Decision Making in 2025 on Blaugust Day 3
For Day 3 of Blaugust 2025 I decided on a bit of an experiment. I am being pushed to try out AI at work and how it may help me in my job. As a Software Engineer Team Lead, I can see the pluses and minuses to AI but I have no problem learning about new tools that can help me. AI has the possilbity of not only helping me at work, but also in a number of areas. One area I refuse to even entertain the possibility of using AI is to write anything for me.
If the day ever comes that I feel I would prefer to let AI write for me, that day is the last day I would be blogging. I will not allow AI to think for me or to create opinions for me.
But while I will NEVER let AI write for me, I have no problems exploring it as a tool for correcting my spelling – which I am bad at. As a tool to help me make informed decisions – I have a tendency to research too much. As a tool for drawing a picture – I can barely craft stick figures that look like what I want them to.
With that in mind though, I thought it would be interesting to see if AI could help me make a decision on what direction I should go with my reading. So here is what I asked AI…
I have the following books and series to read and want to include a diverse mix of fantasy, scifi, horror, long series, and standalone.
These are the titles:
Dune
Foundation
Wheel of time
Dungeon crawler Carl
3 body problem
The Expanse
Stormbringer
Dresden
Project Hail Mary
Necromancer
Murderbot Diaries
Safehold series
Steven King – Carrie
Silo Saga
Pawn of Prophecy
We are Legion (We an Bob)
Lies of Locke Lamora
This is how you Lose the Time War
A Memory Called Empire
Blood Music
The Andromeda Strain
Brandon Sanderson
1632
His Majestey’s Dragon
Jade City
Culture – Consider Phlebas
Doomsday book
Homeland (Drizzt)
Gateway (Heechee Saga)
Themis Files (Sleeping Giants)
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicle)
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
The Rook – there is a new release in 2022 that I did not read
Harry Potter
Furies of Calderon
Anne Rice Interview with a Vampire
14 – Peter Clines
I’d like to read 7 of these with a good coverage of categories. Please pick seven for me.
With the basic free versions of Claude.ai, Grok, Perplexity, and ChatGPT, these are the results:
Perplexity suggested
- Dune (Frank Herbert) — A genre-blending classic combining science fiction and fantasy elements, often considered foundational to both genres; it’s epic, complex, and stands as a single novel, though it also launches a long series.
- The Three-Body Problem (Cixin Liu) — A hard science fiction novel with global and cosmic stakes, exploring first contact, physics, and philosophy; the first in a renowned trilogy.
- The Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan) — An epic fantasy long series, notable for its vast world, intricate magical systems, and post-apocalyptic elements.
- Dungeon Crawler Carl (Matt Dinniman) — A modern LitRPG blending humor, horror, sci-fi and fantasy, told as a long, ongoing series.
- Carrie (Stephen King) — A cornerstone standalone horror novel by Stephen King, providing your horror category representation.
- Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir) — Standalone, science-driven novel praised for its ingenuity, wit, and survival themes; a modern science fiction hit
- The Lies of Locke Lamora (Scott Lynch) — A darker standalone fantasy (though it has sequels), known for its gritty world, witty voice, and heist-plot, and lauded as a modern classic.
Claude.ai suggested
1. Project Hail Mary – Standalone sci-fi (perfect starter – accessible, fun, emotional)
2. Murderbot Diaries – Lighthearted sci-fi series (short books, great voice, easy to get hooked)
3. Dune – Classic space opera (essential read, standalone but part of larger universe)
4. Lies of Locke Lamora – Fantasy heist (standalone story in series, excellent writing)
5. Stephen King – Carrie – Horror classic (short, foundational horror novel)
6. The Expanse (Leviathan Wakes) – Space opera series (realistic physics, great characters, TV adaptation reference)
7. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August – Standalone sci-fi/speculative fiction (unique premise, literary quality)
Grok suggested
- Dune (Sci-Fi, Standalone/Series Starter)
- Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel blends political intrigue, ecology, and mysticism. It’s a foundational sci-fi work, perfect for starting a series or reading as a standalone.
- Wheel of Time (Fantasy, Long Series)
- Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy series is a cornerstone of the genre, offering rich world-building and a sprawling narrative, ideal for deep fantasy immersion.
- Carrie (Horror, Standalone)
- Stephen King’s debut novel delivers intense psychological horror, providing a standalone horror experience that contrasts with longer series.
- The Expanse (Sci-Fi, Long Series)
- James S.A. Corey’s series combines realistic space opera with political drama, offering a modern sci-fi epic for series readers.
- The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicle) (Fantasy, Series Starter)
- Patrick Rothfuss’s lyrical fantasy novel kicks off a beloved series, balancing intricate storytelling with a more intimate scope than Wheel of Time.
- Project Hail Mary (Sci-Fi, Standalone)
- Andy Weir’s novel is a gripping, science-heavy standalone sci-fi story, adding a contemporary and accessible sci-fi pick.
- Interview with a Vampire (Horror, Series Starter/Standalone)
- Anne Rice’s gothic horror novel explores vampire mythology with emotional depth, serving as a standalone or entry to the Vampire Chronicles.
ChatGPT suggested
🌌 1. Dune – Frank Herbert
Genre: Epic Sci-fi | Type: Series starter
/Why: A cornerstone of science fiction, political intrigue, environmentalism, and messianic myths. A rich, demanding read that pays off.
🧙♂️ 2. The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Genre: Fantasy | Type: Series (unfinished)
Why: Lyrical, character-driven fantasy with a unique narrative voice. Balances the weight of epic fantasy without the overwhelming sprawl of, say, Wheel of Time.
🤖 3. Murderbot Diaries – Martha Wells
Genre: Sci-fi | Type: Novella series (quick reads)
Why: Fast-paced, funny, thoughtful. Great way to dip into AI/space themes without a huge time commitment.
🧟 4. 14 – Peter Clines
Genre: Horror / Sci-fi mashup | Type: Standalone (with a loose sequel)
Why: Underrated gem. Feels like LOST meets Lovecraft. Creepy apartment mystery turns cosmic.
👽 5. The Three-Body Problem – Liu Cixin
Genre: Hard Sci-fi | Type: Trilogy starter
Why: Big ideas, first-contact tension, and wild physics. Brings an international flavor and cerebral edge.
🧛 6. Interview with the Vampire – Anne Rice
Genre: Gothic Horror / Historical Fantasy | Type: Series starter, but reads well alone
Why: For some dark, brooding, emotional horror. Rich in atmosphere and psychology.
🎩 7. The Rook – Daniel O’Malley
Genre: Urban fantasy / Mystery / Spy thriller | Type: Series
Why: X-Men meets The Bourne Identity with British dry wit. And since you haven’t read the 2022 sequel, this gets you caught up.
Ok with these suggestions I’ll refine things a bit tomorrow and see what my plans for reading evolve into.