Spotlight on Semmant by Vadim Babenko, plus review.

Semmant

by Vadim Babenko

Book Description

A brilliant scientist creates a brilliant robot. Working together, they beat the stock market. But which one will survive the battle for love?

When Bogdan Bogdanov, a troubled cybernetics genius, creates Semmant, a robot living inside a computer, he feels on top of the world. Semmant takes on the capital markets and makes money with the ruthless efficiency of a machine. Bogdan grows richer by the day, but when he falls deeply for the irresistible Lidia, Semmant’s artificial mind faces a new challenge. The robot becomes involved in a genuine human drama and is forced to confront the cruelty of real life.  He discovers the eternal joy of what it means to have free will, but it takes him to a destination no one could have predicted.

This is a tale of lust and affection, an erotically charged story of betrayal and murder. It explores the scope of human feelings from a truly unique point of view. Universal chaos and the strict laws of society; precise mathematical rules and the elusive nature of love: all interact and clash, working together and against one another. Tragedy looms, but free will fights back – bringing hope that lasts forever.

About the Author

Vadim Babenko left two “dream” jobs – cutting-edge scientist and high-flying entrepreneur – in order to pursue his lifelong goal to write full-time. Born in the Soviet Union, he earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the Moscow Institute of Physics & Technology, Russia’s equivalent to MIT. As a scientist at the Soviet Academy of Sciences he became a recognized leader in the area of artificial intelligence. Then he moved to the U.S. and co-founded a high-tech company just outside of Washington, D.C. The business soon skyrocketed, and the next ambitious goal, an IPO on the stock exchange, was realized. But at this peak of success, Vadim dropped everything to set out on the path of a writer and has never looked back. He moved to Europe and, during the next eight years, published five books, including two novels, The Black Pelican and A Simple Soul, which were nominated for Russia’s most prestigious literary awards. His third novel, Semmant, initially written in Russian and then translated with the author’s active participation, is published exclusively in English.

Find out more at www.vadimbabenko.com

Goodreads / Amazon 

My 3 Stars Review

I received this book from the touring host for an honest review.

This book is definitely for the intellectual reader even philosophers amongst us. It is very detailed in its story line, specific in its explanations. The moment we met the main character you had a suspicion of nuttier than most. As the story progressed it became evident. 

I think the author did a wonderful work in creating this story, well written with enough to keep you wondering with this character's mind frame will be. Since I am a practical person the philosophies of the character just did not do it for me. It was monosyllabic, more like rantings of a person that does not have everything up there. If you know what I mean. His constant search for more info and power made him irrational, and at the end it influence his life and his work.

Creating the robot to become his friend was more disastrous than good, as if he lost perception with the outside world. Playing the money market was at first a good idea but the more he entered his own flaws into the robot the more it became irradiated in its delivery. Obsessed with his creation he thought he could better human kind, but at his own loss of mind and perspective he did just the opposite.

The trouble he caused were at times comical but at other times plain stupid. His genius made him unwanted in many spheres of society.

Overall a good read that I will recommend to readers with a taste for the science.