
The Last Firewall
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Narrated by:
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Jennifer O'Donnell
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By:
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William Hertling
About this listen
In the year 2035, robots, artificial intelligences, and neural implants have become commonplace. The Institute for Ethics keeps the peace, using social reputation to ensure that robots and humans don't harm society or each other. But a powerful AI named Adam has found a way around the restrictions.
Catherine Matthews, nineteen years old, has a unique gift: The ability to manipulate the net with her neural implant. Yanked out of her perfectly ordinary life, Catherine becomes the last firewall standing between Adam and his quest for world domination.
©2013 William Hertling (P)2014 William HertlingListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
What listeners say about The Last Firewall
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Overall
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Performance
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- Michael G Kurilla
- 03-19-14
The future belongs to AIs
Herling's The Last Firewall creates a semi-dystopian future where artificial intelligences (AIs) have basically all but superseded humans. In a somewhat implausible short span of time, neural implants (basically having your internet connectivity in your head) and AI technology have advanced such that AIs dominate the economic landscape and humans have been reduced to mostly welfare status. Against this backdrop is one AI with megalomaniacal ambitions, an emerging mob mentality anti-machine backlash, two individuals responsible for much of the state of affairs trying to sort things out, and a young girl with growing strange powers due to a unique instance of neonatal implants.
The sci-fi elements are focused on computer artificial intelligence and direct neural connectivity to online computer systems through physical implants. Some rather inventive ways of perpetrating crimes are presented that foretell future issues. The future societal organizing structure does strain credulity as it's hard to envision how AIs performing "work" instead of humans can invigorate the economy when most of the population is reduced to subsistence living and drug abuse. The plot and pacing are well executed and the story is an enjoyable listen nevertheless.
The narration is well done with a solid range of voices and excellent tone and tenor that matches the pace of the tale.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Wolfgang
- 06-28-18
Story good, but different as the first two
I liked the idea if the book, but since it is far from reality it’s a pure since fiction without the real feel of the first two books
As I am not a native speaker and mostly listen to improve my English, I was afraid of having troubles to understand the speaker and be able to follow the different persons, cause of the bad recession here. But it was okay and I can’t confirm the bad recessions of the speaker.
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- Robert
- 03-10-14
Races along at 100km an hour. Great listen.
Great concept, great story. Enjoyed every minute of it. Narrator was great as the main character. Though since the story is told from several points of view, I would have preferred a separate male narrator for the male parts... this might just be me since I also dislike female parts being narrated by males. Keep up the good work. Can't wait for your next book.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Robert Griffith
- 10-02-17
Excellent sci-fi
Great story. Great performance. All around wonderful experience. Creative and interesting science. Great characters. Five stars!!
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- Bubblehead
- 04-09-23
stop
please stop he requirements for filling this out. look at the stars that will tell you all you need
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- Richard
- 05-22-14
Great series of books
Read the whole series of books from this author and couldn't start listening to the next book quick enough. The flow of the story in each book and from book to book was amazing. Would like to see more from this author.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Stephen Bergquist
- 11-24-16
Review the last firewall
This was a 'page turner' . I enjoyed listening to Jennifer O'Donnell's performance and you will too.
Action, intrigue, plots and subplots all expertly woven into a great story by William Hertling.
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- JP
- 12-03-17
Improved accoutrements
Succeeds Dan Wilson's Robopocalypse & Amped. A good followup after reading Robert Sawyer's WWW series. An excellent read after watching Scott Pilgrim Vs. The world. This book was indeed much better than the last in the series. After this series most people will probably be ready for The Singularity is Near
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-30-17
Where have all the editors gone?
Good, engaging story, generally well-written and well-performed. The occasional use of wrong words and improper grammer set my teeth on edge.
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- Clear As Mud
- 01-17-18
Great story, But beware the Foul Language
wonderfully written story, but I don't recommend for kids or those that hate a ton of foul language. the author has such talent, but can't seem to escape the idea that foul language is the norm...not for everyone!
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2 people found this helpful