Abra > Recent Status Updates

Reading as part of a challenge to read a book from Iceland this year

This is not the usual genre I would read. I am usually more drawn to fantasy, sci-fi, and non-fiction, and not so much to drama and family epics. But I am very much enjoying this novel - just shows you that as long as the writer has skills, anything can peak your interest.

I am through 3 stories and they all have an amazing set up, only to wrap up in one paragraph with a shocking twist that seems ... lazy. Shocking for the sake of being shocking. The fourth story so far is amazing but I am going to scream if it ends with our main character randomly being stabbed with an ice pick again.

I find it at best strange that this author introduces himself as a "white person from Rhodesia" (current day Zimbabwe). There is no contextualization that this was a white minority "state"/regime marked by oppression of the black population. This makes you wonder if this author deep down still holds onto the dream of a white supremacist settler utopia, just as many other far right groups nowadays do.

[spoiler!] Since around a third I had a feeling the home AI is involved. Since around 55% I suspect that she's the mastermind behind.

Let's see if this is a predictable plot. I'm guessing <spoiler> Paxton is a droid and orchestrating the murders. The tea was poisoned. The motive is freeing other, now sentient droids. Zach will get involved with Teagan despite the 10 age difference. </spoiler>

always fascinating when scientists don't realize what they're describing is dystopian. A live feed of the stock market right into your brain? Connecting Twitter to your brain so "you know what the world feels"? Sir, what are you on that you don't see how this will immediately lead to disaster.

Halfway through, and I'd be terrified of how Neil deGrasse Tyson would solve the trolley problem. Probably by grabbing a data set and picking the most utilitarian option, then claiming it's the same as rationality and neutrality.