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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 - 3 of 3 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 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.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews