Ariel

by Jack M. Bickham

Computer whiz kid Rusty Harrington establishes a very special relationship with ARIEL, his father's top-secret artificial intelligence project, in a story of romance, industrial espionage, friendship, and state-of-the-art computer technology

Genres: Science Fiction

316 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Pseudonyms:
Jeff Clinton, John Miles, Arthur Williams

Reviews

[StarMan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Behold the power of the 9600 baud modems.

This book is not easy to find (thus the small number of reviews here). I finally got a copy from Powells in Oregon.

VERDICT: ~ 2.25 stars (a few 3-4 star sections, but mostly 1-2 star stuff).

This 1985 book doesn't hold up too well today. It could be 3 or more stars for YOU, if you enjoy period technology and/or unnecessary sex scenes. The main sin here is that there is actually very little of the title character (Ariel).

SAY SOMETHING NICE: It's set in the late 1980s. Plot does not employ mobile phones or the public Internet; the closest you get is a mention of Compuserve, and some computer-to-computer dial-up action. If you can envision an alternate '80s where something like AI could happen (purposely or not) with the limited technology of the time, you may like this book.

SOME DOWNERS: (may contain mild to moderate spoilers)

Unfortunately, the "AI" computer (Ariel) doesn't get sentient (?) until after page 200, and its conversations with humans occupy probably less than 5% of the book.

Worse, the plot seems FAR more concerned with everyone's sex life (including several totally unecessarily detailed scenes) than with Ariel. I wanted to read about Artificial Intelligence--not divorce drama, a$$hole men, and scientists getting all aroused and moist.

There are also some really bone-headed "geniuses" here, such as the company owners who refuse to hire more than two guards (who are pretty inept) to protect the most important project in computing history--even after multiple break-ins and other threats.

Overall, a bit disappointing, other than when Ariel was talking. Simply not enough of the title character, and too much nonsense.

[Ruth Garlick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish Ariel, by Jack M. Bickham, a supposed sci-fi about extremely intelligent AI. It had way too much sexual talk, and bad writing, when all I wanted was a in-depth look into how the computer worked.
When I read a sci-fi, I enjoy them when they are 90% science, not when they’re mostly about how erotic a man can be! Pah!

[Foxtower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right author, different title: I have "Ariel", 1984 by TOR, and EXCELLENT AI story. I've enjoyed it a couple times so far.

[Seabear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is, for me, a guilty pleasure which I have read more times than I can remember. Industrial espionage in the developing computer world where IBM monopolise and smaller firms struggle. The secret relationship which develops between the Drum Lab's CEO's young son and ARIEL, the mainframe, is an island of sweetness and innocence in a world of crime and motherboards. Dialogue which would have translated flawlessly into a film script (in the eighties), fodder for computer geeks and drama lovers alike. Love it.

[Foxtower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right author, different title: I have "Ariel", 1984 by TOR, and EXCELLENT AI story. I've enjoyed it a couple times so far.

[Benjamin Pastrana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oftenly I keep remembering this book and story💪🏼