SPSFC First Chapter Reads Day 6
TALES FROM THE QUANTUM VAULT
In his debut novel, Bryan Chaffin transports us to the year 2139, where corporate combines have their own Senate seats, the surveillance-state is all-encompassing, humans live most of their lives in the Omninet, and sentient AIs are partners with the world government. It’s not all bad, though. There are docbots, you never have to wait for a taxi, and if you can afford it, you can get your coffee made the old fashioned way, strained from the algae tanks.
ACCIDENTAL INTELLIGENCE
Private detective Mason Truman is being yanked around by invisible strings, and it’s an AI doing the yanking. Miranda. She’s subtle. Crazy. And she thinks she can see the future. It’s enough to drive Mason nuts. Miranda believes her fellow AIs are up to some kind of grand conspiracy against the Terran Republic, and she wants Mason’s help proving it. Conspiracies are above Mason’s pay grade, though, the kind of time-sink that can put a crimp in more serious pursuits. Like drinking coffee. And staying alive.
But Miranda won’t take no for an answer. Mason can help or Miranda will make sure he becomes intimately acquainted with the finer conversational techniques of the secret police. So Mason digs until he uncovers a cache of stolen communications between a cabal of rogue AIs. They’re planning what they call Eschaton—the divinely ordained end of humanity. Unless Mason and Miranda stop the arrogant pricks, the conspirators will destroy Earth.
Mason and Miranda have one chance, a way of bottling up the rogue AIs. All Mason has to do is lure the conspirators to the right spot in a sim world. That’s how Mason learns that when Miranda said she needed help, what she meant was bait.
First ImpressionsI loved this cover, and the blurb was interesting, though it reads more like an incomplete summary than a blurb.
The first chapter was a prologue which was really good. It was well written, and I kept wanting the PoV character to take different decisions to no avail. I was also biting my nails thinking what he did would be discovered. Now I want to know what he learned, but since the blurb doesn’t mention him, I assume that the prologue will connect to the main story somehow, but that the character isn’t all that important which has put a dampener on my enthusiasm.
Still, if you’re looking for a well written book dealing with the eternal man vs machine trope, you should give this one a try.
Achilles: Origin of Heroes by Chad RetterathBlurbJimmy Dale, an average middle-aged man, undergoes a life-altering transformation when he participates in an experiment that grants him super strength. Embracing his newfound abilities, he joins the secret government organization known as Olympus. In the Twin Cities, individuals with various powers begin to surface, turning Minneapolis into a focal point for powered criminals.
First ImpressionsNgl, I love superhero books, so I expected to like this. The cover didn’t give me sci fi or superhero vibes however, and if I’d come across this book randomly, I would have set it down as a Greek mytho fantasy from the title and the cover both and not even checked the blurb. That’s just me, though. The blurb tells us this is a superhero book, but aside from that, we don’t get anything. What are the stakes? What is the conflict? What is the protagonist’s goal?
The first chapter was well written and gives enough details about Jimmy, but we’re not told the kind of experiments he undergoes. Though Jimmy is given details, he himself admits he can’t understand anything beyond basic biology, so he has no idea what the experiment he has agreed to does; he signed up because he was out of a job, and they were offering $3k for a week. I’m sure it’s a situation all of us can understand and sympathise with.
If you like superheroes and believable characters, you will love this one.
Unnatural Selection by Robert P. EdwardsBlurbTHIS DEBUT NOVEL BY AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR AND TECHNOLOGIST ROBERT P EDWARDS IS A DYSTOPIAN TECHNOTHRILLER ROLLERCOASTER RIDE THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN.
At the end of the 21st Century, humanity is enjoying a renaissance—or so it seems.
For the wealthy, a quantum biotechnology called Stem has eliminated disease and seamlessly integrates with The Web.
So why are people dying?
Amongst us live the Quants, a meld of robotics, AI, and quantum computing. They carry out vital work in a world dependent on technology. Personal Quants can be built to order for the privileged few.
Sophie and her marine biologist father, Dr Christopher Reid, live in one of the few habitable zones left in the southern hemisphere. Like her mother, Sophie looks forward to a career in medicine while Chris works at the cutting edge of climate science.
Kazumi is the heir to the Mashimoto Corporation, a leading manufacturer of quantum technology. Kaz lives in New Tokyo, a Chinese megacity given to them after the Great Fall.
Mackenzie is the gifted daughter of technology billionaire Alistair “Ace” Abernathy. Ace is driven to make the world a better place. Mac is leading the development of Serendipity, the first human colony in space.
Love and loss will drive them together. Across a world scarred and divided by climate change. Only together will they discover the terrifying truth about who is really behind the death of their loved ones.
“Exhibits rich worldbuilding, transporting readers into a meticulously crafted universe where environmental science, technological advancement, and societal issues intersect.” USA TODAY Bestselling Author Stacey Jaine
First ImpressionsThe cover gave me extreme AI vibes which turned me off it, and which turned out to be correct since the author has acknowledged he has made it with AI. Props to the author for acknowledging it, allowing readers to make an informed choice. The blurb hasn’t given me anything either. What are these characters’ goals? Where is the conflict? What are the stakes? What role if any does the Quants and Stem technology play in all this?
The first chapter is well written and centres around Sophie and Chris. It gives an introduction to the world without being info dumpy but we don’t get too much insight into characters or motivations. I can see this deals with themes of climate change, but because of the Quants, it may also veer into man vs machine. Honestly, I don’t know the direction of this judging solely from the blurb and chapter 1. It sounds very dystopian, however, and kept me engaged while reading.
If you like dystopian sci fi, this could be the read for you.
Unexpected Witness by M. J. BlehartBlurbWhen a high-ranking businessman and two clones are murdered, Marshal Onima Gwok of the Confederation Bureau of Investigation (CBI) gets assigned the case. But nothing quite adds up. Is there something more insidious going on? There is just one witness – a clone. When the war ended ten years ago, the clones who had fought it were discarded, forgotten, and became second-class citizens of the new confederation. Jace Rojas, designated AC J7-2247, is an infantry clone. When he proves to be more helpful than just being a witness to a murder, Onima decides to bring Jace along to join her team as they look for answers across multiple solar systems. But every question seems to produce no answers – only more questions. Will this be the start of a new war – or something worse?
First ImpressionsThe cover looked interesting and so did the blurb, like I do love me a good crime solving duo and books. Being from India, when I saw CBI, mind immediately went to our Central Bureau of Investigation, but that’s not relevant here.
The first chapter introduces Jace and gives background for him and the clones. It seems like Jace and others like him are not just clones but are probably enhanced as well since they seem to have eidetic memories and needs less food than normal people. Everything is being told and comes across as very info dumpy. I couldn’t get into the book at all, sadly, because I really wanted to like it.
That said, it’s only my own subjective opinion, so if you like futuristic sci fi with mysteries and secrets, you should give this a read.
