Halo

Halo
by Tom Maddox

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From Publishers Weekly
Maddox's first novel offers a provocative mixture of virtual reality, artificial intelligence and mystical philosophy. While raising interesting questions about the nature of perception, cognition and self-awareness, however, he fails to explore them fully. The corporate space station Halo is run by Aleph, a machine intelligence that has evolved from a much simpler computer system. One of those integral to Aleph's leap to sentience has been on the verge of death for years, kept alive only by Aleph's efforts; now Aleph and its human partners in Halo's Interface Collective have begun an experiment to preserve the dying man's consciousness in the computer, independent of his failing body. But SenTrax, Halo's corporate owner, is wary of the project and of Aleph's power in general, and sends Mikhail Gonzales to investigate. Gonzales quickly becomes involved in the experiment, and he and the Collective members strive to complete their work before SenTrax shuts them down. The story's tension is uneven, and motivations are not well defined. Scenes occurring within the computer are distinguished by vivid imagery and poetic turns of phrase, but Madddox falls back on vague mysticism rather than offering specific ideas about the nature of intelligence.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Hired by the Sentrax Halo Corporation to investigate an experiment in artificial intelligence conducted in its orbiting space station, data auditor Mikhail Gonzalex finds himself thrust into the simulated world of virtual realities where corporate bureaucrats and scientific free thinkers wage a war on the battlefield of inner space. Maddox's first novel will appeal to readers who like fast-paced action and cutting-edge technology.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Free-lance data-auditor Gonzales is given a contract by the Sentrax Corporation to monitor goings-on aboard Halo, an orbiting colony controlled by an artificial intelligence named Aleph. Seems that badly injured Jerry Chapman will dies unless Aleph can preserve his mentality inside its own computer reality. Assisting Aleph and Gonzales are computer reality interface expert Diana Heywood and Halo's Interface Collective, an association of talented weirdos. Gonzales's Sentrax boss, Traynor, opposes the project and pulls the plug just as Aleph, Gonzales, Diana, Jerry, and the Collective are hooked together. Aleph, annoyed, retaliates by switching off the functions that sustain human life aboard Halo; thus Traynor and Sentrax are forced to back down. Neither ambitious nor original--in fact, mediocre in every respect. Maddox may have talent, but on this showing it's impossible to tell. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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