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Process: A Novel
Process, the debut novel from author Matthew Seiji Burns, takes readers on an intense psychological journey into the dark heart of Seattle’s tech startup world. The main character Lucas Adderson is a young man driven by an almost animalistic need to find outsized success creating the next unicorn tech juggernaut.
His days are riddled with surreal meetings and strange characters, anxiety and self-torture. Finally, after years of trying, his goal is within his grasp, but its consummation occurs at a great cost to his humanity, and perhaps everyone else’s too. Imagine the narrative of Moby Dick set in the nightmarish world of Dave Eggers’ The Circle.
His days are riddled with surreal meetings and strange characters, anxiety and self-torture. Finally, after years of trying, his goal is within his grasp, but its consummation occurs at a great cost to his humanity, and perhaps everyone else’s too. Imagine the narrative of Moby Dick set in the nightmarish world of Dave Eggers’ The Circle.
Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 19, 2025
This a surprisingly good book on many levels. It is well written, it is fast, it is ironic but not mean and it also works great as a kind of industrial fiction (производственный роман) but about the IT crowd instead of the proletarians.
January 3, 2026
While the novel's abstract graphic design is creative and inventive, the story it frames proves disappointing. Process languishes for 320 pages with minimal plot development before rushing through a climax heavy on exposition, then abruptly ends. The supporting characters function primarily as tech worker stereotypes, while the narrator comes across as unlikeable and entitled, offering one-sided descriptions that flatten everyone around them.
The "wonder tech" the narrator creates reads less like revolutionary innovation and more like an elaborate genetic algorithm rooted in Claude Shannon's decades-old information theory (aka still using 0s and 1s). This undermines both the narrator's purported genius and the grand significance Burns seems to want us to feel. The symbolism of a "survival of the fittest" algorithm mirroring the competitive pressures of bringing it to production is heavy-handed and obvious.
To its credit, the novel is well-written and anticipates some resource constraints later brought on by large language models, but it never explores the implications of this technology or engages meaningfully with its consequences. Burns opts for a narcissistic, single-perspective narrative, which can work as a stylistic choice when it offers fresh insight or perspective. Unfortunately, Process mostly rehashes what we've already seen in other media about tech culture, without adding anything new to the conversation.
The "wonder tech" the narrator creates reads less like revolutionary innovation and more like an elaborate genetic algorithm rooted in Claude Shannon's decades-old information theory (aka still using 0s and 1s). This undermines both the narrator's purported genius and the grand significance Burns seems to want us to feel. The symbolism of a "survival of the fittest" algorithm mirroring the competitive pressures of bringing it to production is heavy-handed and obvious.
To its credit, the novel is well-written and anticipates some resource constraints later brought on by large language models, but it never explores the implications of this technology or engages meaningfully with its consequences. Burns opts for a narcissistic, single-perspective narrative, which can work as a stylistic choice when it offers fresh insight or perspective. Unfortunately, Process mostly rehashes what we've already seen in other media about tech culture, without adding anything new to the conversation.
May 23, 2026
2.5 || dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
The audiobook was a technical feast, complete with sound effects and voice changers that elevated the experience. This echoes the typographic storytelling of the paperback in an interview with the author. That being said, this book is for a specific type of audience that I'm not sure I am a part of.
Process is more introspective and manic, the audiobook giving off the feeling of listening to the final voicemail of someone who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. As for plot, that's pretty much it. I did go in expecting it to go into a different route, to lean into the angle of Creator-Creation, for Lucas to become the Unspeakable Horror that controls the simulation etc etc since it seemed to be going that direction at first. It was a slow crash and burn that I expected, but it took a hard left turn and while it did still crash and burn, just not in the place I thought it would.
Still an okay read that probably other readers would enjoy but I personally did not.
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
The audiobook was a technical feast, complete with sound effects and voice changers that elevated the experience. This echoes the typographic storytelling of the paperback in an interview with the author. That being said, this book is for a specific type of audience that I'm not sure I am a part of.
Process is more introspective and manic, the audiobook giving off the feeling of listening to the final voicemail of someone who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. As for plot, that's pretty much it. I did go in expecting it to go into a different route, to lean into the angle of Creator-Creation, for Lucas to become the Unspeakable Horror that controls the simulation etc etc since it seemed to be going that direction at first. It was a slow crash and burn that I expected, but it took a hard left turn and while it did still crash and burn, just not in the place I thought it would.
Still an okay read that probably other readers would enjoy but I personally did not.
May 6, 2025
At first glance, this appears to be a story set in the dark video game and tech startup world of Seattle. However, the true narrative unfolds within the driven protagonist’s mind. Although I may not be particularly drawn to the creation of video games or the tech industry, this book captivated me from the beginning and kept me engaged until the very end. Without giving away plot details, I can say that it’s an intense story that explores motives and human nature, delving into the consequences of unchecked ambition.
The book has an unusual and impressive design, reflecting the psychological state of the protagonist as the story unfolds. Listening to the author read his work in the audiobook was a pleasant surprise. His tone, pace and expression were consistent and professional, making it enjoyable to listen to, especially when following along using the book.
The book has an unusual and impressive design, reflecting the psychological state of the protagonist as the story unfolds. Listening to the author read his work in the audiobook was a pleasant surprise. His tone, pace and expression were consistent and professional, making it enjoyable to listen to, especially when following along using the book.
March 8, 2026
Loved the layout and graphical treatment of the physical book.
Story was pretty good, but dragged on a bit in parts. An AI-meets-tech-startup-story on it's face, it really takes place more in the thoughts/feelings of the protagonist as he wrestles at first with his desire for success, and later with his precarious place atop it.
Story was pretty good, but dragged on a bit in parts. An AI-meets-tech-startup-story on it's face, it really takes place more in the thoughts/feelings of the protagonist as he wrestles at first with his desire for success, and later with his precarious place atop it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews