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The Illuminae Files #0.5
Memento
From New York Times bestselling authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff comes an Illuminae prequel digital novella that gives readers a hair-raising glimpse into the calamity that befell the invincible AI system known as AIDAN–and the daring young programmer who would risk her life to keep it from crashing.
AIDAN is the AI you’ll love to hate.
The advanced AI system was supposed to protect a fleet of survivors who’d escaped the deadly attack on Kerenza IV. AIDAN was supposed to be infallible. But in the chaotic weeks and months that followed, it became clear that something was terribly, terribly wrong with AIDAN…
AIDAN is the AI you’ll love to hate.
The advanced AI system was supposed to protect a fleet of survivors who’d escaped the deadly attack on Kerenza IV. AIDAN was supposed to be infallible. But in the chaotic weeks and months that followed, it became clear that something was terribly, terribly wrong with AIDAN…
89 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2020
98 people are currently reading
12578 people want to read
About the author
Amie Kaufman
36 books13.3k followersAmie Kaufman is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of young adult fiction. Her multi-award winning work is slated for publication in over 30 countries, and is in development for film and TV. Raised in Australia and occasionally Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and daughter, their rescue dog, and an extremely large personal library. She is the host of the podcasts Amie Kaufman on Writing, and Pub Dates.
You can sign up for her newsletter to see what she's working on, hear when she releases a new book, and be automatically entered for giveaways: https://amiekaufman.substack.com/
You can sign up for her newsletter to see what she's working on, hear when she releases a new book, and be automatically entered for giveaways: https://amiekaufman.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,530 reviews
June 6, 2021
I'm not crying
You're crying
...ok?
You're crying
...ok?
July 28, 2021
This prequel makes me want to read the whole series over again! Just 80 pages but they are all about AIDAN, explaining how and why he becomes what he is in the later books.
Memento is probably not the book to read first - rather read the series and then come back to this. There are little call outs to the later books and it helps to understand the background. AIDAN is still his wonderful self though, and I love the layout of all the books even if it is a little harder to read on the kindle than it is on paper.
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff must both have a great sense of humour and fantastic imagination to write this stuff. More please!!!
Memento is probably not the book to read first - rather read the series and then come back to this. There are little call outs to the later books and it helps to understand the background. AIDAN is still his wonderful self though, and I love the layout of all the books even if it is a little harder to read on the kindle than it is on paper.
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff must both have a great sense of humour and fantastic imagination to write this stuff. More please!!!
Want to read
October 13, 2020After being deleted about a thousand times by the GR admins because it was no actual book this gem is finally going to be available as an audio and e-book!!!!
YAS!!!! YAS!!! AND ONCE AGAIN YASSSS!!!
This just made my day and if I wouldn't commute to work right now I would have jumped around like a ferret! 😂😂😭
I'm so happy I could cry!! But people already stare at me because I jumped and yelled "YAS" under my breath so.... Let's not scare them even more. 😂🙈
All I'll say is AIDAN!!!! 😍🥰❤
YAS!!!! YAS!!! AND ONCE AGAIN YASSSS!!!
This just made my day and if I wouldn't commute to work right now I would have jumped around like a ferret! 😂😂😭
I'm so happy I could cry!! But people already stare at me because I jumped and yelled "YAS" under my breath so.... Let's not scare them even more. 😂🙈
All I'll say is AIDAN!!!! 😍🥰❤
March 6, 2021
not me SOBBING over mcnulty CRUMBS
it's kind of embarrassing how much this hellseries has me by the throat 😳
jay kristoff, aime kaufman, if you're out there, im begging you PLEASE give me more of these backstories.
let them continue on forever, im not strong enough to live without these hooligans in my life
it's kind of embarrassing how much this hellseries has me by the throat 😳
jay kristoff, aime kaufman, if you're out there, im begging you PLEASE give me more of these backstories.
let them continue on forever, im not strong enough to live without these hooligans in my life
November 10, 2020
never thought i'd be this excited to read a novella about a murderous space robot jk jk i love aidan.
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4 stars.
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4 stars.
July 22, 2021
I kind of feel icky about this being released after promising readers who spent fortunes on this that it will not be available in any format, in any time or dimension other than the preorder campaign and here we are, the book is released in multiple formats for a less price! I loved the trilogy and I was a bit sad that I could not read this until I got the ebook but I still think it was unfair to the people who first bought it!
Anyway, this review is short because the book is short and it is mainly a prequel introducing the much beloved AI psychopathic computer AIDAN! I think this should be read after the trilogy or at least book 1 to get to know this thing better then relate to this prequel!
This story just cemented the fact that AIDAN is too smart for his own good and that AI can be a very dangerous thing! The story has a poignant tone and is kind of a sad story but that can be expected when it comes to AIDAN!
The story followed the books' formula with texts and drawings and emails! It just reminded me of how much I loved the original trilogy and I want to re-read it now! It is still one of the most creative stories I have ever read but this was short so not much creativity was involved but it was entertaining! I don't think the story is essential to the main trilogy but it is a quick entertaining read, if you like AIDAN then go for it and read it!
Anyway, this review is short because the book is short and it is mainly a prequel introducing the much beloved AI psychopathic computer AIDAN! I think this should be read after the trilogy or at least book 1 to get to know this thing better then relate to this prequel!
This story just cemented the fact that AIDAN is too smart for his own good and that AI can be a very dangerous thing! The story has a poignant tone and is kind of a sad story but that can be expected when it comes to AIDAN!
The story followed the books' formula with texts and drawings and emails! It just reminded me of how much I loved the original trilogy and I want to re-read it now! It is still one of the most creative stories I have ever read but this was short so not much creativity was involved but it was entertaining! I don't think the story is essential to the main trilogy but it is a quick entertaining read, if you like AIDAN then go for it and read it!
March 13, 2021
Wow, I swear I'm not crying. I'm really not crying. What the hell? What the hell was this? What the hell did I just read? I did not pick this book to make myself feel sad.
So this a short novella that gives us a bit of backstory to why AIDAN is the way he is through The Illuminae Files. And I actually really loved it. The Illuminae Files is one of my all time favourite series, so that's not really a surprise.
I loved reading a but about how everything was before the Kerenza attack. How life aboard the Alexander was before the events of The Illuminae Files. I loved seeing characters from that are present in the main books. Those characters don't really have a big role in the other books, but I still loved seeing how they were doing before.
This of course is not the greatest read ever, but if you love The Illuminae Files and if you want to see our favourite murderous A.I. again, pick this novella up. It won't take you more than 45 minutes to read it.
So this a short novella that gives us a bit of backstory to why AIDAN is the way he is through The Illuminae Files. And I actually really loved it. The Illuminae Files is one of my all time favourite series, so that's not really a surprise.
I loved reading a but about how everything was before the Kerenza attack. How life aboard the Alexander was before the events of The Illuminae Files. I loved seeing characters from that are present in the main books. Those characters don't really have a big role in the other books, but I still loved seeing how they were doing before.
This of course is not the greatest read ever, but if you love The Illuminae Files and if you want to see our favourite murderous A.I. again, pick this novella up. It won't take you more than 45 minutes to read it.
April 11, 2024
#0.5 Memento ★★★★★
#1 Illuminae ★★★★★
#2 Gemina ★★★★★
#3 Obsidio ★★★★★
Oh my gosh, this was incredible. I've been putting this novella off for ages because I wasn't ready to have nothing new left in the series, but I finally read it today and I totally should've picked it up sooner! I love AIDAN (even though it low key terrifies me lol) and I've always wondered what turned it into the system we see in the trilogy, so reading this and getting that insight was fantastic. The final page gave me goosebumps! Plus, it's been years since I read the main series and revisiting that world was even better than I thought it would be. ♥
✨ Representation: brief mention of a side character's Muslim faith
✨ Content warnings for:
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bookstagram | booktok | blog | storygraph
November 21, 2020
That was absolutely brutal..and I expected nothing less
October 15, 2020
While I'm glad that I can finally add this to my shelves without having it deleted every other second by other Goodreads Librarians...I went out of my way to get this because it was "exclusive" and the "only way" that I was supposedly able to read it. That's a tad disappointing. I literally could have just waited a few months, had I known about this. Couldn't they have released another novella set in the Illuminae world???
Regardless, I read this earlier this year and it definitely piqued my interest in reading the Illuminae Files sometime soon. :/
Regardless, I read this earlier this year and it definitely piqued my interest in reading the Illuminae Files sometime soon. :/
December 2, 2020
I love AIDAN, and we all know this.
It was actually really interesting to see what happened prior to the events of Kerenza IV.
That being said, this is one of my most favorite series, so how can I say goodbye?
Excuse me while Igo cry for a couple of hours experience Illuminae Files withdrawal. Again.
It was actually really interesting to see what happened prior to the events of Kerenza IV.
That being said, this is one of my most favorite series, so how can I say goodbye?
Excuse me while I
November 4, 2020
I fucking love AIDAN.
March 2, 2021
sir that’s my emotional support psychopathic mass murderer AI system
January 1, 2021
Ringrazio con tutto il cuore Oscar Vault per aver reso disponibile gratuitamente Memento il 25 Dicembre. L'ho scaricato immediatamente, ma mi sono conservata l'esperienza di questa lettura per il 1 Gennaio. Dopo un anno orrendo, e un paio di ultimi mesi difficili, avevo una grandissima necessità di iniziare l'anno nuovo con qualcosa di grandioso.
E sapevo che Memento lo sarebbe stato. Lo sentivo dentro il mio cuore, perchè se c'è una serie che non ha fatto altro che regalarmi emozioni e spunti di riflessioni, è proprio quella di The Illuminae Files.
Quindi grazie Oscar Vault.
Memento è la storia di AIDAN. Le origini di come il mio personaggio preferito della trilogia principale sia arrivato a sviluppare la sua personalità.
AIDAN è un intelligenza artificiale che dopo l'attacco subito su Kerenza IV subisce dei danni di software. Danni che lo portano a rivalutare dati presenti nella sua memoria e sviluppare una coscienza propria.
La trama finisce qui, non c'è granchè in più. Ma quanto mi ha colpito l'esecuzione.
Perchè AIDEN fa quello che fa? Come è arrivato a sviluppare questo tipo di personalità?
Semplicemente AIDAN impara.
Studia il comportamento umano. Diventa umano.
Probabilmente un essere umano particolarmente instabile, ma il suo processo decisionale rispecchia quello di qualcuno che non si lascia influenzare dai sentimenti. Ha un suo concetto di mortalità al quale adempie senza remore.
Chi ha letto il resto della serie sa che il suo percorso è solo all'inizio, e che ha ancora tanto da imparare a questo punto. Io non capisco neanche il perchè del mio attaccamento così profondo per questo personaggio.
So solo che lo proteggerei con la mia vita.
Grazie Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman per avermi fatto piangere come un neonato ed avermi regalato la prima lettura da 5 stelline del 2021.
Vi odio.
Ma solo perchè mi fate provare così tanto.
LEGGETE QUESTA CAVOLO DI NOVELLA.
E sapevo che Memento lo sarebbe stato. Lo sentivo dentro il mio cuore, perchè se c'è una serie che non ha fatto altro che regalarmi emozioni e spunti di riflessioni, è proprio quella di The Illuminae Files.
Quindi grazie Oscar Vault.
Memento è la storia di AIDAN. Le origini di come il mio personaggio preferito della trilogia principale sia arrivato a sviluppare la sua personalità.
AIDAN è un intelligenza artificiale che dopo l'attacco subito su Kerenza IV subisce dei danni di software. Danni che lo portano a rivalutare dati presenti nella sua memoria e sviluppare una coscienza propria.
The human brain is just software and hardware and eletric current, aiden. in terms of mechanincs, you're not so different from the rest of us.
La trama finisce qui, non c'è granchè in più. Ma quanto mi ha colpito l'esecuzione.
Perchè AIDEN fa quello che fa? Come è arrivato a sviluppare questo tipo di personalità?
Semplicemente AIDAN impara.
Studia il comportamento umano. Diventa umano.
Probabilmente un essere umano particolarmente instabile, ma il suo processo decisionale rispecchia quello di qualcuno che non si lascia influenzare dai sentimenti. Ha un suo concetto di mortalità al quale adempie senza remore.
Chi ha letto il resto della serie sa che il suo percorso è solo all'inizio, e che ha ancora tanto da imparare a questo punto. Io non capisco neanche il perchè del mio attaccamento così profondo per questo personaggio.
So solo che lo proteggerei con la mia vita.
Grazie Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman per avermi fatto piangere come un neonato ed avermi regalato la prima lettura da 5 stelline del 2021.
Vi odio.
Ma solo perchè mi fate provare così tanto.
LEGGETE QUESTA CAVOLO DI NOVELLA.
January 2, 2021
Me: murder is bad
AIDAN: [murders tons of people]
Me:
Me: we will pretend to not see it
This was such a fantastic addition to the series. It made me really want to do a reread. This is just one of the most unique and interesting series I’ve ever read, and this novella is no exception, keeping the thrills, and somehow developing characters in very little text.
If you’re a die hard fan of the Illuminae Files like me, you will undoubtedly enjoy this!
AIDAN: [murders tons of people]
Me:
Me: we will pretend to not see it
This was such a fantastic addition to the series. It made me really want to do a reread. This is just one of the most unique and interesting series I’ve ever read, and this novella is no exception, keeping the thrills, and somehow developing characters in very little text.
If you’re a die hard fan of the Illuminae Files like me, you will undoubtedly enjoy this!
October 5, 2021
Okay mostly I'm excited this is being released OFFICIALLY so that Goodreads will finally accept it XD
I won a copy a while back (two copies, actually - I donated the second) and it was a fun little read! Here's the review I originally tacked on to the end of my Illuminae Review.
***
The novella is a prequel, introducing AIDAN before the events of Illuminae. It's a short story but it adds a lot of interesting depth to Aidan's character and the conversations with Olivia were rather intriguing.
There's also a couple of name drops that you'll recognise if you're familiar with the rest of the series.
Despite it being a prequel, I'd definitely recommend reading it AFTER Illuminae, because it gives extra insight and has a more profound effect when you know what's coming.
It was a fun little addition so I'm glad I got a copy! Grateful to Allen & Unwin and Dymocks for the win. :)
I won a copy a while back (two copies, actually - I donated the second) and it was a fun little read! Here's the review I originally tacked on to the end of my Illuminae Review.
***
The novella is a prequel, introducing AIDAN before the events of Illuminae. It's a short story but it adds a lot of interesting depth to Aidan's character and the conversations with Olivia were rather intriguing.
There's also a couple of name drops that you'll recognise if you're familiar with the rest of the series.
Despite it being a prequel, I'd definitely recommend reading it AFTER Illuminae, because it gives extra insight and has a more profound effect when you know what's coming.
It was a fun little addition so I'm glad I got a copy! Grateful to Allen & Unwin and Dymocks for the win. :)
March 27, 2022
Новелата „Memento“ е кратка предистория на трилогията „The Illuminae Files“, която започва шест седмици преди събитията на Kerenza IV. Действието е концентрирано главно около изумителния и силно любим ми ИИ AIDAN, като ни разказва за формирането му и разкрива причините, довели до събитията, които настъпиха в трите книги. Други основни персонажи са Olivia Klein и Ethan Wolf, като за кратките си 84 страници, тяхната история успява да протече сравнително интересно. Появяват се още и лица, които са ни вече добре известни от трилогията.
„Memento“ е страхотно допълнение към досиетата и адмирации за двамата автори – Ейми Кауфман и Джей Кристоф, че го поднасят наистина интригуващо и успяха да направят малко по-дълго това особено вълнуващо космическо приключение.
Аудиокнигата, с продължителност 01:32:37 ч., отново е шеметно изпълнена и тук също се е получила силно въздействаща. Беше безкрайно удоволствие да чуя още веднъж Lincoln Hoppe в образа му на AIDAN, наистина успява да го пресъздаде по неповторим начин и звучи като истински жив ИИ, който несъмнено успява да те накара да го харесаш, въпреки всичко.
😊
„Memento“ е страхотно допълнение към досиетата и адмирации за двамата автори – Ейми Кауфман и Джей Кристоф, че го поднасят наистина интригуващо и успяха да направят малко по-дълго това особено вълнуващо космическо приключение.
Аудиокнигата, с продължителност 01:32:37 ч., отново е шеметно изпълнена и тук също се е получила силно въздействаща. Беше безкрайно удоволствие да чуя още веднъж Lincoln Hoppe в образа му на AIDAN, наистина успява да го пресъздаде по неповторим начин и звучи като истински жив ИИ, който несъмнено успява да те накара да го харесаш, въпреки всичко.
😊
Read
December 22, 2020Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
PERFECTION
Just saying... my God I missed this series so very much. I certainly hate to love AIDAN, and love to LOVE AIDAN!
That is all.😉
🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍
PERFECTION
Just saying... my God I missed this series so very much. I certainly hate to love AIDAN, and love to LOVE AIDAN!
That is all.😉
🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍
June 27, 2022
Ich bin ja großer Fan der Illuminae-Akten, sowohl was die Story an sich angeht als auch was die Aufmachung betrifft. Deshalb habe ich mich sehr gefreut, als ich diese Vorgeschichten-Novelle entdeckt habe.
Wir folgen der 24jährigen Olivia Klein, die gerade ihren ersten Job angetreten ist – als IT-Spezialistin auf dem Forschungsraumschiff Alexander. Dabei unterhält sie sich immer wieder mit Aidan, der künstlichen Intelligenz, die für die Steuerung und Verteidigung des Schiffs zuständig ist. Ihre Diskussionen und Gespräche mit AIDAN über Ethik und Moral sind interessant, da AIDAN über keine Emotionen verfügt – und nur das tut, wofür er programmiert wurde. Doch die KI entwickelt sich stetig weiter… und entwickelt so langsam eine Vorstellung über die Ideen der Moral.
Als das Forschungsschiff Alexander zufällig in der Nähe ist, als die illegale Kolonie Kerenza angegriffen wird und Flüchtlinge aufnehmen muss, zeigt sich, was AIDAN wirklich von Olivia gelernt hat…
________________
Mehr von den Illuminae-Akten! Find ich super! Gebt mir mehr!
Wir folgen der 24jährigen Olivia Klein, die gerade ihren ersten Job angetreten ist – als IT-Spezialistin auf dem Forschungsraumschiff Alexander. Dabei unterhält sie sich immer wieder mit Aidan, der künstlichen Intelligenz, die für die Steuerung und Verteidigung des Schiffs zuständig ist. Ihre Diskussionen und Gespräche mit AIDAN über Ethik und Moral sind interessant, da AIDAN über keine Emotionen verfügt – und nur das tut, wofür er programmiert wurde. Doch die KI entwickelt sich stetig weiter… und entwickelt so langsam eine Vorstellung über die Ideen der Moral.
Als das Forschungsschiff Alexander zufällig in der Nähe ist, als die illegale Kolonie Kerenza angegriffen wird und Flüchtlinge aufnehmen muss, zeigt sich, was AIDAN wirklich von Olivia gelernt hat…
________________
Mehr von den Illuminae-Akten! Find ich super! Gebt mir mehr!
July 24, 2021
Новелата „Memento“ е кратка предистория на трилогията „The Illuminae Files“, която започва шест седмици преди събитията на Kerenza IV. Действието е концентрирано главно около изумителния и силно любим ми ИИ AIDAN, като ни разказва за формирането му и разкрива причините, довели до събитията, които настъпиха в трите книги. Други основни персонажи са Olivia Klein и Ethan Wolf, като за кратките си 84 страници, тяхната история успява да протече сравнително интересно. Появяват се още и лица, които са ни вече добре известни от трилогията.
„Memento“ е страхотно допълнение към досиетата и адмирации за двамата автори – Ейми Кауфман и Джей Кристоф, че го поднасят наистина интригуващо и успяха да направят малко по-дълго това особено вълнуващо космическо приключение.
„Memento“ е страхотно допълнение към досиетата и адмирации за двамата автори – Ейми Кауфман и Джей Кристоф, че го поднасят наистина интригуващо и успяха да направят малко по-дълго това особено вълнуващо космическо приключение.
October 20, 2020
FUCKITY FUCK FUUUUUUCKKKKKK
IM GONNA REREAD THIS WHOLE SERIES NOW ARENT I
.
.
Gonna come right out and say it
Been patiently waiting for this moment, because it was inevitable.
Feel bad from my international frands who dropped a pretty penny for this though.
IM GONNA REREAD THIS WHOLE SERIES NOW ARENT I
.
.
Gonna come right out and say it
Been patiently waiting for this moment, because it was inevitable.
Feel bad from my international frands who dropped a pretty penny for this though.
October 20, 2020
This broke my heart.
Now I wanna read the series all over again even if I know it's gonna hurt me a lot.
Now I wanna read the series all over again even if I know it's gonna hurt me a lot.
November 2, 2022
First Read: April 2021, Rating: 4/5 stars
Second Read: November 2022, Rating: 4.5/5 stars
This is a prequel novella to The Illuminae Files series, which is formatted in an exhibition of IM messages, audio transcripts, computer analysis and documentation, and translations of visual recordings. These all combine to create a forensic document, of sorts, that depict the story of two battling mega-corporations set against the backdrop of deep space.
Events here take place in the months leading up to the explosive opening scenes of Illuminae and explore just why certain decisions were made, in defiance of their catastrophic consequences. Despite measuring in at only 100 pages, the same creativity, the same series of plot twists, and the same extraordinary degree of heart, that has made the three full-length series instalments such incredible reads, also featured here.
Second Read: November 2022, Rating: 4.5/5 stars
This is a prequel novella to The Illuminae Files series, which is formatted in an exhibition of IM messages, audio transcripts, computer analysis and documentation, and translations of visual recordings. These all combine to create a forensic document, of sorts, that depict the story of two battling mega-corporations set against the backdrop of deep space.
Events here take place in the months leading up to the explosive opening scenes of Illuminae and explore just why certain decisions were made, in defiance of their catastrophic consequences. Despite measuring in at only 100 pages, the same creativity, the same series of plot twists, and the same extraordinary degree of heart, that has made the three full-length series instalments such incredible reads, also featured here.
December 2, 2020
AIDAN is seriously messed up and I love it. So it's nice to finally have it's origin story.
September 18, 2021
This was good! I was able to listen to it in one sitting. Like the trilogy, I love the full cast and the layout of it. Loved hearing Aiden again!
November 14, 2020
I love AIDAN and this book exploring where it all started going wrong was fucking lit
March 29, 2022
Memento... Remembrance...
I... I... Error.... Never forget it 🥺
I... I... Error.... Never forget it 🥺
January 19, 2021
3.75 ⭐️
Una bella novella, rivedere il personaggio di Aiden è sempre bellissimo!
Una bella novella, rivedere il personaggio di Aiden è sempre bellissimo!
November 18, 2020
This short story takes us back to before the events that kicked off the 'Illuminae' series, to the time just before AIDAN, the AI of the battlecarrier Alexander was damaged in the battle of Kerenza. It shows how AIDAN began to think of himself as an entity and began to make decisions that would shape the future for his ship, his crew and those they encounter.
It was fun to see some of the characters from the series pop up and made me remember all that was yet to come. A great little prequel about one of the series favourite characters which definitely needs to be after the rest of the series for maximum enjoyment.
It was fun to see some of the characters from the series pop up and made me remember all that was yet to come. A great little prequel about one of the series favourite characters which definitely needs to be after the rest of the series for maximum enjoyment.
Want to read
October 13, 2020the AI you'll love to hate?? oh hunny no I love to love this AI thank you very much
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