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I Still Dream

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I Still Dream

By: James Smythe
Narrated by: Sarah Ovens, Jennifer Saayeng, Oliver Hembrough, John Moraitis, Christopher Ragland
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About this listen

‘The best fictional treatment of the possibilities and horrors of artificial intelligence that I’ve read’ Guardian

In 1997 Laura Bow invented Organon, a rudimentary artificial intelligence.

Now she and her creation are at the forefront of the new wave of technology, and Laura must decide whether or not to reveal Organon’s full potential to the world. If it falls into the wrong hands, its power could be abused. Will Organon save humanity, or lead it to extinction?

I Still Dream is a powerful tale of love, loss and hope; a frightening, heartbreakingly human look at who we are now – and who we can be, if we only allow ourselves.

Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Genetic Engineering Genre Fiction Science Fiction Fantasy Heartfelt Technology Computer Science

Critic reviews

‘Smythe's most accomplished work… Utterly engrossing’ Observer Best Summer Books

‘Superbly evocative… a book about varieties of intelligence (human, artificial, moral and emotional) which showcases the novelistic one of its very smart and very talented creator’ Sunday Times

‘I Still Dream is amazing!’ Beth Lewis, author of Wolf Road

‘Sad, beguiling…a beautiful mixtape about what it is to be human, and alive, and to love another more than oneself’ Irish Times

‘A haunting meditation on the implications of AI, on intelligence itself, and on what it means to live and die in the age of technology. I Still Dream is a must-read for fans of David Mitchell, for anyone who’s ever used a smartphone, and for anyone who appreciates riveting plots and beautiful prose.’ Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven

‘A humane, thought-provoking and powerful book … superbly orchestrated … beautiful, involving, emotionally compelling’ Adam Roberts

‘One of the most affecting and brilliant books I've read this year … a huge achievement: toweringly ambitious, and yet beautifully controlled and crafted’ Sam Byers, author of Idiopathy

‘This is a visionary novel about what it is to be human. It is a startling look at intelligence, empathy and grief in the face of technology. Smythe has written his masterpiece’
Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good Immigrant and author of Meatspace

‘I STILL DREAM begins with melancholy nostalgia, before growing urgently contemporary and finally chillingly prescient. It is a strikingly intelligent book about intelligence itself: artificial intelligence, emotional intelligence, and all the ways we watch each other. Having read it, you may wish to turn off your phone’ Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent

All stars
Most relevant
More hopeful and humane than Black Mirror but just as engaging, this is a gorgeous piece of speculative fiction for anyone who's ever looked at their phone and thought, "but how did it know?"

The story of how AI-type programmes are created is filled in piece by piece and, refreshingly, looks at both how it could go horribly wrong and how wonderful that tech might be. This book will make you question how much of yourself you pour into your digital devices and how much access we give machines and corporations into our homes. It might make you want to chuck out your Alexa.

Normally I don't like it when a story is broken up over time, but each chapter was equally engaging and necessary to the story. There were some strange accent mash ups at times, but overrall the narration was great. And how could I not adore a novel that is a love song to Cloudbusting?

"But how did it know?"

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I Still Dream dives into the human side of AI feet first. A touching story told over multiple timespans from the perspective of a programmer and her own AI.

A clever coming of age story, for an AI

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Compelling fascinating exploration of what AI could become. At the heart of it all, a wonderful story, rich in its humanity.

Science fiction as I've never read before

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Thought Sarah ovens was great, didn't like John Moraitis. Others were okay. story was okay, not quite what I was expecting - a lot more backstory about the human relationships that I wasn't expecting.

Okay story. hit and miss with narration

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What could be dismissed as a fairly simple concept transcends it's limitations and the author creates a fantastic tale about love, loss, AI and global connectivity. A trip through the lifetime of the narrator yields intrigue and interweaves stories across decades, perfectly paced but leaving you wanting to know more at each stop on the journey. Enhanced by impeccable narration!

A triumph!

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