SIMPOC

The Thinking Computer

De: Ray Jay Perreault

Narrado por: Zachary Johnson

The entire human population is attacked by a very suspicious virus. SIMPOC's programmer doesn't come in to work, that day, the next, or ever. The commander of the space station Oasis, Joan Herl, is forced to abandon the station because of dwindling resources. When they land on earth, they are attacked by another thinking computer who would do anything to protect itself and to continue thinking.

The moon colony, Dessert Beach, is trapped as their resources are running out, and they must decide when to come home. They have only lifeboats to carry them back to the lifeless Earth, and what will they find when they enter the atmosphere and land?

The astronauts trapped on the Mars colony, Red Dirt, are in worse condition. Their systems will break down and resources will run out. Coming home for them is a different story. The lifeboats aren't made for that purpose and must be rebuilt before the colony breaks down. Should they stay and take their chances on Mars, or should they journey back to Earth?

©2014 Raymond J. Perreault (P)2015 Raymond J. Perreault

A Rarity: Intelligent Sci-Fi!

What did you love best about SIMPOC?

It's really logical... the progression of events makes perfect sense and it stays close enough to reality that it's completely believable.

What did you like best about this story?

From an IT guy with 30 years in the industry, the computing stuff was pretty dead on, but not super-technical. Perreault hits all the right beats, but doesn't bore you with details. Many writers let the tech get in the way of the story, not here.

Which character – as performed by Zachary Johnson – was your favorite?

SIMPOC. A learning computer. Brilliant. Have to say that Termin (spelling?) was also great.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely. I actually would leave early on a drive and arrive early just to listen to more.

Any additional comments?

This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review. It's not just a quick 5-star because I received it free... you can check my other reviews. I only give credit where it's due. The narration by Johnson was also great. As someone with voice acting experience, he's quite talented, down to the different personalities and cadences in voices to the accents.

SIMPOC is an oxymoron: apocalyptic, yet uplifting

As others have mentioned, I was wary of narration from the point of view of an inanimate object. It is an idea many authors have experimented with and few have succeeded with. With that in mind, SIMPOC was a delightful surprise.

SIMPOC is indeed a thinking computer- a perfect mix of humanized and mechanized; he (or she, depending on how it's programmed) is capable of self-awareness and, to an extent, even empathy. SIMPOC destroys the common sci-fi trope of the self-aware AI antagonist. The supporting characters are well-written as well. Without giving too much away, I found myself missing a certain programmer, despite his brief appearance in the story.

I bought the audiobook version of the book and found it very easy to listen to. A human voice gives SIMPOC's moments of loneliness and doubt a tremendously different feel. Well-done and worth considering, even if you don't typically listen to audiobooks.

I look forward to the next book in the series. I did not anticipate that I would enjoy this story as much as I did.

SIMPOC 1

Zachary Johnson does a good job with narrating this short book.Everyone on Earth gets a virus just as a computer with intellegence comes online.Astronauts are left in space and when they return life on Earth is changed forever.
A good first book in a series.
This audiobook was provided to me at no cost for a fair and honest review

Gripping AI thriller

SIMPOC The Thinking Computer is a thrilling sci-fi adventure that explores the consequences of AI survival in a world devastated by a mysterious virus. The story keeps you on edge as astronauts struggle to return to an Earth that may no longer be safe. The mix of survival, space exploration, and AI intrigue makes this a must-listen for sci-fi fans!

Fast-Paced, Emotional, and Thought-Provoking

This book is much more than a typical AI-versus-humans narrative. The story blends human emotions, technological ethics, and survival instincts seamlessly. The astronauts’ dilemma, SIMPOC’s loyalty, and Julius’s paranoia create an intense, suspenseful journey. Highly recommended if you enjoy science fiction that makes you think deeply.