Jon di Paolo – Google

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a potent concoction of science fiction and philosophy that has stacks of originality, and distils its many profound ideas through a compelling plot into classy, unpretentious writing. The story weaves different timelines together with great dexterity around a theme of the technological subjugation/sublimation of humanity. Coupled with plenty of diversions around the nature of existence, space-time and God it could easily have become a bit bogged down in philosophical woo and/or Orwellian hand-wringing (there is a fairly heavy-handed nod to the great man in one lengthy passage) but thankfully it eschews self-indulgent riffing on its own undoubted cleverness in favour of a well-paced narrative. So many books set out impressive concepts only to end up petering out with plot threads left dangling loose, or copping out into ambiguity. I feared that may be the case here as I got to the last few pages, as there seemed to be so much to tie up, but was grateful to find it delivers a satisfying ending that tackles the premise it set out and befits its overall quality.

Worth seeing at the cinema for the visuals alone, but don't expect much more than superficial entertainment. Some of the weapons tech and world settings are awe-inspiring, reminiscent of seeing the Death Star for the first time. But I couldn't get past the fact that the AI race at the heart of the film have inexplicably made themselves so similar to humans, right down to vulnerability to bullets and the need to sleep, that it ends up seeming like a parody of itself. The sheer silliness of the robots is acknowledged in one Dark Star-esque scene featuring kamikaze bombs that salute their creators before running towards the enemy like giant dustbins on legs. Plot elements echo Blade Runner (semi-cyborg child offers path out of dystopia) and The Last Of Us (initially reluctant father figure must safeguard daughter on quest to save the world), but without their moral, intellectual and emotional punch. Enough to keep you interested - just about - for the running time, but doesn't make it into the 'worth watching again' category.