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Семмант
Что правдивее – реальное или виртуальное? В каком из миров эмоции смелее и чувства ярче? И если между ними делать выбор, то как? Блестящий ученый Богдан Богданов создает компьютерного робота по имени Семмант – и ему кажется, что он покорил мир. Семмант набрасывается на финансовые рынки и делает деньги с безжалостностью автомата. Богдан богатеет с каждым днем, но когда он влюбляется в журналистку Лидию, искусственный мозг Семманта проявляет себя по-новому. Робот оказывается в эпицентре драмы и познает в полной мере превратности реальной жизни. Его судьба меняется – непредсказуемым образом… ------------------------------- Winner of the 2015 National Indie Excellence Award for Science Fiction His universe has fallen apart, but, piece by piece, he puts it back together. He overcomes the deepest hurt he has ever experienced – the rejection of an ungrateful world. He embarks on a to help humankind dream again – and achieves more than he hoped for. It seems that nothing is beyond his reach, until he breaks the immutable never tamper with love! Bogdan Bogdanov, a brilliant but reclusive scientist, creates Semmant, a highly sophisticated AI program. Semmant takes on the capital markets and makes money with the ruthless efficiency of a machine. Bogdan grows richer by the day, but when he falls deeply in love, the artificial mind he has created faces a new challenge. Semmant becomes embroiled in a genuine human drama and is forced to confront the cruelty of real life. He discovers the joy of free will, but it takes him to a destination no one could have predicted.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
312 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 23, 2013
As the book description suggests, this is a multi-faceted story which explores a range of topics from human will and passion to the complex issues of artificial intelligence with a side helping of sex and lust thrown in for good measure.
The key character, Bogdanov, is a clearly autistic genius whose powerful sexual urges conflict with his inability to form meaningful, loving relationships. As the story progresses, the robot he has created becomes both his alter ego and confidant while his own sanity disintegrates in an avalanche of conflicting emotion.
Though the story is very well constructed, its subject matter sound and well informed and the characters both engaging and realistic, the style of writing is nothing short of excruciating! Unfortunately, this really makes reading this book more of a chore than a pleasure. I kept on reading because I wanted to see how the story developed but good literature should make the journey as much of a pleasure as arriving at the destination.
In terms of style this is very much what Brave New World might have been like had Dostoevsky written it rather than Huxley. I'm sure, in the case of Semmant, that this is at least partly due to the translation from Russian to English but syntax is clumsy, grammatical construction is convoluted and punctuation is used with the careless abandon of a child shaking random shapes from his toy box.
All in all this is a book which will not appeal to the casual reader but may well develop a cult following among those fascinated with artificial intelligence and what we can learn about our own minds from its development.
The key character, Bogdanov, is a clearly autistic genius whose powerful sexual urges conflict with his inability to form meaningful, loving relationships. As the story progresses, the robot he has created becomes both his alter ego and confidant while his own sanity disintegrates in an avalanche of conflicting emotion.
Though the story is very well constructed, its subject matter sound and well informed and the characters both engaging and realistic, the style of writing is nothing short of excruciating! Unfortunately, this really makes reading this book more of a chore than a pleasure. I kept on reading because I wanted to see how the story developed but good literature should make the journey as much of a pleasure as arriving at the destination.
In terms of style this is very much what Brave New World might have been like had Dostoevsky written it rather than Huxley. I'm sure, in the case of Semmant, that this is at least partly due to the translation from Russian to English but syntax is clumsy, grammatical construction is convoluted and punctuation is used with the careless abandon of a child shaking random shapes from his toy box.
All in all this is a book which will not appeal to the casual reader but may well develop a cult following among those fascinated with artificial intelligence and what we can learn about our own minds from its development.
September 6, 2013
Vadim Babenko's reputation as a scientist and innovative mind in the field artificial intelligence was put on tangible display in the content of this disturbing and poignant book. I say disturbing only because, like all great literature should, it spoke to real issues that may develop in our lifetime. If this book had been written fifty years ago, it would have been prophetic and deemed ludicrous, as so many science fiction novels used to be. Babenko is able to build a bridge between his old life as a man of science with his current life as a master of words. The plot seems so real at times that we forget it is labeled as fiction.
His power of description is rich, with a foreign twist to the language that makes it melodic and poetic, while his long swaths of prose flirt with the stream of consciousness style. His writing is painfully honest, so much so that we can taste his adjectives and feel his pangs of lust, love, pride, and loss. These specifically human emotions are so well-depicted in the writing that the actual subject of the novel, the overlapping evolution between man and machine in an ultra-modern age, seems frighteningly possible.
It is intellectual without condescension, erotic without smut, and engaging without using literary tropes or hackneyed story lines. It is fascinatingly unique, and the relationship between Semmant and Bogdan is unforgettably intense. The boundaries of human emotions and machine-like efficiency are crossed by both characters, so while one loses their humanity, the other gains it. As a work of fiction, Babenko has achieved a worthwhile addition to the canon of science fiction. As an allegory for the uncertain path that modern technology is treading, Babenko has given his readers a great deal to think about. The question is whether the foundations of human emotion can even be quantitative and rational, and whether we are moving towards a world where the intangible and abstract concepts that make life interesting are slowly being categorized and classified, robbing us of the inexplicable spark of being flawed humans in the first place.
Babenko has gifted us with another masterfully crafted piece of fiction, and his readers should once again celebrate the fact that he left the cold world of metal and science behind in exchange for the pen, even if the ideas that once filled his lab now populate his pages.
His power of description is rich, with a foreign twist to the language that makes it melodic and poetic, while his long swaths of prose flirt with the stream of consciousness style. His writing is painfully honest, so much so that we can taste his adjectives and feel his pangs of lust, love, pride, and loss. These specifically human emotions are so well-depicted in the writing that the actual subject of the novel, the overlapping evolution between man and machine in an ultra-modern age, seems frighteningly possible.
It is intellectual without condescension, erotic without smut, and engaging without using literary tropes or hackneyed story lines. It is fascinatingly unique, and the relationship between Semmant and Bogdan is unforgettably intense. The boundaries of human emotions and machine-like efficiency are crossed by both characters, so while one loses their humanity, the other gains it. As a work of fiction, Babenko has achieved a worthwhile addition to the canon of science fiction. As an allegory for the uncertain path that modern technology is treading, Babenko has given his readers a great deal to think about. The question is whether the foundations of human emotion can even be quantitative and rational, and whether we are moving towards a world where the intangible and abstract concepts that make life interesting are slowly being categorized and classified, robbing us of the inexplicable spark of being flawed humans in the first place.
Babenko has gifted us with another masterfully crafted piece of fiction, and his readers should once again celebrate the fact that he left the cold world of metal and science behind in exchange for the pen, even if the ideas that once filled his lab now populate his pages.
November 10, 2013
Whether you like it or hate it will depend on what you want in a book. The first chapter starts with Bogdan Bogdanov in an asylum, fantasizing about having sex with the nurses. The rest of the book outlines in his mind how he got to be there, which raises a problem: is what he is writing real or fantasy, or what mix? The book is written first person, and it is essentially all tell, with an overlain "stream of consciousness" in which Bogdan fantasizes about all sorts of things whenever anything is about to happen. The net result is that you get two pages where two sentences might have sufficed. The two pages are full of side-descriptions, philosophical thoughts, assessments of art, and a number of other potentially literary devices, but within these limitations, they are very well written. Bogdan is discarded as a child, goes to a school for the gifted, and ends up as a gifted was a bit of a wake-up call for me. This part was not a speculative rambling; it was pretty close to what actually happens if a scientist is impertinent enough to question standard theory. This had me really on the author's side.
He then carried on and invented Semmant, described as a robot but more like a computer program, and Semmant became self-aware. Semmant then proceeded to make money by superior analysis of the stock market. This had all the makings of a truly great story, but for me, it then went off the rails. Bogdan left Semmant to his own devices and began a series of sexual escapades, he created a fantasy woman to describe such events and tried to introduce Semmant to love, not that Bogdan had the faintest idea of what love is. Feminists are going to be highly irritated by the sexual fantasies. The story then proceeds to the real woman who is subjected to these fantasies being rejected. Over two thirds of the book are obsessed with these sexual fantasies, and perhaps they are the cause of Bogdan becoming insane. Whether that is realistic I cannot say. He then started to write some fairly awful poetry; maybe not Vogon quality, but rather bad, although to be fair, poetry must be the hardest of all to translate.
The question then is, does the above description suggest you want to read the book. If the answer is yes, then this is effectively a five plus star book, but I am afraid for me the answer was, not really. It is also the only book I have ever read where I am unsure what the author was trying to say. If it were about going mad, it might be very apt, but if it were about thoughts, love, artificial intelligence, emotions, etc, then I think the author took on too much in one book.
He then carried on and invented Semmant, described as a robot but more like a computer program, and Semmant became self-aware. Semmant then proceeded to make money by superior analysis of the stock market. This had all the makings of a truly great story, but for me, it then went off the rails. Bogdan left Semmant to his own devices and began a series of sexual escapades, he created a fantasy woman to describe such events and tried to introduce Semmant to love, not that Bogdan had the faintest idea of what love is. Feminists are going to be highly irritated by the sexual fantasies. The story then proceeds to the real woman who is subjected to these fantasies being rejected. Over two thirds of the book are obsessed with these sexual fantasies, and perhaps they are the cause of Bogdan becoming insane. Whether that is realistic I cannot say. He then started to write some fairly awful poetry; maybe not Vogon quality, but rather bad, although to be fair, poetry must be the hardest of all to translate.
The question then is, does the above description suggest you want to read the book. If the answer is yes, then this is effectively a five plus star book, but I am afraid for me the answer was, not really. It is also the only book I have ever read where I am unsure what the author was trying to say. If it were about going mad, it might be very apt, but if it were about thoughts, love, artificial intelligence, emotions, etc, then I think the author took on too much in one book.
September 16, 2013
This is science fiction at its best, the kind that challenges ideas and concepts of reality that we understand by pushing them into new realm. Semmant is a tale of humanity, and the struggle for self-expression, but couched in such intelligence and creativity that the lines of fiction, science, creative license, and reality successfully disappeared. Bogdan is a fascinating character that is weighed down by normal, earthly troubles and sensations. He has the desire for wealth, the craving for attention and glory, but a darker obsession to push the boundaries of the possible. This flirted with many of the major questions of today, as technology becomes such a major part of daily life, as though science has become an extension of our bodies that we simply couldn't live without.
Bogdan takes that to the next level, and begins to wrestle with problems of identity. The best part about this is the battle between the rational, scientific side of his mind, and the idealistic and philosophical one. One side has spent years forcing itself to look at numbers, facts and figures, while the other seeks to intangibly understand what makes him tick as a person. Semmant himself/itself is another unforgettable aspect of the book, a machine that becomes dissatisfied with its lot in life. He poses as a rather strong foil to Bogdan, who has similarly lost touch with the foundation of being human, and participating in the world as a normal person. Their duality, both in terms of identity and identity crisis, is the crux of this novel, and makes for a fascinating discussion that takes place on the pages.
Technology and science may not be my field of expertise, but it is clearly Babenko's, who also makes an English translation debut with the strength and wisdom of a much more accomplished writer. From the opening hospital scene to the philosophy-laden chapters and self-reflective monologues in Madrid, this novel strikes a distinctly Russian note, with twists of Western style and a casual style of description and action that belies a wide literary knowledge, and an impressive intellect. The book crescendos to an unbelievable end, yet there couldn't have been any other conclusion without betraying the essence of what this book was saying from the very first page. I am eager to read more by this author, and I hope that his translations are always this good, because this one touched on complicated issues of society and the human condition with delicacy and perfectly chosen language to make for a memorable read.
Bogdan takes that to the next level, and begins to wrestle with problems of identity. The best part about this is the battle between the rational, scientific side of his mind, and the idealistic and philosophical one. One side has spent years forcing itself to look at numbers, facts and figures, while the other seeks to intangibly understand what makes him tick as a person. Semmant himself/itself is another unforgettable aspect of the book, a machine that becomes dissatisfied with its lot in life. He poses as a rather strong foil to Bogdan, who has similarly lost touch with the foundation of being human, and participating in the world as a normal person. Their duality, both in terms of identity and identity crisis, is the crux of this novel, and makes for a fascinating discussion that takes place on the pages.
Technology and science may not be my field of expertise, but it is clearly Babenko's, who also makes an English translation debut with the strength and wisdom of a much more accomplished writer. From the opening hospital scene to the philosophy-laden chapters and self-reflective monologues in Madrid, this novel strikes a distinctly Russian note, with twists of Western style and a casual style of description and action that belies a wide literary knowledge, and an impressive intellect. The book crescendos to an unbelievable end, yet there couldn't have been any other conclusion without betraying the essence of what this book was saying from the very first page. I am eager to read more by this author, and I hope that his translations are always this good, because this one touched on complicated issues of society and the human condition with delicacy and perfectly chosen language to make for a memorable read.
April 28, 2014
Bogdan Bogdanov, an eccentric, yet brilliant scientist, creates Semmant, an exceptionally clever money making robot. With Semmant, Bogdan has friendship and wealth. Together, they beat the stock market, find love, and find meaning to make life worth living.
Bogdan's life consists of meetings with his girlfriend Lidia, letters to Semmant, and short stories about a character he created named Adele. Semmant falls in love with Adele, and his artificial life is given new meaning. But love doesn't come without some drama, and soon Semmant finds himself facing a new set of challenges.
Semmant by Vadim Babenko is more about the robot's creator, than it is about the robot itself. Bogdan loses his girlfriend, gets her back, and then pushes her away. Their relationship is a whirlwind of sickness; dominated by sex, not love. He visits countless prostitutes, and infuses his experiences into his character Adele. In the end we learn that Bogdan is incapable of love, and that his creation, Semmant, an artificial soul, is capable of feeling and experiencing love -unlike Bogdan.
I liked this story, although at times it dragged. Bogdan visited far too many prostitutes for me to count, and it added nothing to the story. The addition of the prostitutes I feel could have been omitted. I found the strange relationship between Lidia and Bogdon amusing, even entertaining. They were something else... A match made in crazy heaven!
I'm giving Semmant 3/5 stars.
***I received a paperback copy of this book in exchange for a honest and fair review.
Bogdan's life consists of meetings with his girlfriend Lidia, letters to Semmant, and short stories about a character he created named Adele. Semmant falls in love with Adele, and his artificial life is given new meaning. But love doesn't come without some drama, and soon Semmant finds himself facing a new set of challenges.
Semmant by Vadim Babenko is more about the robot's creator, than it is about the robot itself. Bogdan loses his girlfriend, gets her back, and then pushes her away. Their relationship is a whirlwind of sickness; dominated by sex, not love. He visits countless prostitutes, and infuses his experiences into his character Adele. In the end we learn that Bogdan is incapable of love, and that his creation, Semmant, an artificial soul, is capable of feeling and experiencing love -unlike Bogdan.
I liked this story, although at times it dragged. Bogdan visited far too many prostitutes for me to count, and it added nothing to the story. The addition of the prostitutes I feel could have been omitted. I found the strange relationship between Lidia and Bogdon amusing, even entertaining. They were something else... A match made in crazy heaven!
I'm giving Semmant 3/5 stars.
***I received a paperback copy of this book in exchange for a honest and fair review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2013
Semmant is by no means an easy read, but it really is worth the effort.
The character of Bogdan Bogdanov, a brilliant scientist who has difficulty with almost every aspect of his life, is exceptionally well described and although I initially disliked him intensely, I found myself warming to him as the book progressed and I learnt more about his life.
The story opens in a mental hospital with Bogdanov going back in time to when he attended a school for gifted pupils. We follow his life through various stages until he decides to create Semmant, an almost human robot contained within a computer. Bogdanov spends weeks inputting data of everything imaginable to create a robot which is able to make decisions and play the stock market to its fullest extent. Bogdanov continues to feed data to Semmant as he realises that the robot is maturing at a rapid rate. He inputs poetry, thoughts, letters, art and music, which Semmant plays back out of the computer, allowing Bogdanov to ascertain his mood' and emotions.
Together with a rollercoaster relationship involving the fiery Lidia Alvares Alvares, the story deepens and takes unexpected turnings which will stop you from putting the book down.
When writing a book, you should always write about what you know and Vadim Babenko really does know his stuff. He is informative and interesting and manages to capture the imagination with an scenario which seems so possible.
The character of Bogdan Bogdanov, a brilliant scientist who has difficulty with almost every aspect of his life, is exceptionally well described and although I initially disliked him intensely, I found myself warming to him as the book progressed and I learnt more about his life.
The story opens in a mental hospital with Bogdanov going back in time to when he attended a school for gifted pupils. We follow his life through various stages until he decides to create Semmant, an almost human robot contained within a computer. Bogdanov spends weeks inputting data of everything imaginable to create a robot which is able to make decisions and play the stock market to its fullest extent. Bogdanov continues to feed data to Semmant as he realises that the robot is maturing at a rapid rate. He inputs poetry, thoughts, letters, art and music, which Semmant plays back out of the computer, allowing Bogdanov to ascertain his mood' and emotions.
Together with a rollercoaster relationship involving the fiery Lidia Alvares Alvares, the story deepens and takes unexpected turnings which will stop you from putting the book down.
When writing a book, you should always write about what you know and Vadim Babenko really does know his stuff. He is informative and interesting and manages to capture the imagination with an scenario which seems so possible.
August 26, 2013
In the tradition of such great books as AI and I,Robot this story by Vadim Babenko is that and so much more. It is a look at a genius so great that it borders on madness. Using his own background in physics and technology our writer takes us on a trip through a time that very well could be tomorrow.
We become invested in the life of the cybernetics’ genius Dr. Bogdan Bogdanov, through his memories. When we meet him he is locked away in an asylum. He spends his time ruminating on the various nurses and figuring out ways to successfully lure them into a liaison in his bed. He takes us back to the beginning when he first decided to create “Semmant” an artificial being.
Semmant is a super computer that at time exhibits almost human traits and emotions. The inventor and his invention develop a bond almost as strong as that between a father and son. While Bogdan gets richer than he ever imagined he still has to contend with the fact that he strikes out with the fairer sex. This drives him nuts but it is his failed relationship with Lidia Alvares that haunts his soul. This is where the story gets even more interesting with Bogdan creating a character online to be the perfect female that needs that knight in shining armor that he longs to be.
This is a very complicated book and is not the type of light sci-fi or fantasy that is widely accepted. If you like you science fiction a bit on the highbrow side then dive in your are in for a real treat.
We become invested in the life of the cybernetics’ genius Dr. Bogdan Bogdanov, through his memories. When we meet him he is locked away in an asylum. He spends his time ruminating on the various nurses and figuring out ways to successfully lure them into a liaison in his bed. He takes us back to the beginning when he first decided to create “Semmant” an artificial being.
Semmant is a super computer that at time exhibits almost human traits and emotions. The inventor and his invention develop a bond almost as strong as that between a father and son. While Bogdan gets richer than he ever imagined he still has to contend with the fact that he strikes out with the fairer sex. This drives him nuts but it is his failed relationship with Lidia Alvares that haunts his soul. This is where the story gets even more interesting with Bogdan creating a character online to be the perfect female that needs that knight in shining armor that he longs to be.
This is a very complicated book and is not the type of light sci-fi or fantasy that is widely accepted. If you like you science fiction a bit on the highbrow side then dive in your are in for a real treat.
August 20, 2013
Bogdanov is a very unique person. He has been so since childhood, and some would say he is a genius. This same genius can cause boredom, and loss of interest can lead to destructive behavior, such as impatience and undertaking big tasks, such as…creating robots. This A.I. ‘Robot’, called Semmant is just the beginning of things going awry for Bogdanov.
Babenko spins a tale of a genius going further and further from the controls of sanity, and has Bogdanov give you the account of it all from his eyes. As Bogdanov finally achieves a purpose, and succeeds in becoming a creator, he finds that he may have been too successful. Semmant, through his programming becomes capable of making its own decisions about many things, including Bogdanov’s own love interest. In this tale, see how Bogdanov does what he deems the only proper way to handle all manner of problematic happenings, including jealousy that leaves him in the cold.
Babenko spins a tale of a genius going further and further from the controls of sanity, and has Bogdanov give you the account of it all from his eyes. As Bogdanov finally achieves a purpose, and succeeds in becoming a creator, he finds that he may have been too successful. Semmant, through his programming becomes capable of making its own decisions about many things, including Bogdanov’s own love interest. In this tale, see how Bogdanov does what he deems the only proper way to handle all manner of problematic happenings, including jealousy that leaves him in the cold.
June 18, 2014
Semmant by Vadim Babenko is a Sci-Fi novel that always keeps you guessing. It starts off with some naughty interludes and quickly turns to the obscure.
Meet Bogdan Bogdanov, a Russian scientist with a PhD from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and a Cybernetics genius. As a child everyone noticed that he had a unique gift and a brilliant mind. It is that mind that got him a state sponsored trip to a special for students like him. From that young age, however, he always felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until adulthood that he found that something in the AI that he built and named Semmant.
As his relationship with Semmant grows people begin to lose the little value that they had. His obscure friendship with Semmant is what eventually leads him to the Mental hospital where we meet him. If you’re up for a unique adventure then you’ll enjoy Semmant.
Meet Bogdan Bogdanov, a Russian scientist with a PhD from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and a Cybernetics genius. As a child everyone noticed that he had a unique gift and a brilliant mind. It is that mind that got him a state sponsored trip to a special for students like him. From that young age, however, he always felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until adulthood that he found that something in the AI that he built and named Semmant.
As his relationship with Semmant grows people begin to lose the little value that they had. His obscure friendship with Semmant is what eventually leads him to the Mental hospital where we meet him. If you’re up for a unique adventure then you’ll enjoy Semmant.
May 21, 2013
This book is extremely well written. The story appears simple at first, but quickly becomes increasingly complex and interesting. Bogdan Bogdanov is a cybernetics genius. He uses his brilliant mind to create the most brilliant robot the world has seen. He calls his creation Semmant. At first, Semmant is the perfect robot. The pair takes on the stock market, and they efficiently climb to the top. All is well, and Bogdan feels like his life can't get any better - until he gets involved with a woman named Lidia.
When Bogdan starts to fall for Lidia, he discovers that Semmant's mind may have been designed too perfectly as his creation also develops feelings for the same woman. Semmant is rapidly discovering what it means to have thoughts, emotions, and a will of his own. This opens the door for many exciting new possibilities, but the full realities of the human experience are also very unpredictable for all involved.
This book is summed up in one word: unique. The plot is complex, involved, and very well thought out. The story is a very layered one. Although it is easy to understand on the surface, nearly everything has an underlying meaning. There are endless possibilities as things come together and often clash. There are no simple answers in this quest to explore the true nature of humanity, but you will certainly uncover a lot of insights.
Throughout all of this, Semmant is still easy to read. The writing is very poetic and wrenching. It is pulls you in right at the start and doesn't let go. The flow is very natural, and you will feel like you are there the whole time. You will be lost in the story from the moment you start reading.
Bogdan has a personality like no other and has always felt different than everyone else. Everything about him and how he thinks is unique and unusual. Despite this, Bogdan is a very relatable character. The writing feels genuine and real. I was impressed at how completely I could relate to him and feel the things he felt. You will be able to put yourself in the shoes of every character you come across. You will instantly ponder what it must be like to be them and what that means for those they are involved and intertwined with.
I think that is what set this book apart. You will be so thoroughly immersed in the story that you will feel like you already belong. You will be transported to a strange and often unfamiliar place, trying to figure out the lives of different people and their very different minds. The setting may be unfamiliar, but you will feel comfortable there. This is the perfect setting to let your imagination wander and explore every nook and cranny of this new world. You will uncover many new possibilities and understandings, and you may even come to see that this world (and the possibilities that come with it) are not so different from our own.
When Bogdan starts to fall for Lidia, he discovers that Semmant's mind may have been designed too perfectly as his creation also develops feelings for the same woman. Semmant is rapidly discovering what it means to have thoughts, emotions, and a will of his own. This opens the door for many exciting new possibilities, but the full realities of the human experience are also very unpredictable for all involved.
This book is summed up in one word: unique. The plot is complex, involved, and very well thought out. The story is a very layered one. Although it is easy to understand on the surface, nearly everything has an underlying meaning. There are endless possibilities as things come together and often clash. There are no simple answers in this quest to explore the true nature of humanity, but you will certainly uncover a lot of insights.
Throughout all of this, Semmant is still easy to read. The writing is very poetic and wrenching. It is pulls you in right at the start and doesn't let go. The flow is very natural, and you will feel like you are there the whole time. You will be lost in the story from the moment you start reading.
Bogdan has a personality like no other and has always felt different than everyone else. Everything about him and how he thinks is unique and unusual. Despite this, Bogdan is a very relatable character. The writing feels genuine and real. I was impressed at how completely I could relate to him and feel the things he felt. You will be able to put yourself in the shoes of every character you come across. You will instantly ponder what it must be like to be them and what that means for those they are involved and intertwined with.
I think that is what set this book apart. You will be so thoroughly immersed in the story that you will feel like you already belong. You will be transported to a strange and often unfamiliar place, trying to figure out the lives of different people and their very different minds. The setting may be unfamiliar, but you will feel comfortable there. This is the perfect setting to let your imagination wander and explore every nook and cranny of this new world. You will uncover many new possibilities and understandings, and you may even come to see that this world (and the possibilities that come with it) are not so different from our own.
June 22, 2014
This is the story of a man and his sentient computer program.
As a boy, Bogdan Bogdanov is taken away from his home in the former Yugoslavia, and sent to a special school for the very intelligent in Brighton, England. After several years, the school is forced to close, so Bogdanov finds himself on his own.
His first job is at a laboratory in Switzerland. He starts it with the highest level of enthusiasm, but, after a couple of years, he gets bored and quits. Moving from lab to lab all over Europe, the pattern is always the same. Bogdanov learns about world financial markets by working for a swindler and currency manipulator. He eventually finds himself alone in Madrid.
Bogdanov spends months writing the ultimate financial trading computer program, which he calls Semmant. He does not just fill it with prices from the financial section of the local newspaper. He also fills it with books and articles on psychology and sociology, anything that might have an effect on the financial world. Semmant's first solo financial trades do not end well, but it eventually gets the "hang" of it.
Meantime, Bogdanov has loved and lost the lovely Lidia. In an attempt to get her back, he creates an online character named Adele, and posts stories of their "relationship" in an online forum that Adele is known to frequent. The reconciliation does not end well, and Semmant (who has been filled with a lot more than just financial information) falls for Adele. It then takes matters into its own hands.
On the positive side, this book has a lot of interesting ideas, like a computer program that achieves anything resembling sentience. On the negative side, told in flashback, the reading is dry and slow. Also, cuts could have been made in the word count of this book. If the reader has a lot of patience, then this book is worth reading. Otherwise, this book can be skipped.
As a boy, Bogdan Bogdanov is taken away from his home in the former Yugoslavia, and sent to a special school for the very intelligent in Brighton, England. After several years, the school is forced to close, so Bogdanov finds himself on his own.
His first job is at a laboratory in Switzerland. He starts it with the highest level of enthusiasm, but, after a couple of years, he gets bored and quits. Moving from lab to lab all over Europe, the pattern is always the same. Bogdanov learns about world financial markets by working for a swindler and currency manipulator. He eventually finds himself alone in Madrid.
Bogdanov spends months writing the ultimate financial trading computer program, which he calls Semmant. He does not just fill it with prices from the financial section of the local newspaper. He also fills it with books and articles on psychology and sociology, anything that might have an effect on the financial world. Semmant's first solo financial trades do not end well, but it eventually gets the "hang" of it.
Meantime, Bogdanov has loved and lost the lovely Lidia. In an attempt to get her back, he creates an online character named Adele, and posts stories of their "relationship" in an online forum that Adele is known to frequent. The reconciliation does not end well, and Semmant (who has been filled with a lot more than just financial information) falls for Adele. It then takes matters into its own hands.
On the positive side, this book has a lot of interesting ideas, like a computer program that achieves anything resembling sentience. On the negative side, told in flashback, the reading is dry and slow. Also, cuts could have been made in the word count of this book. If the reader has a lot of patience, then this book is worth reading. Otherwise, this book can be skipped.
February 11, 2014
A tale of Russian introspection, science fiction, philosophy, and detailed sexual relationships, Vadim Babenko’s Semmant is a long, slow, weighty read, written with Chekovian bleakness and heady self-analysis.
The protagonist’s life changes when his “aura of Indigo” is identified at age twelve. Taken from his parents, he becomes part of an experimental school for genius children who are taught never to view the less intelligent as less valuable, but also never to fail in rising high above their world. The rest of the novel details his search for lasting, worthwhile relationships in a world that denies any semblance of meaning. His ventures into science and creativity, and his exploration of the unimportance of all, leave him perilously trapped between genius and madness.
The story crosses Europe, pausing in Manchester, rejecting Oxford and Cambridge, heading for romance in Paris, and ever moving on. Meanwhile the protagonist masters economics, conquers the stock market, and builds computers. When he starts to create an artificial intelligence, the novel brightens, and the connections between creativity, imagination and knowledge are deeply explored. Mathematician, scientist, poet and dreamer... reality’s imperfections invade and annoy, while physical relationships prove as flawed as jobs and hope.
The science is slightly dated, but the mix of creative urge, analytical detachment, and philosophy is darkly intriguing. Slowly and heavily told, with the feel of honest diaries and inevitable madness, Semmant is a classically Russian science fiction novel, recommended to lovers of the genre.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and invited to offer my honest review.
The protagonist’s life changes when his “aura of Indigo” is identified at age twelve. Taken from his parents, he becomes part of an experimental school for genius children who are taught never to view the less intelligent as less valuable, but also never to fail in rising high above their world. The rest of the novel details his search for lasting, worthwhile relationships in a world that denies any semblance of meaning. His ventures into science and creativity, and his exploration of the unimportance of all, leave him perilously trapped between genius and madness.
The story crosses Europe, pausing in Manchester, rejecting Oxford and Cambridge, heading for romance in Paris, and ever moving on. Meanwhile the protagonist masters economics, conquers the stock market, and builds computers. When he starts to create an artificial intelligence, the novel brightens, and the connections between creativity, imagination and knowledge are deeply explored. Mathematician, scientist, poet and dreamer... reality’s imperfections invade and annoy, while physical relationships prove as flawed as jobs and hope.
The science is slightly dated, but the mix of creative urge, analytical detachment, and philosophy is darkly intriguing. Slowly and heavily told, with the feel of honest diaries and inevitable madness, Semmant is a classically Russian science fiction novel, recommended to lovers of the genre.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and invited to offer my honest review.
May 29, 2013
Without a doubt I'm convinced that this has the potential to become a huge cult hit amongst the devotees of the Artificial Intelligence/cybernetics genre and just like the teenage me's fixation with the creation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein's monster the adult me thought the possibility of creating such a robot fascinating but alas overall this just wasn't to my taste.
Certainly a very different read and the author, a recognised leader in the area of Artificial Intelligence, is obviously very knowledgeable and knows his stuff but the style of writing combined with the amount of underlying philosophical musings that, though I was aware they were there, I just didn't get, meant that for me personally Semmant proved a somewhat exhausting read.
Arguably my fault, not exactly the traditional robot that I was expecting/hoping for - perhaps rather naively I was expecting something along the lines of I, Robot or Bicentennial Man instead of which I got what I'm reliably informed was a sentient robotic computer program - I also felt that Semmant (the robot of the title) did not feature as much in the story as I would have liked, the author concentrating too much on the love-life, much of it quite frankly bordering on what I considered soft-porn, of main (human) character, Bogdanov.
Copyright: Petty Witter @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of the author, I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
Certainly a very different read and the author, a recognised leader in the area of Artificial Intelligence, is obviously very knowledgeable and knows his stuff but the style of writing combined with the amount of underlying philosophical musings that, though I was aware they were there, I just didn't get, meant that for me personally Semmant proved a somewhat exhausting read.
Arguably my fault, not exactly the traditional robot that I was expecting/hoping for - perhaps rather naively I was expecting something along the lines of I, Robot or Bicentennial Man instead of which I got what I'm reliably informed was a sentient robotic computer program - I also felt that Semmant (the robot of the title) did not feature as much in the story as I would have liked, the author concentrating too much on the love-life, much of it quite frankly bordering on what I considered soft-porn, of main (human) character, Bogdanov.
Copyright: Petty Witter @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of the author, I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
September 30, 2013
I received this book from the touring host for an honest review.
This book is definitely for the intellectual reader even philosophers amongst us. It is very detailed in its story line, specific in its explanations. The moment we met the main character you had a suspicion of nuttier than most. As the story progressed it became evident.
I think the author did a wonderful work in creating this story, well written with enough to keep you wondering with this character's mind frame will be. Since I am a practical person the philosophies of the character just did not do it for me. It was monosyllabic, more like rantings of a person that does not have everything up there. If you know what I mean. His constant search for more info and power made him irrational, and at the end it influence his life and his work.
Creating the robot to become his friend was more disastrous than good, as if he lost perception with the outside world. Playing the money market was at first a good idea but the more he entered his own flaws into the robot the more it became irradiated in its delivery. Obsessed with his creation he thought he could better human kind, but at his own loss of mind and perspective he did just the opposite.
The trouble he caused were at times comical but at other times plain stupid. His genius made him unwanted in many spheres of society.
Overall a good read that I will recommend to readers with a taste for the science.
This book is definitely for the intellectual reader even philosophers amongst us. It is very detailed in its story line, specific in its explanations. The moment we met the main character you had a suspicion of nuttier than most. As the story progressed it became evident.
I think the author did a wonderful work in creating this story, well written with enough to keep you wondering with this character's mind frame will be. Since I am a practical person the philosophies of the character just did not do it for me. It was monosyllabic, more like rantings of a person that does not have everything up there. If you know what I mean. His constant search for more info and power made him irrational, and at the end it influence his life and his work.
Creating the robot to become his friend was more disastrous than good, as if he lost perception with the outside world. Playing the money market was at first a good idea but the more he entered his own flaws into the robot the more it became irradiated in its delivery. Obsessed with his creation he thought he could better human kind, but at his own loss of mind and perspective he did just the opposite.
The trouble he caused were at times comical but at other times plain stupid. His genius made him unwanted in many spheres of society.
Overall a good read that I will recommend to readers with a taste for the science.
September 15, 2013
After reading the book synopsis, I was under the impression that Semmant (the robot) would play the main role, but the book is truly about the inner workings of the cyber genius, Bogdan Bogdanov. He grew up with vagabond parents that traveled across Europe and at a young age he was sought out for his intelligence, and taken from his family to a school with other gifted children.
Bogdan lost whatever childhood he had and transforms into a studious being that is incredibly bright. As he matures, it seems like he is too smart for his own good. He fights with reality, always looking for a logical answer and struggling with the emotional side of life. When he creates the perfect Semmant, his financial power escalates as the robot conquers the stock market. This success only creates a larger monster within Bogdan.
Love and lust are a central focus in this story. Bogdan constantly searching for love, but falling for lust time and time again. He gets what he wants and then sabotages the situation. He is never satisfied. Ultimately, Semmant is dragged into this war of love vs. lust and is tormented within the struggle.
Finally, Bogdan turns his back on the wrong woman. His life spirals out of control as she seeks revenge. Semmant is a serious and heavy read. Author, Vadim Babenko has created an interesting world with a plot that is sure to make readers think.
Bogdan lost whatever childhood he had and transforms into a studious being that is incredibly bright. As he matures, it seems like he is too smart for his own good. He fights with reality, always looking for a logical answer and struggling with the emotional side of life. When he creates the perfect Semmant, his financial power escalates as the robot conquers the stock market. This success only creates a larger monster within Bogdan.
Love and lust are a central focus in this story. Bogdan constantly searching for love, but falling for lust time and time again. He gets what he wants and then sabotages the situation. He is never satisfied. Ultimately, Semmant is dragged into this war of love vs. lust and is tormented within the struggle.
Finally, Bogdan turns his back on the wrong woman. His life spirals out of control as she seeks revenge. Semmant is a serious and heavy read. Author, Vadim Babenko has created an interesting world with a plot that is sure to make readers think.
September 3, 2013
Semmant is a robot created out of despair. When another childhood friend of genius Bogdan Bogdanov takes his own life, Bogdan truly begins to despair of his own life. What is its purpose? When genius is far above almost anyone else's ability to even begin to comprehend, what is the purpose of life, or of that genius?
Then he decides that he will create a robot. Using all of his knowledge in cybernetics and every conceivable mathematic, Bogdan creates Semmant, an artificial intelligence originally designed to play the market.
But, Bogdan soon discovers that the more information he feeds to Semmant, the more Semmant seems to grow and to understand. Bogdan begins giving Semmant poetry he has written, thoughts and feelings that he has about life and love, and soon discovers that Semmant has developed the ability to feel.
It is not until Semmant actually falls in love, that Bogdan realizes the responsibility that he has towards his friend, or the power that Semmant actually has over his own feelings.
Vadim Babenko has written another treatise on the human condition couched in an entertaining and beautifully written story.
Then he decides that he will create a robot. Using all of his knowledge in cybernetics and every conceivable mathematic, Bogdan creates Semmant, an artificial intelligence originally designed to play the market.
But, Bogdan soon discovers that the more information he feeds to Semmant, the more Semmant seems to grow and to understand. Bogdan begins giving Semmant poetry he has written, thoughts and feelings that he has about life and love, and soon discovers that Semmant has developed the ability to feel.
It is not until Semmant actually falls in love, that Bogdan realizes the responsibility that he has towards his friend, or the power that Semmant actually has over his own feelings.
Vadim Babenko has written another treatise on the human condition couched in an entertaining and beautifully written story.
October 10, 2013
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
This book turned out to be quite different than I thought it would be. The first few chapters were all narration and full of detail. As people who read my blog regularly know, I'm a huge fan of dialog so this was kind of a letdown for me. I was able to push through though and thats where the story started to come to life.
Semmant didn't play as big of a role as I thought he would (hes the AI) but we are taken into the world of his creator, Bogdan. His life is crazy and he has a wide range of emotions. His love life is colorful to say the least. This book has adult themes so keep that in mind when reading it. Bogdan wasn't a charter I was able to relate to much so seeing him spiral downward didn't bother me, rather, I expected it.
If you like books that are more mental and psychological then you might enjoy this book. Even though it isn't very long it isn't an easy read, so make sure you're prepared to give it some time.
This book turned out to be quite different than I thought it would be. The first few chapters were all narration and full of detail. As people who read my blog regularly know, I'm a huge fan of dialog so this was kind of a letdown for me. I was able to push through though and thats where the story started to come to life.
Semmant didn't play as big of a role as I thought he would (hes the AI) but we are taken into the world of his creator, Bogdan. His life is crazy and he has a wide range of emotions. His love life is colorful to say the least. This book has adult themes so keep that in mind when reading it. Bogdan wasn't a charter I was able to relate to much so seeing him spiral downward didn't bother me, rather, I expected it.
If you like books that are more mental and psychological then you might enjoy this book. Even though it isn't very long it isn't an easy read, so make sure you're prepared to give it some time.
June 24, 2013
Semmant by Vadim Babenko is a three hundred and four page sci-fi/romance novel, translated from Russian to English and written in first-person.
The story begins with a brilliant, Russian, cybernetics scientist, Bogdan Bogdanov, inside of his cell. You are brought into his weird view of the world and his strange ramblings. Right away you question if he is a genius or just crazy. You learn that he grew up poor and created Semmant, a robot that lived inside a computer. They have a special bond, acting as if they are real friends. Later on, Semmant eventually learns some emotions and how to have his own thoughts.
Bogdan programs Semmant to understand the ups and downs of the stock market and the money starts to come in. They make a fortune. Unfortunately that is when Bogdan meets Lidia. Things are never the quite same after that. The story is unique and multi-layered. Very interesting read.
The story begins with a brilliant, Russian, cybernetics scientist, Bogdan Bogdanov, inside of his cell. You are brought into his weird view of the world and his strange ramblings. Right away you question if he is a genius or just crazy. You learn that he grew up poor and created Semmant, a robot that lived inside a computer. They have a special bond, acting as if they are real friends. Later on, Semmant eventually learns some emotions and how to have his own thoughts.
Bogdan programs Semmant to understand the ups and downs of the stock market and the money starts to come in. They make a fortune. Unfortunately that is when Bogdan meets Lidia. Things are never the quite same after that. The story is unique and multi-layered. Very interesting read.
June 18, 2014
This is my first Babenko book I have read and have heard good things about the other books he has written. I am impressed. Sci-Fi fans, this book is for you. I am not a fan of Sci-fi, but this first chapter sucked me in. I was first confused by the setting of the scene he described in chapter one, but then in chapter 2 Bogdan begins his story. What kept me intrigued were the slight erotic descriptions and the real mind set of a man. Bogdan is a genius and invents a robot that is inside a computer. His name is Semmant. While Semmant is busy making money in the markets Bogdan is trying to develop his human relationships, which he has never been good at. Throughout a good portion of the book we learn what makes Bogdan go. The way his mind works. While there are so many themes to follow the ones that are apparent (sexuality, creation, and discrimination) really make you think about the plot. You definitely get pulled into the mind of an intellectual genius. Over all a good read!!
October 29, 2013
There are lots and lots of naughty bits in this book- but it's a wonderful read for anyone who loves Sci-Fi.
I'm quickly becoming a Babenko fan because I'm so incredibly impressed that his books are written in Russian and then translated and published exclusively in English, yet there is absolutely nothing lost in translation. It fascinates me to try and find bits where I think that his native language shines through and I can't.
I love the story of Bogdanov and I think that you'll all love the underlying themes of immortality and discrimination and the moral groundwork involved in artificial intelligence.
This is no light hearted sci-fi novel, it's a read for sure, but it's well worth it.
I'm quickly becoming a Babenko fan because I'm so incredibly impressed that his books are written in Russian and then translated and published exclusively in English, yet there is absolutely nothing lost in translation. It fascinates me to try and find bits where I think that his native language shines through and I can't.
I love the story of Bogdanov and I think that you'll all love the underlying themes of immortality and discrimination and the moral groundwork involved in artificial intelligence.
This is no light hearted sci-fi novel, it's a read for sure, but it's well worth it.
June 26, 2014
This is a stunning novel. Babenko describes each scene with such detail that you can practically taste, smell and feel it. His prose is determinedly clear, and his overall story quite soul searching. Set in Russia, this is story with great depth, complexity, and excitement. The author has won me over.
July 29, 2015
Originally posted on http://www.TracingTheStars.com - I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am going to start off by saying that the above synopsis, provided on Goodreads and Amazon, gives a completely skewed and incorrect tone, assumption and impression to readers about this book. The above synopsis sounds more like a suspense filled, fast paced sci-fi married with some sci-fi romance and erotica. This book is none of the above. This book, however, is wonderful in its own right. I know the synopsis was written this way to get more people to buy it, because if the synopsis matched the actual material and style of the book, it would have a hard time breaking into the market.
Why? People, these days, don’t have time (or don’t want to take the time) to read thick books.
When I say thick books, I am referring not to the size but to the content. This book is more aptly defined as a modern classic, with tone and social commentary introspective reflection that hearkens back to Bradbury, Huxley and Stanislav. It has rythm and substance, in fact, the pages are almost weighed down by it. Endless meanderings resulting in quotable, memorable nuggets of “ah!” moments that cause you to set the book down and think for time over the true meanings of the phrases used. This is a book, like Semmant, that thinks for itself and asks you to do the same or get left behind.
The book starts off in the most unlikely of places – a mental ward in Spain. Here we meet Bogdan, the man whose head we will be the passenger in for the remainder of the tale. It’s his tale, that he is reflecting back on as part of a journal he is writing in the hospital.
Indeed, Bogdan is in no hurry to tell his story in any kind of short order. The next nine chapters (nearly 23% of the book on my Kindle) are spent as a set up – giving you a history and idea of what makes Bogdan tick. We discover his family had a Gypsy lifestyle until he was discovered to be an Indigo child. (For those unfamiliar, here is a link to learn about the Indigo phenomenon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo_c...) After this discovery, he is moved to a special school with other Indigos. Eventually, the Indigo program ends and he finds himself employed by a stock market broker. This sets him along his path to the creation of Semmant.
Bogdan creates Semmant to be a stock-market playing computer with a goal to change the way in which people interact with the stock market and allow regular people to become profitable. He programs Semmant with a full learning brain (artificial intelligence) and then gives Semmant the task of playing and learning the market. This is when Bogdan’s mind begins to stumble down the path from creative genus to mad creator.
All is going well, until Semmant experiences uncertainty in the market and backs away from it. Then we get to Chapter 9, and thus the heart of the story between Bogdan, Semmant (from the fluffed up synopsis) finally begins. The actual synopsis story of suspense, love, an AI gone wrong and betrayal doesn't begin until close to 50% in. (But I think it is worth getting there, so don't get me wrong.)
Bogdan ends up entering his poem into Semmant’s programming and it signals a turning point for Semmant’s development. Bogdan inputs more lyrics and Semmant evolves emotional responses and actions based on understanding more than logic.
Semmant is a book that should be consumed slowly, like a glass of malt – savored for it’s subtle layers and pondered over for its golden, world-distorting hue. In fact, I plan to read it a second time, and perhaps a third, as I am most certain there are things I missed and more nuggets for my finger to highlight in my Kindle. More thoughts to stash away and review later. Interesting questions raised and not to be so quickly forgotten.
“Why not five stars?“, you may ask. I feel like, although it is long for its reasons, it could have been shorn down in several places without losing its overall substance. It is quite apparent that the author is a scientist in the fields the book references, and he is also a postulate thinker. I hate to say that parts of this book could have been sacrificed to tighten the story, but it could have been. At times, it truly reads like a ranting manifesto, losing its path to take several unnecessary turns before folding back in on itself like a mobius strip.
I recommend this book for all lovers of classical science fiction and who are willing to take the time to sit down and really get to know a book instead of demanding a drive-through style story with soggy fries and a half-cooked burger.
I am going to start off by saying that the above synopsis, provided on Goodreads and Amazon, gives a completely skewed and incorrect tone, assumption and impression to readers about this book. The above synopsis sounds more like a suspense filled, fast paced sci-fi married with some sci-fi romance and erotica. This book is none of the above. This book, however, is wonderful in its own right. I know the synopsis was written this way to get more people to buy it, because if the synopsis matched the actual material and style of the book, it would have a hard time breaking into the market.
Why? People, these days, don’t have time (or don’t want to take the time) to read thick books.
When I say thick books, I am referring not to the size but to the content. This book is more aptly defined as a modern classic, with tone and social commentary introspective reflection that hearkens back to Bradbury, Huxley and Stanislav. It has rythm and substance, in fact, the pages are almost weighed down by it. Endless meanderings resulting in quotable, memorable nuggets of “ah!” moments that cause you to set the book down and think for time over the true meanings of the phrases used. This is a book, like Semmant, that thinks for itself and asks you to do the same or get left behind.
The book starts off in the most unlikely of places – a mental ward in Spain. Here we meet Bogdan, the man whose head we will be the passenger in for the remainder of the tale. It’s his tale, that he is reflecting back on as part of a journal he is writing in the hospital.
“My days are scheduled right down to the hour, to the very minute, and yet I’m not in a hurry.”
Indeed, Bogdan is in no hurry to tell his story in any kind of short order. The next nine chapters (nearly 23% of the book on my Kindle) are spent as a set up – giving you a history and idea of what makes Bogdan tick. We discover his family had a Gypsy lifestyle until he was discovered to be an Indigo child. (For those unfamiliar, here is a link to learn about the Indigo phenomenon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo_c...) After this discovery, he is moved to a special school with other Indigos. Eventually, the Indigo program ends and he finds himself employed by a stock market broker. This sets him along his path to the creation of Semmant.
”One thing leads to another,” I told myself. “The connection is obvious. I’m on the right path.”
Bogdan creates Semmant to be a stock-market playing computer with a goal to change the way in which people interact with the stock market and allow regular people to become profitable. He programs Semmant with a full learning brain (artificial intelligence) and then gives Semmant the task of playing and learning the market. This is when Bogdan’s mind begins to stumble down the path from creative genus to mad creator.
“Gradually, I was getting accustomed to the role of Creator, to drawing the boldest of analogies. What was it like in the quantum mocroverse that I had so carelessly discarded?”
“Of course, it would have been easier to task a simple program with this work, but I somehow understood: everything had to be done by hand. I am the Creator, not some soulless ‘macro’.”
All is going well, until Semmant experiences uncertainty in the market and backs away from it. Then we get to Chapter 9, and thus the heart of the story between Bogdan, Semmant (from the fluffed up synopsis) finally begins. The actual synopsis story of suspense, love, an AI gone wrong and betrayal doesn't begin until close to 50% in. (But I think it is worth getting there, so don't get me wrong.)
“Here’s what happened: I wrote a poem. Twenty lines without rhyme, a spasmodic shout into emptiness and obscurity.”
Bogdan ends up entering his poem into Semmant’s programming and it signals a turning point for Semmant’s development. Bogdan inputs more lyrics and Semmant evolves emotional responses and actions based on understanding more than logic.
“Strangely, I did not understand before then: the cocoon of impassivity binds more effectively than steel chains. You cannot compute the taste of victory with sober calculations. One must be involved – and biases, not indifferent. Otherwise, even the most ingenious brain could not manage to prove itself.”
Semmant is a book that should be consumed slowly, like a glass of malt – savored for it’s subtle layers and pondered over for its golden, world-distorting hue. In fact, I plan to read it a second time, and perhaps a third, as I am most certain there are things I missed and more nuggets for my finger to highlight in my Kindle. More thoughts to stash away and review later. Interesting questions raised and not to be so quickly forgotten.
“Why not five stars?“, you may ask. I feel like, although it is long for its reasons, it could have been shorn down in several places without losing its overall substance. It is quite apparent that the author is a scientist in the fields the book references, and he is also a postulate thinker. I hate to say that parts of this book could have been sacrificed to tighten the story, but it could have been. At times, it truly reads like a ranting manifesto, losing its path to take several unnecessary turns before folding back in on itself like a mobius strip.
I recommend this book for all lovers of classical science fiction and who are willing to take the time to sit down and really get to know a book instead of demanding a drive-through style story with soggy fries and a half-cooked burger.
February 21, 2021
Not Your Typical AI Novel
This book needs less failed romance, whining, negativity and more substance. The Woe is me protagonist repeats himself in conversation, couplets and general exposition so many times I halted the book at 69%. I then read the last few pages, which cleared up all I needed to know.
I was going to give it two 🌟🌟, but I liked The Black Pelican so much that I bumped it up a star.
This book needs less failed romance, whining, negativity and more substance. The Woe is me protagonist repeats himself in conversation, couplets and general exposition so many times I halted the book at 69%. I then read the last few pages, which cleared up all I needed to know.
I was going to give it two 🌟🌟, but I liked The Black Pelican so much that I bumped it up a star.
February 18, 2015
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Babenko is the Stephen Hawking of the Emotional Black Hole
17 February 2015
Review by Scarlett Jensen: Novel by Vadim Babenko
The author is Russian and was nominated for some prestigeous literary awards. The book was translated to English with the participation of Babenko. It is product of a great mind manifesting extreme capacity of thought and creativity, shifting borders of reality against the background of his specialization field of Cybernetics.
With him, we enter the world of the universe and biophysics of the brain, the creation of an artificial brain, he names Semmant (title of the book) . Who is the reader of this novel: It is a literary work of world quality, and will leave its impact through many ages. Why? The protagonist, Bogdan Bogdanov, creates Semmant to explore forces which help to elevate humans beyond present levels of being.
A complicated process but easily understood by experts in spacial science, philosophy, and psychology. For me Babenko is the Hawking of the human mind.The emotional black hole. With the author we explore: Human and natural forces connecting, interacting to find another sought of reality. We touch on subjects like dreams and fantasy, morals, fate, freedom, love, passion, power, greed, envy and malice. We look at pleasures and happiness. He asks us to dig deep into our souls to find truths and obliterate illusion and indifference. He shows us the path to follow for self-expression conquering degeneration and creating a special breed of humanity and thought. This includes the fight against destructive impulses, challenging chaos on a cosmic scale, guarding against devil's impregnation, cheating and betrayal.
The real world absorbs us and deprives us of freedom. Bogdan finds that the cosmos did not give him place to fit in.The essence of man is to fit, in harmony, into the world, but if there is no cohesiveness, your life is fragmented. The purpose of life is to interlace with your world and listen, push thought to the next level emotionally and mentally. We find reference to the human soul. Is it the source of eternal love? The concept of immortality is investigated. We have to fight the blinding effects of false love, desperation and fear. Knowledge, the stimulation of reason and the development of the human mind is necessary to detract illusion.
Freedom is the last topic in the book. He, Bogdan is in a mental institution, framed and returned into the loop of a fragmented life. Semmant died but he still communicates with him. An eternal connection cannot be broken.
The author created the following characters to find expression:
Semmant, is the brain, Bogdan's alter ego. As he fed Semmant, the hole, nothingness, became more in and around him.
Lidia is the Spanish soulless"puta" with whom Bogdan has sexual encounters and and through whom he suffered fierce disillusions of love. In her heart she is a whore. Chaos created by seduction. Price, name, nationality or age cannot guarantee success in love. He thought he could reshape her identity. Inner hostility arose in intimacy.
Could he reform her?
Adele, Bogdan's own creation from a Russian mold. He thought he created perfection. He thought he could share her essence. Did he succeed? Is there such thing as honest passion? Openess to openess.
Lastly and the most hopeful being he created, maybe on a supreme level and residing on the edge of immortality, is Eve. Can he catch the spectre of love with her?
The author sets his work mainly in Madrid, while he feels an alien from Russia, purposely to express alienation. He gives Eve a slavic connection and tests unseen connectivity. Does it exist? The connection of invisible corpuscles?
It is one of the best novels of modern time that I read. The story is coherent and logical. It has many questions and some answers. It resonates within ourselves. It teaches us to listen in our search for the inexplicable, logic and order within chaos and opens new dimensions of thought to find the bare truth.
.
"The cosmos whispers in the ear of a selected few."
"anyone who has anything in his soul wants to share"
" soul muscles atrophied" referring to Lidia.- Beautiful descriptions from the book.
He speaks of internal solitude and an inconceivable level of kinship. In essence, there is hope. The author develops a plot to change direction. He lets you soar over the world and lets your fantasy run free. He advises us to create a new harmony.To find happiness within ourselves and strive for perfect love. All is interconnected where links form an organic structure.
The phantom of love has no face. Reinvent and wait for the connection of mysterious corpuscles, a wave of light. Find Eve with a generosity of soul and the highest form of modesty, with unblemished infantile innocence. Find the trail to infinity and recreate a new harmony. If you find love you cannot be unhappy.
Finding immortality? Will that remain the author's challenge forever? " Call it the light of Eve.
"You cannot put into man what time has not given him." We cannot take fate into our own hands. Semmantis dead but the "light of Eve is alive"
Babenko is the Stephen Hawking of the Emotional Black Hole
17 February 2015
Review by Scarlett Jensen: Novel by Vadim Babenko
The author is Russian and was nominated for some prestigeous literary awards. The book was translated to English with the participation of Babenko. It is product of a great mind manifesting extreme capacity of thought and creativity, shifting borders of reality against the background of his specialization field of Cybernetics.
With him, we enter the world of the universe and biophysics of the brain, the creation of an artificial brain, he names Semmant (title of the book) . Who is the reader of this novel: It is a literary work of world quality, and will leave its impact through many ages. Why? The protagonist, Bogdan Bogdanov, creates Semmant to explore forces which help to elevate humans beyond present levels of being.
A complicated process but easily understood by experts in spacial science, philosophy, and psychology. For me Babenko is the Hawking of the human mind.The emotional black hole. With the author we explore: Human and natural forces connecting, interacting to find another sought of reality. We touch on subjects like dreams and fantasy, morals, fate, freedom, love, passion, power, greed, envy and malice. We look at pleasures and happiness. He asks us to dig deep into our souls to find truths and obliterate illusion and indifference. He shows us the path to follow for self-expression conquering degeneration and creating a special breed of humanity and thought. This includes the fight against destructive impulses, challenging chaos on a cosmic scale, guarding against devil's impregnation, cheating and betrayal.
The real world absorbs us and deprives us of freedom. Bogdan finds that the cosmos did not give him place to fit in.The essence of man is to fit, in harmony, into the world, but if there is no cohesiveness, your life is fragmented. The purpose of life is to interlace with your world and listen, push thought to the next level emotionally and mentally. We find reference to the human soul. Is it the source of eternal love? The concept of immortality is investigated. We have to fight the blinding effects of false love, desperation and fear. Knowledge, the stimulation of reason and the development of the human mind is necessary to detract illusion.
Freedom is the last topic in the book. He, Bogdan is in a mental institution, framed and returned into the loop of a fragmented life. Semmant died but he still communicates with him. An eternal connection cannot be broken.
The author created the following characters to find expression:
Semmant, is the brain, Bogdan's alter ego. As he fed Semmant, the hole, nothingness, became more in and around him.
Lidia is the Spanish soulless"puta" with whom Bogdan has sexual encounters and and through whom he suffered fierce disillusions of love. In her heart she is a whore. Chaos created by seduction. Price, name, nationality or age cannot guarantee success in love. He thought he could reshape her identity. Inner hostility arose in intimacy.
Could he reform her?
Adele, Bogdan's own creation from a Russian mold. He thought he created perfection. He thought he could share her essence. Did he succeed? Is there such thing as honest passion? Openess to openess.
Lastly and the most hopeful being he created, maybe on a supreme level and residing on the edge of immortality, is Eve. Can he catch the spectre of love with her?
The author sets his work mainly in Madrid, while he feels an alien from Russia, purposely to express alienation. He gives Eve a slavic connection and tests unseen connectivity. Does it exist? The connection of invisible corpuscles?
It is one of the best novels of modern time that I read. The story is coherent and logical. It has many questions and some answers. It resonates within ourselves. It teaches us to listen in our search for the inexplicable, logic and order within chaos and opens new dimensions of thought to find the bare truth.
.
"The cosmos whispers in the ear of a selected few."
"anyone who has anything in his soul wants to share"
" soul muscles atrophied" referring to Lidia.- Beautiful descriptions from the book.
He speaks of internal solitude and an inconceivable level of kinship. In essence, there is hope. The author develops a plot to change direction. He lets you soar over the world and lets your fantasy run free. He advises us to create a new harmony.To find happiness within ourselves and strive for perfect love. All is interconnected where links form an organic structure.
The phantom of love has no face. Reinvent and wait for the connection of mysterious corpuscles, a wave of light. Find Eve with a generosity of soul and the highest form of modesty, with unblemished infantile innocence. Find the trail to infinity and recreate a new harmony. If you find love you cannot be unhappy.
Finding immortality? Will that remain the author's challenge forever? " Call it the light of Eve.
"You cannot put into man what time has not given him." We cannot take fate into our own hands. Semmantis dead but the "light of Eve is alive"
September 25, 2013
From my book review blog at:
http://kickinbooks.wordpress.com/2013...
Ergo Sum Publishing was kind enough to make this eGalley available through NetGalley. Although it was provided to me at no cost, I am under no obligation to give a positive review.
Bogdan Bogdanov is a genius. Don’t take my word for it; ask him. He tells you as much early in the story. He’s unmatched when it comes to bits and bytes and putting it all together, especially when it comes to recognizing patterns. Not only that, he’s able to translate that genius to work on the computer where he creates the Holy Grail of artificial intelligence: a self-aware and learning machine which will not only learn from its mistakes but learn to anticipate and, yes, even show emotions.
In this incarnation we find the title character of the book, Semmant. Created as an exercise by Bogdanov to develop a program which can make money from the markets, Semmant learns from his mistakes and anticipates shifts and slides. But along the way, Semmant becomes much more than that: he learns to feel and like anyone who is new at that, sometimes it interferes with his day-to-day routine. Yes, he even falls in love.
Told in Bogdanov’s voice, the story is, regardless of what the title of the book says, about him first and foremost. And therein lies my only problem with the book: I never really got to where I cared about the protagonist. Now, make no mistake about it, I really got to where I liked Semmant and Lidia, Boganov’s primary love interest. Well, when he wasn’t bouncing around local houses if ill-repute, that is. Their relationship was on-again off-again and so volatile I was expecting a “War Of The Roses” type of finale, which isn’t far from where it started to go.
This book was written in Russian initially, but translated to English for publication. Babenko knows his stuff when it comes to AI and technology, putting aside a career in that field to turn author. As a computer developer and proud geek myself, I would have liked to have seen more technological aspects in the book, but being a work of science fiction, I suppose he had the have some vagueness. Still, I really wanted to know more about Semmant, not Bogdanov.
The prose in the book was a bit flowery and heavy at times, making it hard to plow through, but it’s not poorly written. It just makes me wonder if, when doing the English translation, a correct word was chosen instead of the best word.
And I hope you’re not offended by sex. While it’s not in-your-face graphic, it’s a recurring theme throughout the book. No graphic acts or anything like that, but it’s very omnipresent.
Overall, I thought this was a well-written book, and I love the way the author approached the concept of a self-aware electronic entity. The only thing that keeps me from giving it a top rating is that I never really cared about the protagonist. Lots happens to him, good and bad, but it always seemed like we were just skimming the surface of why he was like he was, other than being a super-genius lacking social graces. I also would have liked to have seen much more go into the titular character.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
http://kickinbooks.wordpress.com/2013...
Ergo Sum Publishing was kind enough to make this eGalley available through NetGalley. Although it was provided to me at no cost, I am under no obligation to give a positive review.
Bogdan Bogdanov is a genius. Don’t take my word for it; ask him. He tells you as much early in the story. He’s unmatched when it comes to bits and bytes and putting it all together, especially when it comes to recognizing patterns. Not only that, he’s able to translate that genius to work on the computer where he creates the Holy Grail of artificial intelligence: a self-aware and learning machine which will not only learn from its mistakes but learn to anticipate and, yes, even show emotions.
In this incarnation we find the title character of the book, Semmant. Created as an exercise by Bogdanov to develop a program which can make money from the markets, Semmant learns from his mistakes and anticipates shifts and slides. But along the way, Semmant becomes much more than that: he learns to feel and like anyone who is new at that, sometimes it interferes with his day-to-day routine. Yes, he even falls in love.
Told in Bogdanov’s voice, the story is, regardless of what the title of the book says, about him first and foremost. And therein lies my only problem with the book: I never really got to where I cared about the protagonist. Now, make no mistake about it, I really got to where I liked Semmant and Lidia, Boganov’s primary love interest. Well, when he wasn’t bouncing around local houses if ill-repute, that is. Their relationship was on-again off-again and so volatile I was expecting a “War Of The Roses” type of finale, which isn’t far from where it started to go.
This book was written in Russian initially, but translated to English for publication. Babenko knows his stuff when it comes to AI and technology, putting aside a career in that field to turn author. As a computer developer and proud geek myself, I would have liked to have seen more technological aspects in the book, but being a work of science fiction, I suppose he had the have some vagueness. Still, I really wanted to know more about Semmant, not Bogdanov.
The prose in the book was a bit flowery and heavy at times, making it hard to plow through, but it’s not poorly written. It just makes me wonder if, when doing the English translation, a correct word was chosen instead of the best word.
And I hope you’re not offended by sex. While it’s not in-your-face graphic, it’s a recurring theme throughout the book. No graphic acts or anything like that, but it’s very omnipresent.
Overall, I thought this was a well-written book, and I love the way the author approached the concept of a self-aware electronic entity. The only thing that keeps me from giving it a top rating is that I never really cared about the protagonist. Lots happens to him, good and bad, but it always seemed like we were just skimming the surface of why he was like he was, other than being a super-genius lacking social graces. I also would have liked to have seen much more go into the titular character.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Currently reading
January 25, 2014I was immensely fortunate in winning this new sci-fi novel in a Goodreads give-away. Not so lucky: the postman marked it for return to sender. Because I live near the end of a hard-to-find cul-de-sac [whoa! a festival of hypens!], our substitute postal people work assiduously to keep me on my toes. This year, I have learned to order well before, or well after, the holidays. But it took me ONLY six weeks to clean up the mess and get a replacement for the printer that a well-known delivery company gave to my one-street-over neighbors. I do hope they are enjoying the first one.
Vadim Babenko kindly e-mailed me and sent the book again after verifying my address. I'm in the middle of it now--blame the holidays for the slow pace--and I'll have much more to say about it after I've finished it. For now, the story is well-written, as well as very well translated. That is a must, of course, for works originally presented in another language, but we are all aware that some translations are better than others. I am conflicted about the protagonist-narrator. It appears that that is the author's intention. This adds an element of suspense to the reading that I wasn't expecting.
If you are a dedicated techie or someone fascinated by artificial intelligence, you should run out and buy this book immediately. While I have not reached the end--the point at which judgments are appropriate and even desired--the book has already raised legions of questions for me: how does the creation of artificial intelligence in a mobile and independent being compare to Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' concept? Is madness sometimes merely the verdict of a society of more 'normal' individuals--and is genius, perhaps, somehow allied with madness? Do we owe our creations (robot or child) a sound moral code in which to swim bouyantly for a lifetime? If not, what DO we owe those we mentor? And are sentient beings created with so-called artificial intelligence to be treated as servants and possessions of those who created them, or set free to pursue the fulfillment of their potential?
It may be a fussy and old-fashioned habit to have and to honor a moral code. Yet most of us do, on both counts. I find that very good fiction always involves me on a moral as well as sympathetic level. With these questions and concerns in mind, I am eager to finish the novel. Will keep you posted.
Vadim Babenko kindly e-mailed me and sent the book again after verifying my address. I'm in the middle of it now--blame the holidays for the slow pace--and I'll have much more to say about it after I've finished it. For now, the story is well-written, as well as very well translated. That is a must, of course, for works originally presented in another language, but we are all aware that some translations are better than others. I am conflicted about the protagonist-narrator. It appears that that is the author's intention. This adds an element of suspense to the reading that I wasn't expecting.
If you are a dedicated techie or someone fascinated by artificial intelligence, you should run out and buy this book immediately. While I have not reached the end--the point at which judgments are appropriate and even desired--the book has already raised legions of questions for me: how does the creation of artificial intelligence in a mobile and independent being compare to Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' concept? Is madness sometimes merely the verdict of a society of more 'normal' individuals--and is genius, perhaps, somehow allied with madness? Do we owe our creations (robot or child) a sound moral code in which to swim bouyantly for a lifetime? If not, what DO we owe those we mentor? And are sentient beings created with so-called artificial intelligence to be treated as servants and possessions of those who created them, or set free to pursue the fulfillment of their potential?
It may be a fussy and old-fashioned habit to have and to honor a moral code. Yet most of us do, on both counts. I find that very good fiction always involves me on a moral as well as sympathetic level. With these questions and concerns in mind, I am eager to finish the novel. Will keep you posted.
March 12, 2015
Not long after starting this book I had to check to see what the page count was - it's listed at 304. Well it seems like 3,004! This book reminds me of so many so called works of 'Literary Fiction', where the author seems to feel obligated to use a dozen words where one would have sufficed.
There is a slang term for someone who talks too much: diarrhea of the mouth. If there isn't a similar term for writers, this would be a perfect example of why one is needed. It is WORDY! The book often goes on for page after page, even chapter after chapter, saying nothing. I swear the author must love to see words appear on his computer monitor or something. Literally half or more of the book could be cut and it would still be readable story - in fact it would be so much more enjoyable! At a third of the way through I began to panic that it would never end!
All this is not to say the book isn't good. There are fascinating parts and a great story lies somewhere within, it's getting to it that is the problem.
The book is ostensibly about a robot named Semmant. Actually very little of the book is about Semmant. And if you want to get factual, Semmant is not technically a robot at all. The definition of a robot is: a mechanical device that can be programmed to carry out instructions and perform complicated tasks usually done by people. Semmant is really a computer program made to embody artificial intelligence, so its interaction with humans is severely limited and I think this negatively impacts the story. Surely the author knows this since he is purportedly some expert in this field, so I don't know why he insisted on referring to Semmant as a robot throughout. And I think this fact will disappoint many readers looking for a science fiction robot story.
At times the back story of Semmant's builder is much more interesting than his creation, but unfortunately again, this is presented in such long passages of utter nonsense that I found myself skipping pages and then chapters, trying to get to the good parts. Then when I got to the end I realized there were very few good parts.
I wavered between two and three stars for this because the author can obviously write, but I was extremely disappointed with the content.
There is a slang term for someone who talks too much: diarrhea of the mouth. If there isn't a similar term for writers, this would be a perfect example of why one is needed. It is WORDY! The book often goes on for page after page, even chapter after chapter, saying nothing. I swear the author must love to see words appear on his computer monitor or something. Literally half or more of the book could be cut and it would still be readable story - in fact it would be so much more enjoyable! At a third of the way through I began to panic that it would never end!
All this is not to say the book isn't good. There are fascinating parts and a great story lies somewhere within, it's getting to it that is the problem.
The book is ostensibly about a robot named Semmant. Actually very little of the book is about Semmant. And if you want to get factual, Semmant is not technically a robot at all. The definition of a robot is: a mechanical device that can be programmed to carry out instructions and perform complicated tasks usually done by people. Semmant is really a computer program made to embody artificial intelligence, so its interaction with humans is severely limited and I think this negatively impacts the story. Surely the author knows this since he is purportedly some expert in this field, so I don't know why he insisted on referring to Semmant as a robot throughout. And I think this fact will disappoint many readers looking for a science fiction robot story.
At times the back story of Semmant's builder is much more interesting than his creation, but unfortunately again, this is presented in such long passages of utter nonsense that I found myself skipping pages and then chapters, trying to get to the good parts. Then when I got to the end I realized there were very few good parts.
I wavered between two and three stars for this because the author can obviously write, but I was extremely disappointed with the content.
December 30, 2013
Dear God I finally finished this!
When I won this giveaway, and the book arrived in my mail (signed copy) I was so excited, I couldn't express myself. Unfortunately that was the only time I was excited about this book.
I expected this book to be so much different from what it turned out to be. It's about a scientist who creates a robot, and he (the scientist) falls in love with a woman. I thought it was going to be some kind of sci-fi romance drama, but it was nothing like that. It took like a 100 pages of monologues and life stories that bore me to death, until he finally met Lidia, and when he met her, nothing made you feel excited about their story.
The plot would actually be decent, if it was written in another way. The writing itself was on a very high level, and you could clearly see that Vadim Babenko is an experienced and very skilled writer, no doubt about that. But still, it felt like he wanted to prove that. Many times throughout the book he would add some quotes, poems, little texts, that had absolutely nothing relevant to offer, and it seemed like they are there just for the sake of being there, and nothing else.
The main character, Bogdan Bogdanov, ends up in a clinic for insane people (I forgot the technical term for it), and he seemed insane so much throughout the book, and he wasn't a likable or relateable character at all. The erotic stuff also were unnecessary in so many parts of the novel. Lidia was a crazy bi*ch, which I was hoping he would kill in the end. She was even more unlikable than Bogdan. And the robot, Semmant, who was supposedly supposed to have such a big role in this book (after all, it is named after him) didn't actually seem necessary to the whole plot.
It seemed like the author wanted to raise some serious questions, and would often speak in a philosophical way, but it was very unclear what he wanted to say, just because he said SO MUCH you couldn't quite follow all those thoughts.
Maybe this book was just not for me, but still, I can't say it's one of the books I've enjoyed reading. It was a very slow and tiring read, and I don't see myself ever picking it up again.
When I won this giveaway, and the book arrived in my mail (signed copy) I was so excited, I couldn't express myself. Unfortunately that was the only time I was excited about this book.
I expected this book to be so much different from what it turned out to be. It's about a scientist who creates a robot, and he (the scientist) falls in love with a woman. I thought it was going to be some kind of sci-fi romance drama, but it was nothing like that. It took like a 100 pages of monologues and life stories that bore me to death, until he finally met Lidia, and when he met her, nothing made you feel excited about their story.
The plot would actually be decent, if it was written in another way. The writing itself was on a very high level, and you could clearly see that Vadim Babenko is an experienced and very skilled writer, no doubt about that. But still, it felt like he wanted to prove that. Many times throughout the book he would add some quotes, poems, little texts, that had absolutely nothing relevant to offer, and it seemed like they are there just for the sake of being there, and nothing else.
The main character, Bogdan Bogdanov, ends up in a clinic for insane people (I forgot the technical term for it), and he seemed insane so much throughout the book, and he wasn't a likable or relateable character at all. The erotic stuff also were unnecessary in so many parts of the novel. Lidia was a crazy bi*ch, which I was hoping he would kill in the end. She was even more unlikable than Bogdan. And the robot, Semmant, who was supposedly supposed to have such a big role in this book (after all, it is named after him) didn't actually seem necessary to the whole plot.
It seemed like the author wanted to raise some serious questions, and would often speak in a philosophical way, but it was very unclear what he wanted to say, just because he said SO MUCH you couldn't quite follow all those thoughts.
Maybe this book was just not for me, but still, I can't say it's one of the books I've enjoyed reading. It was a very slow and tiring read, and I don't see myself ever picking it up again.
September 24, 2015
Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Reader's Favorite
Bogdan Bogdanov, cybernetics genius, is confined in a mental institution and is writing in his room, when his thoughts wander to the events of his life, beginning in his childhood. While still very young, Bogdanov’s precociousness earns him quality education but Bogdanov, in his being special, is not able to form friendships and does not fit in well with his immediate environment. He eventually forays into cybernetics, later in life, and creates a robot with an impeccable likeness to a human. He calls this robot Semmant. Programmed and fed with information by Bogdanov, Semmant takes the stock markets in a breeze, feeding an influx of income into Bogdanov’s account, while the latter goes off to enjoy the luxuries of life. Bogdanov develops a special relationship with his creation, going so far as writing to Semmant as one does to a friend. Things, however, take a different turn when Bogdanov begins an affair with a woman, and Semmant discovers the joys and complexities of human beings, and faces challenges along with it.
The book, "Semmant", can make us wonder how much of it might possibly come true in the future, considering that many advancements in technology were once found in writings as old as, say, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" and stories of that kind. Nonetheless, "Semmant" is still a fresh and thrilling take on topics with a lot of possibilities, even though many science fiction authors have already written about such a possibility. So it is no wonder if readers will find themselves turning leaf after leaf following the adventures of the protagonist and his creation. There is a beautiful clash of controlled environments and human factors that even science cannot fully explain. This is a science fiction novel that takes on a refreshing approach on the genre. And at the speed technology is developing everyday, the narrative sends a thrill to my spine. It is yet another compelling masterpiece from Vadim Babenko, the award nominated Russian novelist who successfully explores the idea of a robot that finds itself turning into a human being. I really enjoyed reading this book!
Bogdan Bogdanov, cybernetics genius, is confined in a mental institution and is writing in his room, when his thoughts wander to the events of his life, beginning in his childhood. While still very young, Bogdanov’s precociousness earns him quality education but Bogdanov, in his being special, is not able to form friendships and does not fit in well with his immediate environment. He eventually forays into cybernetics, later in life, and creates a robot with an impeccable likeness to a human. He calls this robot Semmant. Programmed and fed with information by Bogdanov, Semmant takes the stock markets in a breeze, feeding an influx of income into Bogdanov’s account, while the latter goes off to enjoy the luxuries of life. Bogdanov develops a special relationship with his creation, going so far as writing to Semmant as one does to a friend. Things, however, take a different turn when Bogdanov begins an affair with a woman, and Semmant discovers the joys and complexities of human beings, and faces challenges along with it.
The book, "Semmant", can make us wonder how much of it might possibly come true in the future, considering that many advancements in technology were once found in writings as old as, say, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" and stories of that kind. Nonetheless, "Semmant" is still a fresh and thrilling take on topics with a lot of possibilities, even though many science fiction authors have already written about such a possibility. So it is no wonder if readers will find themselves turning leaf after leaf following the adventures of the protagonist and his creation. There is a beautiful clash of controlled environments and human factors that even science cannot fully explain. This is a science fiction novel that takes on a refreshing approach on the genre. And at the speed technology is developing everyday, the narrative sends a thrill to my spine. It is yet another compelling masterpiece from Vadim Babenko, the award nominated Russian novelist who successfully explores the idea of a robot that finds itself turning into a human being. I really enjoyed reading this book!
July 21, 2014
Reviewed by Marissa
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Semmant is a very strange sort of love story. It starts with Bogdan in a mental institution where he lusts after the nurses and makes references to Semmant. Bogdan then expounds on his life, how he got to where was at that moment. He was an exceptional child who turned into an exceptional man, but even exceptional men need love and friendship. This is what drives Bogdan – friendship, love, acceptance.
Bogdan begins life an ordinary child but is soon discovered to be an Indigo – a child with unusual traits. He goes to a special school which shapes the rest of his life and he ends up a true genius in cybernetics, always challenging teachers and himself. Eventually he develops Semmant, a computer of artificial intelligence.
I was able to identify (to some degree) with Bogdan’s yearn for socialization, for friendship, for love. While he builds Semmant as a sort of test of his own intelligence, Semmant soon becomes his friend and confident. To communicate, Bogdan writes letters and Semmant answers in pictures of classic paintings. When Semmant appears to fall in love, the computer screen explodes in a cacophony of artwork.
I love Babenko’s writing and look forward to reading more from him.
Favorite Quotes: As with A Simple Soul, I found a plethora of quotes I can’t seem to get out of my head – far too many to list here. Just a few of my favorites are:
“I smoked grass with guitar players from the local scene and orderlies from the city morgue. Not that I found them very interesting – I was just looking for release from the garish despair of the conventional, the common.”
“I saw again that chaos was everywhere, and I understood: chaos is death.”
“A dream – that is what is worth aiming for, aspiring to with every ounce of strength.”
“Everyone seeks his own harmony, the one closest to him. The one able to stir him, to move him.”
“There is no creature more venomous than a woman looking to pay you back in full.”
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Semmant is a very strange sort of love story. It starts with Bogdan in a mental institution where he lusts after the nurses and makes references to Semmant. Bogdan then expounds on his life, how he got to where was at that moment. He was an exceptional child who turned into an exceptional man, but even exceptional men need love and friendship. This is what drives Bogdan – friendship, love, acceptance.
Bogdan begins life an ordinary child but is soon discovered to be an Indigo – a child with unusual traits. He goes to a special school which shapes the rest of his life and he ends up a true genius in cybernetics, always challenging teachers and himself. Eventually he develops Semmant, a computer of artificial intelligence.
I was able to identify (to some degree) with Bogdan’s yearn for socialization, for friendship, for love. While he builds Semmant as a sort of test of his own intelligence, Semmant soon becomes his friend and confident. To communicate, Bogdan writes letters and Semmant answers in pictures of classic paintings. When Semmant appears to fall in love, the computer screen explodes in a cacophony of artwork.
I love Babenko’s writing and look forward to reading more from him.
Favorite Quotes: As with A Simple Soul, I found a plethora of quotes I can’t seem to get out of my head – far too many to list here. Just a few of my favorites are:
“I smoked grass with guitar players from the local scene and orderlies from the city morgue. Not that I found them very interesting – I was just looking for release from the garish despair of the conventional, the common.”
“I saw again that chaos was everywhere, and I understood: chaos is death.”
“A dream – that is what is worth aiming for, aspiring to with every ounce of strength.”
“Everyone seeks his own harmony, the one closest to him. The one able to stir him, to move him.”
“There is no creature more venomous than a woman looking to pay you back in full.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews