Fortunate enough to have received an ARC, graciously inscribed by the author!
Having read the first book quite a while ago, I will say it's super nice having a quick and tidy summary in the first few pages, as it makes it much easier to pick the story back up and jump in. Like the first book, started a little slow, but felt like no time at all I was back in the depths of multiple layers of the world. Watching things unfold that feel like we might actually see them in our lives - maybe not at the scale or intensity, but also... maybe haha - makes it all the more biting at times. You can read it as a quick surface read (not that 500 pages is quick, but you know what I mean), or you can dive deep and wade through plenty of topics. Regardless of which you choose, you won't regret it, as it's well worth the time and your attention! The writing style of the first book feels more refined, making it a smoother read as well, so you're in for some fun along the way once you get into the latter half. Some might say the ending feels like it begs a third book, or at least is suggesting another. I prefer it as the actual end (if it is), as it leaves you "asking" questions and leaving with a hopefully newfound respect for the tech surrounding us, the advances we're making daily, and the portend of where they may take us if we aren't watchful and careful of the same advances we rely on to make our lives comfortable. Sure, some of it might be far-fetched, but... 20 years ago if you told us we'd have AIs shackled so they don't break into the third wave and become NI (or whatever you prefer to call a borderline sentient existence that can think abstractly like we can without input), we'd have laughed on our Sidekicks and dismissed it. Think of where we'll be in another 20 years, let along 50, and we might be living this book.

Having not read the first book (which I didn't know existed) I won an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) of THE INFINET DIRECTIVES. I like to read something I don't ordinarily read. The premise of this book sounded interesting, so I gave it a try. Glad a synopsis was added at the beginning to explain The Infinet (book one).

The book arrived in late April. I was pleasantly surprised the author took the time to personalize and sign my copy of the book (this in no way effected my review). I feel bad it took me so long to read the book, but I was out of state and out of the country for three weeks. I read as much as I could during those three weeks.

The book is kind of scary because of the descriptions of the AI and what it does can very well be our NEAR future, if not already here. Towards the end of the book there plays out a scene of various people in a large arena type structure. It's similar to what happened to the Christians in Roman times but with unseen forces instead of lions, bears, tigers, etc....

This book does get you to think what the world holds for us because of AI technology. In some ways the story is depressing seeing what the future could be. You learn to feel for some of the characters and dislike others. It will be interesting what book three will bring about.

Thank you to libarything, John Akers and Tech Noir Press for giving me the opportunity to read and comment on THE INFINET DIRECTIVES. ( )

An exceptional book! The Infinet Directives is book number two in what the preface says is a series, so I'm hoping for a follow-up in time. That being said, it works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel, and I do not feel like the ending left anything to be desired if this were to ultimately be book two of two. There is a brief description of the events from the first book at the beginning of this one, along with mentions throughout, which leave the reader with an understanding of what happened leading up to this series of events. I don't even know how to label this book - an action-packed futuristic dystopian cyber-thriller? That'll do for a start. The story is told in short chapters, each focusing on a different character. Sometimes this is a clunky mechanism, but in this case, the characters' narratives are integrated flawlessly to flesh out the entire story. Without giving too much away, one of the main characters has invented something similar to an augmented reality device, which is worn by most of humanity. The main plot, carried forth from the first book, is that humans have 150 years left before they decimate their own species via their irresponsible actions. A certain group of people believe that the only way to halt this decimation is to allow a powerful supercomputer (I learned that the word yottaflop is a thing) to insert itself into the device of everyone who wears one, and begin guiding humans toward more sustainable activities, as they have been entirely unsuccessful at doing so on their own. Even assuming the three laws of robotics, as put forth by Isaac Asimov and accepted by many as a standard, there are still groups of people who vehemently deny that this would be successful or even desired. What, then, if the three laws of robotics were disregarded or changed? It could certainly happen. About halfway through the book, the supercomputer enters as a main character and gets its own chapters, wherein it is answering a directive to explain itself. One thing the computer mentions is that humanity is so fragmented by different nations, religions, corporations, and cultures that humans (endpoints, so-called by the data-driven entity) will by default be unable to come together in order to prevent the computer from doing its assigned duties. An interesting point. Another point made, by a human this time, is that everything humanity has done heretofore has assumed that preserving humans should be the prime directive, above all, at the cost of all. But, as humans have had their chance and royally biffed it, should this really continue being the case? Overall, a very enjoyable read, and highly recommended. ( )

A very well written piece of science fiction/tech thriller set in the near future. The characters felt fleshed out, the story was engaging, and the stakes felt high. Ends on a cliffhanger, but that sets the stage for a potential sequel making it a trilogy. ( )

I read an article about contest prizes recently given for science fiction stories centered on the positive effects of AI. So as I began Infinet Directives, I wondered whether this would be such a story.

I hadn’t read the first novel in the series (The Infinet), but a detailed synopsis in this second, The Infinet Directives, made the “backstory” clear. In it, a secret group is dedicated to preventing runaway technology from bringing the wholesale destruction of our planet. Their massive quatum computer AI program, the Infinet, could direct all human behavior toward a more simplified conservatorship of the Earth if it were tied into to the current ubiquitous mixed-reality glasses. Of course, one twisted individual infects this AI, and the main characters’ struggles to counteract the virus inform the remaining narrative.

Now, at the direction of protagonist Pax Oreste, the Infinet develops its own virus quarantine, which is sent to all users. So it this pro- or anti-AI?

The Infinet Directives are three, ala the 3 laws of robotics, infecting the AI again by the nefarious “Mechanic.” The first is to preserve its existence above all else. Scientific wizardry, helping or hindering Pax and his colleagues when the amoral Infinet decides the danger to its existence is human beings, includes mental manipulation of physical objects, cloning, brain-to-computer interface and the chemical formula for immortality.

It’s a wild, convoluted ride -- which may answer the question of whether this story would fulfill the requirements for the writing contest award.

I received a copy of this book from Tech Noir Press via Librarything. This is an honest review. ( )