Ewoud Kieft / Ewoud Kieft – The Imperfected

Ewoud Kieft – The Imperfected

Ewoud Kieft – The Imperfected

Rights sold

  • Actes Sud (France)

 

Read our sample translation of The Imperfected 

 

About the book

What will remain of humanity when technology will exceed our own capabilities? Cas has grown up in a society where artificial intelligence permeates every facet of life, as a practical guide, listening ear, mental coach and negotiator in matters of the heart. The best possible self seems to be within arm’s reach. What started out as a convenient app has become his faithful companion Gena, a voice that guides all his decisions and knows more about the milestones in his life than anyone else. But whenever he chooses, Cas can turn the voice off.

Gena notices that Cas is wrestling with feelings of desperation. Then he vanishes. How could Gena have lost track of him? In The Imperfected, Kieft shows with chilling realism how intimate the relationship between human and machine can become. Can the two merge completely? Or are there irreconcilable differences? And most important of all, is this our future?

‘I could start with the moment I came into his life. Keep in mind that in those days a Gena was only a simple application. We operated with clearly circumscribed objectives but had the same basic structure as the later, autonomous models.’ – from "The Imperfected"

On "War Enthusiasm":

‘Kieft tells his story in captivating fashion. His prose is crystal clear, his insights into the events are profound, and his approach original.’ – DE MORGEN

‘Impressive. A shocking reading experience.’ – DE CORRESPONDENT

On "The Banned Book":

‘A clarifying book that offers nuance in a time when people look up concepts like populism, alternative facts and fake news.’ – DE STANDAARD

Ewoud kieft (b. 1977) is a writer, historian and musician. Previously, he wrote War Enthusiasm and The Banned Book, respectively about the attraction of war and Nazism. Both books were shortlisted for the Libris History Prize. He wrote his dissertation about the rise of religious nationalism in the early twentieth century and reviewed both novels and non-fiction for the newspaper NRC Handelsblad. The Imperfected is his fiction debut.

© Stephan Vanfleteren

Additional book information

  • Novel
  • ISBN 9789403182506
  • Number of pages: 384
  • World rights: De Bezige Bij
  • Price: €23,99
  • English sample available