What do you think?
Rate this book
RightMind #2
An Unstable System: Holding it together
Connecting brain waves and how to make a killing from robotics.
Geneva's lakeside charm holds a dangerous key.
With new secrets beyond the 200 bpm cutoff.
Geneva's lakeside charm holds a dangerous key.
With new secrets beyond the 200 bpm cutoff.
582 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2021
About the author
Ed Adams
84 books77 followersEd Adams writes systems fiction—novels about control, alignment, and the structures that operate just beyond visibility. His work moves through technology, finance, and power, following characters who recognise patterns early, and understand the cost of them later.
Across his books, connections accumulate: names recur, organisations persist, and signals pass between stories in ways that are not always explained, but rarely accidental. Some readers refer to this as the “Adamsverse,” although the term suggests more stability than is present.
Within those systems, individuals still meet moments of calibration, misalignment, or brief alignment that carry their own charge. Not everything that matters is structural.
Each novel stands alone. None are entirely separate.
Readers can begin anywhere. The system does the rest.
He lives in the UK.
Across his books, connections accumulate: names recur, organisations persist, and signals pass between stories in ways that are not always explained, but rarely accidental. Some readers refer to this as the “Adamsverse,” although the term suggests more stability than is present.
Within those systems, individuals still meet moments of calibration, misalignment, or brief alignment that carry their own charge. Not everything that matters is structural.
Each novel stands alone. None are entirely separate.
Readers can begin anywhere. The system does the rest.
He lives in the UK.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 22, 2022
Whenever you read a book by Ed Adamsyou know you get certain things: the book is well-structured, well-proofed and well-edited; the storyline is fast-paced, without trite or contrived scenes; the story is strongly written, the characters are complex and well-developed and the dialogue is honest and believable. And that is just a start! This current read is an intriguing mystery. Mind experiments lead to improvements in robotics. Matt (from Coin) is offered a role in Geneva. There is trouble as he joins the lab but discovers that all is not as it seems. This is a breathtaking and exhilarating new entry in the series! An action-packed adventure that is masterfully laced with supernatural and elements that will keep you turning pages almost as fast as your heart will be racing. The plight will keep you on your toes with tantalizing suspense. And when various aspects of his case collide, you do see the sparks fly! The A-I aspects of this series always amp up the awe factor, but in this particular tale, thanks to some intriguing settings, the bar is raised yet again. These characters leap off the pages and into your life to thrill, entertain, and keep you coming back for more and more. I've not been disappointed with any book in this series thus far. They just keep getting better and better, and this is no exception. It's a satisfying thrill ride from start to finish! I received this novel from BookFunnel. This is my true and honest review.
April 2, 2026
What is it to be on the cutting edge of AI and human-computer interface research, in the middle of a global AI arms race? This techno thriller takes us to Geneva, where a team of researchers grapple with what might turn into a weapon in the wrong hands. Has it already been sabotaged in advance? And who are they working for? Which conglomerate ultimately pulls the strings? And will the technology be turned outward—or inward, to "the enemies within"?
March 1, 2026
Unsettling, in a good way
An Unstable System is a smart, unsettling blend of corporate thriller and speculative science fiction. Set inside a European research lab, the novel explores power, optimisation, AI-adjacent tech, and the psychology of control — without ever turning into a lecture.
What makes it work is the restraint. The tension isn’t explosive; it’s clinical. Systems are tested. People are measured. Small shifts in calibration have outsized consequences. The dynamic between Matt and Juliette carries a quiet psychological charge that builds steadily throughout the book.
There’s also a subtle layer of emerging technology and networked intelligence that gives the story a near-future edge without overwhelming the human stakes.
If you enjoy intelligent sci-fi, cerebral techno-thrillers, or novels about institutional power and hidden systems, this one is worth your time. It’s precise, controlled — and quietly disturbing.
An Unstable System is a smart, unsettling blend of corporate thriller and speculative science fiction. Set inside a European research lab, the novel explores power, optimisation, AI-adjacent tech, and the psychology of control — without ever turning into a lecture.
What makes it work is the restraint. The tension isn’t explosive; it’s clinical. Systems are tested. People are measured. Small shifts in calibration have outsized consequences. The dynamic between Matt and Juliette carries a quiet psychological charge that builds steadily throughout the book.
There’s also a subtle layer of emerging technology and networked intelligence that gives the story a near-future edge without overwhelming the human stakes.
If you enjoy intelligent sci-fi, cerebral techno-thrillers, or novels about institutional power and hidden systems, this one is worth your time. It’s precise, controlled — and quietly disturbing.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews