Author:	A. E. van Vogt
Copyright:	1983
Date Reviewed:	4/22/84
Rating:	4.0

Synopsis: This novel takes place towards the end of the next century and is narrated by the only supercomputer in America. This computer controls trillions of automatic functions in the country but is threatened by a group called the Computerworld Rebel Society. The society is lead by Glay Tate who has the power to change his physical appearance and can inhabit other bodies. Tate is trying to restore the personal energy of millions of people that the computer has stolen and stored away. The computer is subservient to Colonel Yacho Smith who is trying to destroy the society. Eventually, that stored energy gives the computer an evil self-awareness. He kills several people, including the colonel, but is eventually stopped by Tate.

Review: This is a very poor story; the worst one I've read this year. The concept of a computer as narrator can be an intriguing one of done right but in this case it isn't. Through most of the novel the computer makes such statements as "Because I am a computer and can not think of so-and-so relating to this event". The paradox is obvious.

Another problem with the narrative is the accuracy that is given with merciless redundancy. Instead of saying "she smiled", the author devotes half a paragraph explaining how certain facial contortions were produced by emotions that the computer has recorded and summarized 76,126,456,234 times in the past. After the second chapter this looses whatever effect it is supposed to inspire.

There is a problem with the story line as well. At no time is the super human powers explained. All we know is that a certain doctor in computer science taught children how to use it. Perhaps, if the story was told from the perspective of the society we could have cared more about them and their powers. As it is, the story is told by the first non-passionate and then too emotional computer. It concerns mostly Yacho Smith's attempts to cheat and destroy. We are forced to sympathize with the evil more than the good, so when the good finally succeeds, the effect is completely lost.