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Selection: A tale of fate, AI, and Climate Change
In a world devastated by climate change, humanity’s last hope was AI.
Now it’s their greatest tyrant.
Sam Watkins dreams of escaping the slums of Baltimore. Selection, the ceremony where the Algorithm assigns a person’s caste for life, is his only chance. But when the Algorithm denies Sam the promotion he worked hard for, his world crumbles.
Disillusioned, Sam joins forces with a brilliant woman named Jennie and his conflicted best friend, Jack. Together they uncover the Algorithm’s shocking purpose and a terrifying truth. What they learn strains their relationships and could jeopardize the very foundation of the Society.
With the help of an unlikely ally, they embark on a desperate mission. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
Can four rebels defy the AI that knows them better than they know themselves?
Now it’s their greatest tyrant.
Sam Watkins dreams of escaping the slums of Baltimore. Selection, the ceremony where the Algorithm assigns a person’s caste for life, is his only chance. But when the Algorithm denies Sam the promotion he worked hard for, his world crumbles.
Disillusioned, Sam joins forces with a brilliant woman named Jennie and his conflicted best friend, Jack. Together they uncover the Algorithm’s shocking purpose and a terrifying truth. What they learn strains their relationships and could jeopardize the very foundation of the Society.
With the help of an unlikely ally, they embark on a desperate mission. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
Can four rebels defy the AI that knows them better than they know themselves?
505 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2023
3 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Chris Kulp
2 books4 followersThis author is also published under Christopher W. Kulp.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 5, 2023
It's been quite a while since I've read science fiction, but I had no problem getting hooked on the genre again through this novel!
While a lot of elements present in other post-apocalyptic stories with castes and factions are found here too, they're often subverted or reinvented in new ways. The Selection process is based on actual metrics about a person's entire character and abilities (with randomness sprinkled in) rather than a choice to devote yourself to a single personality trait like in, for example, Divergent. Keeping things spoiler-free, the "villain explains the entire plan to the heroes" trope is completely turned on its head in a very creative way that plays into both narrative and character development. While I was able to predict a few twists such as the fate of Jack and Sam's Selection, the plot kept me on my toes quite often, and kept me reading voraciously.
Kulp really shines in character development and worldbuilding—all four of the young adults in the main cast were likable, fleshed out, and more importantly, allowed to have flaws that let them grow and breathe as characters. While some aspects as the worldbuilding seem strange at first (i.e. the fast pace of the romances), there was always a narrative explanation for any seemingly inconsistent occurrences, even if the payoff was far down the road; it was extremely rewarding to reach the end of the novel and not encounter any major plot holes. The careful thought that Kulp put into not only the cohesive world, but its characters is extremely admirable and a huge enjoyment to read!
SELECTION also provides a great deal of thoughtful social commentary, makes you see your own life through a different light, value the privileges you have, and makes you want to help others who do not (and if you already felt that way, it strengthens your convictions). Kulp's kind heart shines through the themes in his brilliant first novel.
I'd recommend SELECTION to anyone who enjoys the dystopian genre, sci-fi, or simply enjoys reading coming-of-age stories about young adults discovering who they truly are and finding their purpose!
To cap this review off, three cheers for Kulp, and his entire main cast (but especially Jennie Goodby :) )
While a lot of elements present in other post-apocalyptic stories with castes and factions are found here too, they're often subverted or reinvented in new ways. The Selection process is based on actual metrics about a person's entire character and abilities (with randomness sprinkled in) rather than a choice to devote yourself to a single personality trait like in, for example, Divergent. Keeping things spoiler-free, the "villain explains the entire plan to the heroes" trope is completely turned on its head in a very creative way that plays into both narrative and character development. While I was able to predict a few twists such as the fate of Jack and Sam's Selection, the plot kept me on my toes quite often, and kept me reading voraciously.
Kulp really shines in character development and worldbuilding—all four of the young adults in the main cast were likable, fleshed out, and more importantly, allowed to have flaws that let them grow and breathe as characters. While some aspects as the worldbuilding seem strange at first (i.e. the fast pace of the romances), there was always a narrative explanation for any seemingly inconsistent occurrences, even if the payoff was far down the road; it was extremely rewarding to reach the end of the novel and not encounter any major plot holes. The careful thought that Kulp put into not only the cohesive world, but its characters is extremely admirable and a huge enjoyment to read!
SELECTION also provides a great deal of thoughtful social commentary, makes you see your own life through a different light, value the privileges you have, and makes you want to help others who do not (and if you already felt that way, it strengthens your convictions). Kulp's kind heart shines through the themes in his brilliant first novel.
I'd recommend SELECTION to anyone who enjoys the dystopian genre, sci-fi, or simply enjoys reading coming-of-age stories about young adults discovering who they truly are and finding their purpose!
To cap this review off, three cheers for Kulp, and his entire main cast (but especially Jennie Goodby :) )
January 3, 2026
“May the Algorithm provide for you!”
Upon reaching maturity, people in this society are selected for their caste: Alpha, Beta, Sigma, Omega; the Unselected are essentially untouchables, left to fend for themselves on city streets. Omegas perform menial and dangerous tasks and are seen as less valuable than robots; the bourgeoisie Betas look down their noses at the lower castes while aspiring to live like Alphas. The four main characters navigate their “selection”: Sam remains a Sigma, even though he expected to rise to Beta; by contrast, Jennie (readers’ favorite!) was raised an Omega and is ecstatic to have risen to Beta. Jack—boyhood friend of Sam—unexpectedly rises to Beta; his new girlfriend, the superficial Tabitha, helps him negotiate his new cultural expectations. We find, however, that their positions and even their love lives are being monitored—and perhaps even planned—by the Algorithm, the overlord AI system in charge of organizing society.
The book owes a lot to Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (perhaps the Algorithm is responsible for that!). Our more contemporary pressures of AI and climate change provide the situational conflict in this story, with the four characters accepting and eventually questioning the society itself.
In a book appropriate for adults and young adults, Chris Kulp creates a description of our time, a prediction of what humanity might face, and even a satire of human foibles that could bring us to such a existential cliff. In a final endnote, he provides an overview of AI and climate change, providing sources that encourage readers to look further into these two issues.
Upon reaching maturity, people in this society are selected for their caste: Alpha, Beta, Sigma, Omega; the Unselected are essentially untouchables, left to fend for themselves on city streets. Omegas perform menial and dangerous tasks and are seen as less valuable than robots; the bourgeoisie Betas look down their noses at the lower castes while aspiring to live like Alphas. The four main characters navigate their “selection”: Sam remains a Sigma, even though he expected to rise to Beta; by contrast, Jennie (readers’ favorite!) was raised an Omega and is ecstatic to have risen to Beta. Jack—boyhood friend of Sam—unexpectedly rises to Beta; his new girlfriend, the superficial Tabitha, helps him negotiate his new cultural expectations. We find, however, that their positions and even their love lives are being monitored—and perhaps even planned—by the Algorithm, the overlord AI system in charge of organizing society.
The book owes a lot to Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (perhaps the Algorithm is responsible for that!). Our more contemporary pressures of AI and climate change provide the situational conflict in this story, with the four characters accepting and eventually questioning the society itself.
In a book appropriate for adults and young adults, Chris Kulp creates a description of our time, a prediction of what humanity might face, and even a satire of human foibles that could bring us to such a existential cliff. In a final endnote, he provides an overview of AI and climate change, providing sources that encourage readers to look further into these two issues.
July 10, 2023
Just finished reading “Selection” yesterday, a very well done dystopian sci-fi novel with allot of similarities to “1984” by George Orwell. After reading this book, the technologies being developed today, where is this going to lead us? It is a fast paced read, The villain monologue at the end makes it all make sense.
May 16, 2023
This was an enjoyable read from first time author, Chris Kulp. His carefully thought out characters and plot create a post apocalyptic world that seems more and more plausible in real life as effects from global warming continue. True to human nature, in this new society, a caste system has been created with many parallels to our current lives if we read between the the lines. This book is a pertinent social commentary, and while some bits were predictable, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book, as predictability often does. Overall, this book not only held my attention, but I had a hard time putting it down. I definitely recommend giving it a read.
January 22, 2025
I enjoyed the book more than I expected. It flowed nicely and I did not notice any mistakes or inconsistencies. I thought the plot and characters were loveable and developed throughout the story with surprises and twists that made me remember subtle hints and clues the author placed earlier in the story. The story touches on content that is popular today, Artificial Intelligence as well as popular social issues of generational wealth and social classes. I found myself rooting for the characters in the story, becoming emotionally invested in their lives. The author did a great job bringing the world to life within my mind. I found myself thinking about some of the issues in the world he created and reflecting on real world issues that we all struggle with. Specifically, can we improve our lot in life? Can we become more or better than we are now if we work really hard?
May 28, 2025
The writing and character development is so good in this book. I love Sam. He works so hard and tries to have a better life but the Algorithm doesn’t care and actually sends him to a worse place.
I don’t want to give too much away about the other characters and the rest of the story, but I truly fell in love with all of the characters and could also find parts of each scene that are real places that I’ve visited. But it’s scary what climate change did to these places and how easy it would be for this part of the story to come.
I don’t want to give too much away about the other characters and the rest of the story, but I truly fell in love with all of the characters and could also find parts of each scene that are real places that I’ve visited. But it’s scary what climate change did to these places and how easy it would be for this part of the story to come.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews