Reviews from Readers
Early readers share their thoughts
This is just a sampling of the feedback coming in from early readers of “The Memory of My Shadow.” So many people have loved the novel despite not being sci-fi fans or even fans of fiction in general. More than half the readers listened to my audio narration and to my great surprise and delight, loved that experience.
The entire serial novel is now published so you can binge the whole thing if you want. Try out the first four episodes completely free! You can get started with Episode #01 or if you need more convincing, check out the preview where I provide a synopsis of the story and a behind-the-scenes look at what inspired me to write the book.
What Readers Are Saying…
“I’m trying hard to think if I’ve read a better novel about AI. The technical descriptions of the Digital Companions, the architecture, the way they functioned, and the way they could access a human body are some of the best I’ve ever read. The philosophical aspect of the relationship between humans and A.I. is something I deeply enjoyed. You managed to bring clarity to a very complex topic through your story, by addressing the personal, social, technical, ethical, and philosophical aspects of A.I. in a framework that makes it understandable for everyone without losing depth and weight. I’m very excited at the end of this book, I think that you wrote something fabulous, of the caliber of The Martian, another novel published online. It’s way better than the film Ex-Machina (which I liked a lot). All in all, a deeply satisfying read that will keep me busy in my thoughts for a very long time.” — Claudia B.
“Well done, Ben! A strong ending to a gripping story with great emotional depth, solid stakes, and important ideas both today and for years to come. You should be very proud of your achievement, and your fearlessness in self-publishing is a model for other new authors, including me.” — Troy F.
The Memory of My Shadow is a tight and well-written thriller with believable characters, both human and not, and wonderfully descriptive prose. It's a timely exploration of the promises and dangers of A.I. and what it means to be human in a world where the lines are beginning to blur. — David N.
I finished Ben Wakeman’s serial novel, “The Memory of My Shadow.” I came on about two-thirds of the way through the book, but of course, I went back and started from the beginning. And let me tell you, I binged that thing. This is an artificial-intelligence sci-fi novel about a super-smart woman who suffered a terrible tragedy and spent her entire life trying to both understand what happened and create something that would prevent it from happening again. Eventually, she goes too far, and the AI does what we cynics often expect AI to do, developing sentience and a will of its own. I don’t want to spoil anything more, but if you’re a sci-fi geek like me, I bet you’ll like this book! — Nicci K.
I've read all three of Ben's novels and enjoyed all of them very much. However, it's undeniable that he has measurably refined his craft along the way and The Memory of My Shadow is his crowning achievement thus far. The concept and characters are engaging. The entanglement of human memory, emotion, and technology is both a cautionary tale and a clever plotline. Cast your line and you're sure to get plenty of bites through the final page. This one's definitely a catch. — Phil C.
Thank you Ben for giving me the opportunity to read your latest novel. I’ve always enjoyed your writings in the past and admittedly sci-fi is not a genre I gravitate to naturally, but I really enjoyed this story. I was most intrigued uncovering the complexities and intricacies in Maggie’s relationship with Meela. During an era in human history where Generative AI is such a key topic on everyone’s radar these days, this novel didn’t feel at all far from a possible interesting future. — Aram Y.
What a provocative, compelling, and engaging read this is! I was drawn along by the story and interested in the characters and their -- and our -- dilemmas. Ben Wakeman is a gifted prose writer who knows how to craft a whopping good tale. — Allison A.
Ben, I loved this novel! The story has complex characters and a necessary critique on the future of AI in this harrowing tale of understanding and overcoming trauma. Fascinating to follow Maggie through her quest to come to grips with and understand her past and discern what her future should be. Maggie’s journey juxtaposed with Meela and Joe’s own development of awareness creates a perfect place for us to contemplate what sentient life/awareness is and wonder is it possible for AI’s to have emotional intelligence. While the story really makes you think, it also is an exciting page-turner! — Dudley G.
Bravo!!! The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the themes of gun violence and trauma are explored in a way that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. With A.I. suddenly the only thing anyone can talk about, I can’t imagine a better book to plumb the depths of what’s possible. I was sad to see it end. I wanted more! — Tamara B.
“I loved this book, Ben! Truly a new genre for me and honestly one I wasn’t sure I would appreciate but it was great. Also, my first audiobook, and I enjoyed that as well. I found myself stressed at times that this could be real. The characters were so engaging that I allowed myself to forget and imagine them as real. You are very talented, and I look forward to the next one!” — Lynn C.
The story is so engrossing. I started reading, but then switched to Ben’s audio narration, and wow! It made the story come to life for me. His voice is captivating, and drew me into the minds of the characters, making me feel like I was right there with them. — Gerry T.
“Wow... talk about food for thought! I can't decide if the ending was satisfying, disquieting, or a mixture of the two. Either way, you knocked it out of the park! Can't wait for the next book you write.” — Lauren A.
“The Memory of My Shadow was such an engaging read! Prior to having read this book, I was basically ignorant of what A.I. is and now I know enough about it to be quite wary. The book’s characters just came to life, and I couldn’t wait to finish the book to learn what happened to each of them!” — Sheri D.
“Ben, thank you so much for sharing your novel. The characters were really memorable and relatable -- all searching for something to sustain them, in different ways. I also loved listening to you bring your characters to life with your voice -- I started out reading but then switched to listening and really enjoyed that. You can give the characters every emphasis or not, in an authentic way since you invented them! And I imagined that a screenplay/movie would draw people in easily - there is a lot going on that would be cool to see on screen. The engaging and unique plot, wild (and not far off) course of events, and detail in the technical descriptions, all of it, showed how much hard work you put into your art. Clearly, you have been thinking deeply about AI and our relationship to it, for a long time. I admit I am very behind on this, so you gave me a good jumping-off point!” — Mina R.