Immortality Bytes

Near-future science fiction can be an interesting sub-genre to straddle: you don’t want things too easy because that won’t be a compelling story, but you also don’t want things to be too dystopian. So you have to walk the fine line of cool new tech and crazy stuff happening that is both believable and thrilling to read about. Immortality Bytes by Daniel Lawrence Abrams does just this, and has a strong unique voice to boot.

It’s some point in the future, but not too far. All the tech we take for granted today has been ratcheted up to eleven! Artificial Intelligence reigns supreme; drones deliver everything to you. One itty bitty problem with that is AI robots have taken most of the jobs and there’s not much left for everyone to do. Fortunately, anyone can get “free money” in the form of universal basic income, with one tiny caveat: they can’t ever have children. No biggie right?

Stu Reigns enjoys doing his livestreams and getting as many viewers as he can; his super-hot and incredible girlfriend who’s too good for him, Maria, gets way more views, but he’s not bitter about that. Well, not much anyway.

Meanwhile, Stu’s ex-girlfriend, Roxy Zhang, has just about figured out a new level of reality: electronic immortality, the possible solution to a lot of things. A rich oligarch wants Stu to steal this revolutionary tech so he can personally benefit from it.

What grabs you right away with Immortality Bytes is Abrams’s voice. It fits so well with the story: fast-paced, slip-stream, hilarious, catchy, jargony… It’s got it all. At times it feels like an American Douglas Adams, which makes you keep reading because you want to know what’s going to happen next, and you’re very entertained.

The other great facet to the book are the referenced documents, whether it’s something Stu did in his past or related to another character’s achievements. The author provides a bordered box with the mentioned document (in the ebook edition this is also hyperlinked, so you just click it and get magically whisked over to reading it), which can be read fully at the back of the book. But if you’re too hooked in on what’s going on, Abrams gives you a quick TL;DR so you don’t have to be thrown out of the flow. It’s a very cool idea that would be great to see used in other books.

Immortality Bytes is the perfect beach read, ebook while commuting, or fun story to get hooked into while you’re killing time. If you like snappy, fun, and funny sci-fi books, this is the one for you.

Reviewed By: Alex C. Telander

The current time is 20NF. The NF stands for “near future.” It is an era of post-scarcity, meaning people are not starving or homeless. Of course, it also might mean that their home is a pod inside a former parking garage. Computers do most of the work, including delivering meals and goods. Only 20% of the population works full-time. The lower classes live on income subsidies from the government. They spend their days online streaming entertainment and playing video games. This reality is not a utopia.

Stu is a middle-class man who desires to be rich. His current girlfriend Maria would like to be out of debt and live comfortably. His ex-girlfriend Roxy has created an AI system that appears to be the path to immortality. She has developed a device to digitally scan a human mind into a virtual mind. This creates a clone that can think exactly like its human form. Just as the name implies, it can’t get hungry nor feel pleasure or pain. There are people that will do anything they can to get their hands on this device. This includes getting Stu involved.

“Immortality Bytes: Digital Minds Don’t Get Hungry” by Daniel Lawrence Abrams is a satirical science fiction novel that takes readers into the realm of digital immortality. The cast of characters is entertaining, and each operates based upon what will best serve them. Greed and the desire for immortality can cause people to behave at their worst. In addition to the satirical elements, there is also a great deal of intrigue.

Abrams has a gift with words. Within his imaginative storytelling, he uses a lot of amusing similes that help create some vivid imagery. Despite the humorous elements, he challenges conventional ideas about life, death, and the nature of consciousness. While it might sound exciting to have an immortal consciousness, it would also be disconcerting to know that you won’t have real feelings. You will only be able to remember what you once felt. The plot is also set during a time when there isn’t a whole lot of enjoyment in life. Even if you have feelings, there isn’t a lot to be excited about, if computers are doing everything for you.

Abrams kept me on the edge of my seat with this fast-paced adventure. In addition to the humor, there were many acts of espionage. I was often caught off guard by the characters’ loyalties. I loved the intrigue. Despite it being a work of science fiction, I still found “Immortality Bytes” to resonate with me long after I finished the novel.

In conclusion, “Immortality Bytes” by Daniel Lawrence Abrams is a must-read for fans of science fiction. With its blend of wit, satire, intrigue, and a captivating storyline, Abrams has created an entertaining escape. I look forward to reading future works by this talented author.

Immortality Bytes: Digital Minds Don't Get Hungry by Daniel Lawrence Abrams tautly examines the consequences of technological advancements and their impact on human society. Set in a near-future world, the story revolves around the lives of several characters, including Stu, an AI programmer; Maria, an activist; and Roxy, a brilliant CEO/scientist. Stu is a part-time influencer doing everything to find his footing in a world where AI is taking the lead and robots are claiming more jobs. With his ex-girlfriend about to complete the technology to perfect electronic immortality, the stakes are as high as the opportunities. A billionaire has offered to buy Roxy’s company, and the rival, a billionaire who might end up in jail for fraud, proposes an irresistible deal to Stu: steal Roxy’s work. Can he do it?

Immortality Bytes is perfect for fans of science fiction, technology, and novels brimming with relevant social commentaries. Daniel Lawrence Abrams infuses the writing with twists and creates elaborate, believable characters. The prose is crisp and loaded with descriptions. The novel raises important questions about the consequences of creating artificial intelligence, the ethics of immortality, and the impact of technological advancements on our daily lives. The conflict is developed at multiple levels, and the author’s exploration of the effect of AI on human society is thought-provoking. Stu's struggles to find funding for his AI research and his desire to make a positive impact on the world are relatable, and his girlfriend Maria's passion for social justice and her willingness to challenge the status quo are inspiring elements that enhance the plot. The three-dimensional characters and the author’s deft orchestration of the plot to an unpredictable denouement will leave readers questioning everything they’ve learned about the impact of science.