Dreamships

De: Melissa Scott

Narrado por: Pamela Lorence

A thought-provoking examination of the possibility of artificial intelligence.

Reverdy Jian, a freelance "dreamspace" pilot based on Persephone (an arid world so hot the population lives underground), and her partners Imre Vaughn and "Red" take on a job flying a custom-made ship for the secretive Meredalia Mitexi. They're to search for Mitexi's lost brother, Venya - an almost legendary designer of the near-sentient computer "constructs" that help human pilots navigate dreamspace - who vanished soon after his claim to have created a true artificial intelligence was suppressed by his corporate employer, Kagami Ltd.

Aboard Mitexi's ship, Reverdy works with Manfred, Venya's custom construct, and she grows ever more convinced that Manfred might be sentient. When Reverdy learns that Mitexi plans to turn Manfred over to Kagami on their return, she decides she must protect the construct, though she risks her career and maybe her life.

©1992 Melissa Scott (P)2018 David N. WIlson

A.I. or Not? Really makes you wonder

This world really drew me in. Although the structure of this world is completely alien to me it is well thought out and revealed as needed for the listeners understanding. Luckily the world is just backdrop for the question at hand. Follow along as Reverdy Jian works with a new custom construct known as Manfred who is the brain of the Starship that Reverdy has been hired to pilot. As amazing as Manfred is, is he truly alive enough to pass a Touring test?
After returning home to Persephone, Reverdy is drawn into a series of events that hinge on the question of Manfred's state of being alive or not.

This is a very well written story that is a start to a trilogy. This story appears to stand on its own and is complete as is.

Narration was very well done and contributed to the story.

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.