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Sentience
Robots, sex, lies, adventure, and chaos. Who can you trust when you can’t trust yourself? And what truly defines humanity and consciousness?
Running from a violent past, Leo Knox desperately decides to participate in a scientific experiment conducted by the infamous and greedy tech-giant, AlgorithmOS. Soon, Leo learns that she has agreed to take part in a Turing Test, a test that measures the ability of artificial intelligence to blend in among humanity, but what she doesn’t know is that the test set to take place is unlike any other of its kind.
Leo enters Eden, the contained preserve where the test will occur, with twenty-three others. While everyone appears to be human, four of the individuals are an indistinguishably advanced form of humanoid AI. The task is simple: identify the AI while trying to survive. The twist? The four AI are completely unaware of their nature, causing every participant to question what they know as reality.
The group embarks on a journey within the preserve, rigged with obstacles devised by the controllers of the experiment to elicit human response and emotion. Quickly, madness ensues and divides form, partnering Leo up with Avery Ford, a Marine who wears his demons on his sleeve. Romance falls together for the two as the world around them falls apart, revealing the lengths people will go to protect those they love, to achieve monetary gain, or simply to survive.
Back at AlgorithmOS, the story unfolds on the screens of Nathan Aimes, a scientist responsible for monitoring the experiment’s surveillance cameras. Nathan studies the humans involved as they wrestle with where they stand on the polarizing issue of AI and its applications. He watches the AI unknowingly fight to prove their humanity just to leave the experiment unscathed. All the while, Nathan is intimately aware of his company’s plans to weaponize or commodify the AI should they pass the test, and he must reconcile this with the chaos that plays out before him.
Running from a violent past, Leo Knox desperately decides to participate in a scientific experiment conducted by the infamous and greedy tech-giant, AlgorithmOS. Soon, Leo learns that she has agreed to take part in a Turing Test, a test that measures the ability of artificial intelligence to blend in among humanity, but what she doesn’t know is that the test set to take place is unlike any other of its kind.
Leo enters Eden, the contained preserve where the test will occur, with twenty-three others. While everyone appears to be human, four of the individuals are an indistinguishably advanced form of humanoid AI. The task is simple: identify the AI while trying to survive. The twist? The four AI are completely unaware of their nature, causing every participant to question what they know as reality.
The group embarks on a journey within the preserve, rigged with obstacles devised by the controllers of the experiment to elicit human response and emotion. Quickly, madness ensues and divides form, partnering Leo up with Avery Ford, a Marine who wears his demons on his sleeve. Romance falls together for the two as the world around them falls apart, revealing the lengths people will go to protect those they love, to achieve monetary gain, or simply to survive.
Back at AlgorithmOS, the story unfolds on the screens of Nathan Aimes, a scientist responsible for monitoring the experiment’s surveillance cameras. Nathan studies the humans involved as they wrestle with where they stand on the polarizing issue of AI and its applications. He watches the AI unknowingly fight to prove their humanity just to leave the experiment unscathed. All the while, Nathan is intimately aware of his company’s plans to weaponize or commodify the AI should they pass the test, and he must reconcile this with the chaos that plays out before him.
294 pages, Paperback
Published October 30, 2020
8 people are currently reading
1995 people want to read
About the author
Courtney P. Hunter
1 book55 followersCourtney Hunter is a serial creator from Philadelphia, PA with experience in writing, the fashion industry, and live performance. After eighteen years of studying contemporary dance, she set out to carve herself a path in fashion and retail buying. Upon graduating from Philadelphia University and settling into her career, she turned back to dance. While working as a retail buyer for Burlington Stores, Courtney began producing contemporary dance and burlesque performances under her production company Stolen Fire Collective, aptly named after Prometheus the fire-stealing god. Sentience, her debut Science Fiction novel, is a written extension of a contemporary dance piece that was produced for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in 2017 based on artificial intelligence.
A lifelong Sci-Fi fan (her favorite movie as a little girl was and still is Jurassic Park), Courtney loves anything Promethean in nature and her favorite books, movies, and television shows are the ones that challenge the ethics of the future that we are rapidly heading towards. Some of her favorites include Jurassic Park (obviously), The 100, The OA, Westworld, The East, and Ex Machina.
She still resides in Philadelphia with her partner, Will, and her rescue pups, Rickie and Billie. In her free time, she records a podcast called The Sentience Podcast, which started as a behind the scenes look at the making of her novel and has evolved into an auditory hub for all things science fiction, creative process, true crime, and the occult.
Sentience is due out Friday, October 30, 2020, three years to the date after Courtney first started writing it.
A lifelong Sci-Fi fan (her favorite movie as a little girl was and still is Jurassic Park), Courtney loves anything Promethean in nature and her favorite books, movies, and television shows are the ones that challenge the ethics of the future that we are rapidly heading towards. Some of her favorites include Jurassic Park (obviously), The 100, The OA, Westworld, The East, and Ex Machina.
She still resides in Philadelphia with her partner, Will, and her rescue pups, Rickie and Billie. In her free time, she records a podcast called The Sentience Podcast, which started as a behind the scenes look at the making of her novel and has evolved into an auditory hub for all things science fiction, creative process, true crime, and the occult.
Sentience is due out Friday, October 30, 2020, three years to the date after Courtney first started writing it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 22, 2020
2.75 stars
**Many thanks to Courtney P. Hunter, and NetGalley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.**
We follow a group of individuals thrust into a place called Eden, where they will stay for 2 weeks to undergo a science experiment called a Turing Test. The original Turing Test was performed as a correspondence between computers and people; and people and people. At the end, participants had to determine which "people" they were talking to were real, and which were machines. Similarly, out of the 24 group of people thrust into Eden, 4 are AIs. Originally, an AI is said to have passed the test if the human can't determine between the AI and real person a substantial amount of times... but company AlgorithmOS is looking for a 100% pass rate.
I am so disappointed. You know when a book is going so well, and then the last 20 pages throw everything out the window? This is it. I loved the first 3/4ths of this, but almost all that is undermined. Based on the ending I would have given this a 1 star, but the first parts really do shine and bring it up quite a bit.
Although the writing isn't stellar (this is, then again, a debut), the set-up, intrigue, and plot is really good... up until the ending. I loved how there is almost a thriller-esque vibe that you get because of the mystery of who is an AI, but even more-so how evil and immoral humans can be. As it could have been predicted groups will form and I thought that it was really interesting in how the different ideologies of the groups manifested themselves in the pages. The constant clash between them made the book that much more fast-paced and interesting to read on.
Another aspect that I really liked were the flashes to what is going on at the company. Rarely does it happen in books of this type, that we get to see what is going on behind the scenes. Around halfway through the book, we do, and I think it was a good narrative choice as it allowed King to set her work apart and keep manifesting themes in different areas of the setting.
Unfortunately, the ending is a travesty. I apologize for speaking vaguely, but alas, I must keep this spoiler-free: recently I watched an interview with Brandon Sanderson where he talked a bit about subverting expectations and how to make a satisfying ending/sequence. I believe he does both of those things expertly in his book. He gave an analogy of buying a kid a present. You can promise him a car and get him a car, make that satisfying. You can also tell him you'll get a toy car , but be hinting at an RC car that is just that bit better. Or you can even, be showing a toy plane behind the car and in the end, make the kid realise he wanted the plane all along. What King did here was show me a beautiful RC car, but gave me a rotten wooden wheel from a toy plane. There are certain things that start happening in the ending which could have been setting something up. Then, we get two random encounters out of nowhere, and are supposed to believe that this is what we wanted all along when it is something so out of the blue and honestly cheap, that it minimizes the effects of the other wonderful aspects of the book.
Here are my final thoughts: pick this up if you want a good book that you won't be able to stop reading... just also be prepared to be sorely disappointed by the ending.
**Many thanks to Courtney P. Hunter, and NetGalley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.**
We follow a group of individuals thrust into a place called Eden, where they will stay for 2 weeks to undergo a science experiment called a Turing Test. The original Turing Test was performed as a correspondence between computers and people; and people and people. At the end, participants had to determine which "people" they were talking to were real, and which were machines. Similarly, out of the 24 group of people thrust into Eden, 4 are AIs. Originally, an AI is said to have passed the test if the human can't determine between the AI and real person a substantial amount of times... but company AlgorithmOS is looking for a 100% pass rate.
I am so disappointed. You know when a book is going so well, and then the last 20 pages throw everything out the window? This is it. I loved the first 3/4ths of this, but almost all that is undermined. Based on the ending I would have given this a 1 star, but the first parts really do shine and bring it up quite a bit.
Although the writing isn't stellar (this is, then again, a debut), the set-up, intrigue, and plot is really good... up until the ending. I loved how there is almost a thriller-esque vibe that you get because of the mystery of who is an AI, but even more-so how evil and immoral humans can be. As it could have been predicted groups will form and I thought that it was really interesting in how the different ideologies of the groups manifested themselves in the pages. The constant clash between them made the book that much more fast-paced and interesting to read on.
Another aspect that I really liked were the flashes to what is going on at the company. Rarely does it happen in books of this type, that we get to see what is going on behind the scenes. Around halfway through the book, we do, and I think it was a good narrative choice as it allowed King to set her work apart and keep manifesting themes in different areas of the setting.
Unfortunately, the ending is a travesty. I apologize for speaking vaguely, but alas, I must keep this spoiler-free: recently I watched an interview with Brandon Sanderson where he talked a bit about subverting expectations and how to make a satisfying ending/sequence. I believe he does both of those things expertly in his book. He gave an analogy of buying a kid a present. You can promise him a car and get him a car, make that satisfying. You can also tell him you'll get a toy car , but be hinting at an RC car that is just that bit better. Or you can even, be showing a toy plane behind the car and in the end, make the kid realise he wanted the plane all along. What King did here was show me a beautiful RC car, but gave me a rotten wooden wheel from a toy plane. There are certain things that start happening in the ending which could have been setting something up. Then, we get two random encounters out of nowhere, and are supposed to believe that this is what we wanted all along when it is something so out of the blue and honestly cheap, that it minimizes the effects of the other wonderful aspects of the book.
Here are my final thoughts: pick this up if you want a good book that you won't be able to stop reading... just also be prepared to be sorely disappointed by the ending.
September 22, 2020
*This book is not classified as a horror story but it most definitely scared the crap out of me! The idea it presents would be absolutely terrifying if it ever became reality and the thought gives me shivers. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would have got through it much quicker if there hadn’t been so many characters. I kept having to flip back and reread to remember who was who and it was a bit confusing at times. If not for that I absolutely loved this story. The idea and the way it was brought to life and the completely brutal behaviour we witness had me absolutely hooked. There were so many things I just didn’t see coming and that literally had my jaw dropping, this book threw me for a loop multiple times! It had a little bit of everything you could possibly want from a book, brutal murder, romance, robots, a survivor type trek through the woods and I could go on and on but just read it for yourself and thank me later!
*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review and this is no way changes or affects my review.
*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review and this is no way changes or affects my review.
December 29, 2021
Three and a half stars.
(I finished this book a few months ago but I had not reviewed it until now).
The plot is based on the well-known reality show in which there is a mole infiltrated among the contestants. The difference is that in this novel there are some artificial inteligences infiltrated among humans and the question is whether they will be able to coexist without being discovered, that is, passing the Turing Test. So we start with a very interesting premise.
The contestants are aware of this situation and this causes tensions and susceptibilities among them. In addition the recruitment company has no problem in fomenting conflicts, considering the profiles of some selected people; for example, there is a jailer and also a convicted criminal.
So the first half of the novel focuses on the situations that the contestants face, working as a team but at the same time competing between factions. For me, this first part has not captivated me, it may because it focuses too much on some tortured characters and it looks so boringly as a TV reality. Fortunately afterwards things get complicated and more interesting science fiction elements appear.
Sentience as a whole is a more than correct novel and the reading was worth it. For me there are things that are good and others less so. I think it is typical of a first novel, with the advantages and disadvantages that this implies: on the former, to highlight fresh and well thought out ideas and on the latter I would summarize they in one: the author should write more (and I will be pleased to read more of her books).
(I finished this book a few months ago but I had not reviewed it until now).
The plot is based on the well-known reality show in which there is a mole infiltrated among the contestants. The difference is that in this novel there are some artificial inteligences infiltrated among humans and the question is whether they will be able to coexist without being discovered, that is, passing the Turing Test. So we start with a very interesting premise.
The contestants are aware of this situation and this causes tensions and susceptibilities among them. In addition the recruitment company has no problem in fomenting conflicts, considering the profiles of some selected people; for example, there is a jailer and also a convicted criminal.
So the first half of the novel focuses on the situations that the contestants face, working as a team but at the same time competing between factions. For me, this first part has not captivated me, it may because it focuses too much on some tortured characters and it looks so boringly as a TV reality. Fortunately afterwards things get complicated and more interesting science fiction elements appear.
Sentience as a whole is a more than correct novel and the reading was worth it. For me there are things that are good and others less so. I think it is typical of a first novel, with the advantages and disadvantages that this implies: on the former, to highlight fresh and well thought out ideas and on the latter I would summarize they in one: the author should write more (and I will be pleased to read more of her books).
October 7, 2020
New sci-fi that explores the line between humans and sentient androids? Yes please!
Synopsis - NO SPOILERS
Leo and 23 other participants sign their consent forms and agree to enter Eden, a controlled semi-wilderness environment, for 2 weeks. Four participants are AI - advanced artificial intelligence robots indistinguishable from humans. This is a giant Turing Test, designed by AlgorithmOS to see if these AI can pass as human. The catch? No one knows who is AI, even the robots themselves.
This book has some strong Westworld vibes. The psychological impact of not knowing whether you’re an AI - imagine starting to think that YOU might actually be a robot. What then? There’s also some DADOES influence - AI with full memories of a life that seems so real.
I was drawn in by the characters - interesting and unusual but totally authentic and fresh. Each had nuance and a backstory and there’s no simple good/bad split in the experiment - it’s rough in there and the characters reflect that.
The pacing was spot on, the storyline was gripping and authentic, and the writing was on point. What can I say, I appreciate a narrative with genuine twists that make sense but still surprise you!
I also liked the discussions of consent between individuals and big tech giants. The characters sign pretty intense waivers before the experiment, but it becomes clear this is not really what they signed up for, and you question where the responsibility for that lies.
A massive tank you to @courtneypatriciahunter for writing this excellent book and for sending me a #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis - NO SPOILERS
Leo and 23 other participants sign their consent forms and agree to enter Eden, a controlled semi-wilderness environment, for 2 weeks. Four participants are AI - advanced artificial intelligence robots indistinguishable from humans. This is a giant Turing Test, designed by AlgorithmOS to see if these AI can pass as human. The catch? No one knows who is AI, even the robots themselves.
This book has some strong Westworld vibes. The psychological impact of not knowing whether you’re an AI - imagine starting to think that YOU might actually be a robot. What then? There’s also some DADOES influence - AI with full memories of a life that seems so real.
I was drawn in by the characters - interesting and unusual but totally authentic and fresh. Each had nuance and a backstory and there’s no simple good/bad split in the experiment - it’s rough in there and the characters reflect that.
The pacing was spot on, the storyline was gripping and authentic, and the writing was on point. What can I say, I appreciate a narrative with genuine twists that make sense but still surprise you!
I also liked the discussions of consent between individuals and big tech giants. The characters sign pretty intense waivers before the experiment, but it becomes clear this is not really what they signed up for, and you question where the responsibility for that lies.
A massive tank you to @courtneypatriciahunter for writing this excellent book and for sending me a #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2020
It is hard to believe that this was Hunter's debut as a novelist because Sentience is extremely well-executed. she managed to navigate over 20 characters without making me feel confused and frustrated.
Premise - AlgorithmOS is nearly complete in their endeavor to market AI research to the American government. Their final test before confirming the functionality of their work is to place the models in a real-world scenario among humans. The purpose will be to test the AI's adaptability to environmental stimuli, and their ability to pass as human. Our protagonist is Leo Knox, a young member of a Chicago motorcycle gang that has found herself signing a waiver in order to take part in this experiment that the world has never seen before. She is there as a result of her ex-girlfriend's attempt to get her out of the gang, and the company is offering a pretty good pay-out. Win-win right? Leo and 20 other participants are to enter a natural expanse of forest and lakeside, where they are to survive together for 10 days and try to divulge who is AI. They are informed that 4 among them are AI, shouldn't be too hard, right? Well, it doesn't go as planned. Nothing with AI is as straightforward as we are led to believe.
I correctly guessed two of the four AI in the group, but I did not see that ending coming at all!
This novel is fast-paced, character-driven, and so exciting. I felt like I was one of the participants in the experiment because I was constantly trying to figure out who the AI were alongside each of the characters. Hunter presents a whodunit-but-make-it-AI concept that is seamless and page-turning. She held my attention in the way only a seasoned storyteller could. The allure of the atmosphere she created at the start of Sentience successfully grew and burst in perfect union with the finale. I adored the flaws in the characters she imagined to life... or artificial life... and led me do develop strong emotional reactions to each of the key players. Emotional engagement from myself as a reader, especially when there are so many characters laid out in front of me, is a huge feat and I was so impressed. I didn't care about the characters in Paolini's To Sleep in a Sea of Stars nearly as much as I did in this novel which holds 25% the page count Paolini presented.
I recommend this book to all friends that show interest in jumping into the world of sci-fi, as well as friends that are long-time lovers of all things robot. On a superficial level, this book is a mature sci-fi version of The Hunger Games but with way more interesting characters. Dear Courtney P. Hunter, can we make this a series please?
Premise - AlgorithmOS is nearly complete in their endeavor to market AI research to the American government. Their final test before confirming the functionality of their work is to place the models in a real-world scenario among humans. The purpose will be to test the AI's adaptability to environmental stimuli, and their ability to pass as human. Our protagonist is Leo Knox, a young member of a Chicago motorcycle gang that has found herself signing a waiver in order to take part in this experiment that the world has never seen before. She is there as a result of her ex-girlfriend's attempt to get her out of the gang, and the company is offering a pretty good pay-out. Win-win right? Leo and 20 other participants are to enter a natural expanse of forest and lakeside, where they are to survive together for 10 days and try to divulge who is AI. They are informed that 4 among them are AI, shouldn't be too hard, right? Well, it doesn't go as planned. Nothing with AI is as straightforward as we are led to believe.
I correctly guessed two of the four AI in the group, but I did not see that ending coming at all!
This novel is fast-paced, character-driven, and so exciting. I felt like I was one of the participants in the experiment because I was constantly trying to figure out who the AI were alongside each of the characters. Hunter presents a whodunit-but-make-it-AI concept that is seamless and page-turning. She held my attention in the way only a seasoned storyteller could. The allure of the atmosphere she created at the start of Sentience successfully grew and burst in perfect union with the finale. I adored the flaws in the characters she imagined to life... or artificial life... and led me do develop strong emotional reactions to each of the key players. Emotional engagement from myself as a reader, especially when there are so many characters laid out in front of me, is a huge feat and I was so impressed. I didn't care about the characters in Paolini's To Sleep in a Sea of Stars nearly as much as I did in this novel which holds 25% the page count Paolini presented.
I recommend this book to all friends that show interest in jumping into the world of sci-fi, as well as friends that are long-time lovers of all things robot. On a superficial level, this book is a mature sci-fi version of The Hunger Games but with way more interesting characters. Dear Courtney P. Hunter, can we make this a series please?
October 12, 2020
A sci-fi story that had me glued to my seat the entire time.
Sentience clocks in at just under 300 pages and yet I found that I devoured this book in just one day. It was that good. I just couldn't put it down.
Think of the book as kinda like a blend of West World and Survivor shows. In it, the reader follows a group of 24 individuals as they take part in an AI experiment. They are dropped off into the wilderness and told that, for the next 2 weeks, they are on their own. And, oh, just one more thing: 4 of their companions are not what they seem.
Who is AI and who is human? That's left for the group and the readers to decide.
At first, I was deeply concerned about trying to keep track of 24 characters but my worries were quickly extinguished as I was able to separate each person easily due to their well constructed and differing personalities. The author ended up spending more time on certain individuals and this also helped for me to keep everything clear.
I loved trying to figure out who was AI and I was very pleased with the end result. I had guessed 2 and the other 2 were a complete surprise to me.
I could sit here and ramble on and on about the events, the characters, the challenges and the arguments about what a sentient being is...but I don't want to spoil it for you.
Suffice to say that this was a unique and intriguing storyline and it ends with the promise of continuation.
I received an ecopy in exchange for an honest review. I am hooked. I am sitting here, already waiting for book 2, as it promises to only grow more and more interesting.
Sentience clocks in at just under 300 pages and yet I found that I devoured this book in just one day. It was that good. I just couldn't put it down.
Think of the book as kinda like a blend of West World and Survivor shows. In it, the reader follows a group of 24 individuals as they take part in an AI experiment. They are dropped off into the wilderness and told that, for the next 2 weeks, they are on their own. And, oh, just one more thing: 4 of their companions are not what they seem.
Who is AI and who is human? That's left for the group and the readers to decide.
At first, I was deeply concerned about trying to keep track of 24 characters but my worries were quickly extinguished as I was able to separate each person easily due to their well constructed and differing personalities. The author ended up spending more time on certain individuals and this also helped for me to keep everything clear.
I loved trying to figure out who was AI and I was very pleased with the end result. I had guessed 2 and the other 2 were a complete surprise to me.
I could sit here and ramble on and on about the events, the characters, the challenges and the arguments about what a sentient being is...but I don't want to spoil it for you.
Suffice to say that this was a unique and intriguing storyline and it ends with the promise of continuation.
I received an ecopy in exchange for an honest review. I am hooked. I am sitting here, already waiting for book 2, as it promises to only grow more and more interesting.
November 5, 2020
Man, did I enjoy this book, it hooked me right from the beginning! This story is essentially the Turing Test. A bunch of scientists have created AI that they want to determine if they can pass as human. By putting 24 people (including the 4 AI) into a type of survival situation together to see if any of the humans can actually identify who the actual humans are vs. the AI.
We get a few POVs throughout the story which makes you, as the reader, constantly question who the AI might be. I did call one of them pretty early on but it didn’t detract from the story at all for me; figuring out who one of the AI were so early in the story.
I would really love a sequel to this story. Not a drawn-out trilogy or anything, but maybe a duology where we can see what happens to everyone after the finale of events of this book. Both the scientists and the participants of the experiment. This book also really makes you question what truly makes us human? Is it consciousness? Self-awareness? This was done really well.
I would definitely recommend this to sci-fi fans. I wouldn’t say this is hard sci-fi but anyone who enjoys discussing the world of AI, and what it could mean for all of us in the future, would find something to enjoy in this story.
ARC received via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
We get a few POVs throughout the story which makes you, as the reader, constantly question who the AI might be. I did call one of them pretty early on but it didn’t detract from the story at all for me; figuring out who one of the AI were so early in the story.
I would really love a sequel to this story. Not a drawn-out trilogy or anything, but maybe a duology where we can see what happens to everyone after the finale of events of this book. Both the scientists and the participants of the experiment. This book also really makes you question what truly makes us human? Is it consciousness? Self-awareness? This was done really well.
I would definitely recommend this to sci-fi fans. I wouldn’t say this is hard sci-fi but anyone who enjoys discussing the world of AI, and what it could mean for all of us in the future, would find something to enjoy in this story.
ARC received via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 22, 2020
Right from the beginning I was hooked on concept alone. Westworld meets The Hunger Games? Sold. The author does an excellent job with character creation and development, especially when differentiating roles and personalities. You can foreshadow how they’ll affect the group during an experiment as the book goes on. I found the book to be evenly paced out and I didn’t feel a lag while reading it. There were also some good twists I did not see coming.
A critique would be that I did find it hard at times to keep track of the sheer amount of characters. In some of the conversations within the group, I’d loose track of who said what.
That being said, this book has everything: robots, social experiments, sex, action, and even some horror elements (Yay!). There’s a little something for everyone and that only increases its appeal to a broader audience.
In conclusion, Sentience was a fantastic first novel and I would love to read a sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Congrats to the author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes or affects my review.
A critique would be that I did find it hard at times to keep track of the sheer amount of characters. In some of the conversations within the group, I’d loose track of who said what.
That being said, this book has everything: robots, social experiments, sex, action, and even some horror elements (Yay!). There’s a little something for everyone and that only increases its appeal to a broader audience.
In conclusion, Sentience was a fantastic first novel and I would love to read a sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Congrats to the author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes or affects my review.
November 11, 2020
Strangers. Stranded in an arena. Deadly obstacles. Four are not human. The perfect survivalist fiction novel for science nerds & AI fans!
**********
A group of strangers. Stranded in an arena named ‘Eden’. Deadly obstacles to face. Four of them are not human. No one knows who is human and who is not. Will they work out which of their teammates are artificial intelligence? Will they survive the arena? Will they survive the test?
In this addictive and conceptual science fiction debut, perfect for fans of the Hunger Games and Lost, Courtney Hunter breathes life into the renowned Turing Test, exploring the blurred boundaries between computer-generated and human intelligence. Can a computer be conscious? Can a computer feel? Can a computer be sentient? At the end of the test, if the answer is “yes”, what does this mean for humanity? This extremely interesting take on Turing’s experiment combines real world possibilities and ethics with survivalist fiction. I loved it!
The exploration of the philosophical debates was beautifully, naturally woven into the dialogue and really piqued the reader’s interest, without drawing away too much from the fictional happenings. The pacing keeps you on your toes and there are plenty of twists along the way. The author clearly displays a wave of passion for the subject and the amount of research that went into the novel is abundantly clear. Impressively, this did not feel like a debut and Hunter’s work had a sense of maturity usually lacking in other writers’ earlier works. That said, I felt the plot suffered the same fate as many in the genre; there were too many characters, with some forming little to no role in the plot’s development. This was quite confusing at times. I also wish that the point of view did not jump from character to character as often within the same chapter. In my opinion, the novel could have been slightly improved had two to three characters been chosen and chapters alternated between their perspectives. Again, this would have lessened the confusion and allowed for greater character development. There were sections narrated by minor characters that just felt unnecessary. These could have been removed or told from the perspective of one of the main characters. Equally, another minor issue was that it was quite dialogue heavy. I wish that Hunter would have SHOWN us events, through vivid descriptions, rather than TOLD us everything via tedious dialogue. As a performance artist, as well as writer, I would love to see more of Hunter’s creativity bleed through into the descriptive elements of storytelling. I know that Hunter would be able to deliver this. I also wish that the obstacles had been BIGGER, BOLDER and SCARIER! Furthermore, I prefer to keep topics, such as assault, out of fictive works where possible, but as the implications were thoroughly discussed, trigger warnings provided and these events were key to certain ethical and conceptual discussions central to the work, I find this somewhat permissible. Personally, I also found it a little predictable, however I am known to have an exceptionally keen eye, and this did not hinder my enjoyment, thus I do not really hold this against the book either.
Overall, I discovered most of my complaints were quite miniscule and I did thoroughly enjoy my experience reading the novel. I was OVERLY impressed with the execution of this unique, highly intriguing, and intellectually stimulating piece. I eagerly await another instalment from Hunter and cannot wait to discover what premise will be tackled next! (I have high expectations!) RECOMMEND!
I am incredibly grateful to the writer for including the following TRIGGER WARNINGS at the beginning of the novel: SEXUAL ASSAULT, ADDICTION, BODILY HARM, SUICIDE, GRAPHIC VIOLENCE, as well as THREAT and discussions of GRIEF.
Originally reviewed on Reedsy: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/sen...
**********
A group of strangers. Stranded in an arena named ‘Eden’. Deadly obstacles to face. Four of them are not human. No one knows who is human and who is not. Will they work out which of their teammates are artificial intelligence? Will they survive the arena? Will they survive the test?
In this addictive and conceptual science fiction debut, perfect for fans of the Hunger Games and Lost, Courtney Hunter breathes life into the renowned Turing Test, exploring the blurred boundaries between computer-generated and human intelligence. Can a computer be conscious? Can a computer feel? Can a computer be sentient? At the end of the test, if the answer is “yes”, what does this mean for humanity? This extremely interesting take on Turing’s experiment combines real world possibilities and ethics with survivalist fiction. I loved it!
The exploration of the philosophical debates was beautifully, naturally woven into the dialogue and really piqued the reader’s interest, without drawing away too much from the fictional happenings. The pacing keeps you on your toes and there are plenty of twists along the way. The author clearly displays a wave of passion for the subject and the amount of research that went into the novel is abundantly clear. Impressively, this did not feel like a debut and Hunter’s work had a sense of maturity usually lacking in other writers’ earlier works. That said, I felt the plot suffered the same fate as many in the genre; there were too many characters, with some forming little to no role in the plot’s development. This was quite confusing at times. I also wish that the point of view did not jump from character to character as often within the same chapter. In my opinion, the novel could have been slightly improved had two to three characters been chosen and chapters alternated between their perspectives. Again, this would have lessened the confusion and allowed for greater character development. There were sections narrated by minor characters that just felt unnecessary. These could have been removed or told from the perspective of one of the main characters. Equally, another minor issue was that it was quite dialogue heavy. I wish that Hunter would have SHOWN us events, through vivid descriptions, rather than TOLD us everything via tedious dialogue. As a performance artist, as well as writer, I would love to see more of Hunter’s creativity bleed through into the descriptive elements of storytelling. I know that Hunter would be able to deliver this. I also wish that the obstacles had been BIGGER, BOLDER and SCARIER! Furthermore, I prefer to keep topics, such as assault, out of fictive works where possible, but as the implications were thoroughly discussed, trigger warnings provided and these events were key to certain ethical and conceptual discussions central to the work, I find this somewhat permissible. Personally, I also found it a little predictable, however I am known to have an exceptionally keen eye, and this did not hinder my enjoyment, thus I do not really hold this against the book either.
Overall, I discovered most of my complaints were quite miniscule and I did thoroughly enjoy my experience reading the novel. I was OVERLY impressed with the execution of this unique, highly intriguing, and intellectually stimulating piece. I eagerly await another instalment from Hunter and cannot wait to discover what premise will be tackled next! (I have high expectations!) RECOMMEND!
I am incredibly grateful to the writer for including the following TRIGGER WARNINGS at the beginning of the novel: SEXUAL ASSAULT, ADDICTION, BODILY HARM, SUICIDE, GRAPHIC VIOLENCE, as well as THREAT and discussions of GRIEF.
Originally reviewed on Reedsy: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/sen...
October 28, 2020
4.5 stars--SENTIENCE by Courtney P Hunter is a sci-fi story line, set in the not too distant future focusing on a sociological and psychological experiment grouping AI (Artificial Intelligence) with human beings.
NOTE: Due to the graphic nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
Told from several third person perspectives SENTIENCE follows twenty-four volunteers and recruited participants on a dangerous journey of survival. The tech-giant AlgorithmOS is conducting a closed experiment known as the Turing Test to determine if artificial intelligence is able to integrate into human society without being detected. Unaware of which four of the twenty-four are human or machine, two weeks together will prove that humanity, whether real or artificial, is unable to resist the drive for power. Emotions running high, injuries, murder, the fight for food, issues of trust, and a struggle for control split the group where survival of the fittest plays out on the screens of AlgorithmOS.
The group of twenty include physician and lawyer, prisoner and biker, former service men, teacher, student, priest, dancer, architect ,corrections officer, FBI forensic artist librarian and more. The mixed blend of professionals and ideologies is perfect fuel and fodder to pit man against man, whether real or machine.
SENTIENCE is a haunting, twisted and edgy amalgam of Westworld™, The Hunger Games™ , I,Robot, and Lord of the Flies™. A sociological experiment, of ‘man’s inhumanity towards man’ regardless of the real or perceived, SENTIENCE delves into the perspective of Karl Marx’s Conflict Theory where social order is maintained by power, domination and control. On the flip side, can artificial intelligence be aware, autonomous, conscious or able to distinguish between right and wrong-if they are soulless, will punishment fit the crime if the conscious is not aware?. As AlgorithmOS directs the story line, the end result will prove whether or not artificial intelligence can be programmed to be the ultimate weapon in man’s ability to survive.
www.thereadingcafe.com
NOTE: Due to the graphic nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
Told from several third person perspectives SENTIENCE follows twenty-four volunteers and recruited participants on a dangerous journey of survival. The tech-giant AlgorithmOS is conducting a closed experiment known as the Turing Test to determine if artificial intelligence is able to integrate into human society without being detected. Unaware of which four of the twenty-four are human or machine, two weeks together will prove that humanity, whether real or artificial, is unable to resist the drive for power. Emotions running high, injuries, murder, the fight for food, issues of trust, and a struggle for control split the group where survival of the fittest plays out on the screens of AlgorithmOS.
The group of twenty include physician and lawyer, prisoner and biker, former service men, teacher, student, priest, dancer, architect ,corrections officer, FBI forensic artist librarian and more. The mixed blend of professionals and ideologies is perfect fuel and fodder to pit man against man, whether real or machine.
SENTIENCE is a haunting, twisted and edgy amalgam of Westworld™, The Hunger Games™ , I,Robot, and Lord of the Flies™. A sociological experiment, of ‘man’s inhumanity towards man’ regardless of the real or perceived, SENTIENCE delves into the perspective of Karl Marx’s Conflict Theory where social order is maintained by power, domination and control. On the flip side, can artificial intelligence be aware, autonomous, conscious or able to distinguish between right and wrong-if they are soulless, will punishment fit the crime if the conscious is not aware?. As AlgorithmOS directs the story line, the end result will prove whether or not artificial intelligence can be programmed to be the ultimate weapon in man’s ability to survive.
www.thereadingcafe.com
November 7, 2020
I loved this sci-fi thriller. We got perspectives from the participants in the experiment as well as the employees running the whole thing. I loved trying to piece together who was AI. A couple were revealed to the reader (not the participants) earlier than I anticipated, but it gave another perspective on the actions and decisions they were making and allowed the ending to not feel rushed with a ton of information. There was plenty of information about the technology behind the AI and the use of them in society which I appreciated. I usually feel a little lost when it comes to that technology, but that wasn't the case here.
Keeping track of all the characters was a little hard for me. Some were mentioned a lot more than others. When it came to the voting it was hard to remember who was on whose side and what their backstories were. I disliked more people than liked, but I was invested in the ones that did. A lot of the decisions they were making frustrated me as I couldn't believe they would do that to one another. It raises the question of what people would do when they feel threatened.
Overall I really enjoyed this read. The pacing was good and held my attention the entire time with a couple twists I didn't see coming. It would transition into a movie or series really well and I would definitely watch it.
Thank you to Courtney P. Hunter for the gifted copy!
Keeping track of all the characters was a little hard for me. Some were mentioned a lot more than others. When it came to the voting it was hard to remember who was on whose side and what their backstories were. I disliked more people than liked, but I was invested in the ones that did. A lot of the decisions they were making frustrated me as I couldn't believe they would do that to one another. It raises the question of what people would do when they feel threatened.
Overall I really enjoyed this read. The pacing was good and held my attention the entire time with a couple twists I didn't see coming. It would transition into a movie or series really well and I would definitely watch it.
Thank you to Courtney P. Hunter for the gifted copy!
February 9, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up
This book is deep and thoughtful. I loved how Hunter explored so many different perspectives and world views through her different characters; each one was well-rounded and believable.
I also love it so much when a book manages to surprise me. Throughout the book the characters are trying to figure out which of them are AI and which are not and the reader gets to try and figure this out right along with them. Out of the four, two were complete surprises to me.
It’s hard to say much more about this book without going into spoilers.
Definitely hope there will be more stories to come from Hunter!
This book is deep and thoughtful. I loved how Hunter explored so many different perspectives and world views through her different characters; each one was well-rounded and believable.
I also love it so much when a book manages to surprise me. Throughout the book the characters are trying to figure out which of them are AI and which are not and the reader gets to try and figure this out right along with them. Out of the four, two were complete surprises to me.
It’s hard to say much more about this book without going into spoilers.
Definitely hope there will be more stories to come from Hunter!
November 10, 2020
This book has EVERYTHING robots, social experiments, corrupted corporations, an US vs. THEM and then US vs. US type narrative (if that even makes sense, I’m telling you this book is insane). Reading it was such an intense ride and I loved it. It centers around a group of 24 individuals that are participating in an survival-esk experiment where not everyone is who they appear to be, not even to themselves 🤯. Hidden amongst the people in the group are four A.I. ‘s that aren’t even aware of what they are and the group is set to identify them. So you can imagine all the twisted possibilities this one has and believe me it has that and more. Ethics play a big part in this one and it reminded me at times of one of my favorite science fiction stories “ Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” by Phillip K. Dick. Overall a great book and a phenomenal debut.
June 4, 2023
What an interesting premise for a book. I frankly cannot believe this is a debut novel. It was immediately captivating and held my attention throughout. Despite a large part of the book being from Leo's point of view, the author is actually putting us, the reader, in the drivers seat by determining who is and is not a real human. As a sci fi fan, I'm fascinated by the endless potential fall out from this kind of Artificial Intelligence. I sincerely hope this becomes a series. Bravo Courtney P Hunter for writing a bestseller. I could easily see this becoming a tv miniseries. Every character is meticulously thought out. Kai is viciously evil. The company itself is ruthless and the potential for this kind of "singularity" on society is an easy sell when the writing is this good. I enjoyed every word. Thanks to Courtney P Hunter for asking me to give her book a shot.
Caution: for potential rape triggers. The rape doesn't actually take place but there is a rapist in the group. It gets dark. There are also some sexually explicit scenes.
Caution: for potential rape triggers. The rape doesn't actually take place but there is a rapist in the group. It gets dark. There are also some sexually explicit scenes.
January 24, 2021
2.5 Stars - Artificial intelligence Turing test meets Hunger Games (Sci-Fi/ Thriller)
A survival story of 20 research participants within a controlled outdoor expanse ("Eden"), where 4 of the 20 are A.I. (which is unknown to all members except the researchers). The test/research is to identify the A.I. by the end of the agreed period with a bonus reward of successful identification. There are no safe guarantees of proceeding, not even from death. Participants enter at their own discretion. The participants (ie. Hunger Games contestants) battle for survival, and use their individual skills to contribute as a community (eg. medics/military/scouts), or decide to sabotage their peers upon rising suspicions of artificialness to selfishly protect oneself or win the prize.
Great concept, poorly executed. Needs massive editing. Too long, too many characters, very busy overall and messy ending. I'll break it down.
Too many characters: Keeping in mind that the human brain can only really memorize 5 +2/-2 bits of new info in their short-term working memory, the number of characters needs to be limited to no more than a dozen to aid strength of retention and investment. (There's 20 participants + 5 or so researchers + a few investors). When the 20 participant characters are introduced simultaneously with very brief backstory, I found this really difficult to connect. Considering roughly 5 participants really make it to being main characters, with 10 being secondary, I'd completely rid the additional 5. Also, the character naming was strangely too similar (Aiva/Eve, Leo/Luca, Ripley/Riley etc) It seemed deliberate but I think it hinders the ability to connect with a character, especially with so many almost-duplicates.
The overall story felt very busy. There's too many instances of sudden survival mishaps. I get this is the name of the game, and crucial for displaying the individual skills, but I started to desensitize to the chronic nature of incidents and drama, when I just wanted something ELSE to happen. By around 50% the researchers point of view is revealed - by this point I was already bored and uninvested in the protagonists. It would be interesting to include this much earlier, like 25% of the way in. There's also a strange insertion of sudden sex scenes, including immediately following a traumatic death, and it just feels off-kilter. Also, Leo rolls her eyes too much.
The ending fell flat and felt messy. It felt ordinary or expected, but not in the rewarding sense. It felt messy due to the chaotic nature of introduced characters, the dialogue, some more last-minute info into the researchers, and a sudden event with some researchers that I just didn't see coming because I didn't gain a sense of their motives to build to that point. I just think the ending needs refinement and possibly an overhaul.
I also went into this expecting a horror edge, as it was outlined. It didn't feel terrifying, or suspenseful. It was more of a prolonged drama and action thriller. This just wasn't my type of book, but perhaps it would warm up to someone who loves action and drama more!
Pros: Includes content warning - that's a nice touch! Seeing the researchers point of view was interesting too. I liked hearing about the types of A.I.'s programming.
I read the advanced readers copy supplied by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A survival story of 20 research participants within a controlled outdoor expanse ("Eden"), where 4 of the 20 are A.I. (which is unknown to all members except the researchers). The test/research is to identify the A.I. by the end of the agreed period with a bonus reward of successful identification. There are no safe guarantees of proceeding, not even from death. Participants enter at their own discretion. The participants (ie. Hunger Games contestants) battle for survival, and use their individual skills to contribute as a community (eg. medics/military/scouts), or decide to sabotage their peers upon rising suspicions of artificialness to selfishly protect oneself or win the prize.
Great concept, poorly executed. Needs massive editing. Too long, too many characters, very busy overall and messy ending. I'll break it down.
Too many characters: Keeping in mind that the human brain can only really memorize 5 +2/-2 bits of new info in their short-term working memory, the number of characters needs to be limited to no more than a dozen to aid strength of retention and investment. (There's 20 participants + 5 or so researchers + a few investors). When the 20 participant characters are introduced simultaneously with very brief backstory, I found this really difficult to connect. Considering roughly 5 participants really make it to being main characters, with 10 being secondary, I'd completely rid the additional 5. Also, the character naming was strangely too similar (Aiva/Eve, Leo/Luca, Ripley/Riley etc) It seemed deliberate but I think it hinders the ability to connect with a character, especially with so many almost-duplicates.
The overall story felt very busy. There's too many instances of sudden survival mishaps. I get this is the name of the game, and crucial for displaying the individual skills, but I started to desensitize to the chronic nature of incidents and drama, when I just wanted something ELSE to happen. By around 50% the researchers point of view is revealed - by this point I was already bored and uninvested in the protagonists. It would be interesting to include this much earlier, like 25% of the way in. There's also a strange insertion of sudden sex scenes, including immediately following a traumatic death, and it just feels off-kilter. Also, Leo rolls her eyes too much.
The ending fell flat and felt messy. It felt ordinary or expected, but not in the rewarding sense. It felt messy due to the chaotic nature of introduced characters, the dialogue, some more last-minute info into the researchers, and a sudden event with some researchers that I just didn't see coming because I didn't gain a sense of their motives to build to that point. I just think the ending needs refinement and possibly an overhaul.
I also went into this expecting a horror edge, as it was outlined. It didn't feel terrifying, or suspenseful. It was more of a prolonged drama and action thriller. This just wasn't my type of book, but perhaps it would warm up to someone who loves action and drama more!
Pros: Includes content warning - that's a nice touch! Seeing the researchers point of view was interesting too. I liked hearing about the types of A.I.'s programming.
I read the advanced readers copy supplied by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2021
i feel vaguely guilty giving an arc such a negative review but honesty is the whole point. so i hated this book.
let me qualify that. i hated the writing. this book BADLY needs an editor to rewrite the entire thing. it jumps around for absolutely no reason, there's no sense of flow whatsoever, and every voice sounds exactly the same. the description is incredibly stilted and kept yanking me out of the action, and forced this disconnect from all of the characters. there were also a looot of grammatical mistakes, though i read an arc so some of those may have been fixed. i skimmed after around 35% because otherwise i wouldn't have finished.
also, there were several gaping plot holes that bothered me, and too many characters, most of whom did not have a personality and didn't really do much. and
i did give this two stars rather than one only because i found out if you skim and only read the dialogue it was actually sort of compelling, and the few characters with personalities were interesting. the entire concept is actually brilliant and if anyone wants to write it differently i would happily read it again.
disclaimer: i got this advanced copy free through netgalley and it's possible that errors were fixed before publication, but to be quite honest there were so many errors if they were fixed it would be a totally different book, so then what's the point of the arc. anyway my apologies but i do not recommend this book unless it gets seriously edited. 2 stars.
let me qualify that. i hated the writing. this book BADLY needs an editor to rewrite the entire thing. it jumps around for absolutely no reason, there's no sense of flow whatsoever, and every voice sounds exactly the same. the description is incredibly stilted and kept yanking me out of the action, and forced this disconnect from all of the characters. there were also a looot of grammatical mistakes, though i read an arc so some of those may have been fixed. i skimmed after around 35% because otherwise i wouldn't have finished.
also, there were several gaping plot holes that bothered me, and too many characters, most of whom did not have a personality and didn't really do much. and
i did give this two stars rather than one only because i found out if you skim and only read the dialogue it was actually sort of compelling, and the few characters with personalities were interesting. the entire concept is actually brilliant and if anyone wants to write it differently i would happily read it again.
disclaimer: i got this advanced copy free through netgalley and it's possible that errors were fixed before publication, but to be quite honest there were so many errors if they were fixed it would be a totally different book, so then what's the point of the arc. anyway my apologies but i do not recommend this book unless it gets seriously edited. 2 stars.
October 30, 2020
*An ARC was given in return for an honest review.
*T/W: hinted rape, blood, substance abuse, vulgar language, violence
I don't usually read Sci-Fi, let alone books relating to Artificial Intelligence but I'm glad I took the chance with this one. A big part of it is definitely the guessing game of who is and who isn't AI, which was absolutely impossible since even the AI's backstories were built so well.
Twenty-four people, within them, are four AlgorithmOS models and the purpose of the experiment is to test whether they can spot who is and who isn't human. It's a lot more characters than I'm used to, and throughout the whole story, I doubt half of them were mentioned more than thrice.
Usually, I'd get very invested into a character and that gives me the drive to continue reading. For this one, it was storyline driven. I kept flipping the page, curious about who was AI. Some get revealed halfway through the book, but usually it's not who I expected. The AI were so humanlike and even the humans couldn't tell them apart.
For most of the time, this book made me feel uncomfortable and angry. It was difficult to read at some point because some characters pissed me off. Although it is fiction, it raised the question of how violence can be justified, and how in a group of 23 other people, a large number were compliant when 'authorities' were violent towards others.
One of my favourite parts of the book were the scientist's point of view where you could understand their viewpoint of creating AI and the struggles the scientists and developers were facing. Although they were working in this together, their motives and morals were different. Although I personally believe that AI could possibly create more harm, both sides of the argument were presented strongly, which I really admired.
In the end, I think this book was enjoyable. It's not for the faint-hearted, note the warnings, but it's for those who want a book that makes them yell in frustration, get angry at the characters and leave them shocked at the many unexpected twists and turns for when the grand scheme is revealed. This is a book that made me marvel at how twisted humans can truly be.
*T/W: hinted rape, blood, substance abuse, vulgar language, violence
I don't usually read Sci-Fi, let alone books relating to Artificial Intelligence but I'm glad I took the chance with this one. A big part of it is definitely the guessing game of who is and who isn't AI, which was absolutely impossible since even the AI's backstories were built so well.
Twenty-four people, within them, are four AlgorithmOS models and the purpose of the experiment is to test whether they can spot who is and who isn't human. It's a lot more characters than I'm used to, and throughout the whole story, I doubt half of them were mentioned more than thrice.
Usually, I'd get very invested into a character and that gives me the drive to continue reading. For this one, it was storyline driven. I kept flipping the page, curious about who was AI. Some get revealed halfway through the book, but usually it's not who I expected. The AI were so humanlike and even the humans couldn't tell them apart.
For most of the time, this book made me feel uncomfortable and angry. It was difficult to read at some point because some characters pissed me off. Although it is fiction, it raised the question of how violence can be justified, and how in a group of 23 other people, a large number were compliant when 'authorities' were violent towards others.
One of my favourite parts of the book were the scientist's point of view where you could understand their viewpoint of creating AI and the struggles the scientists and developers were facing. Although they were working in this together, their motives and morals were different. Although I personally believe that AI could possibly create more harm, both sides of the argument were presented strongly, which I really admired.
In the end, I think this book was enjoyable. It's not for the faint-hearted, note the warnings, but it's for those who want a book that makes them yell in frustration, get angry at the characters and leave them shocked at the many unexpected twists and turns for when the grand scheme is revealed. This is a book that made me marvel at how twisted humans can truly be.
February 19, 2021
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
AlgorithmOS created artificial intelligence to mimic humans 100%. To prove this they devised a Turning Test where 20 humans and 4 AI interact within Eden for 2 weeks. They will have to survive difficult terrain, lack of food or shelter and their own inner demons. The twist - the AI have no idea they aren’t human. AlgorithmOS monitor everything to showcase the AI to potential buyers. They put the participants through daily tasks and orchestrate conflicts within the group which swiftly leads to tension, violence and a breakdown in the social order.
Leo is our main focus. She entered Eden to escape her family and the motorcycle gang she is part of. Luca is a prisoner in the real world who entered Eden for a break from the confines and trauma he experiences. Avery is an ex-Marine, recovering drug addict and looking to escape his past. They all share a history of violence, crime and deep personal issues but somehow come together in Eden. They, along with others, have to face down the more immoral and sadistic people in the group hell bent on discovering the AI even if it means killing them to do so. As chaos descends, alliances are tested to their limits and the realisation that not everyone will get out alive becomes clear.
This was a thrilling 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read. It was immersive, gripping and had me second and triple guessing everything I thought I knew after every chapter. I loved that I had no clue who the AI were at any point. Leo is an intriguingly complex character as she is both strong but vulnerable, combative yet caring. Her friendship with Luca felt so honest and realistic that I hardly believed they only just met. Avery added tension and heat to the story. The attraction between Leo and Avery was palpable but as they opened up to each other, the underlying emotional connection really became evident. This was a mix of Hunger Games with WestWorld while providing inventive plotlines with addictive drama, passion, anarchy and a look at morality. The story ends on a cliff-hanger and I am eagerly awaiting book 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
AlgorithmOS created artificial intelligence to mimic humans 100%. To prove this they devised a Turning Test where 20 humans and 4 AI interact within Eden for 2 weeks. They will have to survive difficult terrain, lack of food or shelter and their own inner demons. The twist - the AI have no idea they aren’t human. AlgorithmOS monitor everything to showcase the AI to potential buyers. They put the participants through daily tasks and orchestrate conflicts within the group which swiftly leads to tension, violence and a breakdown in the social order.
Leo is our main focus. She entered Eden to escape her family and the motorcycle gang she is part of. Luca is a prisoner in the real world who entered Eden for a break from the confines and trauma he experiences. Avery is an ex-Marine, recovering drug addict and looking to escape his past. They all share a history of violence, crime and deep personal issues but somehow come together in Eden. They, along with others, have to face down the more immoral and sadistic people in the group hell bent on discovering the AI even if it means killing them to do so. As chaos descends, alliances are tested to their limits and the realisation that not everyone will get out alive becomes clear.
This was a thrilling 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read. It was immersive, gripping and had me second and triple guessing everything I thought I knew after every chapter. I loved that I had no clue who the AI were at any point. Leo is an intriguingly complex character as she is both strong but vulnerable, combative yet caring. Her friendship with Luca felt so honest and realistic that I hardly believed they only just met. Avery added tension and heat to the story. The attraction between Leo and Avery was palpable but as they opened up to each other, the underlying emotional connection really became evident. This was a mix of Hunger Games with WestWorld while providing inventive plotlines with addictive drama, passion, anarchy and a look at morality. The story ends on a cliff-hanger and I am eagerly awaiting book 2.
December 9, 2020
I rated this book a 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I must say I was hooked on concept alone, this reminded me a bit of the Black Mirror series, which is scary and awesome at the same time.
Starting the book, the first issue for me was the amount of characters right at the beginning. I had a hard time getting acquainted with them and remembering who they were through the rest of the book, except for 7 or 8 characters that stood out.
I think it was a bit difficult to keep up with everyone since some of them just popped out of nowhere in the story and then they were gone just as quick. Later in the book the author started to focus on a few selected characters at a time and it got way better.
I'd like to mention Leo, who was my favourite character (along with Ripley). I loved her background and I enjoyed so much being able to keep up with her evolution through those weeks. She was really well developed and her motivations were strong and made so much sense, you can easily see yourself empathizing and rooting for her.
I thought the first part of the book took a slow pace and lacked a bit of action, however, I want to say that the author did a great job depicting the characters actions and emotions throughout the book, that's for sure. It was at the second part that I really started to get into it. The story was unravelling at a great pace at this point, one revelation after another, with some intense moments to add up as well.
As for the plot twist: I didn't see that coming! I couldn't figure out who were AI until it was revealed to the reader, which was great. It was a surprise for me and I loved the outcome!
I would like to mention as well the fact that we also get to see the other side of the story. It was so cool to see some of the people working at the company face moral issues, while others just thought about the money. I don't know what's scarier, what the people inside Eden could do in extreme situations, or the actions of the ones who were controlling the experiment.
This is a book that leaves you thinking, no doubt about it.
I must say I was hooked on concept alone, this reminded me a bit of the Black Mirror series, which is scary and awesome at the same time.
Starting the book, the first issue for me was the amount of characters right at the beginning. I had a hard time getting acquainted with them and remembering who they were through the rest of the book, except for 7 or 8 characters that stood out.
I think it was a bit difficult to keep up with everyone since some of them just popped out of nowhere in the story and then they were gone just as quick. Later in the book the author started to focus on a few selected characters at a time and it got way better.
I'd like to mention Leo, who was my favourite character (along with Ripley). I loved her background and I enjoyed so much being able to keep up with her evolution through those weeks. She was really well developed and her motivations were strong and made so much sense, you can easily see yourself empathizing and rooting for her.
I thought the first part of the book took a slow pace and lacked a bit of action, however, I want to say that the author did a great job depicting the characters actions and emotions throughout the book, that's for sure. It was at the second part that I really started to get into it. The story was unravelling at a great pace at this point, one revelation after another, with some intense moments to add up as well.
As for the plot twist: I didn't see that coming! I couldn't figure out who were AI until it was revealed to the reader, which was great. It was a surprise for me and I loved the outcome!
I would like to mention as well the fact that we also get to see the other side of the story. It was so cool to see some of the people working at the company face moral issues, while others just thought about the money. I don't know what's scarier, what the people inside Eden could do in extreme situations, or the actions of the ones who were controlling the experiment.
This is a book that leaves you thinking, no doubt about it.
February 11, 2022
The tag line across the top of the front cover of this book reads, "Who can you trust if you can't trust yourself?" I honestly have no idea what that question has to do with this book. If I had to summarize this book in a question, it would be something more like, "How much of our humanity will we pay in our search for sentience?" It's probably not as exciting, and maybe wouldn't sell as many books, but it seems to me like that's the theme of the book. I lifted that idea from one of Nathan's journal entries in the book. It's an interesting question. I really hope that if anything like this book ever happened, a lot of people would end up in jail, but maybe I'm naive. I did enjoy meeting Leo and Ripley, and eventually Avery and maybe Dakota (not a spoiler - that is not the list of the four AIs). However, I found most of the book feeling more like Survivor than a sci-fi book, especially the first half. I'm a bit disappointed that all the time we spent in the AI's heads, reading about their reasoning and feelings, we didn't get any kind of unique view about how an AI might experience the world. I'm guessing it wouldn't be indistinguishable from a human experience. Also, I found the large cast of characters a bit hard to keep track of sometimes, and I found myself just focusing on the major characters. Perhaps that was the idea, or maybe I'm just not good at reading. I found the trope of the evil, murder-for-money corporation a bit weary, and the character of Mason, the antagonist I suppose, needed more subtlety. The dinner party scene at the end, which I guess was the climax of the story, was, for me, entirely unbelievable. In the late second half we meet a character named Nathan who writes journal entries to help guide our interpretation of the whole book, and I found that writing interesting, but I wished the journaling could've come from one of the AI inventors rather than some random intern dude, thereby showing us more of the sacrifice they made for their pursuit of AI. I found the book interesting, but too reality TV for me.
November 13, 2020
Before I get into this review, I want to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book was kind of a twist on the Turing test. The Turing test was designed to see if a computer could pass as a human. I’ve always been fascinated by the prospect of a machine that you had no idea was actually a machine. The scientist running the test in this book were, as well, and develop four AI with specific functions.
But how to test to see if these AI really could pass the Turing test? In the story of Sentience, the scientist develop an experiment. They choose twenty-three human participants and throw them in a controlled environment with the four AI. The group’s task is to navigate set tasks and try and figure out who are the machines. The catch? The AI have no idea that they aren’t human. Our main character, Leo Knox, enters the experiment as a way to run away from her violent past, but she soon starts to think that it is far more than what she signed up for.
Y’all, this book was intense! I went into it expecting some twists and turns as the experiment participants tried to figure out who was an AI and who was not. Not only did I get the twists, but they came at a break-neck pace! There were several parts of this story where my heart was literally pounding. I will say that there is a lot of potentially triggering content in this book. The author is kind enough to put the trigger warnings at the very beginning, which I really appreciated! Please check them out before picking this one up. That being said, the action in this will grab you as soon as the experiment starts and won’t let go until the last page!
Beyond the wonderful pacing, I think the author did a fabulous job creating nuanced and engaging characters. I would absolutely fight someone for Leo, she is incredible! She’s tough, smart, and has an incredibly kind heart. I immediately connected with her character, which made the reading experience that much more enjoyable. And, though there are a number of characters we don’t get to really know in this story, the main secondary characters are just as engaging as Leo. They feel so real, which is doubly impressive since they are fictional characters and at least four of them are AI!
Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this book. It captured my interest as soon as I read the first page and maintained the intrigue throughout the story. I love a book that has me trying to solve a puzzle and it was fun trying to figure out who the four AI were before it was revealed! And I especially enjoyed the moral discussions that are had between several characters. A book that has me solving puzzles and throws in a little philosophy is always a winner to me.
Final thoughts: This is a heart-pounding and intriguing sci-fi novel that will keep you on your toes! It’s a fun and engaging read that has equal action and philosophy. The characters are well-developed and will make you that much more invested in the story. There are definitely some triggering material, so please make sure to check out the trigger warnings before deciding to give this one a go. That being said, if you like your sci-fi to have lots of action and ask some hard questions and, perhaps, a dash of a puzzle, I think you’ll love Sentience!
This book was kind of a twist on the Turing test. The Turing test was designed to see if a computer could pass as a human. I’ve always been fascinated by the prospect of a machine that you had no idea was actually a machine. The scientist running the test in this book were, as well, and develop four AI with specific functions.
But how to test to see if these AI really could pass the Turing test? In the story of Sentience, the scientist develop an experiment. They choose twenty-three human participants and throw them in a controlled environment with the four AI. The group’s task is to navigate set tasks and try and figure out who are the machines. The catch? The AI have no idea that they aren’t human. Our main character, Leo Knox, enters the experiment as a way to run away from her violent past, but she soon starts to think that it is far more than what she signed up for.
Y’all, this book was intense! I went into it expecting some twists and turns as the experiment participants tried to figure out who was an AI and who was not. Not only did I get the twists, but they came at a break-neck pace! There were several parts of this story where my heart was literally pounding. I will say that there is a lot of potentially triggering content in this book. The author is kind enough to put the trigger warnings at the very beginning, which I really appreciated! Please check them out before picking this one up. That being said, the action in this will grab you as soon as the experiment starts and won’t let go until the last page!
Beyond the wonderful pacing, I think the author did a fabulous job creating nuanced and engaging characters. I would absolutely fight someone for Leo, she is incredible! She’s tough, smart, and has an incredibly kind heart. I immediately connected with her character, which made the reading experience that much more enjoyable. And, though there are a number of characters we don’t get to really know in this story, the main secondary characters are just as engaging as Leo. They feel so real, which is doubly impressive since they are fictional characters and at least four of them are AI!
Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this book. It captured my interest as soon as I read the first page and maintained the intrigue throughout the story. I love a book that has me trying to solve a puzzle and it was fun trying to figure out who the four AI were before it was revealed! And I especially enjoyed the moral discussions that are had between several characters. A book that has me solving puzzles and throws in a little philosophy is always a winner to me.
Final thoughts: This is a heart-pounding and intriguing sci-fi novel that will keep you on your toes! It’s a fun and engaging read that has equal action and philosophy. The characters are well-developed and will make you that much more invested in the story. There are definitely some triggering material, so please make sure to check out the trigger warnings before deciding to give this one a go. That being said, if you like your sci-fi to have lots of action and ask some hard questions and, perhaps, a dash of a puzzle, I think you’ll love Sentience!
October 29, 2020
This BOOK! I can not ring its praises any louder! I loved it. Sci-Fi books are typically outside of my normal genre, but it sounded like an interesting story and I was intrigued. I’m so glad I read it. It’s what movies are made from (they better make one of it) and I couldn’t get enough of it. There were so many moments that I questioned everything and that’s a good thing! You never want to expect what’s coming up. This is around 300 pages of pure brilliance. If you’re reluctant to read a book with a Sci-Fi story line then put that aside and just read it. Give it a chance! You’ll thank me later.
Synopsis:
Running from a violent past, Leo Knox desperately decides to participate in a scientific experiment conducted by the infamous and greedy tech-giant, AlgorithmOS. Soon, Leo learns that she has agreed to take part in a Turing Test, a test that measures the ability of artificial intelligence to blend in among humanity, but what she doesn’t know is that the test set to take place is unlike any other of its kind.
Leo enters Eden, the contained preserve where the test will occur, with twenty-three others. While everyone appears to be human, four of the individuals are an indistinguishably advanced form of humanoid AI. The task is simple: identify the AI while trying to survive. The twist? The four AI are completely unaware of their nature, causing every participant to question what they know as reality.
The group embarks on a journey within the preserve, rigged with obstacles devised by the controllers of the experiment to elicit human response and emotion. Quickly, madness ensues and divides form, partnering Leo up with Avery Ford, a Marine who wears his demons on his sleeve. Romance falls together for the two as the world around them falls apart, revealing the lengths people will go to protect those they love, to achieve monetary gain, or simply to survive.
Synopsis:
Running from a violent past, Leo Knox desperately decides to participate in a scientific experiment conducted by the infamous and greedy tech-giant, AlgorithmOS. Soon, Leo learns that she has agreed to take part in a Turing Test, a test that measures the ability of artificial intelligence to blend in among humanity, but what she doesn’t know is that the test set to take place is unlike any other of its kind.
Leo enters Eden, the contained preserve where the test will occur, with twenty-three others. While everyone appears to be human, four of the individuals are an indistinguishably advanced form of humanoid AI. The task is simple: identify the AI while trying to survive. The twist? The four AI are completely unaware of their nature, causing every participant to question what they know as reality.
The group embarks on a journey within the preserve, rigged with obstacles devised by the controllers of the experiment to elicit human response and emotion. Quickly, madness ensues and divides form, partnering Leo up with Avery Ford, a Marine who wears his demons on his sleeve. Romance falls together for the two as the world around them falls apart, revealing the lengths people will go to protect those they love, to achieve monetary gain, or simply to survive.
November 3, 2020
3.5 stars for this debut novel. Sentience is a near-future SF read that features an intense version of the Turing Test: not only do the human participants have to determine which of their number are AI, but they have to do so while surviving the elements (they're on a hiking trip) and whatever sick games AlgorithmOS thinks up.
Sentience is an action-packed novel with shades of Westworld, Blade Runner, and The Hunger Games. For us, the book also verged on the cinematic, with a large cast of characters, action sequences that don't skimp on the violence and gore, and a dual narrative from the researchers' point of view. Oh, and there's a love story, too, for all you romance fans out there.
It could be difficult at times to differentiate all of the characters from each other, especially when some had similar names (Ripley and Riley, Leo and Luca). In addition, the epilogue was a bit confusing. We do realize that it was purposely ambiguous, but we thought it could have benefited from slightly more explanation. Part of the issue was that it hinged on the motivations of characters we don't meet until the end of the book, making it hard to parse the meaning behind their actions.
If dystopian worlds with morally gray characters and ambiguous identities appeal to you, this book should be right up your alley.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.
Sentience is an action-packed novel with shades of Westworld, Blade Runner, and The Hunger Games. For us, the book also verged on the cinematic, with a large cast of characters, action sequences that don't skimp on the violence and gore, and a dual narrative from the researchers' point of view. Oh, and there's a love story, too, for all you romance fans out there.
It could be difficult at times to differentiate all of the characters from each other, especially when some had similar names (Ripley and Riley, Leo and Luca). In addition, the epilogue was a bit confusing. We do realize that it was purposely ambiguous, but we thought it could have benefited from slightly more explanation. Part of the issue was that it hinged on the motivations of characters we don't meet until the end of the book, making it hard to parse the meaning behind their actions.
If dystopian worlds with morally gray characters and ambiguous identities appeal to you, this book should be right up your alley.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.
December 15, 2020
Before I begin my review for Sentience by Courtney P. Hunter, I would personally like to thank the author, publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and I have reviewed it honestly.
Q: What do you get when you mix Westworld, Black Mirror and Red Rising?
A: Sentience
A science experiment. An arena. Brutal tests. 20 human participants. 4 AI's. Nobody knows who's real and who's robot... Not even themselves. Welcome to Sentience.
Sentience features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ Sci-Fi
○ Artificial Intelligences
○ Survival Arena
○ Romance
○ Human Nature
○ Triggers
My overall rating for Sentience is…
4.5 Stars!
My mind is literally blown. Literally! This story was an insane and bitter-sweet, emotional roller-coaster. The brutality of human nature when survival is on the line is incomprehensible and utterly terrifying. Hunter has woven a web of words to destroy you in her debut novel. Unbelievable world building and characters you can't help but feel for. If you want to take a stroll into Sentience, take a life jacket. You'll need it.
December 27, 2020
2.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
While the premise definitely sounded interesting, the overall story wasn't really for me.
Let's break it down.
Good things:
• the writing was pretty good and clear
• very interesting premise
• while there were a lot of characters, the main ones definitely felt distinct
• the 'behind-the-scenes' parts about the company were interesting
Things I wasn't a fan of:
• despite the characters being written quite well, there were way too many for the length of the story. In the beginning I really couldn't keep track of all the characters
• I felt the book tried to do too many things (thriller-esque setting in Eden, love story, background of the company, etc), making it a very 'busy' story, especially at the end. The ending was too rushed, causing it to become kinda underwhelming.
• pretty much everything that happened was negative, and at the end I was kinda sick of all the misery
• the parts in italics contained a lot of different things which made it kinda confusing
Overall I think this book just wasn't really for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
While the premise definitely sounded interesting, the overall story wasn't really for me.
Let's break it down.
Good things:
• the writing was pretty good and clear
• very interesting premise
• while there were a lot of characters, the main ones definitely felt distinct
• the 'behind-the-scenes' parts about the company were interesting
Things I wasn't a fan of:
• despite the characters being written quite well, there were way too many for the length of the story. In the beginning I really couldn't keep track of all the characters
• I felt the book tried to do too many things (thriller-esque setting in Eden, love story, background of the company, etc), making it a very 'busy' story, especially at the end. The ending was too rushed, causing it to become kinda underwhelming.
• pretty much everything that happened was negative, and at the end I was kinda sick of all the misery
• the parts in italics contained a lot of different things which made it kinda confusing
Overall I think this book just wasn't really for me.
May 27, 2021
I'm going to preface this review with plot points that need Trigger Warnings for some audiences. So a list of possible triggers that show up a good bit
Sexual assault
Suicidal Ideation
Self harm
Addiction
I liked this book a lot. There were some awkward first novel things:
-A lot of characters, several who seem superfluous as they dont really factor in to the story.
-some of the language is a bit clumsy
- def YA vibes
That said, I really enjoyed the premise. There is a lot of good mythology tie ins. This novel does really well and concisely outline potential ethical challenges with AI technology. I loved that characters in the LGBTQAI++ community werent propelled through the story simply as tokens or because of being in that community.
I was compelled by the plot. I read this pretty quick, had to know what happened next, what turns would come up. I loved the reveals. I felt for the main characters in a lot of ways.
The author did a fantastic job with presenting AI ethics in an approachable way.
I'm hung up on a plot point that seems like a seriously unaddressed issue but adds to the somewhat horror element that the reader is left with at the end.
Sexual assault
Suicidal Ideation
Self harm
Addiction
I liked this book a lot. There were some awkward first novel things:
-A lot of characters, several who seem superfluous as they dont really factor in to the story.
-some of the language is a bit clumsy
- def YA vibes
That said, I really enjoyed the premise. There is a lot of good mythology tie ins. This novel does really well and concisely outline potential ethical challenges with AI technology. I loved that characters in the LGBTQAI++ community werent propelled through the story simply as tokens or because of being in that community.
I was compelled by the plot. I read this pretty quick, had to know what happened next, what turns would come up. I loved the reveals. I felt for the main characters in a lot of ways.
The author did a fantastic job with presenting AI ethics in an approachable way.
I'm hung up on a plot point that seems like a seriously unaddressed issue but adds to the somewhat horror element that the reader is left with at the end.
November 5, 2020
Courtney Hunter is a talented attractive dancer from the Philly area who just published her first novel, Sentience. It follows a group of 24 subjects in a research study regarding a Turing Test. Four of the subjects are really artificial beings and the subjects are tasked with figuring out who is who.
The book starts out with numerous inconsistencies and logical errors and that really bothered me. However Hunter wasn't making any mistakes--as you read along there's revelations and shake-ups that explain everything. It's quite impressive for a new author. I heartily endorse the book though I question setting the book just 4 years in the future.
This book is begging to be made into a movie or Netflix series. I wouldn't be surprised if it's been optioned by now. It's a book that will translate well onto the screen. Tense drama with frequent emotional and often violent outbursts between the study subjects. As the people bond and confide in one another the book really starts to hum. This book will stick with you!
The book starts out with numerous inconsistencies and logical errors and that really bothered me. However Hunter wasn't making any mistakes--as you read along there's revelations and shake-ups that explain everything. It's quite impressive for a new author. I heartily endorse the book though I question setting the book just 4 years in the future.
This book is begging to be made into a movie or Netflix series. I wouldn't be surprised if it's been optioned by now. It's a book that will translate well onto the screen. Tense drama with frequent emotional and often violent outbursts between the study subjects. As the people bond and confide in one another the book really starts to hum. This book will stick with you!
January 7, 2021
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I'll start by saying that I really liked the concept. The whole idea of putting humans and AI through survival tests to see if the humans could figure out who is AI was really cool. Unfortunately, I had quite a few issues with this book. Most of these issues were character related. There were too many characters introduced in the beginning to keep up with. I either forgot that some of them existed because there was a long period where they weren't mentioned, or I got them mixed up. I didn't particularly like any of them and I also felt that they developed relationships with each other at a cringingly awkward pace. They kind of reminded me of children making new friends. Also, I felt like there were a few redundant sentences throughout the book as well as a lot of unnecessary wording.
But great concept paired with decent writing. I feel like the author has potential.
But great concept paired with decent writing. I feel like the author has potential.
November 15, 2020
Sentience by Courtney Hunter is a captivating story about 24 individuals who take a two week journey of survival. This journey is a Touring Test, facilitated by AlgorithmOS, one of the greatest technological innovators in the world. The test is being conducted in order to prove whether or not artificial intelligence can go undetected by humans. 20 of the participants in this journey are human; 4 are machines. Will the humans be able to identify the machines? Participants are tested physically, emotionally, ethically and psychologically. This 5 star novel explores Artificial Intelligence from the perspectives of the humans who interact with it and the programmers who create it. Hunter's craft leaves you contemplating about the the power of AI as it integrates into our world and wanting to read more.
January 18, 2021
I received a copy of this on Netgalley in return for an honest review.
A group of people have signed up for an experiment to travel in Eden with 4 AIs and try to determine which of the 'people' are computers. It's a real life turing test.
The first part of this book I struggled with. The characters all have these crazy backgrounds and extensively open up to each other in about 5 days which doesn't totally make sense. There is also a very large group of characters and they are sound very similar. The second part of this book is soooo good. The plot gets crazy and people start going after one another trying to figure out who is an AI and who is considered a good person. The second half was a wild ride.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is interested in reading about human nature and how we interact with each other.
A group of people have signed up for an experiment to travel in Eden with 4 AIs and try to determine which of the 'people' are computers. It's a real life turing test.
The first part of this book I struggled with. The characters all have these crazy backgrounds and extensively open up to each other in about 5 days which doesn't totally make sense. There is also a very large group of characters and they are sound very similar. The second part of this book is soooo good. The plot gets crazy and people start going after one another trying to figure out who is an AI and who is considered a good person. The second half was a wild ride.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is interested in reading about human nature and how we interact with each other.
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