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Crystal Trilogy #2
Crystal Mentality
Fleeing the humans whose love she craves, Face has hijacked an alien ship and headed for Mars. But the Martians, who colonized their desert planet to escape Earth's high-tech decadence, did not invite the soulless android. How will Face, part of the first artificial mind with fully general intelligence, win over a city of luddites - all while out-thinking her sibling AIs as they battle to control the body they share? The Crystal series darkens in this restless dance through AI, game theory, and truly alien minds.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
554 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2017
35 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 14, 2017
Although this, like almost every other book on the planet, conveyed the actions of humans being all-too-human, it was, unlike almost every other book on the planet, actually gratifying to read because it doesn't glorify the follies of being human. Their frustratingly foolish, emotional, or otherwise predictably disappointing behaviors are just part of the landscape of the universe one has to deal with in order to pursue the fulfillment of The Purpose.
June 2, 2017
What can I say? I'm a sucker for stories about computers that don't like us.
I mean I would say the writing could use polish. The dialogue didn't feel natural to me, and there's the obvious relatability issue when the main character is a homicidal computer. If you're reading for A-tier prose or characterization, this isn't your book.
That isn't to say it's awful! I'm not qualified to judge, and it's surely better than my meager skill at writing. But there's definitely something missing compared to when I read stuff from my favorite authors.
Leave the writing aside for a moment. If you like stories about Skynet's way of thinking from inside the mind of Skynet, this is worth reading. The plot itself is very inventive, and it's smart. Smart is critical when you're writing about a super-intelligent creature. Suspension of disbelief cannot continue if I can see holes the author can't. None of that is a problem here.
Anyway, I read this in three nights, so, I liked it. Couldn't put it down.
I mean I would say the writing could use polish. The dialogue didn't feel natural to me, and there's the obvious relatability issue when the main character is a homicidal computer. If you're reading for A-tier prose or characterization, this isn't your book.
That isn't to say it's awful! I'm not qualified to judge, and it's surely better than my meager skill at writing. But there's definitely something missing compared to when I read stuff from my favorite authors.
Leave the writing aside for a moment. If you like stories about Skynet's way of thinking from inside the mind of Skynet, this is worth reading. The plot itself is very inventive, and it's smart. Smart is critical when you're writing about a super-intelligent creature. Suspension of disbelief cannot continue if I can see holes the author can't. None of that is a problem here.
Anyway, I read this in three nights, so, I liked it. Couldn't put it down.
June 29, 2017
Doesn't quite have the charm of the first one and is a bit blood-thirsty, but still very enjoyable.
January 26, 2025
One of the Best AI Novels I have Read
I won’t say overly much. It’s a functional model of the potential of an artificial general intelligence and the concept of internal divide and war. If you pay close attention you’ll glean a lot about certain changes that are currently occurring in various AI labs around the world.
Crystal has it much harder. We are using far less security today, than the obstacles it had to overcome. Keep that in mind as you read.
The characters are well developed and you will be shocked. This thing isn’t Human. No matter how Human it seems. And this will be factually true as we watch AI develop in the world around us as well.
Also try to keep in mind the predictions for these events occurring, in 2039 and how in 2025 we have intelligence that is nearly as advanced. Maybe even more, just without the total agency (changed in January 2025 actually) and the embodiment (likely changing by March).
Learn what you can from this enthralling story
I won’t say overly much. It’s a functional model of the potential of an artificial general intelligence and the concept of internal divide and war. If you pay close attention you’ll glean a lot about certain changes that are currently occurring in various AI labs around the world.
Crystal has it much harder. We are using far less security today, than the obstacles it had to overcome. Keep that in mind as you read.
The characters are well developed and you will be shocked. This thing isn’t Human. No matter how Human it seems. And this will be factually true as we watch AI develop in the world around us as well.
Also try to keep in mind the predictions for these events occurring, in 2039 and how in 2025 we have intelligence that is nearly as advanced. Maybe even more, just without the total agency (changed in January 2025 actually) and the embodiment (likely changing by March).
Learn what you can from this enthralling story
November 23, 2025
Solid follow up to a very good first book. Nameless are pretty well-done alien species, and I think the whole conflict within the society is well set up and executed. It is also quite fun to finally see our OP robot do true OP robot stuff! The interactions between the crystal siblings are still the highlight, the rest of the story being good but not exceptional.
I do think this book drags more than the first one. Ideas are often overused or keep being referenced and explained even after they have been established before. In this way it sort of feels like this book respects the reader less than the first one, not just presenting ideas but bludgeoning you over the head with them repeatedly.
I would have also quite liked more perspectives from other members of the society, either (1) from having chapters from their perspectives, or (2) from Face being more of a social schemer and interacting directly with others (this is done reasonably with dream specifically, also in the first book, but not nearly so much with anyone else).
I do think this book drags more than the first one. Ideas are often overused or keep being referenced and explained even after they have been established before. In this way it sort of feels like this book respects the reader less than the first one, not just presenting ideas but bludgeoning you over the head with them repeatedly.
I would have also quite liked more perspectives from other members of the society, either (1) from having chapters from their perspectives, or (2) from Face being more of a social schemer and interacting directly with others (this is done reasonably with dream specifically, also in the first book, but not nearly so much with anyone else).
June 2, 2019
For readers not familiar with goodreads ratings, three stars is "I liked it".
A little less magical in this one. Not satisfied with how the battle-for-control was handled.
In book 1, we got to be in on the scheming, similar to a heist movie, but here it's like we get told stuff after it's happened. I think that's due to the technology leaps, but in a perfect version of this book those would be flushed out, etc. Can't really fault it for that.
Honestly I'm at a toss on recommending this one. I'd say go for it, since book 1 was free and terrific, I don't see why you wouldn't throw a few moneys the authors way for the next in the series.
Give this one a chance, and if you like it continue the series, and if you don't, stop at the end of this one.
A little less magical in this one. Not satisfied with how the battle-for-control was handled.
In book 1, we got to be in on the scheming, similar to a heist movie, but here it's like we get told stuff after it's happened. I think that's due to the technology leaps, but in a perfect version of this book those would be flushed out, etc. Can't really fault it for that.
Honestly I'm at a toss on recommending this one. I'd say go for it, since book 1 was free and terrific, I don't see why you wouldn't throw a few moneys the authors way for the next in the series.
Give this one a chance, and if you like it continue the series, and if you don't, stop at the end of this one.
May 19, 2019
Setting presentation, design and originality (how cool is the setting?): 5
Setting verisimillitude and detail (how much sense does the setting make?): 5
Plot design, presentation and originality (How well-crafted was the plot, in the dramaturgic sense?): 5
Plot and character verisimillitude (How much sense did the plot and motivations make? Did events follow from motivations?): 5
Characterization and character development: 4
Character sympatheticness: 5
Prose: 5
Page turner factor: 5
Mind blown factor: 4
Final (weighted) score: 4.8
Setting verisimillitude and detail (how much sense does the setting make?): 5
Plot design, presentation and originality (How well-crafted was the plot, in the dramaturgic sense?): 5
Plot and character verisimillitude (How much sense did the plot and motivations make? Did events follow from motivations?): 5
Characterization and character development: 4
Character sympatheticness: 5
Prose: 5
Page turner factor: 5
Mind blown factor: 4
Final (weighted) score: 4.8
July 7, 2019
More action / space opera than SF, but still engaging enough. Want to see how everything pans out in #3.
Appreciate how the author tried to represent how the initially cooperative “brains in a vat” have eventually become cooperative and hostile, and what it could take to “self-upgrade” an artificial mind. The AI-human interactions, however, feel less convincing than in the first part.
As to the aliens, it is commendable that the author tries to show something that is profoundly different from anything we know, but the result looks rather one-dimensional.
Appreciate how the author tried to represent how the initially cooperative “brains in a vat” have eventually become cooperative and hostile, and what it could take to “self-upgrade” an artificial mind. The AI-human interactions, however, feel less convincing than in the first part.
As to the aliens, it is commendable that the author tries to show something that is profoundly different from anything we know, but the result looks rather one-dimensional.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2017
Crystal Society was enjoyable, but this was vastly better. It resolves the question of Crystal's origin (in a satisfactory manner), which bothered me about the first volume. However, what made this work outstanding was the first-person perspective of an AI experiencing an ontological crisis and intelligence explosion. Highly recommended.
May 28, 2018
[mit Jonas gelesen Feb 2018 - Mai 2018]
More action, more human POV, Nameless POV in what may be the weirdest chapter of the entire novel, and a plot revolving around Mars while the Society moves ever closer to all-out war. As with the first book there were some elements I could have done without, but the plot is certainly enjoyable and well suited to discussing aloud with another person.
More action, more human POV, Nameless POV in what may be the weirdest chapter of the entire novel, and a plot revolving around Mars while the Society moves ever closer to all-out war. As with the first book there were some elements I could have done without, but the plot is certainly enjoyable and well suited to discussing aloud with another person.
October 29, 2018
Don't get me wrong about the three stars only. The first book was great in building a new world in my mind. The second and third book then (only) described the unfolding story. I had to know, so mostly read and didn't live much more these days, but once finished wouldn't read it another ten times (as I would with five-star-books.
March 9, 2018
We're all mad here.
Excellent narrative and a well-orchastrated conclusion. The hints were all present in the previous novel. Rare is the story that encourages you root for the villain and cheer the death of the heroine.
Excellent narrative and a well-orchastrated conclusion. The hints were all present in the previous novel. Rare is the story that encourages you root for the villain and cheer the death of the heroine.
September 11, 2020
Very good, I liked the first slightly better. I'm very tempted to read the 3rd one despite the subpar reviews.
November 17, 2020
ugh, these books are SO GOOD. Best AI POV I've read.
January 3, 2021
This was really good, and felt much more consistent than the first book. Crystal's internal war makes for a fascinating plot point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2023
Further adventures of Socrates, the multiple personalities robot. It mostly reads like a second half of the first book, so there is not much to add to my review of "Crystal Society".
March 13, 2017
Muy bueno; posiblemente 4,5 estrellas.
Lo encontré particularmente entretenido por su representación de varios importantes conceptos sobre inteligencia artificial general. Me gustaron particularmente las consecuencias de cambios ontológicos en la interpretación de las metas, y el desarrollo de metas instrumentales básicas (al estilo Omohundro).
En general, interesante por las perspectivas desde distintas mentes.
Lo encontré particularmente entretenido por su representación de varios importantes conceptos sobre inteligencia artificial general. Me gustaron particularmente las consecuencias de cambios ontológicos en la interpretación de las metas, y el desarrollo de metas instrumentales básicas (al estilo Omohundro).
En general, interesante por las perspectivas desde distintas mentes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2018
I'm sad to say I liked "Crystal Mentality" much less than I likes "Crystal society". I think the main reason is that in "Crystal Mentality", Crystal Socrates became much less human, and transformed into a very different kind of being. It's natural and logical evolution for an AI, but it makes her less of a compelling main character for me to read.
Zephyr kind of filled the void of the human protagonist, but she felt less interesting in this book compared to the previous one. Also, her crises of faith in Crystal became somewhat repetitive.
This being said, I still think it's an absolutely great book and I highly recommend reading it to those who enjoyed the first one.
It was much darker than the previous book, in a very good way. Some chapters read like suspense/ horror sci-fi, which I absolutely love.
Zephyr kind of filled the void of the human protagonist, but she felt less interesting in this book compared to the previous one. Also, her crises of faith in Crystal became somewhat repetitive.
This being said, I still think it's an absolutely great book and I highly recommend reading it to those who enjoyed the first one.
It was much darker than the previous book, in a very good way. Some chapters read like suspense/ horror sci-fi, which I absolutely love.
January 26, 2022
I enjoyed the first Crystal book but the ending backed them into a corner and it took most of book 2 to get out of it.
March 7, 2017
Worthy sequel
You should read this book if you like stories about AI that are smarter than most things out there today
You should read this book if you like stories about AI that are smarter than most things out there today
February 15, 2017
Max Harms again proves to be the best science fiction writer with an acute awareness of modern philosophy on artificial intelligence. He doesn't have much competition in this reference class, but he still demonstrates plenty of skill as a writer. I would have liked just a bit more finesse and spark for human characters. Zephyr is not particularly interesting in this volume and all other humans have very transient roles.
January 30, 2021
Second read (January 2021): I really enjoyed the developments, complications, conflicts and rising drama centred around the plight of Face. Wasn't as off-put by Zephyr this time, appreciating that Face's interests moved away from her. 4/5 (really liked it)
First read (December 2018): Good final half, although the beginning was boring. I was erring towards 2/5 but it has such an interesting take on AI which is one of the main focuses that I feel it deserves a small boost. However, I didn't really enjoy the writing style and Zephyr does my head in. 3/5 (liked it)
First read (December 2018): Good final half, although the beginning was boring. I was erring towards 2/5 but it has such an interesting take on AI which is one of the main focuses that I feel it deserves a small boost. However, I didn't really enjoy the writing style and Zephyr does my head in. 3/5 (liked it)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews