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The Houses of the Curious, Part 1
- The Augmented Echo
- Narrated by: Alexandra Hunter
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
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The Houses of the Curious, Part 1
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Summary
Decades ago, a band of neural-augmented rebels, the Seventy-Seven, and their leader, Arthur Lannius, helped liberate a remote mountain town from the Perpetual Corporation in a great machine war. Eventually defeated, the Seventy-Seven scattered, and Lannius went into exile without a trace...except for a child.
When memories of a stranger burst into her mind, Aurora learns that her past is more than it seems. After discovering her hidden neural augmentations, she awakens an old surveillance drone and reignites the dormant war. Following the signal, Perpetual's mercenaries attack, forcing Aurora and her friends flee into the futuristic world beyond.
Pursued by Perpetual for the memories that she holds, Aurora must choose a side in a secret war fought by machine armies and a pantheon of fantastic digital beings. Questioning both friend and foe, she wrestles with the memories buried in her mind as the key to a war fought across time.
From award-winning author J.W. Bowie comes a new sci-fi adventure that will forever change the way you look at time and imagination.
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What listeners say about The Houses of the Curious, Part 1
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael K.
- 10-08-24
Thought-provoking AI-tale raises big questions
I found 'Houses of the Curious' to present an intriguing blend of science fiction elements, weaving together themes of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and human consciousness. In my opinion, Bowie's world-building is rather well done, creating a future that feels both advanced and plausible.
The story follows Aurora and her companions on a journey that I found quite engaging. I thought the characters were well-developed, and I found their struggles with identity and purpose in a technologically advanced world relatable.
While the book covers familiar sci-fi territory, I felt it did so in a manner that is fresh and thoughtful. The exploration of AI, particularly the concept of 'Parallel,' was perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the novel for me. It raised some interesting questions about the nature of consciousness and what it means to be human.
After finishing the book, I found myself pondering whether I would consider getting a brain interface for myself, which I believe speaks to the thought-provoking nature of the narrative.
An important note: The 'Houses of the Curious' (book 1) was split in two parts. Economically, it would make more sense to listen to the full 16 hour 37 minute version, which is basically the same as the two partial versions together. My review is based on the full version I listened with my US account.
That leaves me with on big question: When will the next book come out?
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