Halo [Paperback]

Tom Maddox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2004

Hired to oversee the experimental procedure that Aleph--the artificial intelligence that runs Halo Station--is certain will save Jerry Chapman, one of Halo's creators, Mikhail Gonzales encounters chaos. Reprint.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Maddox's first novel offers a provocative mixture of virtual reality, artificial intelligence and mystical philosophy. While raising interesting questions about the nature of perception, cognition and self-awareness, however, he fails to explore them fully. The corporate space station Halo is run by Aleph, a machine intelligence that has evolved from a much simpler computer system. One of those integral to Aleph's leap to sentience has been on the verge of death for years, kept alive only by Aleph's efforts; now Aleph and its human partners in Halo's Interface Collective have begun an experiment to preserve the dying man's consciousness in the computer, independent of his failing body. But SenTrax, Halo's corporate owner, is wary of the project and of Aleph's power in general, and sends Mikhail Gonzales to investigate. Gonzales quickly becomes involved in the experiment, and he and the Collective members strive to complete their work before SenTrax shuts them down. The story's tension is uneven, and motivations are not well defined. Scenes occurring within the computer are distinguished by vivid imagery and poetic turns of phrase, but Madddox falls back on vague mysticism rather than offering specific ideas about the nature of intelligence.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Hired by the Sentrax Halo Corporation to investigate an experiment in artificial intelligence conducted in its orbiting space station, data auditor Mikhail Gonzalex finds himself thrust into the simulated world of virtual realities where corporate bureaucrats and scientific free thinkers wage a war on the battlefield of inner space. Maddox's first novel will appeal to readers who like fast-paced action and cutting-edge technology.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419122711
• ISBN-13: 978-1419122712
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,534,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great and original cyberpunk work., September 13, 2002

By 

"consolecowboy" (colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Halo (Paperback)

Halo is a great cyberpunk novel. Though it's not as ambitious as Neuromancer, as egotistic as Snow Crash, or as neomythic as Schismatrix, it's quite good in its own right. Maddox's writing is vivid and exquisite. His characters are somewhat 3-dimensional although none are the antihero of most cyberpunk.

Of course, characters are just a method of getting across philosophical ideas. Maddox delves deeply into two major philosophies, one, what makes intelligence, and the other, the buddhist concept that self is irrelevant but that we're all subjective expressions of one commonality. He talks about the ethics of artificial intelligence, and our responsibility to AIs we create.

Maddox's Halo is the flip side of Gibson's Neuromancer. Maddox shows the potential that exists from cooperation, the potential of non-hostile AIs, and the potential of simulacra as alternate realities.

Though not necessarily a good book for sheer entertainment, I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in reading a deep philosophical work.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, amazing, beautiful., September 19, 1998

By 

Ryan Theodores ([e-mail]) (Connecticut, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Halo (Hardcover)

This book is incredible. The character of Mikhail Gonzales is very easy to like. The scenes involving the zen theories of Toshi are the standout sections in my mind (the chapter "Your Buddha Nature" is the best). It's a cleaner type of fiction than, say, Gibson. Not gritty around the edges, but it is very smart, enjoyable reading. Try to take your time.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a neglected cyperpunk beauty, December 10, 2001

By 

Paul Mann "runforcover" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Halo (Hardcover)

The structure and style of Tom Maddox's prose make this an intriguing read. In addition, the fast-moving plot keeps you reading, and the philosophical references expand your brain. I liked this book a lot. It's not the standard fare, but it's definitely thought-provoking. If you want your eyebrows raised and your staus quo disturbed, if you're tired of the same old same old, this is a book for you.