If KC is reaching out from an infinity of memories, what are his plans for Minju and Junmo, and how can they hope to escape KC’s all-seeing grasp? And whose plans are they, really? The possibilities are frightening.

REVIEW

Standalone or series?
Standalone

How did I get this book?
It's available in KU

Why did I choose to read this book:  
Kristen Painter actually suggested it, she has it (although she hasn't read it yet) and she thought it might be something I would like. As it was in KU and the description appealed to me I decided to give it a try, 

Genre
Sci/Fi Mystery - Speculative Fiction

And Now To The Review!

First Impressions:
This immediately reminded me of the movie Transcendence (which I also loved).  
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General Review
Although I really enjoyed this book I don't think it is going to be for everyone. It definitely leans more to the harder Sci Fi feel of writing (Isaac Asimov springs to mind), and there are definitely places where I felt some things may have been lost a little in the translation from the original Korean. That being said, I read this in just a couple of hours straight through and I find the whole process of AI learning fascinating even though I also find it frightening. There is a lot of layering, and the characters are far more complex than they appear at the start, and it really highlighted the effects that events can have on people. 

Final Thoughts
I consider myself pretty good at spotting twists, and at least the idea of a twist, even if I don't get all the details 100% correct.  I did not see the twist in this coming AT ALL and I love that. With everything that is happening with AI at the moment, this story feels particularly relevant. 

Rating:
A Solid 4 stars! If you liked the movie Transcendence then I think you would enjoy this.

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