Book roundup, part 39

So, have you seen the state of everything lately? Wow. Which has led me to spend a lot of my reading time on comfort re-reads like the Black Company and Neal Asher’s Polity series. So good, so comfy.

But nevertheless I persisted and have also managed to read a few new things.

Non-fiction

Empire of AI, by Karen Hao ★★★★☆

Tells the deeply researched story of OpenAI’s beginnings almost through to current day. There are so many geniuses, cranks, grifters and true believers!

The book does a good job of painting the intellectual milieu that gave rise to the AI movement as well as the personalities and conflicts inside OpenAI itself, but also puts the technology in its place as it relates to the environment and labor and intellectual property.

Empire of AI does a thorough job synthesizing how Silicon Valley culture has permeated AI research and practice and in so doing paints a very, very dark picture.

Fiction

Crossroads of Ravens, by Andrzej Sapkowski ★★★☆☆

Crossroads of Ravens goes way back to the beginning, when a young Geralt first sets out into the world from Kaer Mohren and learns how to be a witcher. It’s a fun and breezy beginning of the legend that kind of feels like playing an open world game. Geralt (who is at the time of the novel not yet of Rivia) deals with various monsters, both human and not, and in general putters on in his witchery way.

We also learn what caused the destruction of Kaer Mohren if that is important to you.

Crossroads of Ravens is obviously for fans of the series and while it doesn’t really break any new ground, it adds a few layers to the legend. Good times.

The Tainted Cup, by Robert Jackson Bennett ★★★★☆

This is nothing less than a whirlwind whodunnit set in a completely bonkers fantasy world. Humanity is at war with leviathans that emerge from the ocean deeps at a certain time each year. Why? Nobody knows. But the leviathans wreak havoc and must be destroyed, and the Empire has over time been warped into this function above all else.

The leviathan bodies can then be used to power a kind of magic—plant-based magic—that has taken over society. Among other uses, the magic/technology can be used to alter people, giving them superhuman strength or senses or intelligence. Or, in the case of our protagonist, Din, perfect recall.

Din, who is a bit of a strange egg, is assigned to be an assistant for Ana, an investigator who is really, really odd. Think yes, Sherlock Holmes dialed up to 11 with some serious neurodivergence.

If you like fantasy or crime procedurals or both, this one is great. Especially great is how wide Bennett takes the turns in his world building—nothing seems to be too out there for him. Sometimes it seems like you can almost hear him giggling at some extravagant absurdity.

A Drop of Corruption, by Robert Jackson Bennett ★★★★☆

The sequel to The Tainted Cup, A Drop of Corruption continues the adventures of Ana and Din in their fever dream of a reality. The novel aptly continues the story started in The Tainted Cup and expands our knowledge of the world.

If you liked The Tainted Cup you’ll like A Drop of Corruption.

Weird, wild stuff.

Note: The links are Bookshop affiliate links. If you purchase through them I get a tiny kickback, which helps motivate me to keep writing these reviews. Much obliged.