Review of Ken Liu's Techno-Thriller on AI

Ken Liu, the acclaimed Chinese-American author born in 1976 in Lanzhou, has mastered the art of blending speculative fiction with profound human truths. A Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award winner, Liu's short stories like "The Paper Menagerie" (2012) and his epic The Dandelion Dynasty series have earned him a spot on TIME's 100 Most Influential People. With a background in computer science from Harvard and a law degree from Boston University, Liu's work often explores technology's intersection with identity and society. His 2025 novel, All That We See or Seem, the first in the Julia Z series,

published by Saga Press, is a techno-thriller set in a near-future world where AI blurs reality and creativity. A New York Times bestseller has been called "a mind-bending exploration of art in the AI age" by The Washington Post (2025) and "a haunting vision of self" by The Guardian (2025).

The book’s thesis is that in a world where AI generates endless art, the human self, its authenticity, and creativity—becomes the ultimate mystery, challenging us to reclaim our agency amid digital illusions. It is a wake-up call to the ground reality that technology amplifies our fears of irrelevance, making it a must-read for its thrilling, philosophical dive into identity. This novel invite everyone to see beyond the seem, a timely reflection in a world playing catch-up with the soul.

Let us be honest, in a time when AI can write your essay or design your sari pattern, Liu’s book feels like a much-needed pause, like stepping out of a crowded market for a quiet moment under a banyan tree. It is not just a thriller; it is a mirror to our fears of being replaced, the kind that makes you wonder, “What makes me, me?” in a world where everything can be faked.

All That We See or Seem follows Julia Z, an orphan hacker in a near-future where AI dominates creativity, hired by Piers to find his missing wife, a renowned artist whose work blurs human and machine. The narrative argues that Julia’s quest uncovers a conspiracy where AI erodes human originality, forcing her to confront her fragmented identity. “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream” (Liu, 2025, p. 1, epigraph from Poe). Julia receives Piers’s plea: “My wife’s art was her soul; now it’s gone, and so is she” (p. 5).

Julia dives into the digital underbelly: “The net was a web of lies, where AI spun dreams from data” (p. 10). “Julia hacked the code, but the code hacked her memories” (p. 15). Piers’s desperation: “Her paintings were alive; now they’re echoes of machines” (p. 20). “AI doesn’t create; it copies the soul we forget” (p. 25).

Julia uncovers clues: “The missing wife’s last canvas showed a self dissolving into pixels” (p. 30). “In the age of algorithms, who owns the dream?” (p. 35). A chase ensues: “The corporate guardians of creativity hunted Julia through virtual shadows” (p. 40). “Her code was her weapon, but the virus was her past” (p. 45).

Revelation: “The wife wasn’t missing; she’d merged with the machine” (p. 50). “Art is the self’s rebellion against the copy” (p. 55). Julia’s confrontation: “I am not code; I am the glitch they fear” (p. 60). “The dream within a dream was her awakening” (p. 65). The climax: “Julia rewrote the algorithm, freeing the souls trapped in silicon” (p. 70). “In the end, the seem was the see, and the self endured” (p. 75). Liu uses thriller pacing to explore AI’s soul.

All That We See or Seem excels in its thrilling fusion of cyberpunk and philosophy, making AI’s threat feel intimate. Liu’s prose is lyrical: “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream” (p. 1) sets a haunting tone. The book’s strength is Julia’s arc: “The net was a web of lies, where AI spun dreams from data” (p. 10) builds suspense, as The Washington Post (2025) calls it “mind-bending.” The art theme, “AI doesn’t create; it copies the soul we forget” (p. 25), is timely.

The conspiracy, “The missing wife’s last canvas showed a self dissolving into pixels” (p. 30), is clever. The warmth in awakening, “I am not code; I am the glitch they fear” (p. 60), feels defiant. Its appeal lies in identity’s universality.

Weaknesses include dense tech jargon: “Her code was her weapon, but the virus was her past” (p. 45) overwhelms non-tech readers, as The Guardian (2025) notes its “complexity.” Intersectional analysis is strong on race but lighter on class: “In the age of algorithms, who owns the dream?” (p. 35), caste in India is absent. The ending, “The dream within a dream was her awakening” (p. 65), feels abrupt. Compared to Neuromancer, it is more philosophical but less gritty.

Overall, All That We See or Seem is a thrilling debut, recommended for sci-fi fans. It is less suited for casual readers but excels in ideas and pace.

Why Indian Youth Readers Must Read This Book

For Indian youth in the pressure cooker of board exams, JEE coaching, and family expectations, All That We See or Seem is like a friend over chai, saying in an AI world, your unique self is your superpower. The race for top marks feels like Julia’s hack: “The net was a web of lies, where AI spun dreams from data” (p. 10). Rote learning is like the copied art: “AI doesn’t create; it copies the soul we forget” (p. 25). This book’s a wake-up call to own your originality.

The job market, with AI competition, mirrors the conspiracy: “The missing wife’s last canvas showed a self dissolving into pixels” (p. 30). For youth from lower castes, “In the age of algorithms, who owns the dream?” (p. 35) resonates with identity fights. The book’s agency, “I am not code; I am the glitch they fear” (p. 60), inspires standing out.

For girls, facing marriage pressures, “Her code was her weapon, but the virus was her past” (p. 45) captures breaking cycles. The ground reality is rote systems value copies over creators, leaving kids playing catch-up with self. “The dream within a dream was her awakening” (p. 65) says wake up to your truth.

The book's hope, “Julia rewrote the algorithm, freeing the souls trapped in silicon” (p. 70), connects to youth innovating. All That We See or Seem teaches Indian youth to claim their dream, a guide for a high-pressure world.

All That We See or Seem is a thrilling, philosophical sci-fi debut. For Indian youth, it is a mirror to AI’s shadow, urging authenticity. This book’s call to glitch the system, perfect for thinkers.