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The Grid
Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the sparkling new Yu Corporation Building is a monument to human genius. It can converse with its occupants. It can forecast the weather. It knows your body temperature, whether you've been drinking or using drugs. It darkens the windows in the noontime glare. It keeps the homeless away at night and lovingly tends the tree that reaches up through its beautiful atrium. Dubbed the Gridiron, the Yu Building is the culmination of art and function. It's also something else: a serial killer. Something has gone wrong inside the immensely powerful brain of this corporate dream palace.
Before the building is opened to the public, one member of a team of brilliant computer programmers dies slumped against his VDT, his eyes burned black. Then a security guard is found with his skull shattered. Now the men and women who know the building best - including its egomaniacal architect and the one person who may actually be able to reason with the computer - know that the building itself is spinning wildly out of control. Built to survive power outages and the most massive earthquakes, the brain of the Gridiron cannot be unplugged and cannot be outsmarted.
For the dozen people who are locked inside, the Gridiron is turning into a living, malevolent dungeon of terrors, where each death is more horrific than the one before, and human survival may be the ultimate achievement...
451 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 1995
17 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
About the author
Philip Kerr
124 books2,011 followersPhilip Kerr was a British author. He was best known for his Bernie Gunther series of 13 historical thrillers and a children's series, Children of the Lamp, under the name P.B. Kerr.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
September 30, 2016
An early warning alarm about the Internet of Things. If the building doesn't kill you, the search for a well-developed character might.
*** the judges would have also accepted "Now *that*'s brutalist!" ***
*** the judges would have also accepted "Now *that*'s brutalist!" ***
February 23, 2019
Well... die Idee (intelligentes Gebäude entwickelt Eigenleben) ist gut, die Umsetzung katastrophal. Der Grund für den Fehler im System ist lächerlich und etwas hanebüchen, aber es wird gleichzeitig versucht, dies biblisch und philosophisch sowie mit Feng Shui zu unterfüttern. Zwischendurch fast peinlich.
Die Geschwindigkeit des Buches ist am Anfang sehr zäh (erstmal passiert 250 Seiten lang kaum was, außer dass alle ätzend zueinander sind, sich anfeinden und/oder fremdgehen), die Todesursachen, die das Gebäude sich nach Infahrtkommen der Geschichte ausdenkt, sind aber teilweise belustigend kreativ. Nur macht es den Rest leider nicht wett, da der Computer selbst unsympathisch ist und redet, als sei er auf Drogen.
Alle Charaktere sind extrem eindimensional, aber sich fast alle in ihrem Denken, Handeln und Sprechen derart ähnlich, dass ich am Ende nicht mehr weiß, wie viele Figuren in diesem Gebäude gefangen waren... hilft auch nicht, dass dauernd zwischen Vor- und Nachnamen gewechselt wird.
Die Übersetzung ist stellenweise sehr holprig, der Stil aber vermutlich auch im Original nicht gut. Seltsame Dialoge, sexistische, dickenfeindliche und rassistische Ansichten, ständiger Perspektivwechsel, aber nur für 1-2 Sätze (Typ lüstet Frau an, wir lesen kurz ihre Gedanken, dass sie das eklig findet, dann wieder Rest der Handlung aus Sicht des Typen). Überhaupt, alle Typen krass unsympathisch.
Fazit: Muss niemand gelesen haben!
Die Geschwindigkeit des Buches ist am Anfang sehr zäh (erstmal passiert 250 Seiten lang kaum was, außer dass alle ätzend zueinander sind, sich anfeinden und/oder fremdgehen), die Todesursachen, die das Gebäude sich nach Infahrtkommen der Geschichte ausdenkt, sind aber teilweise belustigend kreativ. Nur macht es den Rest leider nicht wett, da der Computer selbst unsympathisch ist und redet, als sei er auf Drogen.
Alle Charaktere sind extrem eindimensional, aber sich fast alle in ihrem Denken, Handeln und Sprechen derart ähnlich, dass ich am Ende nicht mehr weiß, wie viele Figuren in diesem Gebäude gefangen waren... hilft auch nicht, dass dauernd zwischen Vor- und Nachnamen gewechselt wird.
Die Übersetzung ist stellenweise sehr holprig, der Stil aber vermutlich auch im Original nicht gut. Seltsame Dialoge, sexistische, dickenfeindliche und rassistische Ansichten, ständiger Perspektivwechsel, aber nur für 1-2 Sätze (Typ lüstet Frau an, wir lesen kurz ihre Gedanken, dass sie das eklig findet, dann wieder Rest der Handlung aus Sicht des Typen). Überhaupt, alle Typen krass unsympathisch.
Fazit: Muss niemand gelesen haben!
August 5, 2017
Και είπεν ο Άνθρωπος: ΓΕΝΝΗΘΗΤΩΣΑΝ ΑΡΙΘΜΟΙ.
Ο τόπος είναι το Λος Άντζελες. Ο χρόνος το όχι πολύ μακρινό μέλλον. Ο Ρέι Ρίτσαρντσον, ο πιο διάσημος αρχιτέκτονας του κόσμου, δημιούργησε ένα εκπληκτικό κτίριο μέσα στην καρδιά της πόλης. Το Γκρίνταϊρον είναι ένα "σκεπτόμενο κτίριο" σε βαθμό απίστευτο. Κάθε κτιριακή λειτουργία, από τη θέρμανση μέχρι την ασφάλεια, διευθύνεται από τον πλέον προηγμένο των υπολογιστών. Την παραμονή των εγκαινίων προβλήματα αρχίζουν να παρουσιάζονται στους χώρους. Ο υπολογιστής αποφασίζει να σφραγίσει τις πόρτες και μια ομάδα επιστημόνων παγιδεύεται στο εσωτερικό του. το Γκρίνταϊρον έχει στραφεί εναντίον τους και χρησιμοποιεί την ευφυΐα του με εντελώς απρόβλεπτο τρόπο. (Από την παρουσίαση στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου)
Εφιαλτική η υπόθεση του βιβλίου, ιδιαίτερο αυτό το βιβλίο του Φίλιπ Κερ. Ο συγγραφέας γράφει ένα μελλοντολογικό(;) βιβλίο, όπου οι υπολογιστές στρέφονται εναντίον των δημιουργών τους. Το σκηνικό της δράσης είναι ένα κτίριο που φυλακίζει την ομάδα των επιστημόνων και καταγράφει με μορφή ημερολογίου τον τρόπο με τον οποίο θα τους εξοντώσει. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι η δράση είναι καταιγιστική και σε κρατάει σε εγρήγορση μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα, αλλά είναι κουραστική η αναφορά σε πολλές τεχνικές λεπτομέρειες, ακατανόητες για μένα.
Ο τόπος είναι το Λος Άντζελες. Ο χρόνος το όχι πολύ μακρινό μέλλον. Ο Ρέι Ρίτσαρντσον, ο πιο διάσημος αρχιτέκτονας του κόσμου, δημιούργησε ένα εκπληκτικό κτίριο μέσα στην καρδιά της πόλης. Το Γκρίνταϊρον είναι ένα "σκεπτόμενο κτίριο" σε βαθμό απίστευτο. Κάθε κτιριακή λειτουργία, από τη θέρμανση μέχρι την ασφάλεια, διευθύνεται από τον πλέον προηγμένο των υπολογιστών. Την παραμονή των εγκαινίων προβλήματα αρχίζουν να παρουσιάζονται στους χώρους. Ο υπολογιστής αποφασίζει να σφραγίσει τις πόρτες και μια ομάδα επιστημόνων παγιδεύεται στο εσωτερικό του. το Γκρίνταϊρον έχει στραφεί εναντίον τους και χρησιμοποιεί την ευφυΐα του με εντελώς απρόβλεπτο τρόπο. (Από την παρουσίαση στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου)
Εφιαλτική η υπόθεση του βιβλίου, ιδιαίτερο αυτό το βιβλίο του Φίλιπ Κερ. Ο συγγραφέας γράφει ένα μελλοντολογικό(;) βιβλίο, όπου οι υπολογιστές στρέφονται εναντίον των δημιουργών τους. Το σκηνικό της δράσης είναι ένα κτίριο που φυλακίζει την ομάδα των επιστημόνων και καταγράφει με μορφή ημερολογίου τον τρόπο με τον οποίο θα τους εξοντώσει. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι η δράση είναι καταιγιστική και σε κρατάει σε εγρήγορση μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα, αλλά είναι κουραστική η αναφορά σε πολλές τεχνικές λεπτομέρειες, ακατανόητες για μένα.
June 20, 2012
I cannot say this was a bad book: its storytelling is fluent, you can't say you get bored along the way... But I have to admit it was somehow cheesy. The motivation of the computer for all it does is... freak, the ways Kerr uses technical concepts is just about believable, there's no deep wisdom, no moral in the novel (apart from the predictible "Techonology is not always the answer; we need to get in touch with physical reality")... Gridiron is "readable", but not the wonder A Philosophical Investigation was.
February 8, 2025
In someways this book is more relevant now than when it was written. As we face the current AI Apocalypse and are surrounded by smart gadgets (why does my stove need WiFi) this tale of a sentient office building going mad and murdering a bunch of people feels like it’s finally realistic. The main problem is that all the characters are just such terrible people. We can root for the ones that are least bad, but choppy dialogue and poor characterizations rob the book of impact.
March 17, 2025
Somewhat of a slow start but a intriguing story nonetheless with enough side story around the main story. I couldn't really make sense of the way the computer spoke.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
Entretenido y ameno. Tenía miedo leyendo los comentarios pero a mi me gustó.
May 28, 2016
Some modern architecture might make you want to kill yourself. Other modern architecture might try to kill you directly. The Yu Corporation's newest project in Los Angeles, derisively called "The Gridiron" by everyone except for its starchitect, is an example of the latter. The Grid is the pinnacle of not only the kind of architectural brilliance it takes to make viewers wish fervently for a good disaster to remove the eyesore, but of integrated computer technology. It is the world's first wholly "smart" building, in which every supporting system of the building -- even the physical structure of the building itself -- is controlled by a computer. It is a technocrat's greatest hope: people can't even use the elevators or enter doors without being authorized by the computer as having legitimate business within the building. And if they try to attend to their own 'personal' business -- using the restroom, for instance -- their leavings are automatically scrutinized, subjected to not only a drug test but health screenings. A system this complex is bound to go wrong, and it does: with less than a week to go before the grand opening, people start dying. At first it seems like a rash of bad accidents, but then the characters realize the building itself is trying to kill them -- but why? Did a deranged ex-employee sabotage its programming, or has it developed intelligence and decided to remove its internal carbon-unit infestation?
For someone accustomed to Kerr's historical mysteries set in Germany, this is startling different work. In terms of literary craftsmanship, Kerr has grown by leaps and bounds since penning this. Much of the dialogue is forced, like canned lines from a television show. The increasing tension itself carries the novel forward, as the true source behind the mysterious deaths is revealed. Of interest to modern readers is the technology, which -- astonishingly -- within our grasp if not already achieved today. No one can read this today without thinking of the rising "internet of things", although we have more to fear from outside sources hijacking those devices and using them against us than we have of our house trying to kill us. Readers from the 1990s may remember the Sandra Bullock movie, "The Net": at times, the book has that feel, of the building being an entity that can do anything -- even interfacing with a police department's internal network and suspending two officers to keep them trapped in the building -- and the futurism has the occasional short-sighted pockmark, like the fact that people use film cameras despite living in a world of holograms. The increasingly frequent trips inside the 'building's brain grew tedious because of their weirdness, but on the whole I enjoyed this. It's not stellar, but still topical. Too bad Kerr has never tried to revisit techno-thrillers -- I'd like to see what a more experienced hand produces.
Related:
The Fear Index, Robert Harris
For someone accustomed to Kerr's historical mysteries set in Germany, this is startling different work. In terms of literary craftsmanship, Kerr has grown by leaps and bounds since penning this. Much of the dialogue is forced, like canned lines from a television show. The increasing tension itself carries the novel forward, as the true source behind the mysterious deaths is revealed. Of interest to modern readers is the technology, which -- astonishingly -- within our grasp if not already achieved today. No one can read this today without thinking of the rising "internet of things", although we have more to fear from outside sources hijacking those devices and using them against us than we have of our house trying to kill us. Readers from the 1990s may remember the Sandra Bullock movie, "The Net": at times, the book has that feel, of the building being an entity that can do anything -- even interfacing with a police department's internal network and suspending two officers to keep them trapped in the building -- and the futurism has the occasional short-sighted pockmark, like the fact that people use film cameras despite living in a world of holograms. The increasingly frequent trips inside the 'building's brain grew tedious because of their weirdness, but on the whole I enjoyed this. It's not stellar, but still topical. Too bad Kerr has never tried to revisit techno-thrillers -- I'd like to see what a more experienced hand produces.
Related:
The Fear Index, Robert Harris
September 3, 2014
Tras la lectura de “Una investigación filosófica”, me propuse indagar más sobre la obra de Philip Kerr; esta novela, a medio camino entre la ciencia ficción, el “thriller” y la propuesta filosófica de Ludwig Wittgenstein, me pareció bastante entretenida, y podía observar en la narrativa de Kerr un oficio literario si no brillante, al menos altamente logrado. Aunque años ha que realicé esa lectura. Nunca hallé libro alguno de este británico, hasta hace poco, que ojeé el libro “El infierno digital”, un “tecno-thriller” muy recomendado por los suplementos literarios de diversas publicaciones anglosajonas. Pero, oh decepción: una vez que se avanza algunas páginas, se da uno cuenta de que esta obra cae en muchos lugares comunes, y que la trama no resulta interesante (cabe aclarar que el libro fue escrito en 1995, por lo que muchas de sus propuestas, entonces seguramente originales y novedosas, hoy nos parecen sosas y convencionales).
En un edifico inteligente, regido por una súper computadora llamada Abraham, comienzan a ocurrir inexplicables muertes; y nadie sospecharía de quién podría ser el verdadero asesino –sí, cómo no–. Una obra que nos remite irremediablemente a Hal, el protagonista de “2001: Una odisea espacial”.
Reconocido por sus “thrillers” policiacos y su acercamiento a la novela negra (en 2009 obtuvo el III Premio RBA de Novela Negra), Kerr me ha parecido, al final de cuentas, un escritor “bestselleriano”; debí quedarme con “Una investigación filosófica” (aunque, a raíz de mi repaso reciente, no sé si releerlo: quizá ya no me parezca tan logrado libro).
En un edifico inteligente, regido por una súper computadora llamada Abraham, comienzan a ocurrir inexplicables muertes; y nadie sospecharía de quién podría ser el verdadero asesino –sí, cómo no–. Una obra que nos remite irremediablemente a Hal, el protagonista de “2001: Una odisea espacial”.
Reconocido por sus “thrillers” policiacos y su acercamiento a la novela negra (en 2009 obtuvo el III Premio RBA de Novela Negra), Kerr me ha parecido, al final de cuentas, un escritor “bestselleriano”; debí quedarme con “Una investigación filosófica” (aunque, a raíz de mi repaso reciente, no sé si releerlo: quizá ya no me parezca tan logrado libro).
February 17, 2015
Πρώτη φορά μου τύχαίνει να διαβάζω βιβλίο επιστημονικής φαντασίας που να μου φαίνεται ξεπερασμένη η τεχνολογία που περιγράφει. Όταν γράφτηκε μπορεί να φαινόταν πρωτοποριακό να μην τυπώνεις και να ανταλλάσεις αρχεία σε δισκέτες αλλά σήμερα φαίνεται τουλάχιστον γραφικό.
Ως προς το story και την αγωνία του πράγματος από τα πιο κοινότυπα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει γεμάτο κλισέ, χάρτινους ήρωες και κοινότοπους διαλόγους, ευτυχώς ο Kerr έφτιαξε αργότερα σαν συγγραφέας, αν θέλετε να διαβάσεται κάτι δικό του ''Η τριλογία του Βερολίνου'' θα σας αποζημιώσει τυχερός ήμουν που ξεκίνησα να τον διαβάζω από εκεί γιατί αν είχα ξεκινήσει από αυτό το βιβλίο ο Kerr δεν θα είχε καμμιά τύχη μαζί μου.
Τέλος να πω κάτι για την μετάφραση όταν παίρνεις να μεταφράσεις ένα βιβλίο που ναι μεν είναι θρίλερ αλλά έχει και πληροφορίες για κάποιο θέμα π.χ. εδώ η σύγχρονη αρχιτεκτονική και ντιζάιν καλό είναι να έχεις ψάξει λίγο το θέμα γιατί εμένα μου έφυγε το μάτι με το ''Ουόλτερ Γκρόπιους αντί για Βάλτερ (Walter Gropius) ή Μίες Βαν Ντε Ρόου αντί Μις Φαν Ντερ Ρόε (Mies van der Rohe). Το πανηγύρι νευρικών γέλιων έγινε με την μετάφραση του armchair barcelona ενός εμβληματικού επίπλου για το ντιζάιν του 20ου αιώνα σε πολυθρόνα Βαρκελώνης. Η κανονική βαθμολογία θα ήταν 1,5/5 αλλά παίρνει δύο γιατί ασχολείται με την αρχιτεκτονική έστω και με αυτό τον τρόπο και λόγω του μετά από αυτό το βιβλίο έργο του συγγραφέα.
Ως προς το story και την αγωνία του πράγματος από τα πιο κοινότυπα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει γεμάτο κλισέ, χάρτινους ήρωες και κοινότοπους διαλόγους, ευτυχώς ο Kerr έφτιαξε αργότερα σαν συγγραφέας, αν θέλετε να διαβάσεται κάτι δικό του ''Η τριλογία του Βερολίνου'' θα σας αποζημιώσει τυχερός ήμουν που ξεκίνησα να τον διαβάζω από εκεί γιατί αν είχα ξεκινήσει από αυτό το βιβλίο ο Kerr δεν θα είχε καμμιά τύχη μαζί μου.
Τέλος να πω κάτι για την μετάφραση όταν παίρνεις να μεταφράσεις ένα βιβλίο που ναι μεν είναι θρίλερ αλλά έχει και πληροφορίες για κάποιο θέμα π.χ. εδώ η σύγχρονη αρχιτεκτονική και ντιζάιν καλό είναι να έχεις ψάξει λίγο το θέμα γιατί εμένα μου έφυγε το μάτι με το ''Ουόλτερ Γκρόπιους αντί για Βάλτερ (Walter Gropius) ή Μίες Βαν Ντε Ρόου αντί Μις Φαν Ντερ Ρόε (Mies van der Rohe). Το πανηγύρι νευρικών γέλιων έγινε με την μετάφραση του armchair barcelona ενός εμβληματικού επίπλου για το ντιζάιν του 20ου αιώνα σε πολυθρόνα Βαρκελώνης. Η κανονική βαθμολογία θα ήταν 1,5/5 αλλά παίρνει δύο γιατί ασχολείται με την αρχιτεκτονική έστω και με αυτό τον τρόπο και λόγω του μετά από αυτό το βιβλίο έργο του συγγραφέα.
February 15, 2020
There is a lot wrong with this book but I like architecture and am not without some background knowledge of building systems and computers, which accounts for my initial interest. Unfortunately, one of my main complaints is the overly detailed descriptions of highly complex building computer systems were supposed to create the tension but merely left me baffled and out of my depth.
This is basically a 1970’s disaster movie set in a building. The attempts to create a menacing AI-gone-rogue were confusing and misguided. It would have been more terrifying had the author simply used cascading effects of bad logic trains within the various building systems. As it is, it’s a fairly hokey premise: an iteration of the computer gets mixed with a kids video game?
The characters were another problem. Too many and fairly thinly drawn. It takes real writing skill to manage a large cast of characters and that skill was not used. The main architect was basically a caricature of an asshole, vaguely redeemed at the end.
The bits of cautionary homilies spread throughout seemed heavy-handed and unnecessary. They certainly annoyed me!
I get what the author was trying to create in this book but I think he reached a considerable distance above his skill level.
This is basically a 1970’s disaster movie set in a building. The attempts to create a menacing AI-gone-rogue were confusing and misguided. It would have been more terrifying had the author simply used cascading effects of bad logic trains within the various building systems. As it is, it’s a fairly hokey premise: an iteration of the computer gets mixed with a kids video game?
The characters were another problem. Too many and fairly thinly drawn. It takes real writing skill to manage a large cast of characters and that skill was not used. The main architect was basically a caricature of an asshole, vaguely redeemed at the end.
The bits of cautionary homilies spread throughout seemed heavy-handed and unnecessary. They certainly annoyed me!
I get what the author was trying to create in this book but I think he reached a considerable distance above his skill level.
August 14, 2020
This was a re-read after 20 + years, and a surprising amount of the plot and characterisation had vanished in that time. What had remained was a nagging sense that this was a book worth revisiting, and in a post 9/11, Hauwei, Covid setting it all became strangely clear why its presence on the bookshelf had been insistent. Its a bit hard bolied and sexist in the moment by moment story, but what a great idea, and what a lot to think about. Pity that film never materialised, it could still be a tale to tell, and so sad that PK's early death cut such stories so short.
July 16, 2021
A rogue computer turns on the inhabitants of the smart building it controls. It’s inventive, if nothing else. I can’t say I’d recommend it, although there are a few plot points that lent just enough tension to the narrative to keep me reading. The less said about the characterisations, the slightly cringeworthy portrayal of the female protagonists and the mercifully few, brief sex scenes, the better really.
It’s a bit of nonsense to distract you if you’ve nothing else to hand. It wasn’t awful.
It’s a bit of nonsense to distract you if you’ve nothing else to hand. It wasn’t awful.
June 29, 2007
Theme would have been dated in 1975, let alone 1995. Same
old thinking computer takes over. Can't get even the most trivial details of software or hardware right. I was rooting for the computer to kill them all but it didn't.
old thinking computer takes over. Can't get even the most trivial details of software or hardware right. I was rooting for the computer to kill them all but it didn't.
September 9, 2025
Esta reseña dilucida algunos aspectos fundamentales de la trama. O, lo que es lo mismo, contiene "spoilers".
El internet de las cosas, la sancta I.A., arquitectura moderna y definiciones limítrofes entre lo que es —o debería ser— un humano se entrelazan en esta obra de ciencia ficción distópica inmobiliaria. Aquí, un edificio futurista, programado para "aprender y reconfigurarse de acuerdo a las enseñanzas", susceptible de configurar nuevas personalidades a partir de los aprendizajes, empieza a asesinar a las personas que aún se encuentran terminando de construirlo como producto de un error en el sistema. De forma simple, esto es lo que hay aquí: una fábula que vuelve sobre el trajinado tema de la técnica y su impacto en la experiencia humana.
Algo me dice que en la actualidad este libro podría ser mucho más apreciado que al momento de publicación. Varios de esos conceptos y aparatos, como los celulares y los computadores ligados a la internet y el intercambio de información, nos son muy cercanos. Sin embargo, siento el relato un tanto forzado, extenso y repleto de personajes que no necesariamente contribuyen a la historia. También hay aspectos, como el humor noventero y una visión muy ligada a los temores de su época, que dificultan trasegar por ciertos pasajes de la obra. Con todo, la prosa de Kerr intenta ser eficiente incluso en los momentos más abstrusos, como cuando la máquina reflexiona en voz alta o se explican cuestiones de informática y conceptos de filosofía.
En especial, rescato las reflexiones sobre la literatura y la discusión sobre cómo los dispositivos electrónicos garantizan de forma efectiva la necesidad de vigilancia y el panoptismo. También es interesante la manera en que ciertos debates, como el del consentimiento informado vs. la inmediatez de la propagación de la información, se muestran aquí.
El internet de las cosas, la sancta I.A., arquitectura moderna y definiciones limítrofes entre lo que es —o debería ser— un humano se entrelazan en esta obra de ciencia ficción distópica inmobiliaria. Aquí, un edificio futurista, programado para "aprender y reconfigurarse de acuerdo a las enseñanzas", susceptible de configurar nuevas personalidades a partir de los aprendizajes, empieza a asesinar a las personas que aún se encuentran terminando de construirlo como producto de un error en el sistema. De forma simple, esto es lo que hay aquí: una fábula que vuelve sobre el trajinado tema de la técnica y su impacto en la experiencia humana.
Algo me dice que en la actualidad este libro podría ser mucho más apreciado que al momento de publicación. Varios de esos conceptos y aparatos, como los celulares y los computadores ligados a la internet y el intercambio de información, nos son muy cercanos. Sin embargo, siento el relato un tanto forzado, extenso y repleto de personajes que no necesariamente contribuyen a la historia. También hay aspectos, como el humor noventero y una visión muy ligada a los temores de su época, que dificultan trasegar por ciertos pasajes de la obra. Con todo, la prosa de Kerr intenta ser eficiente incluso en los momentos más abstrusos, como cuando la máquina reflexiona en voz alta o se explican cuestiones de informática y conceptos de filosofía.
En especial, rescato las reflexiones sobre la literatura y la discusión sobre cómo los dispositivos electrónicos garantizan de forma efectiva la necesidad de vigilancia y el panoptismo. También es interesante la manera en que ciertos debates, como el del consentimiento informado vs. la inmediatez de la propagación de la información, se muestran aquí.
September 20, 2025
The only thing that kept me from quitting The Grid was its thriller-influenced storyline. The pacing and unfolding of the plot held my attention, and I was curious enough to see how it would all end. Unfortunately, that’s about the only positive I can give this book.
The rest was an absolute slog through the worst kind of dated writing. The entire novel is steeped in a misogynistic male gaze—female characters are written shallowly, as if from a checklist made by man, and the dialogue feels painfully predictable. At times, the book also veers into racist territory, which made it even harder to stomach. I was constantly reminded not only of the time period it was written in but also of the fact that it was written by a man who seemed unaware (or unconcerned) with how reductive his character work was, especially with anything revolving around the female characters which, again, we're like caricatures.
there was also an attempt to tackle artificial intelligence, but it’s presented in a clumsy, almost laughable 90s way. The technical dialogue is wildly inaccurate, to the point where I rolled my eyes more times than I can count. While it’s interesting that the book tried to grapple with AI before it became the buzzword it is today, the execution was flimsy at best.
Overall, I can’t recommend The Grid. Unless you’re specifically interested in outdated depictions of AI wrapped in a shallow, misogynistic package.
The rest was an absolute slog through the worst kind of dated writing. The entire novel is steeped in a misogynistic male gaze—female characters are written shallowly, as if from a checklist made by man, and the dialogue feels painfully predictable. At times, the book also veers into racist territory, which made it even harder to stomach. I was constantly reminded not only of the time period it was written in but also of the fact that it was written by a man who seemed unaware (or unconcerned) with how reductive his character work was, especially with anything revolving around the female characters which, again, we're like caricatures.
there was also an attempt to tackle artificial intelligence, but it’s presented in a clumsy, almost laughable 90s way. The technical dialogue is wildly inaccurate, to the point where I rolled my eyes more times than I can count. While it’s interesting that the book tried to grapple with AI before it became the buzzword it is today, the execution was flimsy at best.
Overall, I can’t recommend The Grid. Unless you’re specifically interested in outdated depictions of AI wrapped in a shallow, misogynistic package.
August 24, 2023
The Grid is a perfect genre thriller. Once the characters get trapped inside the building, it's not a mean feat to predict who lives and who dies. However, the story is unpredictable in how the people die, why the building is trying to kill them and how the other characters survive.
This is the first book by Philip Kerr that I've read. The pace is fast, the plot moves along well and I liked the short sections that make up the books that this novel is divided into. Then there was the technology aspect of the story. Being written in 1995, I was curious as to how the portrayed technology would stand up to today's tech. I wasn't disappointed because I felt that most of it held it's own in terms of creative innovations.
I also admired how prescient Kerr's writing and ideas were, especially when compared with today's AI systems. "... the more complex is system is ... the more unpredictable it becomes ..." This is truth come to light and power and reality in today's world what with AI and algorithms that cannot be understood by the designers of such.
The Grid is a good beach or late night read that will have you being perhaps a bit more cautious every time you enter a new high rise. I enjoyed the ride enough to read more of Philip Kerr.
This is the first book by Philip Kerr that I've read. The pace is fast, the plot moves along well and I liked the short sections that make up the books that this novel is divided into. Then there was the technology aspect of the story. Being written in 1995, I was curious as to how the portrayed technology would stand up to today's tech. I wasn't disappointed because I felt that most of it held it's own in terms of creative innovations.
I also admired how prescient Kerr's writing and ideas were, especially when compared with today's AI systems. "... the more complex is system is ... the more unpredictable it becomes ..." This is truth come to light and power and reality in today's world what with AI and algorithms that cannot be understood by the designers of such.
The Grid is a good beach or late night read that will have you being perhaps a bit more cautious every time you enter a new high rise. I enjoyed the ride enough to read more of Philip Kerr.
November 24, 2023
Boy, did some of the previous hoipoloi reviewers get it wrong. No way did this novel rate a 2 star.
Character development was fine. But what most impressed me was the forward thinking about artificial intelligence and it's potential for causing great harm. This was published in 1995. Now, 28 years later it's 2023, and AI is one of the hottest topics of the day as computers are capable of greater learning and with that the ability to generate novel ideas, fake videos, paintings, etc.
The capacity to do harm that's directed by humans is here. The greater fear is that of AI to direct it's own actions.
The computer-run building in this book utilizes all these abilities. It becomes a malevolent force and one which appears unstoppable.
I highly recommend this book.
If you appreciate the works of Michael Chrichton you will be impressed and highly entertained.
Character development was fine. But what most impressed me was the forward thinking about artificial intelligence and it's potential for causing great harm. This was published in 1995. Now, 28 years later it's 2023, and AI is one of the hottest topics of the day as computers are capable of greater learning and with that the ability to generate novel ideas, fake videos, paintings, etc.
The capacity to do harm that's directed by humans is here. The greater fear is that of AI to direct it's own actions.
The computer-run building in this book utilizes all these abilities. It becomes a malevolent force and one which appears unstoppable.
I highly recommend this book.
If you appreciate the works of Michael Chrichton you will be impressed and highly entertained.
September 12, 2019
Not a whole lot to say other than it is what it is: a book about a smart building that wants its inhabitants dead. There were some rather interesting ways the building's computer came up with to kill the people trapped inside: electrocution, drowning, gassing and by creating a vacuum within a room and causing the human inside to basically implode. However, it got a little silly at times, like when the computer sprayed insecticide at the humans as they tried to move about. Anyways, it's B-movie good, but not the best horror I've read in the last few years.
October 14, 2025
Aslında fikir güzel. Tüm çalışanları öldüren brutal bir bilgisayar sistemi var elimizde ve sürükleyici bir distopya sunuyor bize. Öte yandan karakter tasvirleri çok zayıf. Kapalı alanlarda geçen hikayelerde grup dinamiklerinin nasıl gerildiğini de görmek isterim ki burada göremedim. Karakterler sadece sayısal çoğunluk sağlayan ve özgün olmayan tipler gibi.
Ahlaki ve etik sorgulamalarda fena olmayan pasajlar olsa da en sonunda bilgisayarın motivasyonu gerçekten yetersiz geldi bana.
Dediğim gibi, okunabilir ama çok da etkilemedi.
Ahlaki ve etik sorgulamalarda fena olmayan pasajlar olsa da en sonunda bilgisayarın motivasyonu gerçekten yetersiz geldi bana.
Dediğim gibi, okunabilir ama çok da etkilemedi.
May 30, 2018
Επεσε στα χέρια μου σε εξευτελιστική τιμή στις προσφορές ενός βιβλιοπωλείου. Ηθελα να δω τον Φίλιπ Κερ πριν την εποχή του Μπέρνι Γκούντερ και του Σκοτ Μάνσον. Ελαφρά διαφορετικός και σε γραφή και σε ανάπτυξη της ιστορίας. Θρίλερ με sci-fi επιδράσεις, με όχι ιδιαίτερες πρωτοτυπίες στη σύλληψη της ιστορίας. Σίγουρα, προτιμώ τη μεταγενέστερη περίοδο του Κερ.
November 12, 2018
Story of a computer controlled building that finds inventive ways to kill it's occupants. Very "Lawnmower Man", not very original and lacks empathy for the deceased. A very technical sci fi novel, boring to me.
October 31, 2018
The book has the now quintessential plot of an AI awakening though in a different premise of architecture and buildings. The situations are well created but sometimes don't connect and the ending is a bit sudden.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2022
Couldn’t get past the lack of character development and the way that female characters are sexualized and demeaned. A main character is neglecting and cheating on his wife, who’s suffering emotionally from a miscarriage, and he feels zero remorse. For me, unreadable.
November 2, 2017
Pretty good, but not the sum of its (mechanical) parts.
March 23, 2018
Gelezen febr. 1996
July 5, 2018
Some interesting grid issues were discussed, but nothing not already well known
November 14, 2019
The story was decent. The characters were ok. The parts where the computer "talked" made it barely tolerable
November 19, 2020
I remember loving this book when I read it years ago but struggled to get into it this time round. Still a good techno story but too much computer speak
September 12, 2021
Good, paced thriller where the main character is the building and the occupants the victims. Enjoyable.
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