All questions about Artificial Intelligence are really questions about what it is to be human. Our Book of the Week, The Employees, A workplace novel of the 22nd century by Olga Ravn (translated by Martin Aitken), takes the form of a set of witness statements made by workers aboard a spaceship that has travelled to a new planet and found there certain strange objects which have served as catalysts for behavioural changes among the crew—some of human are human an some of whom are humanoid—which have led to the corporation terminating the expedition. Beautifully and effectively written, the novel is packed with enough thoughts, dreams, longings and sense experiences to reward many re-readings.
>>Read Thomas's review.
>>Read Stella's review.
>>Reading with the mouth.
>>Consumed future spewed up as present.
>>A worker's words.
>>In an intergalactic cocoon.
>>Read an extract.
>>Ravn vs Moskovich.
>>Reading with the mouth.
>>Consumed future spewed up as present.
>>A worker's words.
>>In an intergalactic cocoon.
>>Read an extract.
>>Ravn vs Moskovich.
>>Short in length but infinite in scope.
>>Am I human?
>>The Employees was short-listed for the 2021 International Booker Prize.
>>An interview with Ravn and Aitken.
>>Your copy of The Employees.
>>Am I human?
>>The Employees was short-listed for the 2021 International Booker Prize.
>>An interview with Ravn and Aitken.
>>Your copy of The Employees.
“In the programme, beneath my interface, there’s another interface, which is also me.”