The Truth Machine
Ratings6
Average rating4
15
Ratings6
Average rating4
Prepare to have your conception of truth rocked to its very foundation. It is the year 2004. Violent crime is the number one political issue in America. Now, the Swift and Sure Anti-Crime Bill guarantees a previously convicted violent criminal one fair trial, one quick appeal, then immediate execution. To prevent abuse of the law, a machine must be built that detects lies with 100 percent accuracy. Once perfected, the Truth Machine will change the face of the world. Yet the race to finish the Truth Machine forces one man to commit a shocking act of treachery, burdening him with a dark secret that collides with everything he believes in. Now he must conceal the truth from his own creation . . . or face his execution. By turns optimistic and chilling--and always profound--The Truth Machine is nothing less than a history of the future, a spellbinding chronicle that resonates with insight, wisdom . . . and astounding possibility. "PROFOUND." --Associated Press
Reviews with the most likes.
This science fiction story was written more than 20 years ago. In my opinion, it didn't age well. Some of the predictions made by the author just don't fit with what we've learned since then. The author's view of a ‘utopia' sounds more like dystopia to me. He envisions a world without a 5th amendment protection against self incrimination - a world where every deception is immediately discovered - a world where you don't dare answer your wife's question about whether her new jeans make her look fat. The invention of a 100% accurate lie detector is unbelievable, as are several of the other inventions in this story. I'm appalled by the suggestion that one world government would be a good thing.
One of my favorite books. Not exactly sure why I like it so much, but I do.
This was a great story with lots of interesting futurist speculations. I had to keep the fact that this was written in 1996 in perspective and appreciated the fact that it was the writer's first novel. I enjoyed the primary character arc and thought it was full of some good surprises. I also enjoyed that the story was narrated by a computer. I would recommend this novel to Sci-Fi fans. I plan to read this writer's follow up book.
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