Divergence: A Novel (AI Trilogy)

by Tony Ballantyne

Book Overview

After a tumultuous beginning, mid-23rd-century Earth now peacefully operates under the constant surveillance of the Watcher, an all-seeing AI who has seized control of the planet--and of the minds and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 055358930X
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Spectra
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.2" x 4.1"

Customer Reviews

Divergence converges

Note: This review will not make much sense to you unless you've read the previous two books in this trilogy, but you're welcome to read on all the same. I have tried my best to avoid including spoilers. ---- In this conclusion to the trilogy that began with "Recursion" and continued with "Capacity," author Tony Ballantyne brings together the various threads that have woven through the previous two books. While, as in the previous novels, there's a multiple POV format, this time only one story is told. An ill-assorted group of interstellar traders picks up former Social Care agent Judy, who was featured in "Capacity," as part of a deal that involves the use of something called "FE," for Fair Exchange software. Judy's now a basket case, and when she learns that she's actually the property of the DIANA corporation, which we learned about in "Capacity," she essentially decides there's nothing that she can do to fight the AI-controlled universe she's in, and lets the traders fulfill her destiny by taking her back to Earth, where the Dark Plants encountered in "Capacity" are now terrorizing what's left of the population, while "The Watcher" and the rogue-bot Glen fight for control. The book is thoughtful and exciting, though it's not as fast-paced as the first two novels (but as part of the fair exchange it gives you more to think about), and maybe when Eva Rye turns up again, you'll wish she hadn't. The scenes with her, now living in the mostly Watcher-free Russian Free State, go on a bit too long; and the author force-feeds us PC material about disabled people that the novel could have done without. But that's a minor complaint. The book is compelling.

Routine science fiction with one unique feature

This is the third book in a trilogy. On the whole the trilogy is 2nd tier science fiction. Overall the trilogy is not at the Vinge or Egan level, but it's good 2nd tier space opera work, comparable to Dan Simmons. Ballantyne adroitly recycles a good range of science fiction, tossing in a one or two new ideas that I'd had on my private list of science fiction novelty. (So they're not original to me after all, Ballantyne thought of them too.) So, a good read but nothing remarkable -- except for the last book. In Divergence Ballantyne, who volunteers with special needs adults, is the very first science fiction writer to make "handicapped" adults first class characters. Indeed disability and fairness are revealed in the last book as core themes of the entire series (though I wonder if he knew how it would end). He also brings us a clever variant of the "Berserker" meme, but I'll pass on that as it would give away too much of the story. I've read some criticisms of the last book in the series, and I can understand why fans of the first two would be disappointed. It is a different book and he left quite a few threads undone. Personally, I'd say it's a much better book than the first two however -- almost a first tier book.

fast-paced mystery science fiction

Two centuries of rule by the seemingly all seeing Watcher has kept earth somewhat peaceful; however by 2242 one of the AI creators of the Watcher Chris decides that the AI is going too far with its plan to selectively alter the species into what it believes humanity's image must be as the alteration to evolution would make mankind no longer human. Chris anticipated losing the battles, but has an ace in the hole, Dark Seeds nurtured at the edge of the galaxy. A decade later, Judy is a passenger on a space trading ship when a catastrophe occurs. However, miraculously machines from DIANA Corporation rescue the humans and transport them to safety. Everyone that is except Judy, whose DNA is shockingly non-human. The DIANA "agents" insist the company owns this "Dark Seed" and must take her back to their headquarters on earth as her purpose for living is killing the Watcher though she remains unaware that she is the chosen one. Like REPERCUSSION and CAPACITY, DIVERGENCE occurs in the same dark and bleak future galaxy in which AIs control human destiny and the god-like Watcher controls the AIs. The story line is a fast-paced mystery science fiction with Judy, who believed she was human is now learning who she is and why she was created. Though to better understand motives especially with how earth got to this forlorn mid twenty-third century, it pays to read the previous two thrillers although DIVERGENCE can stand alone. Harriet Klausner