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2040: A Silicon Valley Satire
"I told you not to read books like this." —Your Mom
When AI and the culture wars collide, hilarity ensues.
The 2040 presidential election is unlike any in US history. The Republican candidate is an AI named PresiBot, created by a tech startup, KumbAI, who are in deeply over their heads. The Democratic candidate is a fake Native American chief seeking to abolish the United States. What could go wrong?
With PresiBot plummeting in the polls and tech giants like Happinet scheming to take over, KumbAI's brash CEO Ethan Burnswagger and reluctant CTO Arvind Subramanian struggle to keep their company, their friendship—and their lives—under control. But the center cannot hold, and KumbAI, the campaign and America careen inexorably toward disaster.
Fast-paced and dialogue-driven, as befits our ADHD age, 2040 is a scathing critique of the current state of America—from the tech giants' all-encompassing empires and the fear and hype surrounding AI to the invasion of the mainstream by ever-kookier political ideas. Set in a dystopian San Francisco in a near future we can all too easily anticipate, it features characters, entities and incidents whose resemblance to actual ones may or may not be purely coincidental.
If you want to have wicked fun while discovering what AI really is, how the tech industry works, where our deepening polarization might lead us, and—most important—how to break out of this cycle, this is the book for you.
When AI and the culture wars collide, hilarity ensues.
The 2040 presidential election is unlike any in US history. The Republican candidate is an AI named PresiBot, created by a tech startup, KumbAI, who are in deeply over their heads. The Democratic candidate is a fake Native American chief seeking to abolish the United States. What could go wrong?
With PresiBot plummeting in the polls and tech giants like Happinet scheming to take over, KumbAI's brash CEO Ethan Burnswagger and reluctant CTO Arvind Subramanian struggle to keep their company, their friendship—and their lives—under control. But the center cannot hold, and KumbAI, the campaign and America careen inexorably toward disaster.
Fast-paced and dialogue-driven, as befits our ADHD age, 2040 is a scathing critique of the current state of America—from the tech giants' all-encompassing empires and the fear and hype surrounding AI to the invasion of the mainstream by ever-kookier political ideas. Set in a dystopian San Francisco in a near future we can all too easily anticipate, it features characters, entities and incidents whose resemblance to actual ones may or may not be purely coincidental.
If you want to have wicked fun while discovering what AI really is, how the tech industry works, where our deepening polarization might lead us, and—most important—how to break out of this cycle, this is the book for you.
Kindle Edition
Published August 20, 2024
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About the author
Pedro Domingos
9 books158 followersI'm a professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington and the author of 2040 and The Master Algorithm. I'm a winner of the SIGKDD Innovation Award and the IJCAI John McCarthy Award, two of the highest honors in data science and AI. I'm a Fellow of the AAAS and AAAI, and I've received an NSF CAREER Award, a Sloan Fellowship, a Fulbright Scholarship, an IBM Faculty Award, several best paper awards, and other distinctions. I received an undergraduate degree (1988) and M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (1992) from IST, in Lisbon, and an M.S. (1994) and Ph.D. (1997) in Information and Computer Science from the University of California at Irvine. I'm the author or co-author of over 200 technical publications in machine learning, data science, and other areas. I'm a member of the editorial board of the Machine Learning journal, co-founder of the International Machine Learning Society, and past associate editor of JAIR. I was program co-chair of KDD-2003 and SRL-2009, and I've served on the program committees of AAAI, ICML, IJCAI, KDD, NIPS, SIGMOD, UAI, WWW, and others. I've written for the Wall Street Journal, Spectator, Scientific American, Wired, and others. I helped start the fields of statistical relational AI, data stream mining, adversarial learning, machine learning for information integration, and influence maximization in social networks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 5, 2025
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*
I know that "2040: A Silicon Valley Satire" is to be, well, a satire but with Trump recently re-elected, it's not very fun? It's 2040 and an extremist Native American and so-called PresiBot try to become the next president if the United States. PresiBot is, as the name suggest, a robot with artificial intelligence. I don't enough to truly judge the AI part of the story, but it felt a bit ridiculous and underdeveloped. I disliked all the character and overall did not find this book funny at all. Especially the depiction of women and Native Americans was off. Not the book for me. 2 stars max
I know that "2040: A Silicon Valley Satire" is to be, well, a satire but with Trump recently re-elected, it's not very fun? It's 2040 and an extremist Native American and so-called PresiBot try to become the next president if the United States. PresiBot is, as the name suggest, a robot with artificial intelligence. I don't enough to truly judge the AI part of the story, but it felt a bit ridiculous and underdeveloped. I disliked all the character and overall did not find this book funny at all. Especially the depiction of women and Native Americans was off. Not the book for me. 2 stars max
August 13, 2024
3/5
Written with a very lean prose, this humorous satire supposes an AI running for President against a 1/1024th Lakota man whose platform is literally destroying America by “kicking out all the colonists.”
Lots of parallels to draw, and your enjoyment will depend on your style of humor. While entertaining, and a very quick read, I felt it was too dependent on dialogue while leaving some more interesting ideas by the wayside.
A fun diversion if you somehow don’t have enough politics in your life.
Written with a very lean prose, this humorous satire supposes an AI running for President against a 1/1024th Lakota man whose platform is literally destroying America by “kicking out all the colonists.”
Lots of parallels to draw, and your enjoyment will depend on your style of humor. While entertaining, and a very quick read, I felt it was too dependent on dialogue while leaving some more interesting ideas by the wayside.
A fun diversion if you somehow don’t have enough politics in your life.
May 19, 2025
The premise and idea of this book were enough to pique my interest. With a background in software development and AI, I found the description intriguing. However, the technology mentioned in the book felt very surface-level and almost corny. I was also interested in the heavily political nature of the book, but it didn’t quite land as expected.
While politics were a central theme from the beginning, the execution fell short. Despite the focus on an AI president, the political elements were exaggerated to the point of being unconvincing, even for a satire. The characters felt extremely shallow, and their conversations and decisions seemed weightless, which was contradictory to the gravity of a presidential election that could end America as a whole. The satire spelled things out so explicitly that it left little to the reader’s imagination. There was very little suspense or any hook that compelled me to keep reading.
The ending was particularly disappointing. It was abrupt and wrapped everything up in a neat bow in about five pages, leaving nothing to ponder. For a political satire, I expected to be left reflecting on the implications of our own political decisions rather than feeling unsatisfied with an overly tidy conclusion.
While the concept had potential, the execution did not live up to it. The book lacked the depth and subtlety needed to make a lasting impact. It presents a light, unserious, and overly exaggerated narrative. Even understanding that it is satire, the story felt under-baked and ultimately was not that enticing of a read. It might entertain those looking for a light, exaggerated take on future politics, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
That said, if you’re in the mood for a quick, light-hearted read with some humorous takes on future politics, you might still find some enjoyment here.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:
★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
While politics were a central theme from the beginning, the execution fell short. Despite the focus on an AI president, the political elements were exaggerated to the point of being unconvincing, even for a satire. The characters felt extremely shallow, and their conversations and decisions seemed weightless, which was contradictory to the gravity of a presidential election that could end America as a whole. The satire spelled things out so explicitly that it left little to the reader’s imagination. There was very little suspense or any hook that compelled me to keep reading.
The ending was particularly disappointing. It was abrupt and wrapped everything up in a neat bow in about five pages, leaving nothing to ponder. For a political satire, I expected to be left reflecting on the implications of our own political decisions rather than feeling unsatisfied with an overly tidy conclusion.
While the concept had potential, the execution did not live up to it. The book lacked the depth and subtlety needed to make a lasting impact. It presents a light, unserious, and overly exaggerated narrative. Even understanding that it is satire, the story felt under-baked and ultimately was not that enticing of a read. It might entertain those looking for a light, exaggerated take on future politics, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
That said, if you’re in the mood for a quick, light-hearted read with some humorous takes on future politics, you might still find some enjoyment here.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:
★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
September 19, 2024
2040: A Silicon Valley Satire by Pedro Domingos
Genre: Humor/Satire, Sci-Fi, Politics
Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2024
It's America in 2040 and time for the presidential election. Unfortunately, in a mere 16 years from now, things have NOT improved in the political climate and the candidates are absolutely BIZARRE.
The GOP has put forth an AI candidate named PresiBot, created by two guys from a tech start-up. The Democrats' candidate is a fake Lakota Native American chief named Raging Bull, whose #1 goal is to destroy America... if you thought the 2-party system was extreme now, you haven't seen anything yet... will Americans in this very separated and crazy society actually elect one of these bozos, or will the mud-slinging and extreme ads lead to absolute chaos?
Opinion:
The second I saw this book available for request, I just had request it! In this insane time in our society with elections coming up, this book was the PERFECT satirical message. Though everything that happened to the people behind the scenes seemed so outlandis, you could really see how the author was making a statement about our current political climate on both sides. I think this is truly worth a read and I laughed out loud a few times at the zoo-like situations that were created by the debates, conferences, etc. in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Book Baby for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions given are solely my own.
Genre: Humor/Satire, Sci-Fi, Politics
Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2024
It's America in 2040 and time for the presidential election. Unfortunately, in a mere 16 years from now, things have NOT improved in the political climate and the candidates are absolutely BIZARRE.
The GOP has put forth an AI candidate named PresiBot, created by two guys from a tech start-up. The Democrats' candidate is a fake Lakota Native American chief named Raging Bull, whose #1 goal is to destroy America... if you thought the 2-party system was extreme now, you haven't seen anything yet... will Americans in this very separated and crazy society actually elect one of these bozos, or will the mud-slinging and extreme ads lead to absolute chaos?
Opinion:
The second I saw this book available for request, I just had request it! In this insane time in our society with elections coming up, this book was the PERFECT satirical message. Though everything that happened to the people behind the scenes seemed so outlandis, you could really see how the author was making a statement about our current political climate on both sides. I think this is truly worth a read and I laughed out loud a few times at the zoo-like situations that were created by the debates, conferences, etc. in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Book Baby for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions given are solely my own.
August 20, 2024
Just the tonic to help take my mind off the orange threat to democracy! This novella satirizes the race for president in 2040 between a 1/1024th Lakotan who wants to end America by reverting all lands to the indigenous peoples (but is also bat-sh*t crazy) and #PresiBot, an A.I. candidate entered as a joke by a Silicon Valley start-up, KumbAI. The “native” candidate’s slogan is Make America Go Away and in 2040 he is running as a Democrat. To quote his campaign manager, “I’d rather have an Indigenous Federation run by us than a United States run by the GOP.” I did quite a bit of chortling, snickering, sighing, and eye-rolling while reading this, often in recognizing how similar the over-the-top antics, environment, and ideas were to today’s fractious climate. I also enjoyed the puns and wordplay, such as naming a dating app PheroMoan! Because it is sometimes silly, I had to be in the right mood for it or I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much. Therefore, 5 stars for when you want to read a clever and often over-the-top story about partisan politics, money, and class (as in caste).
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the advance reader copy of 2040: A Silicon Valley Satire for review purposes.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the advance reader copy of 2040: A Silicon Valley Satire for review purposes.
August 29, 2024
A satire about the political agenda between a 1% Native American and an AI robot.
I was honestly so excited for this book and was greatly disappointed . I felt the characters were a little too unrealistic even for the satirical plot. It felt like the AI was from 10 years ago and not from today’s age. There’s no way a bot would need someone to constantly monitor and override 10 years from now considering the strides that happen on a monthly basis now.
There were so many parts I had to skip because it felt too ridiculous and even sometimes very inappropriate.
I was honestly so excited for this book and was greatly disappointed . I felt the characters were a little too unrealistic even for the satirical plot. It felt like the AI was from 10 years ago and not from today’s age. There’s no way a bot would need someone to constantly monitor and override 10 years from now considering the strides that happen on a monthly basis now.
There were so many parts I had to skip because it felt too ridiculous and even sometimes very inappropriate.
July 29, 2024
In the not-so-distant future, Pedro Domingos takes us on a wild ride through a Silicon Valley that’s both eerily familiar and absurdly exaggerated. His novel, 2040, blends satire, technology, and political chaos into a delightful cocktail that leaves readers both amused and contemplative.
In 2040, the United States faces an unprecedented presidential election. The Republican candidate? An AI named PresiBot, created by the tech startup KumbAI. The Democratic candidate? A fake Native American chief who aims to abolish the country altogether. As the campaign unfolds, we witness a collision of AI algorithms, culture wars, and good old-fashioned human folly. There’s a lot of human folly.
Domingos masterfully captures the zeitgeist of our times. His portrayal of Silicon Valley’s excesses, from self-driving avocado delivery drones to blockchain-powered dating apps, is both hilarious and scarily plausible. The tech jargon flows effortlessly, making you wonder if you’ve accidentally stumbled into a startup pitch meeting. It’s perhaps unsurprising that Domingos possesses such knowledge of both the culture and technology about which he writes, as he himself is a prominent AI researcher. I like when people write fiction from a place of academic authority, like Fred Hoyle, when he wrote The Black Cloud; one of my favourite novels.
The characters are equally memorable. PresiBot, with its algorithmic charisma and data-driven campaign promises, steals the show. The fake Native American chief, Chief Raging Bull, provides a satirical mirror to our obsession with identity politics. And let’s not forget the eccentric venture capitalists who fund KumbAI; each one more bizarre than the last.
While the novel’s humour is its strongest suit, it occasionally veers into caricature. The satire can be heavy-handed, leaving little room for subtlety. And yes, the ending, followong on from the grand showdown between PresiBot and Chief Running Bullshit, feels a tad too neat. It’s as if Domingos wrapped up all loose ends with a bow, leaving readers craving a messier, more unpredictable resolution. This might be where suspension of disbelief finally gives way.
And here lies the rub. A five-star review demands that extra spark—the unexpected twist, the lingering question, the emotional gut punch. 2040 delivers on wit, but it shies away from profundity. Is it a neater ending than we deserve? Perhaps if Domingos had dared to leave a few more threads dangling, we’d be talking about a masterpiece.
2040: A Silicon Valley Satire is a must-read for anyone who chuckles at tech bros, eye-rolls at political absurdity, or secretly fears that AI might take over the world. It’s a clever romp through a near-future America that’s both hilarious and unsettling. Just don’t expect it to change your life; unless, of course, you’re an AI planning a run for president.
In 2040, the United States faces an unprecedented presidential election. The Republican candidate? An AI named PresiBot, created by the tech startup KumbAI. The Democratic candidate? A fake Native American chief who aims to abolish the country altogether. As the campaign unfolds, we witness a collision of AI algorithms, culture wars, and good old-fashioned human folly. There’s a lot of human folly.
Domingos masterfully captures the zeitgeist of our times. His portrayal of Silicon Valley’s excesses, from self-driving avocado delivery drones to blockchain-powered dating apps, is both hilarious and scarily plausible. The tech jargon flows effortlessly, making you wonder if you’ve accidentally stumbled into a startup pitch meeting. It’s perhaps unsurprising that Domingos possesses such knowledge of both the culture and technology about which he writes, as he himself is a prominent AI researcher. I like when people write fiction from a place of academic authority, like Fred Hoyle, when he wrote The Black Cloud; one of my favourite novels.
The characters are equally memorable. PresiBot, with its algorithmic charisma and data-driven campaign promises, steals the show. The fake Native American chief, Chief Raging Bull, provides a satirical mirror to our obsession with identity politics. And let’s not forget the eccentric venture capitalists who fund KumbAI; each one more bizarre than the last.
While the novel’s humour is its strongest suit, it occasionally veers into caricature. The satire can be heavy-handed, leaving little room for subtlety. And yes, the ending, followong on from the grand showdown between PresiBot and Chief Running Bullshit, feels a tad too neat. It’s as if Domingos wrapped up all loose ends with a bow, leaving readers craving a messier, more unpredictable resolution. This might be where suspension of disbelief finally gives way.
And here lies the rub. A five-star review demands that extra spark—the unexpected twist, the lingering question, the emotional gut punch. 2040 delivers on wit, but it shies away from profundity. Is it a neater ending than we deserve? Perhaps if Domingos had dared to leave a few more threads dangling, we’d be talking about a masterpiece.
2040: A Silicon Valley Satire is a must-read for anyone who chuckles at tech bros, eye-rolls at political absurdity, or secretly fears that AI might take over the world. It’s a clever romp through a near-future America that’s both hilarious and unsettling. Just don’t expect it to change your life; unless, of course, you’re an AI planning a run for president.
August 16, 2024
I was very excited about starting this one. Not only do I appreciate political satire, but reading a narrative about an AI presidential candidate during election season—when AI is a prominent topic in the tech industry—seemed like an incredible opportunity. However, upon completion, I found myself with mixed feelings.
The premise is excellent: a tech startup develops an AI, integrates it into a robotic body, and campaigns for it as a presidential candidate. However, I encountered some issues with the execution. The author effectively extrapolates a satirical near-future, both politically and technologically. The writing is engaging, featuring several humorous moments. The characters involved in the startup are relatable, even if not always likable, and the PresiBot is entertaining. Conversely, the opposition candidate and his supporters felt excessively exaggerated and appeared over-the-top and absurd. I believe the author pushed the satire too far, leading much of the book to feel farcical and causing it to miss its intended impact.
That said, I did find enjoyment in the book, although it wasn't what I anticipated. Throughout the novel, I was reminded more of a parody you might encounter on Family Guy or South Park, both of which are shows I do enjoy from time to time.
The premise is excellent: a tech startup develops an AI, integrates it into a robotic body, and campaigns for it as a presidential candidate. However, I encountered some issues with the execution. The author effectively extrapolates a satirical near-future, both politically and technologically. The writing is engaging, featuring several humorous moments. The characters involved in the startup are relatable, even if not always likable, and the PresiBot is entertaining. Conversely, the opposition candidate and his supporters felt excessively exaggerated and appeared over-the-top and absurd. I believe the author pushed the satire too far, leading much of the book to feel farcical and causing it to miss its intended impact.
That said, I did find enjoyment in the book, although it wasn't what I anticipated. Throughout the novel, I was reminded more of a parody you might encounter on Family Guy or South Park, both of which are shows I do enjoy from time to time.
August 16, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I had a hard time rating this. I’d say maybe 3.5 rounded up because it definitely delivers on its promise of being an easy read for the TikTok crowd. The premise is crazy—a Silicon Valley satire where an AI bot runs for president in 2040. It's fast-paced and hilarious, maybe a little scary. It also gives a look into how AI “thinks” and the potential outcome.
That said, it might be a little too fast-paced at times. There's not much backstory, and some of the scenarios are so out there that you just have to roll with it. But honestly, it’s worth a read if you're into quirky, quick reads with an intriguing concept.
I had a hard time rating this. I’d say maybe 3.5 rounded up because it definitely delivers on its promise of being an easy read for the TikTok crowd. The premise is crazy—a Silicon Valley satire where an AI bot runs for president in 2040. It's fast-paced and hilarious, maybe a little scary. It also gives a look into how AI “thinks” and the potential outcome.
That said, it might be a little too fast-paced at times. There's not much backstory, and some of the scenarios are so out there that you just have to roll with it. But honestly, it’s worth a read if you're into quirky, quick reads with an intriguing concept.
August 18, 2024
Fast-paced, short, entertaining.
This portion of the blurb summarizes the book well, and intrigued me enough to pick this book up:
“The Republican candidate is an AI named PresiBot, created by a tech startup, KumbAI, who are in deeply over their heads. The Democratic candidate is a fake Native American chief seeking to abolish the United States. What could go wrong?”
Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me. It is satirical and meant to be funny, but I found it a little too over the top and outrageous. There wasn’t one character I could remotely connect to or root for. 2.5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
This portion of the blurb summarizes the book well, and intrigued me enough to pick this book up:
“The Republican candidate is an AI named PresiBot, created by a tech startup, KumbAI, who are in deeply over their heads. The Democratic candidate is a fake Native American chief seeking to abolish the United States. What could go wrong?”
Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me. It is satirical and meant to be funny, but I found it a little too over the top and outrageous. There wasn’t one character I could remotely connect to or root for. 2.5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
September 17, 2024
During the 2040 presidential election, an AI Republican runs against a 1/1024 Lakota Democrat who plans to abolish the United States. The book starts off with a heated debate between the two. It caught my attention immediately. However, the rest of the book left a bit to be desired. The way we just jumped from one catastrophe to another was jarring to me. The storyline did keep me intrigued enough to keep going. The thing that brought the rating down to a three for me was the last major action that caused the final catastrophe. It just seemed a little predictable and easy. I overall enjoyed myself and would recommend this book to those who aren't swayed by my negative points. It was almost a four-star for me. I would also be interested to read more by the author.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2025
I was so pleased with this book. I read it while I was in the middle of a slump since it was a satire that got me out of my last reading slump.
The book themes investigated politics, AI, Corporate Domination, and Social Class in a non oppressive or preachy way. It was a light, dialogue driven steady paced read until the very last two chapters which tied everything up abruptly. Wish they had spent more time there. Nonetheless, this was a very good read and can't wait to see what this author comes up with next
This book was provided as an eARC was by the publisher Book Baby via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book themes investigated politics, AI, Corporate Domination, and Social Class in a non oppressive or preachy way. It was a light, dialogue driven steady paced read until the very last two chapters which tied everything up abruptly. Wish they had spent more time there. Nonetheless, this was a very good read and can't wait to see what this author comes up with next
This book was provided as an eARC was by the publisher Book Baby via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2024
It's 2040. The US Presidential elections. An AI robot - PresiBot - run by Ethan & Arvind VS a Fake Native American. What could possibly go wrong?
2040: A Silicon Valley Satire is a very short, fast-paced read; a lot is going on in each chapter making you want to read more. It is mostly dialog which scratches my brain quite nicely. There is a lot of tech/AI talk (obviously), however it isn't hard to follow. The ending did fall kinda short for me, considering how messy/active/fast-paced it was throughout. "Too clean" maybe? All in all, I enjoyed it.
For people who enjoy SciFi/futuristic books, as well as politics with satire, this is the book for you.
This book was given to me by NetGalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
2040: A Silicon Valley Satire is a very short, fast-paced read; a lot is going on in each chapter making you want to read more. It is mostly dialog which scratches my brain quite nicely. There is a lot of tech/AI talk (obviously), however it isn't hard to follow. The ending did fall kinda short for me, considering how messy/active/fast-paced it was throughout. "Too clean" maybe? All in all, I enjoyed it.
For people who enjoy SciFi/futuristic books, as well as politics with satire, this is the book for you.
This book was given to me by NetGalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 13, 2024
4 stars: everyone can read this amd find entertainment.
This book is a successful satire of both the current state of AI and our current state of electorial conversations. The presidental election reminded me of the candidates from Idiocracy. I think the final third of the book was the most entertaining and interesting.
I was given a review copy by netgallery.
This book is a successful satire of both the current state of AI and our current state of electorial conversations. The presidental election reminded me of the candidates from Idiocracy. I think the final third of the book was the most entertaining and interesting.
I was given a review copy by netgallery.
August 1, 2024
This was a quick and easy read that I gravitated to as I currently live in the Silicon Valley and have a background working in politics. The story revolves around the 2040 presidential election and focuses on PresiBot, the first AI candidate to run for the nation’s highest office. Much of the action deals with trying to win the election while also dealing with numerous bugs that plague PresiBot’s humanesque robot form, while both skewering the state of politics in the United States and delivering a cautionary tale about AI and huge tech conglomerations.
I know this was billed as satire, but I did feel that the Chief character was so over the top that he became offensive. I don’t think that was a necessity to get the point across that these two candidates make a disgusting charade of running for president (and to cleverly poke fun at the disfunction of American politics).
Overall, a fun, quirky read especially if you are interested in politics or tech.
I know this was billed as satire, but I did feel that the Chief character was so over the top that he became offensive. I don’t think that was a necessity to get the point across that these two candidates make a disgusting charade of running for president (and to cleverly poke fun at the disfunction of American politics).
Overall, a fun, quirky read especially if you are interested in politics or tech.
July 31, 2024
2040 follows a bizarre dystopian future in which two candidates face off to become the President of the United States. For the republicans, a dodgy AI controlled robot - which is only a glorified test dummy, designed to “unite” America. For the democrats, a white man pretending to be Native American with the overall aim of disbanding the United States and destroying the constitution on which it was founded. This dystopian world is essentially run by large tech companies, with segregation by race back in place with designated housing “zones” and guards patrolling the streets.
An odd amalgamation of the works of George Orwell and satirical comedy, this book is a short and enjoyable, if at times infuriating, read.
My only desire is that the book had slightly more exposition, I read it in just under 2 hours and would have liked to have seen maybe a bit more depth to the backgrounds of this dystopian society.
An odd amalgamation of the works of George Orwell and satirical comedy, this book is a short and enjoyable, if at times infuriating, read.
My only desire is that the book had slightly more exposition, I read it in just under 2 hours and would have liked to have seen maybe a bit more depth to the backgrounds of this dystopian society.
September 3, 2024
2040 by Pedro Domingos was a surprising read that I didn’t quite anticipate. I'm open to all genres, and this satirical take was no exception. The story’s wild and chaotic elements were entertaining, but there was a surprising depth to the book that wasn’t immediately apparent. The absurdity of the characters cleverly masked the underlying themes.
Set in the year 2040, the book begins on the night of a highly unusual election. The Republican candidate is an AI named PresiBot, created by a startup called KumbAI, whose team is clearly in over their heads. On the other side, the Democratic candidate is a fabricated Native American chief with plans to dismantle the United States. Yet, the story doesn’t focus much on these two characters. Instead, it centers on KumbAI and its CEO, Ethan.
At its core, this book is a thought-provoking commentary on the potential pitfalls of our current trajectory, delivered with a hefty dose of absurdity. The narrative ends on election night, and while my husband asked if the abrupt conclusion left me frustrated, I found it fitting. I wasn’t particularly attached to any of the characters, as none of them were particularly likable—a choice that might be deliberate.
This would make for a timely and entertaining read leading up to our current election. The release timing couldn’t have been better.
Set in the year 2040, the book begins on the night of a highly unusual election. The Republican candidate is an AI named PresiBot, created by a startup called KumbAI, whose team is clearly in over their heads. On the other side, the Democratic candidate is a fabricated Native American chief with plans to dismantle the United States. Yet, the story doesn’t focus much on these two characters. Instead, it centers on KumbAI and its CEO, Ethan.
At its core, this book is a thought-provoking commentary on the potential pitfalls of our current trajectory, delivered with a hefty dose of absurdity. The narrative ends on election night, and while my husband asked if the abrupt conclusion left me frustrated, I found it fitting. I wasn’t particularly attached to any of the characters, as none of them were particularly likable—a choice that might be deliberate.
This would make for a timely and entertaining read leading up to our current election. The release timing couldn’t have been better.
July 30, 2024
The setup: A white man making his drop of Native American ancestry his identity and a robot run for president
The punchline: sounds like something that could actually happen in America doesn't it?
If you find the movie "Idiocracy" hitting a little too close to home, think Brave New World's premise of control through pleasure is scarily accurate, or find yourself rolling your eyes at current American politics--- then this novella is right up your alley. Our cast of characters aren't root-for worthy or even multilayered (especially the women) and it is all over the top at moments--but it does make you think, what's the best way forward? How do you right every wrong? SHOULD we let AI direct us to a better future? I found myself wanting to learn more, so I'll probably tap into some of Domingos' essays for a deeper dive into the world of AI.
Thank you Netgalley for access to the ARC!
The punchline: sounds like something that could actually happen in America doesn't it?
If you find the movie "Idiocracy" hitting a little too close to home, think Brave New World's premise of control through pleasure is scarily accurate, or find yourself rolling your eyes at current American politics--- then this novella is right up your alley. Our cast of characters aren't root-for worthy or even multilayered (especially the women) and it is all over the top at moments--but it does make you think, what's the best way forward? How do you right every wrong? SHOULD we let AI direct us to a better future? I found myself wanting to learn more, so I'll probably tap into some of Domingos' essays for a deeper dive into the world of AI.
Thank you Netgalley for access to the ARC!
August 1, 2024
In an election year with an attempted assassination of one party's nominee and a last-minute replacement of the other party's top pick, you wouldn't think things could get any weirded. Unless, of course, you put an AI against a man pretending to be Native American. The plot is as straightforward (and zany) as that. The thing with this story is that it is exactly what it purports to be. The author takes the story to relatively logical conclusion and it is an interesting journey along the way. The storytelling seems a bit uneven in places, but overall it is a breezy and entertaining read.
September 1, 2024
This was a funny one! This book is a satire about a robot running in the American presidential election in 2040. There was a little more slapstick humor than I had anticipated and there were lots and lots of puns. It won’t be for everyone’s sense of humor.
September 28, 2024
2040
by Pedro Domingos
(Almost spoiler free)
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read. After reading the first page or so to get a feel, the following day I read the rest in one sitting.
This story is an absurd satire. However, it's something of a fairly large pool that's only several inches deep. When all is said and done, it's entertaining, but it left me wanting and somewhat disappointed.
The abstract does this book a disservice. It is not what it claims to be. This story is not a scathing critique, nor is it dialog driven in the manner of, say, the witty banter of a good vintage film or a Mamet play. The description set up expectations that were not met.
The premise of the book is intriguing. A number of interesting scenarios are presented. Unfortunately, none of them are explored. The topics include sentience, artificial intelligence, the rights of living creatures, the rights of indigenous people, politics, democracy, identity, discrimination, the rights of corporations, and more. There's a lot broached here. None of it is investigated to any degree. It's all for show.
I thought this book was going to be satire, but it's more general humor. Some of the humor seemed like it would be grounded, but the book leans into slapstick and the absurd. The story seems to reference many aspects of reality within the United States, but doesn't explore them - either their current state or the history leading up to it.
While reading the book, several unexpected left turns took place, including tonal shifts. Some of these new elements didn't make sense considering what came before them (e.g., how the city is divided).
The ending of the book feels abrupt, unearned and unsatisfying. As always, your experience may differ from mine.
This feedback may seem like a list of issues. However, parts of the book are entertaining and, as mentioned earlier, it's an easy read. The story introduces a lot of interesting topics ripe for deeper exploration. Unfortunately, all of them are glossed over. If you're looking for a silly surface level humorous quick read, this may be for you. I had high hopes for the book, but came away disappointed.
Side note: There is a sole real world reference that stood out to me that was out of place and seemed ill-advised. It was simply a name drop that, like everything else, wasn't followed-up on. It didn't seem in keeping with the rest of the book.
by Pedro Domingos
(Almost spoiler free)
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read. After reading the first page or so to get a feel, the following day I read the rest in one sitting.
This story is an absurd satire. However, it's something of a fairly large pool that's only several inches deep. When all is said and done, it's entertaining, but it left me wanting and somewhat disappointed.
The abstract does this book a disservice. It is not what it claims to be. This story is not a scathing critique, nor is it dialog driven in the manner of, say, the witty banter of a good vintage film or a Mamet play. The description set up expectations that were not met.
The premise of the book is intriguing. A number of interesting scenarios are presented. Unfortunately, none of them are explored. The topics include sentience, artificial intelligence, the rights of living creatures, the rights of indigenous people, politics, democracy, identity, discrimination, the rights of corporations, and more. There's a lot broached here. None of it is investigated to any degree. It's all for show.
I thought this book was going to be satire, but it's more general humor. Some of the humor seemed like it would be grounded, but the book leans into slapstick and the absurd. The story seems to reference many aspects of reality within the United States, but doesn't explore them - either their current state or the history leading up to it.
While reading the book, several unexpected left turns took place, including tonal shifts. Some of these new elements didn't make sense considering what came before them (e.g., how the city is divided).
The ending of the book feels abrupt, unearned and unsatisfying. As always, your experience may differ from mine.
This feedback may seem like a list of issues. However, parts of the book are entertaining and, as mentioned earlier, it's an easy read. The story introduces a lot of interesting topics ripe for deeper exploration. Unfortunately, all of them are glossed over. If you're looking for a silly surface level humorous quick read, this may be for you. I had high hopes for the book, but came away disappointed.
Side note: There is a sole real world reference that stood out to me that was out of place and seemed ill-advised. It was simply a name drop that, like everything else, wasn't followed-up on. It didn't seem in keeping with the rest of the book.
May 12, 2025
Thank you to Pedro Domingo’s and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited by this book. A short satire set in a futuristic America detailing a presidential election between a Native American and an AI robot sounded intriguing. Unfortunately the satire was too heavy handed and some of the choices made felt a little prejudiced against Native Americans.
It was painfully unfunny.
I was so excited by this book. A short satire set in a futuristic America detailing a presidential election between a Native American and an AI robot sounded intriguing. Unfortunately the satire was too heavy handed and some of the choices made felt a little prejudiced against Native Americans.
It was painfully unfunny.
September 25, 2024
Big Yes Vote!
My opening statement: you need to read this book NOW. If someone with Crispr technology spliced John Stewart, Mort Sahl, and the smartest nerd in the world into one being, then let that being write a book, this would be the book. The plot follows the Presidential Election Campaign of 2040, featuring an AI robot (PresiBot) and a fake Native American candidate (Chief John Raging Bull). All the things that can go wrong with new software/hardware, megalomaniac billionaires, rage filled knuckleheads, happens in a dystopian USA. The characters are written as real humans with all the flaws, failures, and determination you see every day.
Set in San Francisco where a massive software facility taps into the US populace though a mind bending internet system, which may or may not actually work better than flipping a coin, where private intimidating guards have replaced the police, where people are living in separated sectors in order to control them. Much of what has evolved in this future US is recognizable as what could happen. Domingos’ prose is able to rift its way through multiple situations without pounding you over the head with whys and whens as his characters tumble into and out of trouble.
Laughing aloud at sharp dialogue, having a go at identifying who some of the characters are modeled after, and enjoying this fast read makes me want to slam the book in your hand. There’s a passing glance at romance. There is proof that good humans help others despite the danger. There are fisticuffs, helicopters, shots fired, mad dashes, cliff-hangers. Definitely, this book is filled with mayhem viewed through a sense of satiric wit which keeps you reading.
The bonus? You learn so much about tech stuff, not details, not enough to help you solve that software update issue, but a sense of what things could and do go fizz at just the wrong moment. I may cut the next software/hardware company a bit of slack when my update or purchase fails to perform.
My opening statement: you need to read this book NOW. If someone with Crispr technology spliced John Stewart, Mort Sahl, and the smartest nerd in the world into one being, then let that being write a book, this would be the book. The plot follows the Presidential Election Campaign of 2040, featuring an AI robot (PresiBot) and a fake Native American candidate (Chief John Raging Bull). All the things that can go wrong with new software/hardware, megalomaniac billionaires, rage filled knuckleheads, happens in a dystopian USA. The characters are written as real humans with all the flaws, failures, and determination you see every day.
Set in San Francisco where a massive software facility taps into the US populace though a mind bending internet system, which may or may not actually work better than flipping a coin, where private intimidating guards have replaced the police, where people are living in separated sectors in order to control them. Much of what has evolved in this future US is recognizable as what could happen. Domingos’ prose is able to rift its way through multiple situations without pounding you over the head with whys and whens as his characters tumble into and out of trouble.
Laughing aloud at sharp dialogue, having a go at identifying who some of the characters are modeled after, and enjoying this fast read makes me want to slam the book in your hand. There’s a passing glance at romance. There is proof that good humans help others despite the danger. There are fisticuffs, helicopters, shots fired, mad dashes, cliff-hangers. Definitely, this book is filled with mayhem viewed through a sense of satiric wit which keeps you reading.
The bonus? You learn so much about tech stuff, not details, not enough to help you solve that software update issue, but a sense of what things could and do go fizz at just the wrong moment. I may cut the next software/hardware company a bit of slack when my update or purchase fails to perform.
December 29, 2024
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...
I thought this recent release would be a topical choice for the moment we’re in, as it is about candidates running in a U.S. Presidential election. Our candidates here are PresiBot, who wants to “optimize” America; and Raging Bull, who wants to dismantle it and send everyone back to where they came from.
While those are the candidates, our actual main characters are the two software developers who created PresiBot – Ethan and Arvind. They feel like they “solved” Artificial Intelligence, but their startup company is tanking. How can they show the world just what their AI is capable of?
A recent Supreme Court case had conferred personhood on robots, so Ethan gets the idea that their AI could run for President! It was just supposed to be a crazy stunt, conceived while drinking, that would bring in clients. They have to contract a different company to create a “body,” as their campaign manager insists that it’ll look better. But then, PresiBot clinches a major party nomination.
What we see as the chaos ensues is an America divided… no, literally, with fences and checkpoints to keep people in their own “sectors.” The biggest business is a social media platform, on which everyone is fed whatever news the data miners think will make them the happiest. Much of San Francisco lives in the shadow of their flower-shaped building, which is several hundred stories tall.
This is a satire, of course. But it kind of feels like if our world right now just went further off the rails… could this be close to the 2040 looming in our own future?
This is a slim, fast-paced read. Yes, there is some tech speak in it, but nothing overwhelming.
I thought this recent release would be a topical choice for the moment we’re in, as it is about candidates running in a U.S. Presidential election. Our candidates here are PresiBot, who wants to “optimize” America; and Raging Bull, who wants to dismantle it and send everyone back to where they came from.
While those are the candidates, our actual main characters are the two software developers who created PresiBot – Ethan and Arvind. They feel like they “solved” Artificial Intelligence, but their startup company is tanking. How can they show the world just what their AI is capable of?
A recent Supreme Court case had conferred personhood on robots, so Ethan gets the idea that their AI could run for President! It was just supposed to be a crazy stunt, conceived while drinking, that would bring in clients. They have to contract a different company to create a “body,” as their campaign manager insists that it’ll look better. But then, PresiBot clinches a major party nomination.
What we see as the chaos ensues is an America divided… no, literally, with fences and checkpoints to keep people in their own “sectors.” The biggest business is a social media platform, on which everyone is fed whatever news the data miners think will make them the happiest. Much of San Francisco lives in the shadow of their flower-shaped building, which is several hundred stories tall.
This is a satire, of course. But it kind of feels like if our world right now just went further off the rails… could this be close to the 2040 looming in our own future?
This is a slim, fast-paced read. Yes, there is some tech speak in it, but nothing overwhelming.
August 17, 2024
I LOVED this book!! I’m not typically one to grab a satire (esp a political one) but the premise of this book was too good to miss! 🇺🇸🤖
2040: A Silicon Valley Satire is a satire about the presidential election in 2040. Who’s running? The Republican candidate as an Al named PresiBot, and the Democratic candidate is a fake Native American chief named Raging Bull.
Hilarity ensues (in a laugh so you won’t cry kind of situation 🥴).
We’ve got tech giants, tech startups, polls and social media, campaigns, Al, the fragility of our nation, you name it! This is a mocking assessment of the current state of America - from tech giants’ empires and the anxiety and publicity around Al. It is set in a dystopian San Francisco in a future that is a little scarily not that far away. 😵💫💻👽🤖🦾🦿👩🏼💻
The characters have a resemblance to actual ones which the author claims “may or may not be a coincidence”. This was actually my favorite part - that Domingos took pros and cons of real life candidates, switched which party, and shined light on how ridiculous some aspects of each side really are - and how so many adopt or accept things because it’s one “their side.”
🫏🇺🇸🐘
The premise alone of this book piqued my interest enough to open it up and I found that once I did I was clicking my seatbelt along on this wild ride.🎢
No matter your political affiliation - I think everyone will enjoy this one! 🇺🇸
Thank you to @netgalley, Pedro Domingos, and @bookbabyofficial for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! 💗🤖
Releases August 20, 2024!
2040: A Silicon Valley Satire is a satire about the presidential election in 2040. Who’s running? The Republican candidate as an Al named PresiBot, and the Democratic candidate is a fake Native American chief named Raging Bull.
Hilarity ensues (in a laugh so you won’t cry kind of situation 🥴).
We’ve got tech giants, tech startups, polls and social media, campaigns, Al, the fragility of our nation, you name it! This is a mocking assessment of the current state of America - from tech giants’ empires and the anxiety and publicity around Al. It is set in a dystopian San Francisco in a future that is a little scarily not that far away. 😵💫💻👽🤖🦾🦿👩🏼💻
The characters have a resemblance to actual ones which the author claims “may or may not be a coincidence”. This was actually my favorite part - that Domingos took pros and cons of real life candidates, switched which party, and shined light on how ridiculous some aspects of each side really are - and how so many adopt or accept things because it’s one “their side.”
🫏🇺🇸🐘
The premise alone of this book piqued my interest enough to open it up and I found that once I did I was clicking my seatbelt along on this wild ride.🎢
No matter your political affiliation - I think everyone will enjoy this one! 🇺🇸
Thank you to @netgalley, Pedro Domingos, and @bookbabyofficial for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! 💗🤖
Releases August 20, 2024!
July 18, 2024
This was a really clever idea which I was excited to read. A dystopian political campaign with some promising dissection of both right-wing and left-wing American politics. I enjoyed the elements of what had come to pass hypothetically between now and 2040, such as animal rights and AI recognition, both topics debated nowadays.
The political set up at first felt too parodied (though arguably American politics feels that way in real life at times) and I found I had to suspend disbelief a little too often whilst reading. The lack of context felt jarring, we do not know who is currently president in this story and so it was hard to decide which party would be to blame for the living conditions and segregation described in the book.
The story itself felt a little rushed towards the end, with a neat ending which did not feel like it did justice to the concept. I would have liked to see more about the personal relationships within the book, the triangle between Emma, Arvind and Ethan for example. Knowing more about the motivations for these characters would have added a lot to the story or explained behaviour beyond just 'going mad'.
This was a quick read and was thought provoking but overall it felt too rushed for the ambition of the initial idea.
Free review copy provided by netgalley.
The political set up at first felt too parodied (though arguably American politics feels that way in real life at times) and I found I had to suspend disbelief a little too often whilst reading. The lack of context felt jarring, we do not know who is currently president in this story and so it was hard to decide which party would be to blame for the living conditions and segregation described in the book.
The story itself felt a little rushed towards the end, with a neat ending which did not feel like it did justice to the concept. I would have liked to see more about the personal relationships within the book, the triangle between Emma, Arvind and Ethan for example. Knowing more about the motivations for these characters would have added a lot to the story or explained behaviour beyond just 'going mad'.
This was a quick read and was thought provoking but overall it felt too rushed for the ambition of the initial idea.
Free review copy provided by netgalley.
August 27, 2024
2040: A Silicon Valley Satire by Pedro Domingos
3.5 stars
3.5 stars-- 2040: A SILICON VALLEY SATIRE by Pedro Domingos is a satirical look at American politics, specifically the past eight years. In 2040, KumbAI has developed a robot, an AI Republican candidate for president named PresiBot; The Democratic candidate is a fake Native American calling himself Chief Raging Bull. A televised debate sets the scene as the ‘puppet’ candidate goes off-script, and the ‘panic button’ is lost in the ensuing melee of rioting and anarchy. No longer able to control their candidate, KumbAI sells their company to rival tech giant Happinet but the result is another spiral into chaos leading up to the day of election, and the resulting win.
2040, set in a futuristic America, reflects upon much of the past eight years of American politics, the run for president, and the ensuing fall-out when a political dare becomes reality, and the people in charge lose control of their presidential candidate. A caustic, cynical and farcical look America’s current political machine, reminiscent of an extended SNL satirical skit, 2040 mirrors the spiral of respect; the growth of racism and discrimination; the sectioning off of the American people, and the narcissistic attitude of the people in charge.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
3.5 stars
3.5 stars-- 2040: A SILICON VALLEY SATIRE by Pedro Domingos is a satirical look at American politics, specifically the past eight years. In 2040, KumbAI has developed a robot, an AI Republican candidate for president named PresiBot; The Democratic candidate is a fake Native American calling himself Chief Raging Bull. A televised debate sets the scene as the ‘puppet’ candidate goes off-script, and the ‘panic button’ is lost in the ensuing melee of rioting and anarchy. No longer able to control their candidate, KumbAI sells their company to rival tech giant Happinet but the result is another spiral into chaos leading up to the day of election, and the resulting win.
2040, set in a futuristic America, reflects upon much of the past eight years of American politics, the run for president, and the ensuing fall-out when a political dare becomes reality, and the people in charge lose control of their presidential candidate. A caustic, cynical and farcical look America’s current political machine, reminiscent of an extended SNL satirical skit, 2040 mirrors the spiral of respect; the growth of racism and discrimination; the sectioning off of the American people, and the narcissistic attitude of the people in charge.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
October 22, 2024
It's been a while since I finished a book in under a week, but this one was a quick and breezy read. Pedro Domingos, for me, is like what Andrew Ng is for many others—his machine learning course sparked my interest in the field back in grad school. I enjoyed it more than any other ML course I took. So, when I heard he had written a satire, I was all in.
2040 is a semi-dystopian yet humorous take on the current AI hype. The premise? A robot is running for president of the United States. Domingos pokes fun at a lot of hot topics in the U.S. today—cancel culture, DEI, wokeism, and more. If you've ever glanced at his Twitter, it's no surprise given his political leanings.
I really enjoyed the book overall. It’s a sharp, clever satire that feels unsettlingly close to reality, yet it’s not the bleak, Black Mirror-style dystopia that leaves you feeling down. Instead, it made me laugh out loud multiple times (and I mean it, not just using the expression). I won't quote the funniest lines to avoid spoilers, but they genuinely got me.
My only gripe is the ending—it felt a bit predictable and bland. I wish it had a spicier twist, so I’m docking a star for that. Otherwise, a fantastic read!
2040 is a semi-dystopian yet humorous take on the current AI hype. The premise? A robot is running for president of the United States. Domingos pokes fun at a lot of hot topics in the U.S. today—cancel culture, DEI, wokeism, and more. If you've ever glanced at his Twitter, it's no surprise given his political leanings.
I really enjoyed the book overall. It’s a sharp, clever satire that feels unsettlingly close to reality, yet it’s not the bleak, Black Mirror-style dystopia that leaves you feeling down. Instead, it made me laugh out loud multiple times (and I mean it, not just using the expression). I won't quote the funniest lines to avoid spoilers, but they genuinely got me.
My only gripe is the ending—it felt a bit predictable and bland. I wish it had a spicier twist, so I’m docking a star for that. Otherwise, a fantastic read!
August 13, 2024
**I was provided a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
The concept of this book hooked me immediately. A presidential election set in the future between a robot and a fake Native American? I was absolutely curious to see how the concept would grow.
It wasn’t what I expected, which disappointed me just a bit. This was very focused on the behind the scenes, which was still interesting at least, so I still enjoyed reading the book. However, there were some points that felt like the right-wing’s version of what will happen if “wokeism” takes over. Some projections felt pretty spot on, others just felt dramatized.
My biggest critic for the book? The ending. I wish it had ended before we found out the winner. Usually, I’m not a fan of cliffhangers (which this gave anyway), but between the options I think having the election results not be shared at the end would have been a bit better. The point of the book should have been more of a warning than an actual election.
Anyway, I did enjoy reading this book, and I think the cover is fantastic as well. Overall, a pretty good read.
Rating: 3.3/5
Recommend? Sure
The concept of this book hooked me immediately. A presidential election set in the future between a robot and a fake Native American? I was absolutely curious to see how the concept would grow.
It wasn’t what I expected, which disappointed me just a bit. This was very focused on the behind the scenes, which was still interesting at least, so I still enjoyed reading the book. However, there were some points that felt like the right-wing’s version of what will happen if “wokeism” takes over. Some projections felt pretty spot on, others just felt dramatized.
My biggest critic for the book? The ending. I wish it had ended before we found out the winner. Usually, I’m not a fan of cliffhangers (which this gave anyway), but between the options I think having the election results not be shared at the end would have been a bit better. The point of the book should have been more of a warning than an actual election.
Anyway, I did enjoy reading this book, and I think the cover is fantastic as well. Overall, a pretty good read.
Rating: 3.3/5
Recommend? Sure
November 29, 2024
Very cool premise, that didn't quite land for me personally. Surprisingly, there's not much of the PresiBot in the book, instead focusing much more on the adventures of the programmers/creators in managing him and running his campaign.
The pros were the story was lean and moves quickly. I loved the different strategies they took to position Presibot to the public. And the adventure to control him (which I had not been expecting to be the plot) was interesting. I particularly enjoyed this dystopian view of the future.
For me one of the biggest cons was female characters. To say they were one-dimensional would be an overstatement. They barely exist and have little agency. (Other than the woman running the other campaign who has a small, but interesting role.)
Also, the writing felt a little stilted and underwritten to me. For a satire, it's not particularly funny and the dialogue is very basic back and forth. This is likely a matter of personal preference.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
The pros were the story was lean and moves quickly. I loved the different strategies they took to position Presibot to the public. And the adventure to control him (which I had not been expecting to be the plot) was interesting. I particularly enjoyed this dystopian view of the future.
For me one of the biggest cons was female characters. To say they were one-dimensional would be an overstatement. They barely exist and have little agency. (Other than the woman running the other campaign who has a small, but interesting role.)
Also, the writing felt a little stilted and underwritten to me. For a satire, it's not particularly funny and the dialogue is very basic back and forth. This is likely a matter of personal preference.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
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