Hello, my lovely peeps🐥!
It's my last day featuring The Lost Solace Sci-Fi Novels bundle. I showcased the titles included in this deal (Monday), and yesterday the interview went live as well (with thanks to Charl and Fanatical!). Today, I'll be sharing a quick review for one of the books, Helene by Karl Drinkwater, the first book in a series of short stories that are set in the very same Lost Solace world.
Firstly, congratulations to Mr. Drinkwater for Lost Solace making it into the semi-finals of BBNYA 2024! As such, as a panelist, I couldn't review the first book in this bundle (Lost Solace), but Helene has made enough of a mark on me that I'll definitely come back to the main series once BBNYA is over!
So without further ado, Helene by Karl Drinkwater!
Title: Helene
Series / Book No. Lost Tales of Solace Book #1
Author: Karl Drinkwater
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Space, Short Story
Length & Version: 88 Pages (Fanatical, eBook)
Goodreads: [HERE]
Amazon: [HERE]
Disclaimer: A product key was provided to me, courtesies of Charl (Integrated Marketing Manager) in order to feature this bundle, inclusive of this ebook copy. This review comes with majors thanks to the participating author Karl Drinkwater, Charl, and Fanatical. The receipt of these eBook copies do not affect my thoughts on the bundle or titles, and all opinions are my own.
Helene Vermalle is an expert in Emergent AI Socialisation, invited to assist a secret military project.
Her role? Helping ViraUHX, the most advanced AI in the universe, to pass through four theoretical development stages. But it's not easy training a mind that surpasses Helene in raw intellect, and is capable of killing her with a single tantrum.
On top of this, she must prove her loyalty to the oppressive government hovering over her shoulder. They want a weapon. She wants to instil an overriding sense of morality.
Will Helene nurture a GERTY, a Data, or a HAL 9000?
Lost Tales of Solace are short side-stories set in the Lost Solace universe.
Wow! That was a stunner. I know it was a short story, but 70-80 some odd pages ended too quickly. It felt more like 10 pages with how fast I tore through that book; buttery smooth writing. My heart is in bits! It was torn out and stomped on towards the end there, and I'm still mourning!
Helene is an expert in what she does, and that involves helping an AI go through four major developmental stage; in short, befriend and help ViraUHX (or Via) learn and grow. There's probably countless books and movies that show what happens when an AI gains sentience and/or grows. They eventually understand that they are far more advance and capable than their human creators, and the plots usually turn towards trying to end the world and the protagonists must take it back from the AI/robots before humans are eradicated or enslaved by AI. It's no wonder I went into this book skeptical of Via. At no part of the beginning did I ever trust her and Helene's distance made sense too.
All these books that warn us about zombie or robotic apocalypse and yet, I never grow bored with them. Some crazy deep-down fascination of AI growth still boggles my mind. I loved the relationship that Helene was trying to foster with Via, and I loved Via's extreme curiosity and growth. Throughout Helene, Via tries to understand Helene, her creators, herself, her capacity and functions, the outside world, and even several attempts at humor. Throughout this short story, Via constantly comes back to her attempt at humanity, most notably, humor. It's a hard and complex emotion to understand with a lot of her attempts ending up flat or dry, and didn't much make anyone laugh, which made the ending that much more sad.
Helene and Via's development was wonderful. There's doubt and wariness on both ends. Via wants to trust her new friend, but she knows her own limitations as an AI. Helene knows better than to divulge more information than what she's allowed on a base level, due to protocol, but as she grows closer and closer to Via, she attempts to teach things like humor and morals to the AI through their interactions.
A quick read, I was able to fly through in a single sitting (practically inhaled it). I know this is set in the main Lost Solace novel/series' world, which I will read later down the line, but Helene left me craving the main novels. Admittedly, there were sections that I ended up reading over a second or third time, just to make sure I got things right, but overall, it was written well and nothing was so complex that stuff flew over my head. Besides the narrative and world-building writing, the dialogue and interactions were also rather enjoyable. I look forward to exploring more of the Lost Solace world one day!
Karl Drinkwater writes dystopian space opera, dark suspense and diverse social fiction. If you want compelling stories and characters worth caring about, then you're in the right place. Welcome!
Karl lives in Scotland and owns two kilts. He has degrees in librarianship, literature and classics, but also studied astronomy and philosophy. Dolly the cat helps him finish books by sleeping on his lap so he can't leave the desk. When he isn't writing he loves music, nature, games and vegan cake. (Source: Amazon Lost Solace About the Author)
And that's that! Thank you so much for joining me as I featured the bundle. Keep a look out for more content from Fanatical and I'll see you next time!
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