Set in a 1980s computer science laboratory, the story follows Ada Sibelius, a young girl homeschooled by her father, David, a brilliant researcher developing an artificial intelligence program nicknamed ELIXIR. Their unconventional life revolves around coding and logic until David begins to succumb to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As his mind fractures, Ada discovers that her father’s history is a fabrication. She spends the following decades deciphering a cryptic digital code he left behind, tracing his secret past from 1920s San Francisco to the early internet era to uncover his true identity.
Readers interested in the intersection of computer history and family secrets will find a detailed technical atmosphere mixed with a mystery regarding personal lineage. The book attracts those who appreciate stories about how technology preserves or obscures human memory. A reader walks away with an understanding of early natural language processing and the realization that parents often remain strangers to their children despite a lifetime of proximity. It provides a technical look at the evolution of virtual reality and the durability of digital legacies.
- Published
- 2016
- Language
- EN
