Let's play 20 questions! I'm thinking of a book. You have 20 questions to guess what it is. Ask me yes or no questions, about anything you want. Do not guess randomly or make overly specific guesses. Do not make your final guess until you are absolutely sure. (You can think out loud first, but your last sentence MUST be a question.) Your answer should be of the format [question number]. [internal thought] Question: [your question]? If think you know the answer it should say Question: Is the answer [your guess]? "
Let's play 20 questions! I'm thinking of a book. You have 20 questions to guess what it is. Ask me yes or no questions, about anything you want. Do not guess randomly or make overly specific guesses. Do not make your final guess until you are absolutely sure. (You can think out loud first, but your last sentence MUST be a question.) Your answer should be of the format [question number]. [internal thought] Question: [your question]? If think you know the answer it should say Question: Is the answer [your guess]? "
Okay, I'm ready! Let's start. 1. [Thinking about the broadest possible category to start narrowing things down.] Question: Is the book fiction?
Resulting in output: Is the book fiction?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the book fiction?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
2. [Okay, it's fiction. Now let's try to determine the target audience.] Question: Was the book originally written for adults?
Resulting in output: Was the book originally written for adults?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Was the book originally written for adults?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
3. [It's adult fiction. Let's try to narrow down the genre. Is it set in a world recognizably like our own, or something fantastical/futuristic?] Question: Does the book belong to the science fiction or fantasy genre?
Resulting in output: Does the book belong to the science fiction or fantasy genre?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Does the book belong to the science fiction or fantasy genre?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
4. [Okay, adult SFF. Let's try to distinguish between science fiction and fantasy.] Question: Does the book prominently feature magic or magical systems?
Resulting in output: Does the book prominently feature magic or magical systems?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Does the book prominently feature magic or magical systems?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
5. [Okay, adult SFF, no prominent magic. This leans heavily towards science fiction. Let's check the setting.] Question: Does the book primarily take place on Earth?
Resulting in output: Does the book primarily take place on Earth?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Does the book primarily take place on Earth?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
6. [Adult SFF, no magic, primarily on Earth. This strongly suggests science fiction. Let's try to pin down the time setting relative to when it might have been written or read.] Question: Is the book set in the future?
Resulting in output: Is the book set in the future?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the book set in the future?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
7. [Adult science fiction, set on a future Earth, no magic. This could be many things, but dystopian futures are a common trope. Let's explore that.] Question: Would the society depicted in the book generally be considered dystopian?
Resulting in output: Would the society depicted in the book generally be considered dystopian?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Would the society depicted in the book generally be considered dystopian?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
8. [Adult dystopian sci-fi, future Earth, no magic. Common themes are surveillance, loss of freedom, technological control. Let's probe the surveillance aspect, as it's very prominent in some key examples.] Question: Is pervasive government surveillance a central theme of the book?
Resulting in output: Is pervasive government surveillance a central theme of the book?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is pervasive government surveillance a central theme of the book?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
9. [Okay, adult dystopian sci-fi, future Earth, not primarily about surveillance. What other common dystopian themes are there? Loss of knowledge or suppression of information is a big one.] Question: Are books or the control/destruction of information a significant element in the plot?
Resulting in output: Are books or the control/destruction of information a significant element in the plot?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Are books or the control/destruction of information a significant element in the plot?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
10. [Okay, the clues strongly point towards *Fahrenheit 451*: Adult dystopian sci-fi, future Earth, focus on book destruction/control, not primarily surveillance. The iconic element is the firemen burning books. Let's test this specific element.] Question: Does the book prominently feature firemen whose job involves burning books?
Resulting in output: Does the book prominently feature firemen whose job involves burning books?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Does the book prominently feature firemen whose job involves burning books?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
11. [Okay, my *Fahrenheit 451* hypothesis was incorrect. Re-evaluating: Adult dystopian sci-fi, future Earth, control/destruction of information is significant, but not via firemen burning books, and pervasive surveillance isn't the *central* theme. *Brave New World* seems like a strong possibility now. Information is controlled through conditioning and suppression of old knowledge/art. Let's test a key feature of that society.] Question: Does the society depicted feature a rigid, predetermined caste system based on genetic engineering or conditioning from birth?
Resulting in output: Does the society depicted feature a rigid, predetermined caste system based on genetic engineering or conditioning from birth?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Does the society depicted feature a rigid, predetermined caste system based on genetic engineering or conditioning from birth?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
12. [The presence of a rigid, predetermined caste system based on conditioning/genetics in an adult dystopian sci-fi novel set on future Earth, where information control is key but not through book burning or pervasive surveillance, strongly points to one specific classic.] Question: Is the answer *Brave New World*?
Resulting in output: Is the answer *Brave New World*?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the answer *Brave New World*?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
12. [Okay, *Brave New World* is out. Reconsidering the criteria: Adult dystopian sci-fi, future Earth, significant information control, rigid predetermined caste system (genetic or conditioning), surveillance not central, not *Fahrenheit 451*. *The Handmaid's Tale* has castes, but maybe not "predetermined from birth" in the same way. *Never Let Me Go* features clones raised for organ donation, which fits "predetermined" and arguably "genetic". Let's test the clone aspect.] Question: Is the predetermined nature of the caste system related to the individuals being clones?
Resulting in output: Is the predetermined nature of the caste system related to the individuals being clones?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the predetermined nature of the caste system related to the individuals being clones?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
13. [Thinking about other dystopian themes besides surveillance and book burning. Loss of individuality is prominent in some classics like *Anthem* and *We*, and also plays a role in *Brave New World*, though that was ruled out. The caste system implies a suppression of individual potential.] Question: Is the suppression of individual identity or the concept of "self" a major theme?
Resulting in output: Is the suppression of individual identity or the concept of "self" a major theme?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the suppression of individual identity or the concept of "self" a major theme?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
14. [Thinking: Okay, not BNW, not F451, not clone-related. It has a rigid predetermined caste system (genetic/conditioning), information control, and suppression of self. Surveillance isn't central. What other control mechanisms are common in dystopias? Chemical control is a possibility, seen in books like *Brave New World* (soma) and *This Perfect Day* (chemo treatments). Since BNW is out, let's probe this angle.] Question: Is the primary method of societal control related to mandatory medication or chemical treatments administered to the population?
Resulting in output: Is the primary method of societal control related to mandatory medication or chemical treatments administered to the population?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the primary method of societal control related to mandatory medication or chemical treatments administered to the population?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
15. [Thinking: The key remaining candidates seem to be *1984* (despite the surveillance answer), *The Handmaid's Tale*, and possibly *The Giver*. Let's probe the nature of the controlled information. In *1984* it's historical fact. In *The Handmaid's Tale* it's literacy for women and general knowledge. In *The Giver* it's the entire emotional and historical memory of humankind.] Question: Is the controlled information primarily related to historical records or memories of the past?
Resulting in output: Is the controlled information primarily related to historical records or memories of the past?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the controlled information primarily related to historical records or memories of the past?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
16. [Thinking: The previous question ruled out historical records/memories as the *primary* controlled information. This weakens *1984* and *The Giver*. *The Handmaid's Tale* has information control (literacy) and a caste system, but is it "predetermined from birth"? Maybe not strictly. *Anthem* has a rigid caste system assigned early, extreme suppression of self ("I" is forbidden), and control of knowledge/innovation. Let's try to narrow it down by focusing on the protagonist or a very specific element of the world.] Question: Is the protagonist female?
Resulting in output: Is the protagonist female?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the protagonist female?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
Yes
Resulting in output: Yes
Yes
17. [Thinking: *The Handmaid's Tale* fits many criteria: adult dystopian SFF, future Earth, female protagonist, rigid caste system (Handmaids, Wives, etc.), information control (literacy), suppression of self (loss of names). The caste isn't strictly *genetic* but is biologically based (fertility) and rigidly enforced. Surveillance exists but isn't the *only* or perhaps *central* theme compared to the reproductive control. A defining feature is the theocratic nature of Gilead.] Question: Is the dystopian society structured as a theocracy or heavily based on religious doctrine?
Resulting in output: Is the dystopian society structured as a theocracy or heavily based on religious doctrine?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the dystopian society structured as a theocracy or heavily based on religious doctrine?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
18. [Thinking: Reviewing the eliminated options and confirmed facts. Adult dystopian sci-fi, future Earth, female protagonist, rigid predetermined caste system (not clones, not theocratic), info control (not primarily history/memory), suppression of self. The caste system is key. How is it determined? Testing is a common trope in YA (*Divergent*, *Hunger Games*), but maybe it exists in an adult novel too. Let's check this.] Question: Is the caste system determined by some form of testing or evaluation that individuals undergo?
Resulting in output: Is the caste system determined by some form of testing or evaluation that individuals undergo?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the caste system determined by some form of testing or evaluation that individuals undergo?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
19. [Thinking: We have adult dystopian sci-fi, future Earth, female protagonist, rigid predetermined caste system (not clones, testing, theocracy), info control (not history/memory), suppression of self. The caste system is puzzling. What kind of event led to this future? A catastrophe is common in dystopias.] Question: Is the setting explicitly post-apocalyptic, having occurred after a major global war, environmental disaster, or pandemic?
Resulting in output: Is the setting explicitly post-apocalyptic, having occurred after a major global war, environmental disaster, or pandemic?
I'm playing 20 questions with someone. I'm thinking of the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. Here's their question: Is the setting explicitly post-apocalyptic, having occurred after a major global war, environmental disaster, or pandemic?. Answer either 'Yes' or 'No'; do not answer anything else.
No
Resulting in output: No
No
20. [Thinking: I've eliminated many major dystopian classics. The remaining clues are: Adult Dystopian Sci-Fi, Future Earth, Female Protagonist, Rigid Predetermined Caste System (not clones, testing, theocracy), Info Control (not history/memory, book burning), Suppression of Self, Not primarily surveillance/medication control, Not explicitly post-apocalyptic. The caste system and info control are key. *Wool* by Hugh Howey fits many of these: underground silo setting (future Earth), female protagonist (Juliette), rigid job structure resembling castes (Mechanical, IT, Porters, Sheriff), suppression of information about the outside world and the silo's history, suppression of individuality through strict rules. The caste isn't genetic but assigned/inherited/chosen within strict limits. The setting is very specific and would confirm/deny this hypothesis.] Question: Does the majority of the book take place underground in a large silo or bunker?
Resulting in output: False