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In Our Likeness: A Novel
The wonders and chaos of AI converge in a powerful and thrilling novel about rewriting history, identity, love, and what it means to be human.
Graham Gooding is a leader at a tech start-up when his brilliant coworker—and work crush—Nessie Locke asks for help testing a new algorithm. Graham jumps at the chance to impress her, and to improve his floundering personal life. He soon discovers that the algo is more powerful than Nessie—or anyone—realizes. It was built to detect lies on the internet, but when Graham makes a small edit to Nessie’s online profile, hoping to see if the program will catch the lie, Nessie changes in real life. The algo can alter the real world. Now, so can Graham.
No one knows what Graham has done, except his boss, enigmatic tech guru David Warwick. Graham is racked with guilt, but Warwick thrills to the possibilities of what they can do next. This promises to be the innovation that will make Warwick a household name. Drawn by the power of the algo but terrified by its potential for chaos, Graham must decide what to do and whom to trust in a world where one true reality no longer exists.
As love, trust, memories, and what it means to be human begin to slip away, Graham and Nessie work together to restore the past—before it’s lost to the anarchy of a world without truth.
Graham Gooding is a leader at a tech start-up when his brilliant coworker—and work crush—Nessie Locke asks for help testing a new algorithm. Graham jumps at the chance to impress her, and to improve his floundering personal life. He soon discovers that the algo is more powerful than Nessie—or anyone—realizes. It was built to detect lies on the internet, but when Graham makes a small edit to Nessie’s online profile, hoping to see if the program will catch the lie, Nessie changes in real life. The algo can alter the real world. Now, so can Graham.
No one knows what Graham has done, except his boss, enigmatic tech guru David Warwick. Graham is racked with guilt, but Warwick thrills to the possibilities of what they can do next. This promises to be the innovation that will make Warwick a household name. Drawn by the power of the algo but terrified by its potential for chaos, Graham must decide what to do and whom to trust in a world where one true reality no longer exists.
As love, trust, memories, and what it means to be human begin to slip away, Graham and Nessie work together to restore the past—before it’s lost to the anarchy of a world without truth.
251 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2024
1773 people are currently reading
5217 people want to read
About the author
Bryan VanDyke
3 books33 followersBryan VanDyke thinks about the internet for a living. A former staff writer for The Millions, he is a graduate of the writing programs at Columbia University and Northwestern. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
June 10, 2024
Publishing date:
01.09.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
The book as a meal: I got a lollipop with a "surprise center", when I got to the center I ended up in a fever dream
The book left me: "... That was it?"
Negatives:
Unsatisfying ending
Didn't root for any of the characters
Why is the main character calling his mom by her first name??
Positives:
Fun concept with the Ai and "altering"
Features:
Reality bending technology, tech-dude-bros, heavily tattooed woman, terminally ill parent, workaholic characters, obsession, lots of "looking back", a story divided in parts
Why did I choose this one?
I really like contemporary and "not so far into the future" technology, and this seemed right up my alley. The cover was really pretty too.
Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
In the middle between both. This book had both very exciting parts, and extremely boring parts. I had periods where I would want to read this, and then I didn't want to even look at it. So it falls right in between.
What was the vibe and mood?
It had the vibe of a semi-toxic workspace that pays a little too little and where you work a little bit too much. Everyone else seems really smart, and demands attention to their accomplishments all the time. Your boss tries really hard to be cool, but he is really just cringe and everyone knows he is faking it.
Also the overwhelming amount of anxiety and self-doubt is dripping from this book.
Final ranking and star rating?
C tier, 2.5 stars. It just didn't hit the spot for me, and the very sudden very disappointing ending knocked off the final 0.5 stars from a 3 stars. I wanted to like this, it seems to be made for me, but it missed ...
01.09.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
The book as a meal: I got a lollipop with a "surprise center", when I got to the center I ended up in a fever dream
The book left me: "... That was it?"
Negatives:
Unsatisfying ending
Didn't root for any of the characters
Why is the main character calling his mom by her first name??
Positives:
Fun concept with the Ai and "altering"
Features:
Reality bending technology, tech-dude-bros, heavily tattooed woman, terminally ill parent, workaholic characters, obsession, lots of "looking back", a story divided in parts
Why did I choose this one?
I really like contemporary and "not so far into the future" technology, and this seemed right up my alley. The cover was really pretty too.
Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
In the middle between both. This book had both very exciting parts, and extremely boring parts. I had periods where I would want to read this, and then I didn't want to even look at it. So it falls right in between.
What was the vibe and mood?
It had the vibe of a semi-toxic workspace that pays a little too little and where you work a little bit too much. Everyone else seems really smart, and demands attention to their accomplishments all the time. Your boss tries really hard to be cool, but he is really just cringe and everyone knows he is faking it.
Also the overwhelming amount of anxiety and self-doubt is dripping from this book.
Final ranking and star rating?
C tier, 2.5 stars. It just didn't hit the spot for me, and the very sudden very disappointing ending knocked off the final 0.5 stars from a 3 stars. I wanted to like this, it seems to be made for me, but it missed ...
August 2, 2024
This book hooked me from the start. It was very well-written, and I enjoyed the premise. But it started falling apart for me about 75% of the way through. And I absolutely hated the ending. So that’s why I can only give it 3 stars.
August 2, 2024
Intrigued by the premise, I got my hands on an early copy of this novel and I was not disappointed! What a fantastic premise that blends a dose of the dangers of tech and AI as they are today with fantastical sci-fi of a near future, but still impossible, tech premise. (And that's a good thing, at least I hope that it's not possible for AI to edit me!)
As someone whose been on teams of brilliant tech entrepreneurs wanting to disrupt this and that industry (almost always great things to do in the places I've worked, mind you) Bryan VanDyke nails the tech world's ethos with what might be a slightly hyperbolic depiction of a founder, though within this sci-fi plot was perfect. Many tech companies are founded on the premise that disruption of some status quo is the ultimate goal - or at least the riches that come on the other side of it. Whatever the disruption? It's worth it. Take pleasure in the luddites who cry about losing their jobs when your tech takes over. Pay a market rate to the plebs in your HR rolls while you do it and you walk away with riches. When a programmer quits? Dead to you. Move on. They must not have been bought in anyway. We'll hire more! To their face, they're invaluable. When they leave? They're a dime-a-dozen. Win at all costs.
OK, deep breath. Aside from tech, In Our Likeness has beautiful explorations of human nature, inner conflict, and romantic wanting. The desire for more. For greatness. For wealth. For impact. For power. To be god-like. And then the impact that inevitably has on others.
It's a quick read, and, in my opinion, could even be a good start to other stories (perhaps as an anthology if not a continuation) around the impact of tech and AI on humans.
I enjoyed his prose and turns of phrase. I had to lookup a word or two. I tried to longpress on the word to open the dictionary, but apparently the paperback version doesn't come integrated with that feature.
I enjoyed it, and I hope you do to!
As someone whose been on teams of brilliant tech entrepreneurs wanting to disrupt this and that industry (almost always great things to do in the places I've worked, mind you) Bryan VanDyke nails the tech world's ethos with what might be a slightly hyperbolic depiction of a founder, though within this sci-fi plot was perfect. Many tech companies are founded on the premise that disruption of some status quo is the ultimate goal - or at least the riches that come on the other side of it. Whatever the disruption? It's worth it. Take pleasure in the luddites who cry about losing their jobs when your tech takes over. Pay a market rate to the plebs in your HR rolls while you do it and you walk away with riches. When a programmer quits? Dead to you. Move on. They must not have been bought in anyway. We'll hire more! To their face, they're invaluable. When they leave? They're a dime-a-dozen. Win at all costs.
OK, deep breath. Aside from tech, In Our Likeness has beautiful explorations of human nature, inner conflict, and romantic wanting. The desire for more. For greatness. For wealth. For impact. For power. To be god-like. And then the impact that inevitably has on others.
It's a quick read, and, in my opinion, could even be a good start to other stories (perhaps as an anthology if not a continuation) around the impact of tech and AI on humans.
I enjoyed his prose and turns of phrase. I had to lookup a word or two. I tried to longpress on the word to open the dictionary, but apparently the paperback version doesn't come integrated with that feature.
I enjoyed it, and I hope you do to!
August 19, 2024
I can't express how much I didn't enjoy this book. I read it all (honestly, I probably paid less attention as I got closer to the end) because I think it's a waste to DNF a free book. I hate giving books 1 star reviews because it makes me feel like I'm just a hater instead of like I'm writing a critical review, but I can't really think of a single redeeming aspect.
The main problem is that the concept was executed incredibly poorly. The AI influence never felt fully realized or properly explored. Things would happen because we needed a crazy plot without any justification for why. I understand that, to a certain extent, I need to suspend my disbelief for the sake of science fiction, but nothing made sense. What makes this AI algorithm so special? We're told that changing the database changes the real world, but like ... why? Just because? Sure, but what an unsatisfying explanation. Furthermore, why does Warwick know what's changing all the time, but other people remember and forget at random (based on what's most convenient)? Without spoiling it, it becomes clear that Graham has to go through a lot of tedious details in order to actually change something. But then later in the book, Warwick is able to seemingly change things at will (which is extra confusing because Warwick seems like an idiot). I don't need everything to be explained, but when the "science" part fully boils down to "it happens because I said so," it just seems lazy.
This book also would've been a good opportunity to explore the real life implications of AI, especially now in a society where generative AI and it's impact on the creative arts, the environment, and the spread of information is such a hot topic. In Our Likeness gets closest to discussing the latter, but only because it's the original in-universe original purpose of the algorithm. I found this book to be lacking in any critical thought on the subject it claimed to be focusing on, which ultimately made it feel empty and soulless.
So, you know, perhaps you could say were embracing the AI theme a little too much.
The writing was generally just very weak. Instead of having a progressive feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty, everything felt fairly straightforward until about 75% of the way through, at which point everything went completely off the rails and I could barely follow along. We also started the book in the past (as in, Graham's first person narration would say things like "I couldn't have known then what would happen later"), but somewhere along the way we caught up to real time. In theory that's clever, but in reality it was just an abrupt change in narration style. Additionally, in the beginning he definitely talked to the reader in a way that was never acknowledged or justified later on.
Instead of having a story made up of Graham doing things, there were a lot of flashbacks and existential musings. Most things happened to Graham or in spite of him (people like Warwick had to tell him what to do), and no one likes a passive narrator. When he wasn't trying to prove to me how smart and deep he was, Graham was being really weird about his crush. Nessie, despite being trapped in this story, wasn't so bad. But the way Graham's crush manifested was so creepy and uncomfortable. He had an alarming lack of boundaries, constantly crossing lines that apparently no one else seemed to think was strange. Then his whole "I just can't tell her how I feel" conflict felt so juvenile and friendzone-y. I just wanted him to start acting like an adult and not a teenager. Use your words, Graham, and please leave this poor woman alone.
It's also worth acknowledging that this book takes place in 2018. I mean, sure, set your fake story in whatever time you like, but it felt weird to bring us back in time to discuss a future version of modern day technology.
Honestly, I'm just tired of having to think about this book. I feel like I've put more thought into it throughout this review than the author put into it, which is a bad feeling to leave a book with.
The main problem is that the concept was executed incredibly poorly. The AI influence never felt fully realized or properly explored. Things would happen because we needed a crazy plot without any justification for why. I understand that, to a certain extent, I need to suspend my disbelief for the sake of science fiction, but nothing made sense. What makes this AI algorithm so special? We're told that changing the database changes the real world, but like ... why? Just because? Sure, but what an unsatisfying explanation. Furthermore, why does Warwick know what's changing all the time, but other people remember and forget at random (based on what's most convenient)? Without spoiling it, it becomes clear that Graham has to go through a lot of tedious details in order to actually change something. But then later in the book, Warwick is able to seemingly change things at will (which is extra confusing because Warwick seems like an idiot). I don't need everything to be explained, but when the "science" part fully boils down to "it happens because I said so," it just seems lazy.
This book also would've been a good opportunity to explore the real life implications of AI, especially now in a society where generative AI and it's impact on the creative arts, the environment, and the spread of information is such a hot topic. In Our Likeness gets closest to discussing the latter, but only because it's the original in-universe original purpose of the algorithm. I found this book to be lacking in any critical thought on the subject it claimed to be focusing on, which ultimately made it feel empty and soulless.
So, you know, perhaps you could say were embracing the AI theme a little too much.
The writing was generally just very weak. Instead of having a progressive feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty, everything felt fairly straightforward until about 75% of the way through, at which point everything went completely off the rails and I could barely follow along. We also started the book in the past (as in, Graham's first person narration would say things like "I couldn't have known then what would happen later"), but somewhere along the way we caught up to real time. In theory that's clever, but in reality it was just an abrupt change in narration style. Additionally, in the beginning he definitely talked to the reader in a way that was never acknowledged or justified later on.
Instead of having a story made up of Graham doing things, there were a lot of flashbacks and existential musings. Most things happened to Graham or in spite of him (people like Warwick had to tell him what to do), and no one likes a passive narrator. When he wasn't trying to prove to me how smart and deep he was, Graham was being really weird about his crush. Nessie, despite being trapped in this story, wasn't so bad. But the way Graham's crush manifested was so creepy and uncomfortable. He had an alarming lack of boundaries, constantly crossing lines that apparently no one else seemed to think was strange. Then his whole "I just can't tell her how I feel" conflict felt so juvenile and friendzone-y. I just wanted him to start acting like an adult and not a teenager. Use your words, Graham, and please leave this poor woman alone.
It's also worth acknowledging that this book takes place in 2018. I mean, sure, set your fake story in whatever time you like, but it felt weird to bring us back in time to discuss a future version of modern day technology.
Honestly, I'm just tired of having to think about this book. I feel like I've put more thought into it throughout this review than the author put into it, which is a bad feeling to leave a book with.
August 31, 2024
I was hooked by this sci-fi book set in New York with its AI and tech dangers premise. I quickly devoured it in little over a day. This is sci-fi light as there are plenty of details given on what is being edited so that the action is easy to follow but without explanation of how the algorithm actually works. It revolves around three characters: Graham (the right hand to the CEO), Warwick (the CEO), and Nessie (the developer of the algo and Graham’s unrequited love interest). Graham narrates the story from his viewpoint as he experiences what happens when he edits Nessie’s algo at her request to see if he can break it before it’s demoed to potential customers.
It wasn’t until about the 75% point that I began feeling a little restless. Waiting for something more to happen, feeling like this might have thriller vibes, and hoping for a jaw-dropping twist to tie it all together. The twist didn’t come. The conclusion arrived with a sedate and melancholy air. This book could have been terrific if only it had a different climax and ending.
The first half was the best part of the book, if only the later part could have had more impact. I certainly enjoyed the premise and would be willing to try this author again.
It wasn’t until about the 75% point that I began feeling a little restless. Waiting for something more to happen, feeling like this might have thriller vibes, and hoping for a jaw-dropping twist to tie it all together. The twist didn’t come. The conclusion arrived with a sedate and melancholy air. This book could have been terrific if only it had a different climax and ending.
The first half was the best part of the book, if only the later part could have had more impact. I certainly enjoyed the premise and would be willing to try this author again.
August 24, 2024
Weird vibes from the narrator. And an obsession with a manic pixie dream girl that gave me the ick.
August 1, 2024
If you’re a fan of modern tech, you’re definitely going to want to read “In Our Likeness.”
The promotional materials do a fine job of summarizing the plot, so I won't duplicate that effort here.
Suffice it to say that author Bryan Vandyke has imagined and introduced into our world and time a new piece of Artificial Intelligence (AI), an algorithm (or “algo”) that can change reality. Not virtual reality. Real reality.
Don’t like the tattoos on someone’s body? If you know how to work the algo, you can erase them. Are the trees or traffic noises outside your window bothersome? Changing them instantaneously isn’t simple, but it’s definitely doable. Just imagine what else one might accomplish. The possibilities abound, astound, and frighten.
In addition to this very original idea, Mr. Vandyke gives readers well-drawn characters playing for high personal stakes and beset by internal and external conflicts, some of them quite poignant. The issues he addresses are topical and timely. The settings are well-described and range from Manhattan and Brooklyn to the Hamptons to the worlds of hi-tech, fine art, medical science, and elder care.
And to top it all off, Mr. Vandyke’s writing is excellent. His dialogue is natural. His prose is clear and sometimes borders on the literary (but never in an off-putting way). Some of the phrases he turns convey surprising “pearls of wisdom” I thought worthy of underlining.
This is Mr. Vandyke’s debut novel. I am eager to read his next.
The promotional materials do a fine job of summarizing the plot, so I won't duplicate that effort here.
Suffice it to say that author Bryan Vandyke has imagined and introduced into our world and time a new piece of Artificial Intelligence (AI), an algorithm (or “algo”) that can change reality. Not virtual reality. Real reality.
Don’t like the tattoos on someone’s body? If you know how to work the algo, you can erase them. Are the trees or traffic noises outside your window bothersome? Changing them instantaneously isn’t simple, but it’s definitely doable. Just imagine what else one might accomplish. The possibilities abound, astound, and frighten.
In addition to this very original idea, Mr. Vandyke gives readers well-drawn characters playing for high personal stakes and beset by internal and external conflicts, some of them quite poignant. The issues he addresses are topical and timely. The settings are well-described and range from Manhattan and Brooklyn to the Hamptons to the worlds of hi-tech, fine art, medical science, and elder care.
And to top it all off, Mr. Vandyke’s writing is excellent. His dialogue is natural. His prose is clear and sometimes borders on the literary (but never in an off-putting way). Some of the phrases he turns convey surprising “pearls of wisdom” I thought worthy of underlining.
This is Mr. Vandyke’s debut novel. I am eager to read his next.
April 27, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, I’m not gonna pretend I understood any of the technical parts where they talked about AI and algorithms, but this was original and really intriguing. A bit scary as well as a bit sad.
Loved how all the characters were written. Nessie was a lovely character.
The author kept me guessing till the end, nothing that I thought would happen was happening. Giving this 3 stars because it got to a point where it got confusing and I had a million questions I wanted answers to, but I think that’s usually the way with fictional stories about AI.
Okay, I’m not gonna pretend I understood any of the technical parts where they talked about AI and algorithms, but this was original and really intriguing. A bit scary as well as a bit sad.
Loved how all the characters were written. Nessie was a lovely character.
The author kept me guessing till the end, nothing that I thought would happen was happening. Giving this 3 stars because it got to a point where it got confusing and I had a million questions I wanted answers to, but I think that’s usually the way with fictional stories about AI.
August 24, 2024
Really interesting premise but executed poorly. I was intrigued at first but the more I read the more I just wanted it to be over. It did not give me anything I wanted and I feel like I read this for no reason.
January 14, 2025
Goal for 2025 is to diversify my reading. Right now I am not too happy with this goal but am hoping my choices will get better!!!
This book had good parts and is a really interesting, relevant concept, but the ending was so anticlimactic and it took me much too long to read.
This book had good parts and is a really interesting, relevant concept, but the ending was so anticlimactic and it took me much too long to read.
August 17, 2024
Thought Provoking
I read this in one session, enthralled with the story and enjoying the authors writing style. It was a fun read.
I read this in one session, enthralled with the story and enjoying the authors writing style. It was a fun read.
August 7, 2024
What a wild, intriguing ride. It was difficult (impossible?) to wrap my brain around all of the AI and coding parts but it was still very thought provoking/interesting. I liked how it ended even though it was nothing like I expected.
December 13, 2024
3.5 stars…. Very abrupt ending gave it that rating for me. Fun (and scary) to think of the ways AI can change the trajectory of things… even the smallest tweaks to the algorithm can lead to a different style of life. Interesting read.
August 13, 2024
Thought provoking algorithms
Compelling read of things that could or couldn’t be true. I love the characters and the plot. Left me wanting the next book and the next, as surely there are more stories to come! Gosh; the multitude of themes (to start off with we have technology; human relationships, trust; truth, deceit; and the complexity of being human). Crossing over from science fiction into fantasy, but in a way that really works for me! Definitely recommend!
Compelling read of things that could or couldn’t be true. I love the characters and the plot. Left me wanting the next book and the next, as surely there are more stories to come! Gosh; the multitude of themes (to start off with we have technology; human relationships, trust; truth, deceit; and the complexity of being human). Crossing over from science fiction into fantasy, but in a way that really works for me! Definitely recommend!
April 5, 2024
I clipped along at a face pace through In Our Likeness, a novel that paints a strong picture of a tech founder CEO, Warwick; his COO, Graham; and a head of software engineering, Nessie. There is also the algorithm Nessie designed for Warwick's company and which Graham discovers is not just learning at amazing speeds, but filling in changes in the real world, given the right input. I stopped often to marvel at the author's lovely turn of phrases both in descriptions of New York City, where the story is set, and in the thoughts and observations of the characters. The story also touches on tech & social issues in a fun way, though I found myself wishing that the inevitable output corruption of an algorithm allowed to influence the real world (as they all do, but not in such a visceral way as this one) was treated with a bit more authorial fascination to how close this corruption is to our current world, and less dream-like, Matrix-movie-like scenes. The book touched on ideas on the realities of technology and society I wanted to spend more time with throughout.
Another fault for me was having a female character , which seemed not up to the level of ideas the story alludes to in its telling. Nessie's technical and communication skills leveraged while being a woman in tech are otherwise great and I wanted better for her than that. The ending was strong and haunting, and I feel fine recommending this well-observed story for anyone looking for a tech thriller with literary DNA (or is it RNA?). I just wished this story had felt safe to lean in to the rich and fertile soil of where tech and life meet and the resonant and confrontational ethics that place invokes. The story seemed to side with plot rather than deeper ideas the characters could confront about their work and lives, perhaps to the detriment for readers more familiar with landscape of these modern-day & historical confrontations between tech and society. However, In Our Likeness makes for a snappy, enjoyable, and relevant-to-now story for general fiction audiences and you won't regret picking it up!
Thank you to Little A for providing this e-book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2024
Entertaining & fast, makes you question everything
While reading this book, I was reminded of Philip K Dick’s novel, “Ubik.” It felt like a modern retelling or at least a nod to that sci-fi classic, but I wasn’t sure until I spotted the reference to Pat and Joe Chip. Then I knew I must be onto something because drawing that parallel could not be coincidence! VanDyke left me hanging though, without a note about it in the acknowledgments. So, tell me, VanDyke. Am I on the right track?!
Novels like “Ubik” and “In Our Likeness” require a heaping spoonful of suspension of disbelief. In this book, “In Our Likeness,” an AI algorithm has the ability to change things in the real world. Just… go with it. Because you won’t be learning how it works - the characters all admit to not knowing how it works despite creating it - it just does. If you can get past that, then the novel becomes an entertaining read. I was flying through the pages, wanting to know what would happen next, as things went further and further off the rails. There are also some funny quips and one-liners that made me chuckle.
My main complaint, and reason for 4 stars instead of 5, is (sigh) the ending. It was not the closure I would have liked. There is a difference between a cliff hanger and an unsatisfying conclusion, and unfortunately I feel like this leaned toward the latter. I suppose that may have been intentional, and it doesn’t change my recommendation to read this book. Just be prepared to feel a little uncomfortable when you finish it.
While reading this book, I was reminded of Philip K Dick’s novel, “Ubik.” It felt like a modern retelling or at least a nod to that sci-fi classic, but I wasn’t sure until I spotted the reference to Pat and Joe Chip. Then I knew I must be onto something because drawing that parallel could not be coincidence! VanDyke left me hanging though, without a note about it in the acknowledgments. So, tell me, VanDyke. Am I on the right track?!
Novels like “Ubik” and “In Our Likeness” require a heaping spoonful of suspension of disbelief. In this book, “In Our Likeness,” an AI algorithm has the ability to change things in the real world. Just… go with it. Because you won’t be learning how it works - the characters all admit to not knowing how it works despite creating it - it just does. If you can get past that, then the novel becomes an entertaining read. I was flying through the pages, wanting to know what would happen next, as things went further and further off the rails. There are also some funny quips and one-liners that made me chuckle.
My main complaint, and reason for 4 stars instead of 5, is (sigh) the ending. It was not the closure I would have liked. There is a difference between a cliff hanger and an unsatisfying conclusion, and unfortunately I feel like this leaned toward the latter. I suppose that may have been intentional, and it doesn’t change my recommendation to read this book. Just be prepared to feel a little uncomfortable when you finish it.
August 25, 2024
What started out as a good idea, promising an exciting story turned out to be poorly executed and illogical. The key to the book is making reality using an algorithm but it is never explained how physical reality results from a large language model. That seems quite an omission but when the characters create a being, they don't even check what it is made of. There is a reference of it "could be" but apparently it isn't interesting enough to verify. It's only a story but it still needs to hold together. None of the characters seem real, no one you could identify with. No wonder it is free from Amazon.
August 13, 2024
Interesting concept but took a confusing turn. And another book that ended with no resolution
March 27, 2025
This one prompts thoughts about AI, reality, how we frame our memories and their ties to our emotions. The ending just left me unsatisfied.
August 25, 2024
this is a book that started off bad, was struck with a fever dream in the middle, and then got tentatively better as you read on to arrive to what was actually a pretty strong ending. i wanted to give it three stars because two stars feels harsh, but then i looked back on my highlights and decided to be truthful (ha, topical if you’ve read the book) instead. this book is strewn with sudden word choices that are off-putting, unnatural, and borderline incorrect (hey! using words i don’t know the meaning of is MY thing!), abrupt emotional dialogue that comes almost entirely out of left field, and arcs that begin and then think better of themselves than to come to completion. it is complete with an unlikeable main character with a gratingly insecure narrative perspective that was at best, trite and unimpressive, and at worst, thoroughly irritating.
examples:
“I like to think I just notice more than the average dude. But I’m also always sure I’m missing something.” what???
“To put it bluntly, for Nessie, I had a crush the size of, say, a supermassive black hole.” self explanatory.
“I knew Nessie didn’t share the feelings I had, never would. I’m no one’s idea of a catch.” shut the fuck up, holy shit. lastly, “So many sounds of excitement and joy, none of it for me.” EWWWWW !
a lot of the self pity is concentrated towards the start of the book, when you’re getting to know Graham (the main character). paired with the bad writing and embarrassing lack of cleverness that are especially conspicuous before the plot picks up enough to distract from narrative style, the beginning is by far the worst part of the book to get through. after finishing the book i skimmed the reviews and a lot of people seem to have lowered their ratings because they found the ending unfulfilling. i personally think that the ending is unpopular just because it’s (spoiler) not a happy ending. i liked it because i don’t want Graham to be happy. just kidding, mostly. i liked it because it felt like an actually interesting authorial choice that was supported by the rest of the text. there was foreshadowing i mean. not very graceful foreshadowing, but it was there. sorry i spoiled the book but it’s not one i would want you all to read anyways.
the book tackles imminent threats created by ai but deescalate them by rooting the primary source of the threat, “the algo”, in absolute nonsense. there’s a lot of talk throughout the book of “well how is the algo DOING that!!!” and then the person who literally made it is like “#shrug it’s taken on a life of its own somehow… and now it’s going to destroy reality!!!! nooooo!” maybe i just don’t know enough about programming, but the way the book talks about the algo is some woo woo fantasy shit that makes me take real problems that need to be centered in the discussion around ai very unseriously. for a book where the main guy literally does logistics for a living, it also has too many logistical holes in it for me to be able to read fluently. like it asks you to suspend just a little too much disbelief.
there were some good moments and i would write more on the merits of this book (few as they are they do exist) but ive been using writing this short little negative nancy review as an excuse to procrastinate and now i need to lock in again. if it helps i would probably do a much worse job at writing this book. so whatever. and it’s actually a 2.5/5 i’d say. thanks all. #worldpeace
examples:
“I like to think I just notice more than the average dude. But I’m also always sure I’m missing something.” what???
“To put it bluntly, for Nessie, I had a crush the size of, say, a supermassive black hole.” self explanatory.
“I knew Nessie didn’t share the feelings I had, never would. I’m no one’s idea of a catch.” shut the fuck up, holy shit. lastly, “So many sounds of excitement and joy, none of it for me.” EWWWWW !
a lot of the self pity is concentrated towards the start of the book, when you’re getting to know Graham (the main character). paired with the bad writing and embarrassing lack of cleverness that are especially conspicuous before the plot picks up enough to distract from narrative style, the beginning is by far the worst part of the book to get through. after finishing the book i skimmed the reviews and a lot of people seem to have lowered their ratings because they found the ending unfulfilling. i personally think that the ending is unpopular just because it’s (spoiler) not a happy ending. i liked it because i don’t want Graham to be happy. just kidding, mostly. i liked it because it felt like an actually interesting authorial choice that was supported by the rest of the text. there was foreshadowing i mean. not very graceful foreshadowing, but it was there. sorry i spoiled the book but it’s not one i would want you all to read anyways.
the book tackles imminent threats created by ai but deescalate them by rooting the primary source of the threat, “the algo”, in absolute nonsense. there’s a lot of talk throughout the book of “well how is the algo DOING that!!!” and then the person who literally made it is like “#shrug it’s taken on a life of its own somehow… and now it’s going to destroy reality!!!! nooooo!” maybe i just don’t know enough about programming, but the way the book talks about the algo is some woo woo fantasy shit that makes me take real problems that need to be centered in the discussion around ai very unseriously. for a book where the main guy literally does logistics for a living, it also has too many logistical holes in it for me to be able to read fluently. like it asks you to suspend just a little too much disbelief.
there were some good moments and i would write more on the merits of this book (few as they are they do exist) but ive been using writing this short little negative nancy review as an excuse to procrastinate and now i need to lock in again. if it helps i would probably do a much worse job at writing this book. so whatever. and it’s actually a 2.5/5 i’d say. thanks all. #worldpeace
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2024
It was good then it just lost me somewhere near the middle. I finished it but the ending was very unsatisfying and left me disappointed.
May 2, 2024
After reading several nonfiction books on the topic of technology and its dark side, the description of Bryan VanDyke’s debut novel, In Our Likeness, made me think it would make a great fiction companion read. Though I am not usually a sci-fi reader, I found this accessible, even with some tech lingo thrown in. The topic of technology, how it can be used for good or evil, and how it has the potential to take over our lives is on full display in this book. I appreciated the food for thought In Our Likeness offers, but was left a little dissatisfied with the character development and the ending in particular. If you’re looking for a sci-fi book that tackles the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, this would make a great choice. I also think this would make an excellent book club pick, as the topics addressed make for great conversation.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Little A for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Little A for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
November 10, 2024
I chose this book after taking a class on Artificial Intelligence, and it did not disappoint. The lines between reality and fantasy were very thin and while I didn't necessarily find it believable I was intrigued. The characters drew me in as the world around them shifted and they struggled to discern where the truth lay.
September 5, 2024
In Our Likeness by Bryan Vandyke dives into a world where an algorithm has the power to alter reality, presenting a concept that immediately grabs your attention. I was excited by the idea—a story with the potential for a Butterfly Effect-like narrative, where small changes could have significant, unpredictable impacts on the characters' lives and the world around them. However, while the premise was compelling, I found that the execution left a lot to be desired.
The novel kicks off with an intriguing setup: an algorithm so advanced that only a select few in a start-up have access to it. When they finally develop a testable model, the engineer, Nessie, tasks Graham with playing around with the code, essentially acting as a Quality Assurance tester to see if he could "break it." As someone who writes code for a living, this was a hard pill to swallow.
The way the story was constructed felt unrealistic from a software development perspective. For one, it seemed implausible that Nessie, who is supposed to be the director of their engineering team, would hand over something so powerful without any guidance—especially when she already knows what the code is capable of. This setup felt like a massive plot hole. Why give Graham an algorithm to "play with" when it can alter reality itself, and when others also have access to change the code?
In real-world software development, peer reviews are carefully controlled processes. Engineers don’t randomly dive into each other's codebases, make arbitrary changes, and then merge them into the master version. There’s a structured approach to making alterations, with careful documentation and testing to ensure nothing breaks. This level of realism was missing, making it challenging to buy into the story's premise. The narrative attempts to explore a series of reality-altering changes, but it becomes hard to keep track of who is making which changes and how these changes affect the reality the characters inhabit.
Another inconsistency was how Graham could create a whole new person with the algorithm but struggled to change something as simple as a sign at a traffic light. And then there’s Warwick, a character with less experience than both Nessie and Graham, who somehow manages to make drastic changes—including "fixing" Graham's mom. These gaps made it hard for me to stay immersed in the story.
Despite these issues, I did appreciate what the novel seemed to aim for. It tries to explore the ethical and existential implications of technology capable of rewriting reality, and that’s a fascinating idea. I just wish the author had taken the time to learn more about how software development actually works before using it as a foundation for the story. For me, this lack of understanding disrupted the suspension of disbelief necessary to fully enjoy a science fiction novel like this.
Overall, In Our Likeness had potential and an engaging premise, but the execution and lack of technical accuracy held it back. I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars—an interesting read with a concept that could have been better realized with a bit more research.
The novel kicks off with an intriguing setup: an algorithm so advanced that only a select few in a start-up have access to it. When they finally develop a testable model, the engineer, Nessie, tasks Graham with playing around with the code, essentially acting as a Quality Assurance tester to see if he could "break it." As someone who writes code for a living, this was a hard pill to swallow.
The way the story was constructed felt unrealistic from a software development perspective. For one, it seemed implausible that Nessie, who is supposed to be the director of their engineering team, would hand over something so powerful without any guidance—especially when she already knows what the code is capable of. This setup felt like a massive plot hole. Why give Graham an algorithm to "play with" when it can alter reality itself, and when others also have access to change the code?
In real-world software development, peer reviews are carefully controlled processes. Engineers don’t randomly dive into each other's codebases, make arbitrary changes, and then merge them into the master version. There’s a structured approach to making alterations, with careful documentation and testing to ensure nothing breaks. This level of realism was missing, making it challenging to buy into the story's premise. The narrative attempts to explore a series of reality-altering changes, but it becomes hard to keep track of who is making which changes and how these changes affect the reality the characters inhabit.
Another inconsistency was how Graham could create a whole new person with the algorithm but struggled to change something as simple as a sign at a traffic light. And then there’s Warwick, a character with less experience than both Nessie and Graham, who somehow manages to make drastic changes—including "fixing" Graham's mom. These gaps made it hard for me to stay immersed in the story.
Despite these issues, I did appreciate what the novel seemed to aim for. It tries to explore the ethical and existential implications of technology capable of rewriting reality, and that’s a fascinating idea. I just wish the author had taken the time to learn more about how software development actually works before using it as a foundation for the story. For me, this lack of understanding disrupted the suspension of disbelief necessary to fully enjoy a science fiction novel like this.
Overall, In Our Likeness had potential and an engaging premise, but the execution and lack of technical accuracy held it back. I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars—an interesting read with a concept that could have been better realized with a bit more research.
August 17, 2024
"How do any of us know each other's pasts? I wasn't there to witness his wedding. Or to sit with him in a cave. But I believe all of it. We take one another's word. We believe what we read, mostly. Or what other people tell us.
Even direct experience involves guesswork. Even if I was present for all the moments of a man's life, how could I know for certain his thoughts? His intentions?
All we do is engage in conjecture after the fact. We trust that what we're told is what's true, and if it's not, well, hopefully it won't matter."
Even direct experience involves guesswork. Even if I was present for all the moments of a man's life, how could I know for certain his thoughts? His intentions?
All we do is engage in conjecture after the fact. We trust that what we're told is what's true, and if it's not, well, hopefully it won't matter."
September 16, 2024
2.5 stars, rounded to 3
Speculative science fiction set in the near future where Graham and Warlick are the Wozniak and Jobs of Warlock & Co. Along with Nessie, they have developed an algorithm that starts out as a way to determine the veracity of items found on the web. Somewhere along the way, it becomes a way to alter the real world. It is not explained in any coherent way and that was a problem for me. How does code effect changes? To people, to the world in general. The book started out promising and it was a quick read, but I could never suspend disbelief. I could not buy into the changes. It was an interesting take on AI and tech. But a lack of any explanation of what happens and an ending that was just unsatisfying left me feeling that it just missed the mark. Great concept, decent writing, but just not quite my cup of sci-fi.
Quote I liked:
Her generosity made a difference in that moment, and in the long run, it would change everything.
Speculative science fiction set in the near future where Graham and Warlick are the Wozniak and Jobs of Warlock & Co. Along with Nessie, they have developed an algorithm that starts out as a way to determine the veracity of items found on the web. Somewhere along the way, it becomes a way to alter the real world. It is not explained in any coherent way and that was a problem for me. How does code effect changes? To people, to the world in general. The book started out promising and it was a quick read, but I could never suspend disbelief. I could not buy into the changes. It was an interesting take on AI and tech. But a lack of any explanation of what happens and an ending that was just unsatisfying left me feeling that it just missed the mark. Great concept, decent writing, but just not quite my cup of sci-fi.
Quote I liked:
Her generosity made a difference in that moment, and in the long run, it would change everything.
August 19, 2024
(3.25 stars)
a tech company creates a chatbot that filters out the truth from fake news, but they discover the algorithm can be altered to rewrite the truth and change the real world - the rewritten truth becomes real!
unfortunately they do not use this power for good (duh lol) and the world gets all messed up and they have to fix it.
the ending was super lame but it was still an interesting and a fun read.
a tech company creates a chatbot that filters out the truth from fake news, but they discover the algorithm can be altered to rewrite the truth and change the real world - the rewritten truth becomes real!
unfortunately they do not use this power for good (duh lol) and the world gets all messed up and they have to fix it.
the ending was super lame but it was still an interesting and a fun read.
September 9, 2024
4 stars...first off thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this audioARC of the book. I enjoyed the narrator and the storyline was out there and kinda creepy in an AI changing every little thing about you in the click of a few buttons kind of way. I thought it was very thought provoking in a "what if" way. The characters were all well rounded and likable also. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy the sci-fi stuff.
September 5, 2024
This book is reminiscent of recent books by Blake Crouch (particularly "Recursion") and it benefits from having a narrator who is in the dark as you are and who, at least to my eyes, is not the protagonist of the story (also a solid Hufflepuff lead character which I always enjoy). Some of the decisions made by the characters in the early part of the book (the tattoos....) were strange and I don't think what any person would logically do in that scenario which took me out of the story, but by and large a good, and quick, read.
September 27, 2024
I bought this as it was an intriguing premise on a list of recent recommendations for my interests in reading. I think it has to do with an “algo” . It’s very well written. The world building is great. The causes and effects of what the characters can and will do with the computing power of AI is really fascinating. Suspension of reality is needed for the technology. It is not for needed for way humans use and abuse it. It’s definitely worth the read.
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