Memories With Maya in Hack your Destiny

Feb 25, 2013 Clyde rated it really liked it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: my-shelf

**A review by the author**

I did hesitate before writing, because I'm not sure if it's good practice to review your own work. It's up to readers to interpret the story, and every person will experience varying degrees of satisfaction from the read.

My review is to share some insights into the writing.

Memories with Maya - 'The Dirrogate' - has been appropriately described by an astute reader : "..If you are looking for a book with an amazing plot and surprises, maybe try a different one. If you're ...more

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Aug 31, 2013 Stephen rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

Memories With Maya

What happens if you put together two technologically talented young guys with an optimistic outlook on life and give them a high level of fluency in software programming and computer technology? Well, along with having fun, much of what results is a prolonged brainstorming session, some cool ideas, a dash of naiveté and interesting technological breakthroughs. The excitement of the characters was palpable and the pace didn't slow until almost to thirds of the way into the story Memories With Maya

What happens if you put together two technologically talented young guys with an optimistic outlook on life and give them a high level of fluency in software programming and computer technology? Well, along with having fun, much of what results is a prolonged brainstorming session, some cool ideas, a dash of naiveté and interesting technological breakthroughs. The excitement of the characters was palpable and the pace didn't slow until almost to thirds of the way into the story. In that sense they embody some of the technological zeitgeist of our time. The innovations they develop in Augmented Reality and connections to early stage Artificial Intelligence bring forward some exciting contemporary applications for emerging interfaces and environments such as Google Glass and Corning's smart glass in the home, entertainment and the marketplace.

While I didn't identify strongly with the characters or the night club scene they so much liked to play in, that didn't diminish my overall interest and enjoyment of the story. At times I longed for more in-depth descriptions of scenes and characters but I found the writing both sharp and clear and it moved along at a good pace.

One of the most interesting things about this story is the vision of incredible creative fluency the main characters have between the medium of technology and their creative inspirations. At first, their fluency and technical expertise seemed a little unrealistic but when looked at from the standpoint of accelerating technological evolution and innovation it all becomes possible. What artist or inventor doesn't long for this level of creative inspiration and fluency in crafting their ideas? The characters certainly are in the know and in the flow and at times this is dizzying and at times it is infectious.

Possibly the most interesting innovation and philosophical idea wrestled with in the story is the nature of memory and the boundary of our mortality. I am reminded here of an old short story called Walpurgisnacht by Roger Zelazny. Clyde Desouza has opened many doors here in Memories With Maya, I am interested to see which ones he goes through next. ...more

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Mar 12, 2015 Clyde rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: my-shelf

MAYA is the India edition of

Penguin|Randomhouse acquired rights to the book for India and S.E Asia, to bring hard science fiction to readers in India. Paperbacks still have a wider reach in the Asian Subcontinent, but digital (thanks to Amazon and Flipkart) is steadily gaining ground.

The aim with MAYA is to bring a different flavor of fiction to readers in India.

The epilogue to MAYA is currently under production as a 360 Virtual Reality motion comic - Many scenes were shot in 360 in the str ...more

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