This feels very man-written, specifically it feels written by a man of a certain generation grappling with a mid-life crisis. Powers is a fair bit younger than the writers I usually associate with this style (Updike, Mailer), but he pulls it off well, by which I mean his narrator is so absorbed with his own worldview and unexamined emotions, he can't parse the reality others are living. He goes about cluelessly but with feigned confidence. I loved The Overstory, but after this one, I don't see myself seeking out more of Powers's backlist. ( )

Rating, 3.75

Of all novels I've read, this is the only one where the author is the central character, though I questioned his use of single initials for people and locations. At its core, it pays homage to books, learning and being human.

Powers takes the reader on parallel journeys: A) The development of Artificial Intelligence computer by a colleague, Philip Lentz, and B) His relationship with 'C' during the writing of his books.

One of his earlier works, we get a glimpse into Power's world as a known author while collaborating with Lentz, a sort of visionary neuro-geek/programmer building numerous systems that learn, speaks and expand. As Powers reads/offers books of all types to the machine, it's rapid growth impacts his relationships and work. Use of various time frames and locations fills the reader in on his back story, and with this, I questioned how much was fact. Unfortunately, we'll never know.

Lentz labels the first generation "Imp A"; over time, generations improve with the connection to super data systems, voice and visual capabilities arriving at "Imp H". With its ability to speak and read, Powers names it 'Helen'. As its knowledge expands, Powers is of the belief that its gained artificial consciousness yielding interesting turn of events; among them the slow demise of his relationship with "C".

Intriguing, engaging and unique, its downfall is the lack of cohesive theme, an element I had not experienced in his other books. Regardless it's great to see how he's evolved as an author and enjoyed it from start to finish! ( )

This fascinating story mixes elements of Richard Powers' own life with a fictional version of himself. Having just ended a long-term relationship, the narrator embarks on a year-long writer's residency at a large research facility. He finds himself unable to get started on his next novel, however, and instead accepts the offer of another researcher to train a neural network to read and interpret works of literature.

It is not an easy novel to read, replete with literal allusions and scientific concepts, and in which the unreliable narrator mixes reporting on his efforts on the neural network with the past history of his failed relationship. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the visionary critique of artificial intelligence coming from a 1990s novel read at the dawn of ChatGPT and its ilk, as well as the clever mix of autobiographical elements with fiction. ( )

All human effort, it seemed to me, aimed at a single end: to bring to life the storied curve we tell ourselves. Not so much to make the tale believable but only to touch it, stretch out in it. [...] The life we lead is our only maybe. The tale we tell is the must that we make by living it. ( )

Even for the lazy (I know , but cannot remember it...now) eruditists,
this book offers an overload of verbal challenges:
Turing machine,
The First Sully (Sullenberger?),
Vaucanson's Duck...etcetera.

After the author accepts the odd literary AI offer, why doesn't he take typing lessons?

And why would even an emotionally very insecure man recovering from a breakdown
from a jerk-off partner choose to allow himself to be repeatedly verbally berated by his new "boss?"
So many other choices at a university, non? Unless one enjoyed being obsessed and rejected...

No wonder he gravitates to Helen whom (!) he does not at all prepare for writing the final
essay un which she and Powers were supposed to be judged...?

Both the cover and the ending are unappealing. ( )