The Single Source of Truth

by Kyle Driscoll

Society’s faith in its technological god is shattered as quests for freedom, love and immortality reveal the machine’s dark secrets.
Angelea West's world is run by her father, a disciple of the Sibyl: a platform of all known data in history. Her father commands Angelea to respect the Sibyl’s creations, from the impenetrable Silkfield surrounding every home to the immersive Virtuvian where she meets peers from a distance. The more she struggles to understand the nation’s single source of truth, the more isolated she feels.
But when Angelea, her father, and disillusioned government worker Teresa Walker peer beyond the Silkfield, they find their mechanical deity is not as flawless as it seems. A tribe of outcasts, spurned by the Sibyl, roams outside Angelea’s bubble, torn between quests for salvation and revenge. A secret government program aims to use the Sibyl to foresee the ultimate fate of humanity, by nefarious means if necessary. Angelea’s empty existence becomes a fight for survival as she realizes how little her source of truth really knows.

232 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2023

About the author

Kyle Driscoll was born and raised in Massachusetts. He graduated from Syracuse University, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the 20 Watts music magazine. His blogs on Medium.com (@kpdriscoll33) have been featured on podcasts such as Something About the Beatles. He has spent four years as a strategy consultant at Deloitte. His music can be found on Spotify and Apple Music. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Kyle Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece.

[Michael Passalacqua · Rating 5 out of 5]

The release of this novel coinciding with the recent zeitgeist surrounding AI couldn’t have been more timely. An intriguing, dystopian world created around a central question: how much freedom are we willing to sacrifice for endless comfort? This book is a lovely story about a young girl willing to find out.

[Emma Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible dystopian sci-fi read! Kyle managed beautiful and descriptive writing, characters you care about, and an intricate world that sucks you in. Highly recommend!!

[Maddie Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The Single Source of Truth" is an incredible debut novel by Kyle Driscoll that dives deep into the complexities of a society controlled by technology. Angelea West’s journey in a world dominated by the Sibyl—a platform of all known data—raises profound questions about freedom, truth, and the cost of technological omniscience.

What makes The Single Source of Truth truly exceptional is its exploration of thought-provoking themes. The novel delves into the nature of truth, the role of religion in an AI-driven world, and the impact of mass information on genuine human connection. It asks whether a "single source of truth" can ever exist, or if such a concept is inherently flawed in a world filled with nuanced, subjective experiences. The story reveals the cost of knowing everything: losing intimacy and the sacred individuality of the human soul.

The book is filled with questions that challenge our perceptions: Can government control in the name of stability become tyranny? Is broad access to information distancing us from personal relationships? And, at its core, it probes whether society can achieve unity without creating an "other" group. Each question is layered with rich context and is backed by characters who feel real and relatable in their struggles.

The Single Source of Truth is not just a story about technology; it’s a reflection on humanity itself. It forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about our own reality and the development of Artificial Intelligence that is infringing on all aspects of modern society, much like Angelea does within the confines of her world. For anyone interested in dystopian fiction, sci-fi/fantasy or general thought provoking literature that challenges the mind and the heart, this book is a must-read!!

[Paola · Rating 4 out of 5]

An immersive and wonderful yet devastating story!

I loved following these characters on their separate journeys of deeper understanding of the world they're living in. Angelea is fierce and strong and I liked her the most. The writing really pulls you in and makes you sit at the edge of your seat the whole way through. This is an incredibly strong debut novel with a well developed story that touches many important topics revolving humanity.

"Sadness is not confined to a place. There is only one cure, and even that may not be enough -- to love and receive love in return. Where you find that is where you belong."

I also loved how the ending gave some hope but mostly left it up to the reader to decide on what they think the future holds for these characters.

A huge thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book!

[Derrick Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and thought provoking piece of sci fi storytelling. I loved how it’s both a commentary on the modern dichotomy of freedom vs security and an exciting dystopian adventure. So much vividly imagined world building in here.

Highly recommend to anyone that loves science fiction, post apocalyptic thrillers, or coming of age novels!

[Danielle Passalacqua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating odyssey from start to finish! 10/10 would recommend!

[A ⁠♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think Sci Fi is just not for me, I'm so sorry. It was definitely an interesting, fast paced book, but I couldn't get past the writing style. The sentence structure just bugged me. I'm very particular with the science fiction I actually like, so maybe thats just a flaw on my part.
This might also have to do with the fact that I read it during a reading slump so I was feeling extra cynical. I will definitely re-read this so I can get my final opinion!!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fast paced in the best type of way. I am not normally into Sci-Fi, but really enjoyed this story and finished it within 24 hours of starting it! I was really impressed by the author’s world-building capabilities and captivated by the various technologies depicted in this futuristic novel. I highly recommend this book both to sci-fi lovers and novices like myself. 5 stars!

[Wanjeri Macharia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this right after reading Dark Matter by Blake Crouch which is a Sci-Fi. I had forgotten the synopsis of this book since I had read it a while ago and kind of went into it blindly. But what a pleasant surprise when I ended up in yet another dystopian world!

If you weren’t scared of what advanced AI could do to our world well this book will definitely have you paranoid! This book is like George Orwell’s 1984 meets Black Mirror!

I was so fascinated by the depiction of how people interacted in this dystopian world where they were mostly dependent on technology for literally everything. Can’t stress enough how well the author helps those technologically challenged people like me paint a vivid picture in your mind and bring this futuristic world to life. The story is very engaging and you find yourself rooting for the young antagonist who’s fighting the regime and the ways of the current world, which leaves you asking how much freedom you are willing to surrender!

Coming in at 232 pages, the book is an easy read and an engaging story that will have you turning pages in nearly one sitting.

I’m curious to see what else Kyle Driscoll comes up with. Highly recommend reading this book!

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really impressive debut from this author! Driscoll does a stellar job of creating characters that deliver uncertainty and intrigue until the very end. His writing is extremely vivid... not just painting a picture of each scene's setting, but imploring the reader to imagine the world beyond what the dialogue tells us. I found my mind racing with every chapter, trying to decipher what could come next and thinking critically about what this story reveals about our real world. What has me most excited is the runway here to expand on these characters and their livelihoods. Even if you're hesitant to fiction, sci-fi, or dystopia, this is a must-read.

[Dylan Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a fast paced Sci-fi story that always leaves itself the space to put the characters first, The Single Source of Truth is for you! Driscoll does an excellent job of building this world and asking the audience to reconcile with how we accept the growing role of technology in our own lives. By shifting POV between multiple characters it allows you to see how the Sibyl impacts the lives of not just high ranking officials, but of everyday children and workers as well. I can’t wait to see what Driscoll does next!

[Joe Blank · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent debut novel that knows its influences and blends them into a riveting story all its own. I found the world-building, political leveling, and characterization all fully fleshed, and I can’t resist a subtle Beatles reference too. Without being preachy, it feels of this time and conceptualizes a lot of fears and feelings of the pandemic: bound to knowledge within your physical limitations, re-evaluating personal vs. community goals, etc. can’t wait to read more from Kyle Driscoll, there’s a passion here that makes me excited for the next one!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a first novel reading this book gets me excited about what comes next from this author. As an avid sci fi reader I found this an original take on the view of future society. As per today those committed to their solution refuse to change the narrative when things turn out not to be as they planned. Unique world building and characters that are relatable.

[bookishly.rhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a few months back and felt that even though as sci-fi is not my usual read I thought that this book was relevant, captivating, and quite fast paced. I enjoyed it! Great debut from a good writer.

[danns.bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book review:
The Single Source of truth by Kyle Driscoll (gifted copy)

I found the story line a little confusing to follow at the start. I must admit I do struggle with Sci-fi books as it’s not my normal genre.

This was a very well written book and you can feel the passion through the way Kyle writes. I liked the multiple point of views with the characters and was intrigued to find out how they all came together.

I don’t feel like this was the book for me but I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Sci-fi.

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, Thank you Barchetta Books for recommending I read this book!

The Single Source of Truth by Kyle Driscoll is Orwell's 1984 meets today's fears about AI. This story explores a different world - one that is so convinced there is something deadly on the outside that its citizens are willing to sacrifice things like leaving their house and seeing anyone outside their home in real life to a computer program that will keep them safe. A 10 year old girl, Angelea, is asking questions the adults don't like and when she becomes too frustrated with the lack of answers, she does what any confused 10 year would do - she throws a tantrum. From this tantrum comes the story of a missing little girl, a father who is more concerned about his career than his own daughter, and some really, really, really traumatizing experiences for the child.

I love dystopian books so I enjoyed this one! It was fun to see the parallels with books like I previously mentioned (1984). The book also references Davinci's Vitruvian which is almost a character itself in the novel. I've been thinking about this book a lot since I finished reading it, and I'm sure my boyfriend is sick of me bringing up little stories from it and what those meant to Angelea. I enjoyed Driscoll's writing style, and I liked the structure of the book.

If you like dystopian sci-fi's I would recommend you read this book. I do not recommend if you are triggered by children experiencing trauma or general horror/dystopian tropes.

[Ivan De · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World, or 1984, you’ve got great taste in books (no matter how over-referenced they are). And if you’re a fan of these books, you’ll likely be a fan of The Single Source of Truth, a dystopian novel that describes a world just as disturbing as Bradbury’s, Huxley’s, or Orwell’s, if not more so.

Instead of Big Brother, the Sibyl, an all-knowing computer containing all human knowledge controls a virtual reality everyone must inhabit. A totalitarian surveillance state keeps the world locked safe at home, away from the Decay that plagues the outside world. But this didn’t read to me like a 1984-meets-Covid novel — instead it was much deeper, about finding a sense of belonging, whether through family, friends, or society at large, about seeing beyond what others see, about enlightenment at the cost of personal safety or even life itself.

I don’t normally read sci-fi books, or novels by relatively unknown authors, but I’m glad I took the chance here. The Single Source of Truth is a page-turner with vivid characters in a world that feels startlingly real. It’s a world I sometimes fear we’re heading towards, a world without the physical. But this book’s twists (without giving too much away) took me from fear to hope. And, speaking of twists, there’s much more to the Sibyl, the Silkfield, and Angelea than you might think.

[Stefani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Single Source of truth is a multiple-pov story. I found every POV to be interesting which I liked because it left me eager to keep reading and see what was happening to each character. The multiple-pov writing also kept me guessing as to how all of the characters connected to each other and how they would all come together in the end.  I liked that the main character, Angelea, is a young girl because seeing things through her lens really shows how complicated adults can make things when they get consumed by their need for power and their need for the approval of others.
The plot contained a lot of twists and mysteries that I did not expect. There were multiple times where secrets were revealed that shocked me. Overall, this is an interesting story that will keep you turning the page to see what happens next.

[Rob Bignell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. The metaphors for the virtual world we're increasingly immersed in and for the metaverse we're about to enter were particularly intriguing. I liked the world-building as well. The setting is an excellent metaphor for our current escape into social media and tech (think that Gen Z kid crossing the road in front of you with his head into his cell phone) yet also gives an intriguing novum of what a fully developed metaverse might look like (and the metaverse is coming despite the non-SF reading critics). I thought the dialogue was strong. Rarely were words wasted, and the dialogue served its purpose of moving the story forward by revealing character motivations and pitting them against one another.

[Tee Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dystopian Sci-Fi novel, The Single Source of Truth is very well written story aligning with the rise of AI and our growing dependency on technology. Quite unlike anything I have read and incredibly thought provoking.
We are drawn into a story that forces us to make some potentially unwelcome realisations and parallels to the real world.
My rating reflects only that this book was not in line with my personal vibe and reading preferences, but I cannot in any way fault the thought behind the story and skill in the writing itself.
If you are intrigued by the synopsis I would highly recommend you give it a read.

[Tamekia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost the writing in this book was PHENOMENAL! This genre is still fairly new to me but I think I’m starting to like it! It was definitely giving me the vibes of the song prototype by OutKast (watch video on YouTube). So futuristic and really makes you wonder especially since there is so much going on with A.I. in todays world. Like literally there are so many illustrations I’ve seen here recently and wondered why now? Are there people between worlds? What’s real or not? Could the world reset? Are we between worlds? I truly enjoyed this novel and can’t wait for my next read!

[Jasmine Parra Rubio · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’ve got this sci-fi, big brother / the matrix feel book here that brings in a story of the future. This book is an easy quick read, fast pace & entertaining.
I’m not usually a reader of sci-fi but I’m happy I read this book. Following the three different POV’s helped see the world from all angles.

[Lucas Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting concept, really nice world building. Cool to see a “post apocalyptic” book which isn’t pure dystopia.

Felt like the ending came on very quickly, would have liked to see the last 1/4 of the book fleshed out a bit more.

Thematically, very relevant for today - AI, VR, declining role of religion in public life.

[Kelton Bogasky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hard to put down! Excited for the author to release his next book!

[Farida Virani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very creative plot and well-constructed characters!

[Katie Canete · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-paced book that keeps the reader engaged start to finish. The fictional novel explores themes of technological dependency, conformity, and survival. Excellent character development, particularly young Angelea’s resilient attitude and apt curiosity. Add to your cart now!

[abbiealwaysreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took awhile for me to get into it, but once I did I was hooked! I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives and how they all tied together in the end. This was a breath of fresh air for me as a reader! A great sci-fi read with a deep commentary on society. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

[Jules · Rating 2 out of 5]

“If Angela were not certain the thing was human, she would never have guessed it.”

Step into a world where society’s faith in Sibyl (a platform where all of history’s known data is stored) crumbles as dark secrets are uncovered.

[Kevin Pacelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the world evolves, so does science fiction, and this is a great example. All our modern conversations (and fears) about AI and virtual reality come to life in a powerful way.