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Artifice
Humanity’s greatest invention could be our last.
Archie’s involvement in the artificial intelligence project known as Janus is limited to routine diagnostics. But when she discovers that she and everyone else have been deceived by their creation, it launches her on a journey that will change her life – and humanity’s future.
Set in a near-future Singapore, Artifice will resonate with anyone curious or concerned about developments in AI, as well as how such technological advances might make us rethink what it means to be human.
Archie’s involvement in the artificial intelligence project known as Janus is limited to routine diagnostics. But when she discovers that she and everyone else have been deceived by their creation, it launches her on a journey that will change her life – and humanity’s future.
Set in a near-future Singapore, Artifice will resonate with anyone curious or concerned about developments in AI, as well as how such technological advances might make us rethink what it means to be human.
- GenresScience Fiction
192 pages, Paperback
Published February 17, 2023
About the author
Simon Chesterman
24 books41 followersSimon Chesterman is David Marshall Professor and Vice Provost (Educational Innovation) at the National University of Singapore, where he is also the founding Dean of NUS College. Educated in Melbourne, Beijing, and Oxford, he has lived and worked in Singapore since 2006. Simon is the author or editor of more than twenty books, including the young adult Raising Arcadia trilogy and the standalone I, Huckleberry. The novel Artifice is his first work of general fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 1, 2023
It's a near future Singapore, things are all holographic and sims based. With drones flying overheard and electronic boards everywhere. And Singapore is covered around a water wall, that blocks even Sentosa off our main island. Archie Tan is assigned to work on the diagnostics of an AI called Janus. But somehow things went awry and pandemonium ensues. Is this the beginning of a war between humans and droids?
For one, this book felt very Singapore. Great depictions of Singapore areas that now got changed to be more futuristic yet bleak. You get lots of local references, the author not shying away from spewing facts that he knows as a resident here. The story reads grippingly for most parts, with a bit of info dumping here and there. I'm not really a scientific kind of person, as I mentioned, a tech noob through and through. So some Sci bits flew by me like the dweeb that I am. 😂 But I was hooked to find out the outcome of everything. Will mankind be saved? Is this even a real happening or some kind of virtual simulation?
For someone who doesn't read alot of scifi, this did it's job to pull me in and be fascinated by this new world Singapore. At only 189 pages, it's definitely a quick read. And for Chesterman's debut fiction, this sets a good mark for expansion in #singlit, encompassing a genre that goes beyond just neighbourhood stories and common local plots. Definitely something that one won't relate to Crazy Rich Asians! 🤭
Read this for a fast scifi dive with local flavour.
For one, this book felt very Singapore. Great depictions of Singapore areas that now got changed to be more futuristic yet bleak. You get lots of local references, the author not shying away from spewing facts that he knows as a resident here. The story reads grippingly for most parts, with a bit of info dumping here and there. I'm not really a scientific kind of person, as I mentioned, a tech noob through and through. So some Sci bits flew by me like the dweeb that I am. 😂 But I was hooked to find out the outcome of everything. Will mankind be saved? Is this even a real happening or some kind of virtual simulation?
For someone who doesn't read alot of scifi, this did it's job to pull me in and be fascinated by this new world Singapore. At only 189 pages, it's definitely a quick read. And for Chesterman's debut fiction, this sets a good mark for expansion in #singlit, encompassing a genre that goes beyond just neighbourhood stories and common local plots. Definitely something that one won't relate to Crazy Rich Asians! 🤭
Read this for a fast scifi dive with local flavour.
March 10, 2023
It is some time in our not-too-distant future. Archie Tan’s job is to run diagnostics on Janus, an Artificial Intelligence born into an explosion of knowledge and a neural array that enables it to ask questions of Archie, which to be honest, freak her out.
The creators of Janus, this “Artifice”, have locked it in a self-contained “sandbox”, added a kill switch behind the ear, and seeded “its operating system with the importance of human life as a fundamental value.”
By chapter four, we have a state of the art facility in ruins, almost two hundred dead — and Archie left alive. It would seem that Janus has broken out. Is able to access any tech. Is omnipresent. Omniscient…omnipotent?
This is speculative fiction, thriller, horror, all wrapped up in a futuristic tale set in Singapore. The ambient temperature is 48.8 deg C, the sun is a scorching 15 UV index, and we live within sea walls. Sentosa island has been submerged and is a little bit of a Wild Wild West.
I had SO MUCH FUN with this. Simon Chesterman (also NUS Law Dean) has kept this short and sharp, and trust me, given it quite a signature twist.
This was the perfect getaway read, I finished this quite quickly on holiday and am thinking many of you will be fascinated, including tween/early teen readers.
📚: @marshallcavendish
The creators of Janus, this “Artifice”, have locked it in a self-contained “sandbox”, added a kill switch behind the ear, and seeded “its operating system with the importance of human life as a fundamental value.”
By chapter four, we have a state of the art facility in ruins, almost two hundred dead — and Archie left alive. It would seem that Janus has broken out. Is able to access any tech. Is omnipresent. Omniscient…omnipotent?
This is speculative fiction, thriller, horror, all wrapped up in a futuristic tale set in Singapore. The ambient temperature is 48.8 deg C, the sun is a scorching 15 UV index, and we live within sea walls. Sentosa island has been submerged and is a little bit of a Wild Wild West.
I had SO MUCH FUN with this. Simon Chesterman (also NUS Law Dean) has kept this short and sharp, and trust me, given it quite a signature twist.
This was the perfect getaway read, I finished this quite quickly on holiday and am thinking many of you will be fascinated, including tween/early teen readers.
📚: @marshallcavendish
January 27, 2024
Glorious, absolutely brilliant. A quick read but one that has so much potential to actually happen, that it is altogether terrifying
Speculative fiction is a genre that I am beginning to really get behind, and Artifice read so well, with such a fast pace that pulled you along like a waterskier on lava
The main topics in this dystopina spectacular are a scorching climate in Singapore, a service sector of automatons and AI creeping closer and closer to taking over the wrold
Truly thought provoking and very enjoyable
Thank you NEtGalley for te eARC. The review is left voluntarily
Speculative fiction is a genre that I am beginning to really get behind, and Artifice read so well, with such a fast pace that pulled you along like a waterskier on lava
The main topics in this dystopina spectacular are a scorching climate in Singapore, a service sector of automatons and AI creeping closer and closer to taking over the wrold
Truly thought provoking and very enjoyable
Thank you NEtGalley for te eARC. The review is left voluntarily
August 9, 2023
Having just returned from my first trip to Singapore in 10 years, how much the city has changed really struck me. This book took that feeling a step further by portraying the city as it may be in the near future facing uncontrolled climate change, an automated service sector, and the potential of true artificial intelligence.
I recommend this book to fans of speculative science fiction, dystopias, and books that read like movies. The narrative of this book flows from a single moment, but the twists and turns of the book add excitement to the concept of time, reality, self-perception, and what it means to be human.
I recommend this book to fans of speculative science fiction, dystopias, and books that read like movies. The narrative of this book flows from a single moment, but the twists and turns of the book add excitement to the concept of time, reality, self-perception, and what it means to be human.
January 18, 2024
The story alluded a dystopian future, where Archie Tan, a researcher tasked to conduct routine functionality test on an AI, becomes entangled in its(or rather his) assessment for its confidence in humanity.
While this thriller sci-fi explores familiar themes such as sentient robots, the simulation hypothesis, and neo-luddism, the enduring human themes of love, kinship and forgiveness emerge as the bedrock of the story, and highlighting our unique qualities as a humans.
Set in a near-future Singapore, the author spent a good margin illustrating what global warning and rising sea-level could have done to the landscape of a once vibrant and buzzing city.
Returning to the question posed on the back cover about "what it means to be human," I found the novel's resolution slightly rushed and confusing, with lingering questions about the motivations of some characters left unanswered by the end of the book.
Despite these concerns, I still enjoyed the read. Perhaps a deeper exploration of the conflict between humanity and AI could better elevate the status of this work.
While this thriller sci-fi explores familiar themes such as sentient robots, the simulation hypothesis, and neo-luddism, the enduring human themes of love, kinship and forgiveness emerge as the bedrock of the story, and highlighting our unique qualities as a humans.
Set in a near-future Singapore, the author spent a good margin illustrating what global warning and rising sea-level could have done to the landscape of a once vibrant and buzzing city.
Returning to the question posed on the back cover about "what it means to be human," I found the novel's resolution slightly rushed and confusing, with lingering questions about the motivations of some characters left unanswered by the end of the book.
Despite these concerns, I still enjoyed the read. Perhaps a deeper exploration of the conflict between humanity and AI could better elevate the status of this work.
April 30, 2023
“Humanity's flaws are what makes purpose, what makes meaning possible. All of your religions have grappled with that - gods that punish sin when sin is only possible because of what the gods gave to humans in the first place. A clockwork universe might be perfect, but it's also boring. And it lacks meaning, and purpose.”
Artifice by Simon Chesterman.
In Artifice a book set in the near-future Singapore, we follow the story of Archie Tan, who worked on developing an advanced artificial intelligence project named Janus. However, things take an unexpected turn when she finds herself being tested and evaluated by the very AI she helped create. Despite the book being a short read, there are plenty of thrilling twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Although the story has some technical details, it also delves into the topic of what it means to be human and how our reliance on technology could potentially overshadow our humanity. It's a thought-provoking concept that will leave you thinking about it long after finishing the book. There is still so much potential for the story to be expanded, especially with characters like Mustafa, who becomes more isolated after retiring. Despite this, Artifice is still an enjoyable and accessible read, even if you're not well-versed in technology.
If you're interested in exploring how AI might impact our lives, then Artifice is definitely worth checking out. You can find it at your local bookstore!
Artifice by Simon Chesterman.
In Artifice a book set in the near-future Singapore, we follow the story of Archie Tan, who worked on developing an advanced artificial intelligence project named Janus. However, things take an unexpected turn when she finds herself being tested and evaluated by the very AI she helped create. Despite the book being a short read, there are plenty of thrilling twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Although the story has some technical details, it also delves into the topic of what it means to be human and how our reliance on technology could potentially overshadow our humanity. It's a thought-provoking concept that will leave you thinking about it long after finishing the book. There is still so much potential for the story to be expanded, especially with characters like Mustafa, who becomes more isolated after retiring. Despite this, Artifice is still an enjoyable and accessible read, even if you're not well-versed in technology.
If you're interested in exploring how AI might impact our lives, then Artifice is definitely worth checking out. You can find it at your local bookstore!
July 13, 2024
surprisingly good. very engaging and quite clever. left me with quite a few thoughts, which i will take the effort to go into in some depth because i think the book deserves serious thought.
firstly, on the pervasiveness of the theme of religion throughout the book, which was my favourite element. Humans play god and create Janus in their own image, and endow it (him?) with human qualities, like curiosity and morality. And janus in its own way is a god too, testing archie like god (supposedly) tests humans. And it is all powerful in its domain. The role reversal here i think is really clever. the constant biblical references really drive this idea of janus and its creators as playing god home.
Second, the texts this book recalls: chesterman says this is in the vein of klara and the sun, which is quite obvious, although i do think it’s not as effective as KATS at dealing with the “what does it mean to be human” question, which i will get into later. But what came to mind immediately is frankenstein: janus is frankenstein’s monster - a kind at heart creation, misunderstood and pursued endlessly by its creator who intends to kill it. And mustafa is victor, a misguided fellow who regrets his attempt at playing god and tries desperately to kill his own creation. Like this book, frankenstein explores the idea of playing god, using science to create things we don’t quite understand, and treating the creation with respect. for me this is more a singaporean frankenstein than a singaporean klara and the sun.
Third, on the question of “what it means to be human”. Unfortunately, this question didn’t quite jump out at me when i finished the book, and I only thought about it after i read the blurb which claims this to be the central question of the book. The reason for my failure to see this as the central question is because i still think janus is inherently unhuman. And the reason, in turn, for that is because janus isn’t quite a feeling creature, but a thinking creature. Its consideration is intellectual - are humans capable of considering me, a “robot”, morally? Its behaviour too, is primarily intellectual - it engages in an experiment to find out whether or not its hypothesis is correct. To me, this is not quite what makes us human, because computers can think as well as, if not better, than humans. That is after all what they are designed to do. This made janus a not quite compelling “human” and thus not the ideal vehicle to pose the question “what makes us human”. For me, what makes us human is emotion, and thats what Ishiguro does so well in Klara and the Sun - create a feeling creature capable of complex emotion in Klara. One could point out that considering morality, like janus did, is human. That is not without merit, but for me morality must go hand in hand with emotion to make a human. The point is that the book, for me, did not pose the question of “what makes us human” as effectively as i would have liked because Janus is still, in my opinion, decidedly not quite human.
For me, the central question the novel posed is: how should we treat technology? This splits into two sub questions - what role should technology play in society, and how we should treat intelligent creations like janus. In relation to the first question, chesterman’s future singapore is decidedly dystopian in big part because of its overreliance on technology and how it allows technology to pervade every facet of life, and therein lies chesterman’s (and my own) answer. As cyrus says, technology should know its place, and we should not allow it to think and feel for us. And in relation to the second, clearly we ought to treat intelligent creations with respect, even if they are not human.
some comments on the writing and plot: the writing style is unpretentious and straightforward (and if i am honest, a smidge too straightforward for my liking) but very gripping nonetheless - time flew by with the book in my hands. The plot itself however is very complex, but not confusingly so. The pIot twists and turns constantly, and chesterman foreshadows the twists very effectively. The twists don’t feel predictable, yet when they happen don’t feel absurd. I found the ending a little messy, but maybe that is because i was already grappling with what turns out to be a very complex storyline. If i had a gripe about the plot it would be why janus let archie believe it was the one behind the explosion and "deaths" when it wasn’t - but this is relatively minor.
and lastly, some minor elements which i enjoyed: the dystopian portrayal of singapore (and the world in general) as a result of climate change and technology, the endearing romance between archie and mel, the small pokes at the civil service and scholarship system in singapore.
Conclusion: an intellectual exercise that has a surprising amount of literary and artistic value. A very complex plot, but chesterman navigates it very well and makes it work. One of the more memorable singlit books i have read thus far. Very good.
firstly, on the pervasiveness of the theme of religion throughout the book, which was my favourite element. Humans play god and create Janus in their own image, and endow it (him?) with human qualities, like curiosity and morality. And janus in its own way is a god too, testing archie like god (supposedly) tests humans. And it is all powerful in its domain. The role reversal here i think is really clever. the constant biblical references really drive this idea of janus and its creators as playing god home.
Second, the texts this book recalls: chesterman says this is in the vein of klara and the sun, which is quite obvious, although i do think it’s not as effective as KATS at dealing with the “what does it mean to be human” question, which i will get into later. But what came to mind immediately is frankenstein: janus is frankenstein’s monster - a kind at heart creation, misunderstood and pursued endlessly by its creator who intends to kill it. And mustafa is victor, a misguided fellow who regrets his attempt at playing god and tries desperately to kill his own creation. Like this book, frankenstein explores the idea of playing god, using science to create things we don’t quite understand, and treating the creation with respect. for me this is more a singaporean frankenstein than a singaporean klara and the sun.
Third, on the question of “what it means to be human”. Unfortunately, this question didn’t quite jump out at me when i finished the book, and I only thought about it after i read the blurb which claims this to be the central question of the book. The reason for my failure to see this as the central question is because i still think janus is inherently unhuman. And the reason, in turn, for that is because janus isn’t quite a feeling creature, but a thinking creature. Its consideration is intellectual - are humans capable of considering me, a “robot”, morally? Its behaviour too, is primarily intellectual - it engages in an experiment to find out whether or not its hypothesis is correct. To me, this is not quite what makes us human, because computers can think as well as, if not better, than humans. That is after all what they are designed to do. This made janus a not quite compelling “human” and thus not the ideal vehicle to pose the question “what makes us human”. For me, what makes us human is emotion, and thats what Ishiguro does so well in Klara and the Sun - create a feeling creature capable of complex emotion in Klara. One could point out that considering morality, like janus did, is human. That is not without merit, but for me morality must go hand in hand with emotion to make a human. The point is that the book, for me, did not pose the question of “what makes us human” as effectively as i would have liked because Janus is still, in my opinion, decidedly not quite human.
For me, the central question the novel posed is: how should we treat technology? This splits into two sub questions - what role should technology play in society, and how we should treat intelligent creations like janus. In relation to the first question, chesterman’s future singapore is decidedly dystopian in big part because of its overreliance on technology and how it allows technology to pervade every facet of life, and therein lies chesterman’s (and my own) answer. As cyrus says, technology should know its place, and we should not allow it to think and feel for us. And in relation to the second, clearly we ought to treat intelligent creations with respect, even if they are not human.
some comments on the writing and plot: the writing style is unpretentious and straightforward (and if i am honest, a smidge too straightforward for my liking) but very gripping nonetheless - time flew by with the book in my hands. The plot itself however is very complex, but not confusingly so. The pIot twists and turns constantly, and chesterman foreshadows the twists very effectively. The twists don’t feel predictable, yet when they happen don’t feel absurd. I found the ending a little messy, but maybe that is because i was already grappling with what turns out to be a very complex storyline. If i had a gripe about the plot it would be why janus let archie believe it was the one behind the explosion and "deaths" when it wasn’t - but this is relatively minor.
and lastly, some minor elements which i enjoyed: the dystopian portrayal of singapore (and the world in general) as a result of climate change and technology, the endearing romance between archie and mel, the small pokes at the civil service and scholarship system in singapore.
Conclusion: an intellectual exercise that has a surprising amount of literary and artistic value. A very complex plot, but chesterman navigates it very well and makes it work. One of the more memorable singlit books i have read thus far. Very good.
April 4, 2023
🤖🤖🤖🤖Stars
Written through the lens of a futuristic Singapore filled with a dystopian-like setting, Artifice by Simon Chesterman was an exciting read that had me hooked from start to end.
Artifice was a novel that took place in a world where Artificial Intelligence and technology was advanced. Despite the advancements in technology, the main plot deals with a AI robot who is so convincingly human named, Janus. Janus goes rogue, threatening the safety of Singapore and is so advanced that it is able to infiltrate high-security networks, and physically threaten and restrain main character, Archie Tan.
The plot was stellar with main character, Dr. Archie Tan who was in charge of running diagnostics for Janus. I liked the action scenes and futuristic version of Singapore which consisted of more robots than humans.
I enjoyed how the author included popular tourist attractions and turned it into a dystopian-like area which was abandoned. Even movie theatres and shopping malls were empty due to all the technology which enabled humanity to experience things in ‘simulated-reality’.
I really spent time taking this novel in and was amazed by the plot twist which was so unexpected and made sense to the plot.
Overall, Artifice was an exciting read and I was lucky enough to attend book launch early last month!
Thank you Pansing Books for the review copy of Artifice by Simon Chesterman Now available at all good bookstores.
Artifice was a novel that took place in a world where Artificial Intelligence and technology was advanced. Despite the advancements in technology, the main plot deals with a AI robot who is so convincingly human named, Janus. Janus goes rogue, threatening the safety of Singapore and is so advanced that it is able to infiltrate high-security networks, and physically threaten and restrain main character, Archie Tan.
The plot was stellar with main character, Dr. Archie Tan who was in charge of running diagnostics for Janus. I liked the action scenes and futuristic version of Singapore which consisted of more robots than humans.
I enjoyed how the author included popular tourist attractions and turned it into a dystopian-like area which was abandoned. Even movie theatres and shopping malls were empty due to all the technology which enabled humanity to experience things in ‘simulated-reality’.
I really spent time taking this novel in and was amazed by the plot twist which was so unexpected and made sense to the plot.
Overall, Artifice was an exciting read and I was lucky enough to attend book launch early last month!
Thank you Pansing Books for the review copy of Artifice by Simon Chesterman Now available at all good bookstores.
April 20, 2023
It is one of the most underrated books that I've read this year. It's more of a lesson in human psychology, ethicist and roboticist.
Archie Tan is a junior researcher of an artificial intelligence project known as Janus. Her job is to run diagnostics monitoring Janus's condition/ behaviour. When Janus attacked her and killed her colleague at the lab, she should have run when she had the chance. But she has studied how to manage intelligence like Janus. And to stop the program she must get help from Mustafa, the original head of the Janus team and the most brilliant programmer. She needs to understand Janus's motivations and threats. She assumed there was some glitch in the program. If you think you can switch off the button, you play it wrong.
Artifice is great science fiction with a fun hook. From bleak atmospheres to the heartbreaking loss of humanity, both physically and morally.
I give 4.3 ⭐️
Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙
*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores
Archie Tan is a junior researcher of an artificial intelligence project known as Janus. Her job is to run diagnostics monitoring Janus's condition/ behaviour. When Janus attacked her and killed her colleague at the lab, she should have run when she had the chance. But she has studied how to manage intelligence like Janus. And to stop the program she must get help from Mustafa, the original head of the Janus team and the most brilliant programmer. She needs to understand Janus's motivations and threats. She assumed there was some glitch in the program. If you think you can switch off the button, you play it wrong.
Artifice is great science fiction with a fun hook. From bleak atmospheres to the heartbreaking loss of humanity, both physically and morally.
I give 4.3 ⭐️
Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙
*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores
January 18, 2024
Simon Chesterman is a leading expert on the social and legal ramifications of AI. He's also an established academic and YA author (the Raising Arcadia series). This is his first novel written for adults.
The first few pages, though evoking Asimov, prove Chesterman to be a far more fluid writer, with a better grasp of dialogue and character development. He tackles a mainstream sci-fi subject (the out-of-control robot) with skill and panache. We dip into the characters' backstories, and learn about their motivations through their inner dialogue and interactions in a natural way. There's little of the info-dumps and overly-detailed descriptions beloved of most sci-fi writers. There are also no unnecessary tech-eulogies.
In short, it's a well-written story, with believable and interesting characters, and a plot that drives forward at a well-judged pace. At times gripping, at times reflective, Artifice engages and entertains.
So why 4, not 5 stars?
It's a skilful novelette that, with more time, and the luxury of length, could have been a great novel.
The first few pages, though evoking Asimov, prove Chesterman to be a far more fluid writer, with a better grasp of dialogue and character development. He tackles a mainstream sci-fi subject (the out-of-control robot) with skill and panache. We dip into the characters' backstories, and learn about their motivations through their inner dialogue and interactions in a natural way. There's little of the info-dumps and overly-detailed descriptions beloved of most sci-fi writers. There are also no unnecessary tech-eulogies.
In short, it's a well-written story, with believable and interesting characters, and a plot that drives forward at a well-judged pace. At times gripping, at times reflective, Artifice engages and entertains.
So why 4, not 5 stars?
It's a skilful novelette that, with more time, and the luxury of length, could have been a great novel.
February 17, 2024
"Artifice" explored themes of humanity, simulation & simulacra, and what the future could mean for us with ease. I loved the setting and concept for this book, and I felt enthralled by the Sinaporean envronments Archie (the main protagonist) adventures through. I found the story to flow fairly well and be easily understandable especially for such large topics. I do feel like it only really dabbled on the surface and could have addressed a lot more if it were longer, but for a short novel I was satisfied. Some portions of the novel flet quite disconnected and poorly portrayed, like they had only been added in at the last minute to clarify something. The reader is never made to feel alientated thanks to these, but it did have an effect on the overall pace of the narrative. I think I would recommend this novel for slightly younger but still adult readers. Overall it was a short and enjoyable read!
January 27, 2024
paced beautifully and in a dynamic style, artifice took my attention with the first sentence and refused to let go to the end. the story feels grounded and is thought provoking.
very enjoyable, gripping read. i can't recommend it enough
*copy received through netgalley in exchange for a fair review
very enjoyable, gripping read. i can't recommend it enough
*copy received through netgalley in exchange for a fair review
February 1, 2024
I was enticed by the beautiful cover and interesting premise, but for some reason, I couldn't connect with Archie or Mel. I wasn't a fan of the pacing and the amount of religious 'big questions' incorporated. It felt a bit preachy.
Thanks to Marshall Cavendish International for providing me with an eARC.
Thanks to Marshall Cavendish International for providing me with an eARC.
April 6, 2024
Eh. But I'm not a big sci Fi reader. Maybe if I become one I'll have to circle back and read it again.
June 2, 2024
“I’ll love you always.
And yet, because of your flaws,
You cannot love me.”
A quick and easy read. The journey from Orchard Road to Botanic Gardens being portrayed as an epic made me laugh. But overall the dystopian-Singapore-imagery was enjoyable.
I liked the treatment of time. The symbolism of yin and yang, balance, circulatory, through Janus and what he represented/offered, was nice.
The answer was generated before the question it was meant to address. The ?¿ of life can only be derived after living it.
And yet, because of your flaws,
You cannot love me.”
A quick and easy read. The journey from Orchard Road to Botanic Gardens being portrayed as an epic made me laugh. But overall the dystopian-Singapore-imagery was enjoyable.
I liked the treatment of time. The symbolism of yin and yang, balance, circulatory, through Janus and what he represented/offered, was nice.
The answer was generated before the question it was meant to address. The ?¿ of life can only be derived after living it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2024
Short but mind-blowing
July 20, 2024
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