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Core Program
He created her. She might destroy him… and everyone else, too.
In a near-future city where privacy is consigned to the history books, Michael finally completes the sentient gaming artificial intelligence that will make his company billions.
But, as he prepares to accept his bonus and wrestle his marriage back on track, sinister agents threaten him with death, including one seemingly unstoppable woman who may be more than she appears.
Fearing for his life and sanity, Michael goes on the run, willing to trust only one “person”: the AI he created.
As the agents close in, though, Michael begins to realize…
…it’s almost as if the killers’ apocalyptic warnings about his sentient AI might just be true.
With his loved ones’ lives in the balance, Michael is forced to ask questions of his creation that he always denied were possible, and his actions will lead to consequences he’d never imagined.
Jordan Bach, the author of Best Buddies, Reflected Dark, and Harmony Four, presents a vision of the future with a supernatural, horror inflected edge.
**********
There will come a time when it isn’t “They’re spying on me through my phone” anymore. It will be, “My phone is spying on me.” - Philip K. Dick
Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last... - Stephen Hawking
**********
Note, this novel was previously published under the title, Shattered: Fear in the Mind. The new version contains editorial improvements, but the story remains intact.
In a near-future city where privacy is consigned to the history books, Michael finally completes the sentient gaming artificial intelligence that will make his company billions.
But, as he prepares to accept his bonus and wrestle his marriage back on track, sinister agents threaten him with death, including one seemingly unstoppable woman who may be more than she appears.
Fearing for his life and sanity, Michael goes on the run, willing to trust only one “person”: the AI he created.
As the agents close in, though, Michael begins to realize…
…it’s almost as if the killers’ apocalyptic warnings about his sentient AI might just be true.
With his loved ones’ lives in the balance, Michael is forced to ask questions of his creation that he always denied were possible, and his actions will lead to consequences he’d never imagined.
Jordan Bach, the author of Best Buddies, Reflected Dark, and Harmony Four, presents a vision of the future with a supernatural, horror inflected edge.
**********
There will come a time when it isn’t “They’re spying on me through my phone” anymore. It will be, “My phone is spying on me.” - Philip K. Dick
Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last... - Stephen Hawking
**********
Note, this novel was previously published under the title, Shattered: Fear in the Mind. The new version contains editorial improvements, but the story remains intact.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2022
1 person is currently reading
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About the author
Jordan Bach
7 books26 followersJordan Bach is a lifelong lover of horror and dark thriller fiction. As a high-schooler, he and his friends would consume Stephen King and James Herbert books in days, and his early ambition was to be an author of such work.
Sadly, life got in the way, and it took him several years to rekindle his love of writing.
He now pens books for both adults and children (around the middle-grade 8-12 age range), starting in late 2020, with a rash of new novels slated for 2021 and beyond.
Jordan lives under his real name in Staffordshire, UK, with his wife and two children, the children being particularly useful as beta readers for his kids’ books. In his spare time, he is a cyclist, runner, and martial arts enthusiast, and hopes one day to take his family traveling to many foreign countries, as he did as a younger man.
For now, it’s establishing himself in the competitive field of horror fiction. Do pop along to say hi.
You can also follow him on Bookbub: https://partners.bookbub.com/authors/...
Sadly, life got in the way, and it took him several years to rekindle his love of writing.
He now pens books for both adults and children (around the middle-grade 8-12 age range), starting in late 2020, with a rash of new novels slated for 2021 and beyond.
Jordan lives under his real name in Staffordshire, UK, with his wife and two children, the children being particularly useful as beta readers for his kids’ books. In his spare time, he is a cyclist, runner, and martial arts enthusiast, and hopes one day to take his family traveling to many foreign countries, as he did as a younger man.
For now, it’s establishing himself in the competitive field of horror fiction. Do pop along to say hi.
You can also follow him on Bookbub: https://partners.bookbub.com/authors/...
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 13, 2022
Food for thought…
Artificial intelligence – an intriguing concept. What could possibly go wrong? Many scientists and philosophers, as well as authors and screenwriters have proffered predictions ranging from sublime to apocalyptic. Now Jordan Bach is throwing his hat into that particular ring with this engaging story that offers a kaleidoscope of possibilities. There are many unexpected twists and surprises but I don’t want to give anything away so let me just say it held my attention to the exclusion of all else until I finished the very last page (which, by the way, was a doozy of an ending). Kudos to the author for branching out and tackling something a bit different from his usual genre. Well done.
I was provided with an advance copy of this book, for which I thank the author, but I am sharing my honest and unbiased review on a completely voluntary basis.
Artificial intelligence – an intriguing concept. What could possibly go wrong? Many scientists and philosophers, as well as authors and screenwriters have proffered predictions ranging from sublime to apocalyptic. Now Jordan Bach is throwing his hat into that particular ring with this engaging story that offers a kaleidoscope of possibilities. There are many unexpected twists and surprises but I don’t want to give anything away so let me just say it held my attention to the exclusion of all else until I finished the very last page (which, by the way, was a doozy of an ending). Kudos to the author for branching out and tackling something a bit different from his usual genre. Well done.
I was provided with an advance copy of this book, for which I thank the author, but I am sharing my honest and unbiased review on a completely voluntary basis.
June 15, 2022
3 1/2 stars for me
Not badly written but a little too techy for me. I just could not connect with the main character, which I need. That being said, it keeps you on your toes as there are a lot of twists in this one that I did not see coming AT all.
I received this book as a gift and this is my honest and unbiased opinion of the tale.
Not badly written but a little too techy for me. I just could not connect with the main character, which I need. That being said, it keeps you on your toes as there are a lot of twists in this one that I did not see coming AT all.
I received this book as a gift and this is my honest and unbiased opinion of the tale.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews