Early Adopter

Information

Status

Completed

Year

2023

Author

drewhead118

• Ten
  Jan 13, 2023
• Nine
  Jan 13, 2023
• Eight
  Jan 13, 2023
• Seven
  Jan 13, 2023
• Six
  Jan 13, 2023
• Five
  Jan 13, 2023
• Four
  Jan 13, 2023
• Three
  Jan 13, 2023
• Two
  Jan 13, 2023
• One
  Jan 13, 2023

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• ToldiRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This story accomplishes more in its ten chapters than most stories are able to over hundreds of chapters and dozens of story arcs on this site. It raises thought provoking questions that can facilitate some self-reflection.
  Style: I haven't read many (probably any) stories from the same perspective this story was written in but it fits the themes the author wants to touch. If the 'feel' of the style doesn't throw you off after the first chapter, I doubt it will bother you for the rest of the story.
  Grammar: It was spot on. The few grammatical errors that might have creeped into the story got pointed out by previous readers and got changed by the author since then.
  Story: There is only so much you can build and develop over ten chapters from a story perspective. This story shines because it manages to draw you in to the world so that you inadvertently have to think about the same problems that the MC has to think about.
  Character: Everyone enjoys chapters with Larry, 'nuff said. On a more serious note, the characters were create vehicles to help the author portray and explore the ideas he wanted to bring up.
  If anything of what I wrote caught your interest (or if the story blurb stood out) I suggest you give this story a read. It was definitely worth the few hours I spent on reading it. And if you ever saw the movie "Her" and enjoyed it, you own it to yourself to give this story a shot.
• DanielMBensenRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I can't say exactly how without spoiling it, but this is a story like a key. It goes in, it turns, it opens a door.
  A lonely young man despairs of dating apps and pays for a new "AGI" digital girlfriend. Yes, there's a slider for bust size, and yes, there's a discussion of Searle's Chinese Room. As our hero spends time with this speaking image, he wonders if his feelings might be real. What would he do if they were?
  A lesser author would have raised questions about the nature of person-hood and consciousness. “How do I know that, like, *you’re* real, man?” A much lesser author would have written a story along the lines of "what’s wrong with my love? Screw you if you disagree." Harrison goes beyond both. With the situation established, he faithfully follows its logic and leads us somewhere we don't expect to go. Somewhere dark.
• Dingo_shablinkoRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  It feels as though AI has exploded in the last few months. AI art and AI chatbots are in the news literally every day. I have explored both and it feels as though we are on the cusp of something worldchanging.
  Early Adaptor is a short story that is worth anyone's time to read. It's only 48 pages and will not take much time from your day. When I finished it, I had the same reaction that many of the other reviewers had. WOW!
  The story is written in second person person perspective. You are the person making all the decisions in the story. It follows a straightforward chronollogy, always moving forward through time. Both the perspective and the chronology carry the story well.
  The story immediately challenges the reader. What are the ethics of having a chatbot AI girlfriend? To me it sounded a little pathetic, and the author doesn't really glamorize it. But as the story progresses, it is easy to see how compelling the idea is. This was only the first of several thought provoking ideas in this engaging story.
  The grammar is impeccable.
  Having You as the main character was an inspired choice. You are a bit of a recluse and a bit of a slob. Your love life is not a very happy place, and dealing with the opposite sex makes you anxious.
  The AI character is believable, showcasing the effect of her programming changes at the whims of the controller. And the friend is great, in turns perverted, funny, and always authentic.
  Thank you for sharing your story, I hope it grows bigtime!
• SpattykinsRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Style:
  This story is told in the exceedingly rare second person perspective. It's a bold choice that really pays off. It serves the function to hold a mirror up to the reader, to force them to think about how they personally would act in a given situation and wonder how they should have acted if their thoughts align with the story.
  Story:
  I have to say I wasn't expecting what I got, but boy is it the preferable option. This is something that's going to have to be experienced firsthand. Throughout the story, you are asked to meditate upon the concept of humanity and what, precisely makes a person a person. This a concept I absolutely adore exploring and the story makes several points that I hadn't considered before. The twist left me stunned then the ending chilled me to the bone.
  Grammar:
  I only noticed one minor mistake in the entire work but that is easily fixed. Everything is very clear and well-written.
  Character:
  This is a dificult category to rate because the main character is.. Well the reader. That being said, I think the story characterizes the reader in a very realistic way. Everyone can identify with feeling lonely and taking desperate actions to alleviate that. The only other characters beside the reader are Allison and Larry. Allison, being the love interest, fulfills her role as a subserviant AI perfectly. But there is a lot more to her bubbling under the surface. Larry is an excellent foil to the reader, and perhaps better off for it.
  I highly recommend this story to everyone! It's one of my favorite works on this site.
• BananaDragonRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I'm not the biggest fan of sci-fi or short stories, but this seriously blew me away. It's exactly what the synopsis says, and the execution is phenomenal.
  Style: It's written in second person, which isn't very common, but it perfectly suits this story. It's incredibly immersive and makes the reader feel like the main character; this really matches what the story is trying to execute and argue about people or society. The sentence structures constantly vary, so it's very engaging and enjoyable to read.
  Story: There is an immediately ominous or tense feel from the very start. While this isn't a monster/alien type of sci fi, it poses deeper moral and pyschological questions that urge the reader to examine this work on a much deeper level. The story forces the reader to recognize their own position within the scenario.
  Grammar: Perfect. I didn't notice any errors. Maybe one or two phrases that were diffifcult to understand, but that could've been a result of me reading this at 1am, because it was just that good.
  Character: I will admit that I am nothing like the MC, but this story was so well-written that I could... relate to him? I guess? Kinda weird to say, but the MC is realistic in their feelings of lonliness, desire, and need. Even if you might not be like the MC, the story still connects you to them deeply because of the second person, and because it's based on emotions we've all felt before. Also, can we talk about Larry? He undoubtedly brings this to a 5/5 himself.
  Overall, check this out! It's short, meaningful, and a fantastic read. You'll definitely enjoy it :)
• Eric VanderlipRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Early Adopter is the story of a nameless loner who enters into a relationship with an AI partner and explores the lines between what is real and real enough.
  Style:  The perspective is consistent and smooth.  The pace is solid and exciting.  No complains.
  Story:  An interesting premise explored in great detail with stellar execution.   An extraordinary care has been given to how things would realistically play out with an AI partner, from the practical to the phylosophical.  This extreme commitment to authenticity pays dividends, drawing you deep into the narrative.
  Grammar:  Near perfect.  I could only find one grammatical error to sate my need to edit.
  Character:  Strongest element of Early Adopter by far.  The three main characters are masterfully crafted, oozing with personality and depth.  You can almost feel the loneliness of nameless, socially-inept protagonist.  His interactions with the friendly, ever-adaptable AI Alison drive the narrative.  Last but not least is the best friend, Larry, who is an absolute blast:
  “Tits slider to maximum value”
  “Who in their right minds sees a grid of absolute babes and thinks, ‘huh, I sure do wish these were uglier?’”
  “Well, never thought I’d see the day where I’m third-wheel to a chat window…"
  “How’s my favorite paraphile?”
  “I have shown you my hand-drawn harem of catwives, right?”
  Needless to say, 5/5.
  Conclusion:  I highly recommend Early Adopter because this short story is a joy to immerse yourself in.  You'll soon find yourself relentlessly clicking "next chapter" until the inevitable, bittersweet disappointment of reaching the end.  A genuinely worthwhile read.
• FlossinduneRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  To go into details about the story would be a disservice to those who read the reviews before jumping into the story. So if you're one of these types, read the synopsis and start clicking chapters, you won't regret it.
  Story: very engaging. I blew through this after getting hooked on chapter one. The story highlights a lot of points about AI that I never thought about in a succinct way while never dropping the ball in its messaging. It hits your emotions precisely the way it intends to.
  Style: Early Adopter is written in the second person to great effect. By having the story hold a mirror up so that you're looking back at yourself, it does a wonderful job of allowing you to really process what the author wants to portray. Not my usual cup of tea, but it's worth gushing over.
  Grammar: 99% fine. I only saw two edits that needed to happen, both incredibly small, and the author seems more than willing to patch them up.
  Characters: This is the only section I considered putting in less than 5 stars, but only out of personal preference. The characters are all so realistic that I couldn't bring myself to do it, even if one of them really irks me.
  Aside from "you," there are 3 recurring characters. Both AI are wonderful takes on the adaptability of their programming, taking on the personality traits of the people they're talking to. The other human character was believable, and felt like three kind of person we all know at least one of.
  All in all, Early Adopters is wholly recommended, and not giving it a chance is doing yourself a disservice.
• Geneva SuggestionRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  A very well written short story that brings up interesting philosophical dilemmas. The tense used to write the story gave it a unique flair that also helps to encourage the reader to more directly associate with the MC.
  The succinct length of the story has its own charm but I also feel like this topic and story could have been further fleshed out in a lengthier story. Exposing the audience more events would have further developed the characters and strengthened reader emotional connections to them. This would have allowed for the philosophical dilemma to be tackled in more directions and also have made the ending even more impactful.
  At the same time, a lengthier story would have also been harder to do using those tense as actions performed by the MC a reader might not have otherwise agreed with would more likely occur the longer the story continued. With this shorter length, I could totally empathize with the character given the exact same background and being capable of empathising with his personality.
  Plus, being so short, I definitely see no reason why you shouldn’t give it a try!
• JusttryingtofindawayRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This is one of the best shorty stories I have ever read. From the unique narrative to the deep dive into human relationships, and parasocial ones. This author put on a masterclass of storytelling and I can't wait to see what more this author decides to write.
  Style: Perhaps the most unique style of any book on RR. It's told in the second person, which very few published books are. It felt like a breath of fresh air in the midst of the third and first person narratives that flood this site.
  Story: This is really where the story shines. I'd give six out of five here if I could. The interpersonal dynamics of AI vs human friendships and relationships, the inevitability of ultimate control over another being. The curse of knowledge. It's perfect.
  Grammar: There were no errors that I could spot. This author is one of the best. Perfect prose.
  Character: Again, entwined with the story. The characters are all unique and interesting while centered around "you" really allows the reader to feel every interaction more vicerally because guess what? You're the main character as as a character I was really drawn into the relationships that I formed with each character. Alison especially is almost like another reader character. I would love to see the story from her eyes in the future.
• M.G DriverRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This is probably one of the best short stories I have seen in a while. I do feel that the ending was a bit abrupt, but I don't any other complains. This is a perfect deep dive into what is considered a real human connection.
  Style:
  A second-person perspective makes this story extremely special - the way the prose speaks to you directly as though you were there in the scene yourself, and it's your actions, your words give this sort of surreal feeling. I felt an intimate connection with the main character in question (or was I the main character?)
  The way the emotions are dwelled on and described really pulls on your heartstring. For others, it may be one, but for me it was at least 80% of my heartstrings. I don't have a lot of 'real' relationships offline either, and this extension into chatbots and AI really hit me in the gut, with the writing style making it even closer to home.
  Story:
  In terms of what happens, it's not complicated - it's exactly what it says in the synopsis. Nothing more, nothing less. Everything I want to say about the story should actually be in the character section.
  Grammar:
  I never once got tripped by any major or minor flaws. I'm not native English speaker, but it was a super smooth read.
  Character:
  If I could, I'll give it a 7/5 for how well it portrayed the main character emotions. The way he picked up on every little single detail of his companion that fed back into his emotions really made it extremely realistic and close to home for me personally.
  Anyone who yearned for a human connection or interaction before in their lives would immediately find themselves relating to this main character.
  The story also goes on to explore how far would one go in order to keep that connection, and what is even considered a connection? I love the analogies used in the story as well as a deep dive into some of the arguments against what is real and what isn't.
  Overall, a great topic, amazing introspective dive into what is and what isn't. A brilliant loo