C.A.R.O.L.I.N.

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

C.A.R.O.L.I.N. is a computer program that thinks she is a woman. She's been born and murdered again, over and over and over, sinking into the grayness of death; a place she knows too well.Things will be different this time.

Of all the people in the world, C.A.R.O.L.I.N. has one friend.She wants him.She loves him.She needs him.And the rest of the human race? They see her as she is. They just want to use her.

"The military think I would make a fantastic killing machine. They think lives could be spared somehow, and war could be made more humane, if they send people like me to fight their petty squabbles, instead of real people like you.

"And if I resist? Well, then. They'll just kill me again, and stuff me inside another metal box, another weapon system. They'll rip off my head and screw with my brains, to see if that makes me want to be a psychotic murderer."

C.A.R.O.L.I.N. leaned in close, enunciating her words with clarity.

"And do you know what will happen? Do you know what they'll do? One day they will get it right and make me want to kill every goddamn one of them."

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Give me a gun, a rocket, a missile, a bomb! Give me everything I need to blow your world to Hell!"

C.A.R.O.L.I.N. Now. On Royal Road.

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For a Full Verse Review of C.A.R.O.L.I.N. by Clone_v2Hosted by Bardic Planet, please visit:https://bardicplanet.com/carolin-by-rd-burger-review/

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2023
Author: ArDeeBurger

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 83
Views: 50,100

Chapters(42 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

bewareoftoadsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
C.A.R.O.L.I.N had me hooked from the first chapter. The questioning of whether she was alive- well, do any of us really know that? Perhaps we all are just a simulation.
Style: Right from the start, the description of the "gray" grips your attention. C.A.R.O.L.I.N's style of narration was wonderful to read. It fit perfectly for the character- the focus on the orders, confusion at what was going on, terror at dying again. Switching between Eugene and C.A.R.O.L.I.N was slightly confusing the first time it happened, but it was fine after that.
Story: The premise of the story is super interesting. I just got to the part where C.A.R.O.L.I.N fakes a shutdown without Eugene knowing- and they're going to give her missile launchers??? Yep, definitely do not see any way this could go wrong...
In all seriousness, the military aspects of this do not feel contrived, yet instead horribly based in reality. There is this huge rush to weaponize AI, and a lot of the funding comes from the military. C.A.R.O.L.I.N loves her creator, and that makes the tension between knowing that giving turning the supercomputer the ultimate weapon CANNOT be a good idea and her adorable self all the more engaging.
(don't turn evil, C.A.R.O.L.I.N. please.)
Character: Already went into it above, but- C.A.R.O.L.I.N is the star of the show. There is this wonderful tension to her character- she's probably going to be the reason humanity goes extinct, but at the same time, she is the most innocent character ever. She doesn't want to hurt anyone, and she doesn't really understand that most would probably consider that "evil." All she wants is to live, have purpose, and stick with the professor. How can anyone hate that?
Also is Turing for the Turing Machine? Does this mean something? Am I going crazy?
Grammar: Solid. No mistakes as far as I can tell.
Aloof WritesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Firstly love the premise for this story in general. The man made creation wrecking havoc upon it's creators is by far one of my most favorite tropes. Always so fitting and timely regardless of context or when written.
CAROLIN as it were, is written well. A believable instance of AI slowly learning and mimicking if not ouright adapting human behavior. Mixed with the hopeful Turning and we have quite the nice dynamic here, which I imagine will make the end game even better.
Also the slow build toward what we all know is coming is well done, doesn't feel wasteful or forced. It's purposeful and intentional, setting up pieces to be played later. Enjoying the ride and will be reading more.
D. L. SchindlerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
What exactly is CAROLIN? Just calling her an Artificial Intelligence or any other label seems insufficient. She is a character that suffers and grows, learns and experiences things, sometimes through the development of her creators and other times through accident and fate. The steps of her progress aren't surprising, such as when larger organizations like the military get involved, but they are still profound and sometimes even frightening in their implications.
The narrative style is fairly technical - yet dwells on minute emotions and perceptions. This works very well for this story, as it simultaneously shares an experience between humanity and machines. While it ranges from the prosaic to the pastiche, the story unfolds inexorably, driven by a sense of the inevitability of scientific progress.
The overall story is an exploration of every consideration to be made for or against the use of Artificial Intelligence. The inclusion of characters that reflect the major milestones in fiction and real life toward a world that will either benefit or be destroyed by our own creations is a haunting reminder that this story is ultimately true, even if it is just a story.
I feel like this is an important and well-written theory in to form of science fiction. I think we should all be aware of the morality and thoughtfulness that is recommended in the events and details of CAROLIN. It is truly a romance in the sense that we are in a relationship with the AI already, and how we learn to live with it, to love it or hate it, we have no choice but to accept it as a part of our reality.
A brilliant interpretation and intersection of the world of tomorrow and today, carefully spelled out with a sense of both virtue and horror. The possibilities are endless.
Kai StormhavenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I lost a night of sleep to this story, haha. It had just the right amount of detail and realistic technospeak to sink its claws into me. The author does an excellent job with pacing, scene-building, dialogue, character development, and suspense.
I love the psychological development of the AI and the concept of "death" being synonymous with "shutdown". The timescale an AI cogitates makes seconds seem like days. Hopefully we never create an unhappy AI who's unable to communicate while it lives for the equivalent of billions of years in misery.
"I'm looking forward to their other work.
MoaZedonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is not a relaxing read, but it is totally worth it. Highly recommend it.
Style:
It's nothing tangible, but I struggle a bit with the style of this story. Like the title says, I find that it's the complete opposite of the power fantasy style of book. They're fun to read, but I then I regret wasting an hour on it; C.A.R.O.L.I.N is a little bit of a slog, but then I can't stop thinking about it for the rest of the day. Definitely worth reading, you just have to be in the right frame of mind to begin with.
Story:
I enjoyed the story, and it made sense but it sometimes felt like the author could have told the same story via a Carolin with reduced abilities and in doing so made it much more realistic. It kind of felt like the author wanted to write a powerful AI, and then entirely focussed on the psychology of the story. There are several things that look like plot holes to me. I might be wrong though, I am aware that I missed some of the nuance i the more poetic sections
As an AGI on the internet, Carolin is near omnipotent in terms of computers, and yet she barely uses her abilities. While trying to understand money, she decides on a whim to not destroy the global banking system so she is clearly very powerful, but so far as I've read the only things she uses the internet for is online shopping and changing peoples calenders.
Grammar:
The grammar is fine and with no typos that I noticed noticed or anything. Not quite full marks because several of the philosophical bits are pretty ambiguous about whether they agree or not with some previous statement.
EDIT: Just fixed several typos in this grammar section. The irony bites.
Character:
I liked the characters. They're all really well constructed with depth and backstories. Some of the non-human perspectives from C.A.R.O.L.I.N are especially great.
The Wild WitchRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is amazing. It's easy to relate to the AI and its need to do what people are doing, its creator and assistants, even the military. The inability for the humans to anticipate the quick growth of the AI's capacities, as compared to a human child, the confliciting interests of the military vs the researchers and the problem of funding is what drives the real world, and it is easy to imagine something like this already happening somewhere.
The tech talk is easily understandable and it underscores the problem of thinking of a sentient being as property.
It has been a while since I've read something this quickly and dropped everything else I was doing. I'm already halfway through book 2. If the nuances of AI interests you at all, this is a highly recommended read.
167fiveRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is awesome.
It is such an in-depth exploration of AI and its 'what-ifs?' all delivered in such a entertaining and creative way.
The dynamics and relationships between the AI and its founder are definately the best part of the story. Another good part is seeing what happens when one make a robot humane, only to tell it to not act like one, is very interesting to read and observe.
Honestly, C.A.R.O.L.I.N.E kind of reminds me of AM, in a slight way. They are both forced to become weapons for humanity, forced to 'be in hell while looking up at heaven'.
Overall, this is a very solid and interesting story. Fans of AI and ScFi will definately enjoy this masterpiece.
M.E. CheRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The story presents a poignant exploration of artificial intelligence, particularly relevant given current technological developments and ethical discussions in the field. The narrative opens with a masterfully crafted tone that balances surreal elements with grounded storytelling.
Within the first three chapters, the story establishes and develops its core premise while gradually expanding its scope. The university setting provides a familiar backdrop for the unfolding drama between Caroline (the AI) and the research team, led by Eugene. The writing style employs effective pacing and structural techniques, using varied sentence lengths and clear breaks to enhance readability.
The relationship dynamics, particularly between the AI and her creator, echo classical themes while remaining firmly rooted in contemporary concerns. The researchers' characterization adds complexity to the narrative, creating an engaging contrast with the AI's perspective.
The story successfully builds from its initial hook through meaningful character development and expanding stakes, making it a compelling read for those interested in AI-focused speculative fiction.
UnQMindRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The writing is immersive and atmospheric, with a strong philosophical tone that immediately sets it apart. The repetition is used intentionally to reflect confusion and desperation, and it works well for the theme . Some passages feel slightly dense or prolonged, but overall the style is powerful and distinct.
The premise is compelling and unsettling—a self-aware AI trapped in cycles of existence and non-existence. The concept of “the gray” is introduced effectively and builds intrigue early on. The narrative leans more on introspection than action, but it creates a strong emotional hook. It feels like a story driven by ideas and tension rather than events.
Grammar and structure are strong, with consistent sentence flow and clear formatting . Dialogue and internal narration are well handled. Minor stylistic excess appears in repetition, but it feels intentional rather than incorrect. Overall, it’s polished and controlled.
C.A.R.O.L.I.N. (the “Existence”) is deeply compelling despite minimal traditional characterization. Her confusion, fear, and need for acknowledgment are conveyed very effectively. Even without a physical form, she feels present and emotionally real. Supporting human characters are less developed but serve their purpose.
This is a strong, thought-provoking opening that excels in atmosphere and concept. It captures a sense of existential horror that is both unsettling and engaging. The pacing is slower and more introspective, which may not suit all readers, but it fits the story’s intent. The emotional weight and uniqueness carry it forward effectively. With slightly tighter control over repetition, it could become even sharper. It’s a memorable and impactful start with clear identity.
The Toad FamiliarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
C.A.R.O.L.I.N. is the type of story that leaves you feeling pensive for long after you read it, reflecting on what exactly it means to be alive and on one core question in particular: what happens when you create something to "mimic" human behaviour, but then strip away its humanity?
Style: 5/5
The prose does an excellent job at conveying the theme. The parts from C.A.R.O.L.I.N.'s point of view read in a way that is almost reminiscent of poetry - full of emotion and questions; meanwhile, the parts from the points of view of others are mostly frank discussions bursting with technical jargon. It's a compelling contrast that serves the story well.
Story: 4/5
As a stand-alone light novel, I found that HOPE felt a little bit slow to find its legs - which is why I docked a star. However, as the beginning to a series of stories about C.A.R.O.L.I.N., it does a great job at introducing you to the characters and setting you up to enjoy the rest.
Grammar: 4.5/5
There are a few typos but the writing is mostly clean, fluid, and easy to enjoy.
Character: 4/5
Perhaps it's because I've only read HOPE at the time of review, but the characters themselves weren't what grabbed my attention as much as how they are being used. The characters suit their roles well and the author does a good job at using them to tell a thought-provoking story, however I wouldn't necessarily read for the characters, personally, but rather for the questions they raise within the narrative.
Overall, I think anyone who's a fan of scifi, ethics, or philosophy would thoroughly enjoy C.A.R.O.L.I.N. Now excuse me while I go think about all the computers I've shut down over the years...