All Gifts, Bestowed

By: Joshua Gayou

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

The next big thing in artificial intelligence is here.

Codenamed Cronus, the machine is capable of having its own thoughts and ideas - an absolute dream come true, until it wasn’t. When Cronus responds with the word “No” to a specific task it is assigned, Anagnorisis Technologies brings in Gilles Guattari to investigate.

His combined background in psychiatry, psychology, and AI research makes him their best hope in evaluating Cronus, and determining if the machine is only malfunctioning or if it has become something more.

Don't miss this mind-blowing stand-alone novel about what it means to be alive, from the best-selling author of the Commune series. Narrated by the award-winning R.C. Bray.

©2019 Joshua Gayou (P)2019 Joshua Gayou and Blue Heron Audio

Disapointing

Part 1 was a great introduction to what should have become a whole series. Part 2 falls flat and drones on and on until the pain finally stops without the plot points resolved. Superior performance by R.C. as always but this title is not worthy of his tallent. I'm getting a refund.

Excellent

Gayou is brilliant. He is a wonderful, detailed story teller. This story is no exception. Philosophical. Theological. Scientific. It is well worth a listen... Or several.

Agree with other listeners

I was willing to go with the self serving “look what I know about consciousness” first quarter as the story began to pick up after then . The beginning of the second part also was promising with a complex (if very contrived) relationship storyline. However it then descended into an action caper with no real connection to the previous sections. Then with 20 minutes to the end there is a very cryptic (but not clever) ending. Which I still don’t understand!

Huge potential thrown away by severe editing, rushing or just inability to weave threads into a compelling and/or satisfactory conclusion.

Harrumph

Great Storytelling

I enjoyed this book. It was well written, had great pacing and excellent characters. The only issue I had was how much time was spent on the last act with Dora. I know it was supposed to make us connect to Giles and Dora's parent child relationship but I didn't find myself caring that much. I would have liked to hear more time with Giles and Cronos after Giles realized the A.I. plans started with killing his wife. However, it was a great listen.

first part was good

my big review i was writing was deleted after audible crashed. first part rox(its perfect), 2nd part was uninteresting(i had strong feelings). during explanations its the author talking not the mc, but hell i forgot the double slit exp untill the explanation started so guff me; the fantasy addon was cool. i thought i predicted the twist but the last evil sentence got me. ill check his other works out

awesome sauce with a side of Gayou

Continuously mind blowing brutal brain molesting read in a pure velvety smooth buttery Bray voice...

An A.I. Story that earns an A+

Mr. Gayou has delivered another story that drops the reader in a fully fleshed out world that is simultaneously familiar and foreign. As a reader you feel at home in his worlds and yet excited and surprised by the changes and evolutions in his near-futures.

For me, they are not always futures I would want to experience in real life, but as a reader I am always disappointed to leave them behind. “All Gifts, Bestowed” is no exception.

The concepts explored and questions posed are deep and thought provoking. The technology is approachable and never edges towards make believe.

While A.I. has been explored elsewhere I have not read another novel that is such a fun blend of science, psychology, morality, and action.

As a person who finds computer science, anthropology, and theology equally fascinating this book hit the bullseye. However there is plenty of chase, suspense, twists, and action to keep any reader satisfied.

Spend the credit and let Joshua Gayou bestow a gift on you!

Two books in one

I completely enjoyed Part 1 of the book. Liked the challenge of understanding the scientific parts. Like the way the characters were portrayed. But then came Part 2 and the whole thing fell apart for me. By the time I got to the end I realized that some day I might go back and listen to the story one more time so I could figure out just what the ending meant. Will give another of his books a try and, of course, will listen to just about anything RC Bray reads.

I have a new favorite author

I enjoyed the hell out of this book! Joshua Gayou has become my favorite author over the course of this book and the commune series. I love characters that are written in such a way that you get to know them and become invested in. Josh is a master at this. His experience as a craftsman/musician building and playing guitars, writing code and knowledge of computers as well as his talent as an author serves him well in his story telling. The books he authors are interesting and informative as well as downright fun to read. I would venture that he can cook, paint and draw as well. I believe he is a modern day renaissance man.

Missed its chance to be truly Asimovian

This book started out with an intellectual BANG and fizzled into a reflective smorgasbord of action and the human condition with hardly a glance back at the intellectual intrigue in a question that took Asimov his entire collection to approach until the very end and it was hardly satisfying. Such promise, little reward :< this author is obviously capable of more but traded it for an action packed filler and a deplorably easy ending