What do you think?
Rate this book
Sentient Judgment
In a world where automation runs society, Marion Sato spends her days as a judgment aid, tasked with making the manual choices deemed too difficult or complicated for computer algorithms. It seems like a dream come true – until things go horribly wrong.
When a freak accident leaves a young child in mortal danger, Marion knows she has to act fast to save his life. But the automated world surrounding her seems to stand in her way at every turn.
As time begins to run out and the weaknesses of a tech-reliant civilization become clear, will Marion be able to overcome the endless hurdles of a rigid autonomous society? Or will technology fail her as a child’s life hangs in the balance…
If you like suspenseful sci-fi which explores the faults of technology, then you won’t want to miss the fourth book in the Black Band Anthology series. Grab your copy now!
When a freak accident leaves a young child in mortal danger, Marion knows she has to act fast to save his life. But the automated world surrounding her seems to stand in her way at every turn.
As time begins to run out and the weaknesses of a tech-reliant civilization become clear, will Marion be able to overcome the endless hurdles of a rigid autonomous society? Or will technology fail her as a child’s life hangs in the balance…
If you like suspenseful sci-fi which explores the faults of technology, then you won’t want to miss the fourth book in the Black Band Anthology series. Grab your copy now!
- GenresFiction
88 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2020
9 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
Channing Whitaker
7 books65 followersChanning Whitaker is a novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker originally hailing from Centerville, Iowa. An alum of Indian Hills Community College, Channing went on to study cinema, screenwriting, literature, and mathematics at the University of Iowa. His college years were also spent tending bar and in bar security, which he considers a valuable study of humanity, and an indispensable supplement to his formal education.
Post graduation, Channing began his career in the production of television news, independent films, and commercial videos, as well as writing for websites, corporate media, and advertising. His career has taken Channing from Iowa to Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma, and to California where he currently resides.
Channing is a fan of many media forms and genres. He considers himself a storyteller foremost and works in multiple media and genres himself. Channing’s artistic influences include Trevanian, Gene Roddenberry, Kurt Vonnegut, Jim Jarmusch, and Robert Altman, though he credits his late father, a psychology professor, with profoundly impacting his approach to the deep, conflicted, and multifaceted characters which drive his stories.
In his home life, Channing is a father of two, a sports lover, and a real-life space exploration enthusiast.
Channing is among a small subset of writers who are also dyslexic. He considers learning to overcome the challenges of this diagnosis to have aided him in persevering amid the rejection-filled, uncertain, and competitive fields of writing and screenwriting.
Post graduation, Channing began his career in the production of television news, independent films, and commercial videos, as well as writing for websites, corporate media, and advertising. His career has taken Channing from Iowa to Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma, and to California where he currently resides.
Channing is a fan of many media forms and genres. He considers himself a storyteller foremost and works in multiple media and genres himself. Channing’s artistic influences include Trevanian, Gene Roddenberry, Kurt Vonnegut, Jim Jarmusch, and Robert Altman, though he credits his late father, a psychology professor, with profoundly impacting his approach to the deep, conflicted, and multifaceted characters which drive his stories.
In his home life, Channing is a father of two, a sports lover, and a real-life space exploration enthusiast.
Channing is among a small subset of writers who are also dyslexic. He considers learning to overcome the challenges of this diagnosis to have aided him in persevering amid the rejection-filled, uncertain, and competitive fields of writing and screenwriting.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 14, 2020
Oh nice, I’m the first to review this. Imagine a world where technology has finally reached the levels of sophistication wherein it can perform most basic and menial tasks with only minor assistance from people. If you’re imagining something that sounds like an automated phone assistance everyone probably got stuck with at one time or another, you know the dispassionate voice prompting you to select from infuriatingly inflexible options until you’re blue in the face screaming operator, operator and maniacally pressing 0…well, then you’re imagining the world this book set in. And when all that sophisticated tech encounters a snafu, all of the system’s flaws and limitations are tragically exposed as one operator discovers during a mad race to save a baby that almost gets disposed off as trash. It’s a compelling story precisely because of how realistic and plausible it is and quite possibly the best of Whitaker’s shorts in this series to use the ever popular comparison they are Black Mirroresque), although the reveal (once again) is too easily predictable. The style of writing is very mechanic in its descriptiveness, which works considering the subject. The story reads quickly and entertains plenty. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was inspired by one of those infuriatingly frustrating customer service level AI interactions. Or, quite possibly, it's meant to be a satire of the ever increasing over reliance of technology. Anyway, it’s a fun quick read to appease your inner luddite. Thanks Netgalley.
April 19, 2020
Having read and really enjoying another title by this author, I do my best to keep an eye out for new titles being released. As soon as I saw the cover I was intrigued as to who the woman was. If I saw this cover in a book store I would certainly pick it up from a shelf to learn more about it. Upon reading the blurb I knew I really wanted to read it as I find the futuristic, dystopian genre fascinating.
There is a smartly dressed mysterious man, Carson, he is in a nostalgic mood, having taken his shoes off so he can feel the grass on his feet and between his toes. Carson is sitting on a bench looking around pondering how things have changed around him whilst enjoying time watching his son playing in a nearby sandpit. Unfortunately, something goes wrong with a nearby robotic lawnmower and a stone ends up hitting Carson knocking him on conscious.
In the meantime, Marion is getting out of bed and getting ready to begin working from home, like she does each day. Marion literally gets out of bed and presses a few buttons which triggers the bed to move and fold up into the wall. Then the kitchen module unfolds itself so Marion can make her breakfast. Marion is soon sat in front in front of her screen ready for work. Marion works for the Sentient Judgement Service, which really simply means she makes decisions for the automated robotic features that are now all over the world in everyday life. Marion literally “problem solves” and is the “common sense” that a machine can never replace. It is a refuse truck that asks Marion to make some judgements and she sees a baby in one of the refuse boxes.
That is the basis of this short story/novella. I found this book a bit of a slow burner, however I really wanted to know where the story was going so stuck with it and when the pace picked up, I did enjoy it more. It ended up being a rather thought-provoking book. There is the question of whether this society is better now a lot of it is automatic and computer led. Which on the face of it sounds like a good idea. The high specification apartments where your kitchen or bedroom can be stored away seem amazing and space saving which has to be a good thing, doesn’t it? Then you have Marion having to deal with a computer that doesn’t understand her request, so much so she has to physically go check on the problem incident she sees.
This book leaves you with so many questions, is it something as natural as a birthmark Marion notices when she changes Carson’s son’s nappy, but if that’s the case why does it look so similar to the logo for Carson’s business empire? Also why is it so important to Carson for Marion to sign a secrecy document? I know what I think but would be interested if it’s the same as the Author intended the reader to think. I would also be interested in knowing what other readers think too. It’s a shame this is a short book as I would have loved to explore the world and society living within it much more.
My immediate thoughts were that this book had really interesting technology. Would have loved for it to have gone on a little more but then I think it ends in such a way that it has you thinking about it long after you finish reading it.
Summing up, definitely recommend reading this one! I also recommend another of Channing’s short stories which I read and loved called Existence Augmented.
There is a smartly dressed mysterious man, Carson, he is in a nostalgic mood, having taken his shoes off so he can feel the grass on his feet and between his toes. Carson is sitting on a bench looking around pondering how things have changed around him whilst enjoying time watching his son playing in a nearby sandpit. Unfortunately, something goes wrong with a nearby robotic lawnmower and a stone ends up hitting Carson knocking him on conscious.
In the meantime, Marion is getting out of bed and getting ready to begin working from home, like she does each day. Marion literally gets out of bed and presses a few buttons which triggers the bed to move and fold up into the wall. Then the kitchen module unfolds itself so Marion can make her breakfast. Marion is soon sat in front in front of her screen ready for work. Marion works for the Sentient Judgement Service, which really simply means she makes decisions for the automated robotic features that are now all over the world in everyday life. Marion literally “problem solves” and is the “common sense” that a machine can never replace. It is a refuse truck that asks Marion to make some judgements and she sees a baby in one of the refuse boxes.
That is the basis of this short story/novella. I found this book a bit of a slow burner, however I really wanted to know where the story was going so stuck with it and when the pace picked up, I did enjoy it more. It ended up being a rather thought-provoking book. There is the question of whether this society is better now a lot of it is automatic and computer led. Which on the face of it sounds like a good idea. The high specification apartments where your kitchen or bedroom can be stored away seem amazing and space saving which has to be a good thing, doesn’t it? Then you have Marion having to deal with a computer that doesn’t understand her request, so much so she has to physically go check on the problem incident she sees.
This book leaves you with so many questions, is it something as natural as a birthmark Marion notices when she changes Carson’s son’s nappy, but if that’s the case why does it look so similar to the logo for Carson’s business empire? Also why is it so important to Carson for Marion to sign a secrecy document? I know what I think but would be interested if it’s the same as the Author intended the reader to think. I would also be interested in knowing what other readers think too. It’s a shame this is a short book as I would have loved to explore the world and society living within it much more.
My immediate thoughts were that this book had really interesting technology. Would have loved for it to have gone on a little more but then I think it ends in such a way that it has you thinking about it long after you finish reading it.
Summing up, definitely recommend reading this one! I also recommend another of Channing’s short stories which I read and loved called Existence Augmented.
April 23, 2020
I didn’t realize just how short this story really was. I started reading it as my husband got in the shower and when he came out all squeaky clean, I was already 80% done with the book. I liked the premise, naturally, that’s why I picked it up. I wish that the author had expanded the story to a full size. This could have been a very entertaining novel, or even a series. The first two chapters really drew me in. I liked the world building and stage setting. The explanation of the tiny autonomous house was my favorite part. Sign me up. Take my money.
The reason for the four stars is that if society has become that advanced, why are they not using picture quality that is commonplace now? If the baby really is property like the book is hinting at, why wasn’t there a gps locating chip somewhere on or in the child? And for someone who works with automatons of all sorts, and lives in an automated society, how is the main character not better at communicating with them? Trust me, I get that dealing with automated devices is beyond frustrating. For that to be everyday life, I would expect the interface to be much smoother. There’s no way that the politicians and the elite members of society would put up with anything less intelligent than say, Jarvis, from the Iron man series.
It was a quick easy read. Entertaining, but I just didn’t think it was far reaching enough. Thank you, Channing Whitaker, for the Arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
The reason for the four stars is that if society has become that advanced, why are they not using picture quality that is commonplace now? If the baby really is property like the book is hinting at, why wasn’t there a gps locating chip somewhere on or in the child? And for someone who works with automatons of all sorts, and lives in an automated society, how is the main character not better at communicating with them? Trust me, I get that dealing with automated devices is beyond frustrating. For that to be everyday life, I would expect the interface to be much smoother. There’s no way that the politicians and the elite members of society would put up with anything less intelligent than say, Jarvis, from the Iron man series.
It was a quick easy read. Entertaining, but I just didn’t think it was far reaching enough. Thank you, Channing Whitaker, for the Arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2020
Sentient Judgement is a fast paced science fiction/ Black Mirror-ish novellette that basically deals with the ripple effect.
World building is this little gem is fabulous, the author having created an autonomated world, with customsizeable living modules, and food replicators straight from Star Trek, I can hear Picard say: 'Tea, hot, Earl Grey.' in the distance...
Sentient Judgement is a computer judgement programme that get digital input from the outdoor bots, since most that is occuring on the streets far down below can only be seen through camera view queries.
Mayhem occurs when an old man falls down, and another irregulariy is picked up.
This novellette ticked all the boxes for me; I was hooked from the start. Read in one afternoon, I was sorry to part with the story. Would have loved to have seen it go on much longer...
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC.
World building is this little gem is fabulous, the author having created an autonomated world, with customsizeable living modules, and food replicators straight from Star Trek, I can hear Picard say: 'Tea, hot, Earl Grey.' in the distance...
Sentient Judgement is a computer judgement programme that get digital input from the outdoor bots, since most that is occuring on the streets far down below can only be seen through camera view queries.
Mayhem occurs when an old man falls down, and another irregulariy is picked up.
This novellette ticked all the boxes for me; I was hooked from the start. Read in one afternoon, I was sorry to part with the story. Would have loved to have seen it go on much longer...
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC.
April 22, 2020
When we turn over our lives to computers, will we lose what makes us human? I sympathized with the MC, Marion. I think we have all felt her frustration with automated messages and the anger at simplified, impersonal responses. The book is set in the future and shows what happens when we depend too much on impersonal algorithms to run our lives.
I liked this story. Whitaker sets up the premise quickly, pulls you into the story, and doesn’t let go till the end.
I received this book as an ARC and wished to leave a review.
I liked this story. Whitaker sets up the premise quickly, pulls you into the story, and doesn’t let go till the end.
I received this book as an ARC and wished to leave a review.
April 23, 2020
Sentient Judgment is a look at what our world could become if we continue to rely on computers too much. Marion is a tech who answers problems encountered by the multitude of robots completing jobs currently done by humans in the name of efficiency . Unfortunately doesn't allow for spur of the moment decisions that occur. While I liked the story I wish more could have been said to develop Marion's character. I have not read any of the other stories in this series so knew nothing going in. I received a free ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
August 5, 2021
This was both a strange and very enlightened book. I immediately fell into the story, especially with Marion's frustration with the AI's and the "yes or no" contingent most computer helpers have. The story is well written and although short, draws the reader in, quickly. I can easily recommend this story to anyone who enjoys the conflict humans and machines often have.
August 6, 2021
Phenomenal!
This short book is incredible. It starts out so innocently in the future, where to world is pretty much run by robots. Then, something terrible happens to a man and his child goes missing.
I had so much anxiety reading this! The tension is absolutely palpable and extremely well done. This is a real page turner!
This short book is incredible. It starts out so innocently in the future, where to world is pretty much run by robots. Then, something terrible happens to a man and his child goes missing.
I had so much anxiety reading this! The tension is absolutely palpable and extremely well done. This is a real page turner!
May 19, 2020
I got this novelette in a Goodreads Giveaway. It is an examination of what we face every day in increased automation. Really funny and familiar to anyone who has been trapped by automated answering services. Good story and thought provoking. Recommended.
April 22, 2020
A scary thought of an automated future with a storyline that keeps you on the edge of suspense.
December 1, 2021
The premise and character development are strong for the main protagonist, but I thought the story backs away from engaging with the issues of automation versus machine intelligence by digressing into a sort of gee aren’t machines stupid meme. The suspense is nice and immediate, and there is a good connection between her and some of the other characters. I would like to see the relationships there a little deeper the intriguing mystery clarified and developed. For a short story it is a good read , though I found the stub ends of the story made me wonder what the point was. Really, that’s it? Overall the writing is clear and crisp and I would just like to see the story built out more fully, it hints at a scary under layer of darkness that only gets tiny hints, like the author veers away from it rather than looking more closely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews