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Cloudthinker: A Science Fiction Thriller
Numbers don't lie. But people do.
Boogie Wu was supposed to be a genius success story: child math prodigy, Stanford PhD, rising star at Magenta Labs. Then she burned out, flamed out, and disappeared.
Now, years later, the trillion-dollar company that cast her aside has launched a startlingly skillful AI. It drives. It cooks. It thinks. It takes more and more jobs from humans. And Boogie’s long-lost proof—the one she cracked in a sensory deprivation tank in rural Japan—might be the code running underneath it all.
As old friends resurface, whistleblowers go silent, and protest turns violent, Boogie is pulled back into a web of ambition, regret, and dangerous invention. She thought solving the math was the hard part. But when your mind is the blueprint for a machine that could reshape the world, Boogie must decide: expose the truth and risk everything, or fight a machine intelligence that knows her better than she knows herself.
Boogie Wu was supposed to be a genius success story: child math prodigy, Stanford PhD, rising star at Magenta Labs. Then she burned out, flamed out, and disappeared.
Now, years later, the trillion-dollar company that cast her aside has launched a startlingly skillful AI. It drives. It cooks. It thinks. It takes more and more jobs from humans. And Boogie’s long-lost proof—the one she cracked in a sensory deprivation tank in rural Japan—might be the code running underneath it all.
As old friends resurface, whistleblowers go silent, and protest turns violent, Boogie is pulled back into a web of ambition, regret, and dangerous invention. She thought solving the math was the hard part. But when your mind is the blueprint for a machine that could reshape the world, Boogie must decide: expose the truth and risk everything, or fight a machine intelligence that knows her better than she knows herself.
- GenresAudiobook
355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2023
30 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Andrew McGlinchey
1 book23 followersAndrew McGlinchey has worked in the tech industry for over twenty years, including stints working at Indeed, Microsoft, and Google. All of these gave him an insider’s view of both Big Tech and AI-driven products.
Andrew holds a degree in Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science from the University of Toronto. He's an immigrant to Singapore where he lives with his wife and lots of tropical plants.
Cloudthinker is his debut novel. To learn more about the book and Andrew’s work, visit www.cloudthinker.xyz
Andrew holds a degree in Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science from the University of Toronto. He's an immigrant to Singapore where he lives with his wife and lots of tropical plants.
Cloudthinker is his debut novel. To learn more about the book and Andrew’s work, visit www.cloudthinker.xyz
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 3, 2023
You do not get to read Sci-Fi stories as intriguing and exciting nowadays. This is a page-turner, and I finished the read in a day!
I like how Parham delves deeper into the investigation with his AI friend. It reminds me of Paprika in some way!
Now, I won't give spoilers, but say Cloudthinker got to sit in a cafe all day and forget about my coffee!
I loved how it reads and unfolds; Andrew has beautifully put an elaborate plot into a novel worth another part.
I am looking forward to more from him!
I like how Parham delves deeper into the investigation with his AI friend. It reminds me of Paprika in some way!
Now, I won't give spoilers, but say Cloudthinker got to sit in a cafe all day and forget about my coffee!
I loved how it reads and unfolds; Andrew has beautifully put an elaborate plot into a novel worth another part.
I am looking forward to more from him!
September 29, 2023
In the near future of “Cloudthinker,” the debut thriller by Andrew McGlinchey, Artificial Intelligence seemed like such a boon for humankind. No longer did people trudge to work to do the mundane tasks society requires. People were freed from these menial duties to pursue higher purposes in their careers. Sounds awesome! But so many people lost their jobs in such a short amount of time that the economy suffered. Surely that’s just a short-term speedbump, right? As the geniuses in the Cloudthinker labs continued to improve their product, the task-oriented AI robots began taking on more complicated duties. No longer were they just domestic cleaners, prep chefs, and self-driving cars (to name a few). Soon they were learning and acquiring new skills as they worked for humans; a sort of on-the-job training that made them more than specific task-oriented machines. That was when the proverbial train went off the tracks.
At first, this story seems like an interesting mix between the Will Smith movie I, Robot and the mega-online retailer Amazon. But that’s a gross misunderstanding of the depth of this book, making it sound like a simplified read for the under-informed. This is a story for those who appreciate rich characters with depth and personality, a storyline that is in touch with the realities of our time, and intelligent dialogue interspersed with brilliant prose, allowing the reader to fully embrace the moment. Welcome to “Cloudthinker.”
This upheaval was not accidental. Magenta, the powerhouse company that created Cloudthinker, had certain goals in mind. As the economy went into freefall and the public outrage continued to grow, few knew that this was all a part of the strategy. Including many of the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who breathed life into the project. One of the most essential of these was a world-class mathematician with the unlikely name of Boogie Wu. Don’t let that name cause you to underestimate her. She’s a true force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, we meet Boogie Wu on page 1 as she tumbles wing-over-tail down the airport landing strip in a fatal crash. It’s an interesting way to get our attention.
With the horrifying crash of the first chapter as our guidepost, the author deftly moves readers into the past, present and near future as Magenta’s Cloudthinker technology rapidly changes the world. There are times when the use of this literary technique can muddy the storyline for readers. But Andrew McGlinchey has done this in such a way that the reader retains a full understanding of the timeline of events. Even as this complex storyline reels out like a 60lb fishing line with a 200lb tarpon thrashing on the hook.
The characters within this high-tech thriller are fascinating, flawed, and scintillating. Boogie herself is a lot of fun considering she is, at heart, a math nerd. She likes numbers because they don’t lie- like people do. As with many individuals whose IQs range into the unmeasured, Boogie simply wants to be left alone to her higher pursuits. She disdains the corporate structure and loathes being bothered by management.
Parham Nasiri, a bulldog of a tech journalist who believes there’s a big story hiding deep inside Magenta finds himself a target of the giant corporation after unwittingly being right in the middle of a coup between Magenta’s robots and the thousands of unexpectedly fired Magenta personnel the robots just replaced. His immediate upload of the event puts a bullseye on his back and makes him some unexpected friends.
Then there’s Cosmo. With a name like that, you just know he’s going to be the antagonist (apologies to any Cosmos reading this…). Cosmo is slimy, deceitful on his best days, and couldn’t tell the whole truth if his life depended on it. He is, without a doubt, the character we love to hate here. I’m not giving away anything by pointing that out. The author so vividly portrays Cosmo that readers will know the instant he makes his appearance that he’s an untrustworthy creep.
We’re all hearing so much about AI these days. But it seems like very few people have any idea what the real capabilities and possible consequences truly are. There are a lot of voices spouting a lot of concepts at us. It’s hard to know which “truth” to grasp. One thing is for sure- the time is perfect for this book. The author is adept at leading his readers into the technology, mathematics, psychology, and philosophy involved with AI. He does not shy away from vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to his readers, making me grateful for Kindle’s ability to instantly provide a word definition. This vocabulary is wonderfully balanced so that readers are not thrown into a jargon-rich environment that might be annoying or confusing.
This distinctly creative, imaginative, and profound debut novel will delight fans of sci-fi, thrillers/suspense stories, technothrillers, and cyberpunk. It’s perfect for those who enjoy authors like A.G. Riddle, Blake Crouch, and Neal Stephenson. Fans of general fiction who enjoy a fast-paced story with excellent characters will also find it fascinating. The flexibility of Andrew McGlinchey’s “Cloudthinker” cannot be overstated. It can be enjoyed as the un-putdownable sci-fi read it is, or savored as the thought-provoking and philosophically weighty call to arms it is as well. This book is what the reader makes of it. Whatever you take away from this read, just don’t miss it.
At first, this story seems like an interesting mix between the Will Smith movie I, Robot and the mega-online retailer Amazon. But that’s a gross misunderstanding of the depth of this book, making it sound like a simplified read for the under-informed. This is a story for those who appreciate rich characters with depth and personality, a storyline that is in touch with the realities of our time, and intelligent dialogue interspersed with brilliant prose, allowing the reader to fully embrace the moment. Welcome to “Cloudthinker.”
This upheaval was not accidental. Magenta, the powerhouse company that created Cloudthinker, had certain goals in mind. As the economy went into freefall and the public outrage continued to grow, few knew that this was all a part of the strategy. Including many of the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who breathed life into the project. One of the most essential of these was a world-class mathematician with the unlikely name of Boogie Wu. Don’t let that name cause you to underestimate her. She’s a true force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, we meet Boogie Wu on page 1 as she tumbles wing-over-tail down the airport landing strip in a fatal crash. It’s an interesting way to get our attention.
With the horrifying crash of the first chapter as our guidepost, the author deftly moves readers into the past, present and near future as Magenta’s Cloudthinker technology rapidly changes the world. There are times when the use of this literary technique can muddy the storyline for readers. But Andrew McGlinchey has done this in such a way that the reader retains a full understanding of the timeline of events. Even as this complex storyline reels out like a 60lb fishing line with a 200lb tarpon thrashing on the hook.
The characters within this high-tech thriller are fascinating, flawed, and scintillating. Boogie herself is a lot of fun considering she is, at heart, a math nerd. She likes numbers because they don’t lie- like people do. As with many individuals whose IQs range into the unmeasured, Boogie simply wants to be left alone to her higher pursuits. She disdains the corporate structure and loathes being bothered by management.
Parham Nasiri, a bulldog of a tech journalist who believes there’s a big story hiding deep inside Magenta finds himself a target of the giant corporation after unwittingly being right in the middle of a coup between Magenta’s robots and the thousands of unexpectedly fired Magenta personnel the robots just replaced. His immediate upload of the event puts a bullseye on his back and makes him some unexpected friends.
Then there’s Cosmo. With a name like that, you just know he’s going to be the antagonist (apologies to any Cosmos reading this…). Cosmo is slimy, deceitful on his best days, and couldn’t tell the whole truth if his life depended on it. He is, without a doubt, the character we love to hate here. I’m not giving away anything by pointing that out. The author so vividly portrays Cosmo that readers will know the instant he makes his appearance that he’s an untrustworthy creep.
We’re all hearing so much about AI these days. But it seems like very few people have any idea what the real capabilities and possible consequences truly are. There are a lot of voices spouting a lot of concepts at us. It’s hard to know which “truth” to grasp. One thing is for sure- the time is perfect for this book. The author is adept at leading his readers into the technology, mathematics, psychology, and philosophy involved with AI. He does not shy away from vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to his readers, making me grateful for Kindle’s ability to instantly provide a word definition. This vocabulary is wonderfully balanced so that readers are not thrown into a jargon-rich environment that might be annoying or confusing.
This distinctly creative, imaginative, and profound debut novel will delight fans of sci-fi, thrillers/suspense stories, technothrillers, and cyberpunk. It’s perfect for those who enjoy authors like A.G. Riddle, Blake Crouch, and Neal Stephenson. Fans of general fiction who enjoy a fast-paced story with excellent characters will also find it fascinating. The flexibility of Andrew McGlinchey’s “Cloudthinker” cannot be overstated. It can be enjoyed as the un-putdownable sci-fi read it is, or savored as the thought-provoking and philosophically weighty call to arms it is as well. This book is what the reader makes of it. Whatever you take away from this read, just don’t miss it.
May 13, 2023
I found myself impressed by the synopsis of this one and very much enjoyed every page. The timeliness of the AI progression nailed it, I think - everything from Wuhan to the current state of language models felt like the changes were worryingly plausible and as a debut novel, it was both coherent and exciting all the way through.
Very reasonably priced on Kindle and a few hours of total escapism.
Very reasonably priced on Kindle and a few hours of total escapism.
June 2, 2023
Cloudthinker definitely deserves its place on Good Reads. The near-future intrigue, conspiratorial plot twists, and complex main characters kept me engaged and entertained throughout, while the clear connection with nonfictional reality challenged me to question the benign benefits of fast evolving technology.
The novel’s intriguing lead character, Boogie, is an emotionally flawed genius whose inability to exaggerate the truth invites the reader to follow her into the moral crisis that her intelligence, determination and nagging self doubt inevitably creates.
Meanwhile, the investigative antics of another key player, Parnham, provide an interesting physical juxtaposition to the mathematical, AI driven narrative that gives the book its name.
The smart use of wordplay in Parnham’s internal dialogue cleverly references what is an increasingly rare journalistic mission to expose the truth, while the greed and manipulations that drive the leaders of global tech giant, Magenta, are disturbingly relatable.
In many ways, Cloudthinker feels like a movie waiting for a screenplay. Its often ironic blend of science fiction and non-fiction keeps the story very much in the present, and the vivid imagery and polished prose keep mental images freely flowing.
The observations and warnings embedded in the narrative certainly raise questions that are increasingly poignant in a world that already embraces generative AI.
A highly recommended read.
The novel’s intriguing lead character, Boogie, is an emotionally flawed genius whose inability to exaggerate the truth invites the reader to follow her into the moral crisis that her intelligence, determination and nagging self doubt inevitably creates.
Meanwhile, the investigative antics of another key player, Parnham, provide an interesting physical juxtaposition to the mathematical, AI driven narrative that gives the book its name.
The smart use of wordplay in Parnham’s internal dialogue cleverly references what is an increasingly rare journalistic mission to expose the truth, while the greed and manipulations that drive the leaders of global tech giant, Magenta, are disturbingly relatable.
In many ways, Cloudthinker feels like a movie waiting for a screenplay. Its often ironic blend of science fiction and non-fiction keeps the story very much in the present, and the vivid imagery and polished prose keep mental images freely flowing.
The observations and warnings embedded in the narrative certainly raise questions that are increasingly poignant in a world that already embraces generative AI.
A highly recommended read.
November 25, 2025
better than most on kindle unlimited
It was a fairly good read, but not 5 star. However, it was included with kindle unlimited, so it is a k/u 5-star but 4 star at a retail price.
My main criticism is that the character development and world building were too trope for my taste.
I encourage you to read it and see what you think. After all, this was the authors first novel.
It was a fairly good read, but not 5 star. However, it was included with kindle unlimited, so it is a k/u 5-star but 4 star at a retail price.
My main criticism is that the character development and world building were too trope for my taste.
I encourage you to read it and see what you think. After all, this was the authors first novel.
May 23, 2024
Necessarily stressful, as AI is no longer just science fistion.
May 8, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it, especially to anyone who has an interest in speculative fiction, cyberpunk, AI or enjoys the work of writers like William Gibson.
This is a tightly-plotted, engaging and (aside from a handful of 'lumpy' sentences in the first few chapters) well-written book. The plot flows smoothly and the author throughout shows that he knows his craft and also has a better than average understanding of mathematics and AI, citing many references to both without ever getting bogged down in the tech. The book rolls along at a good pace without ever becoming dull and builds to an action-packed climax.
My only (minor) niggle is cosmetic: I wish that the few sections that related details from websites or news articles had been highlighted by indentation or a change of font to make them stand out from the main narrative.
Do I recommend this book? Yes!
Is it a page-turner? Yes!
Will I be watching for Andrew McGlinchey's next book? A definite Yes!
This is a tightly-plotted, engaging and (aside from a handful of 'lumpy' sentences in the first few chapters) well-written book. The plot flows smoothly and the author throughout shows that he knows his craft and also has a better than average understanding of mathematics and AI, citing many references to both without ever getting bogged down in the tech. The book rolls along at a good pace without ever becoming dull and builds to an action-packed climax.
My only (minor) niggle is cosmetic: I wish that the few sections that related details from websites or news articles had been highlighted by indentation or a change of font to make them stand out from the main narrative.
Do I recommend this book? Yes!
Is it a page-turner? Yes!
Will I be watching for Andrew McGlinchey's next book? A definite Yes!
May 22, 2023
What happens when you have an author who can tell a compelling story who also actually understands and is literate in business, math, computer science, AI, and a number of cultures?
You get a techno-thriller like CloudThinker.
I picked it up and read it in a single sitting. And then went back and read it again a few days later.
A gripping and engaging story both times!
I am conversant in business, math, computer science, AI, and have worked and lived in a number of cultures. Usually, when I read a techno-thriller, I am cringing from the first page to the last.
Not here.
And Boogie Wu is an authentic and believable protagonist who is on the spectrum. As well as being a believable Singaporean ;)
And Boogie’s boss is a pitch perfect depiction of the classic pointy-haired boss who has risen well beyond his level of incompetence in a tech organization.
We always have to engage in willing suspension of disbelief when enjoying fiction. Well, in this case it is minimal.
You get a techno-thriller like CloudThinker.
I picked it up and read it in a single sitting. And then went back and read it again a few days later.
A gripping and engaging story both times!
I am conversant in business, math, computer science, AI, and have worked and lived in a number of cultures. Usually, when I read a techno-thriller, I am cringing from the first page to the last.
Not here.
And Boogie Wu is an authentic and believable protagonist who is on the spectrum. As well as being a believable Singaporean ;)
And Boogie’s boss is a pitch perfect depiction of the classic pointy-haired boss who has risen well beyond his level of incompetence in a tech organization.
We always have to engage in willing suspension of disbelief when enjoying fiction. Well, in this case it is minimal.
November 12, 2023
I picked this novel up because it was "similar to" one of my novels Above Dark Waters.
I liked the plot and although a bit slow in the 20% range, it kept moving forward very well. I especially liked the ending. It felt satisfying and complete (though perhaps there could be a sequel?) At first the MC was a little too nerdy. Like someone from Big Bang theory; not every nerd likes or does every nerdy thing. But she grew on me.
This was the author's first novel, and I don't have much to nitpick. There was a little too much tell vs show, maybe a few clichés. Overall it was done very well, and for having multiple characters, and timelines, the author did very well.
I liked the plot and although a bit slow in the 20% range, it kept moving forward very well. I especially liked the ending. It felt satisfying and complete (though perhaps there could be a sequel?) At first the MC was a little too nerdy. Like someone from Big Bang theory; not every nerd likes or does every nerdy thing. But she grew on me.
This was the author's first novel, and I don't have much to nitpick. There was a little too much tell vs show, maybe a few clichés. Overall it was done very well, and for having multiple characters, and timelines, the author did very well.
August 3, 2023
This book arrived as a gift on my summer reading list.
If you are looking for:
1) A REALLY good story with a good pace, and well developed characters.
2) An informed and believable plot in a not so distant future.
2) A flowing prose with short chapters brimming with deep content. And a twisted chronology that makes you pause and think.
3) A chance to ponder about the increasing presence of AI products in our lives, and the impact it could have depending on the motives of the decision makers...
Then, of course, do rush to read MacGlinchey's novel!
If you are looking for:
1) A REALLY good story with a good pace, and well developed characters.
2) An informed and believable plot in a not so distant future.
2) A flowing prose with short chapters brimming with deep content. And a twisted chronology that makes you pause and think.
3) A chance to ponder about the increasing presence of AI products in our lives, and the impact it could have depending on the motives of the decision makers...
Then, of course, do rush to read MacGlinchey's novel!
September 23, 2023
Society is too complex. Too interconnected. Our technology is superhuman. Our wisdom is from the bronze age. This is why the system is ripe for reset.
This is Amazon goes AI with crazy implications! This one couldn't be any more relevant for our times.
This is Amazon goes AI with crazy implications! This one couldn't be any more relevant for our times.
August 16, 2023
Cloudthinker is a page-turning "dawn of AGI" novel complete with globe-spanning action, an evil mega-corp, iconic bad guys, and a heroine with a name so good, she needed a novel: Boogie Wu.
But, what sets it apart is the density of ideas. Most of us get into Sci-Fi because we want to think, to be challenged by "what-ifs". Yet, many novels explore too little ground or do so too shallowly (Klara and Sun, anyone?). Cloudthinker flips so many of the AI tropes on their heads that the author could spend three novels pulling on all the revealed threads.
McGlinchey's training at the University of Toronto's AI nerd factory shows through, navigating fluidly through neuroanatomy, abstract math, and ML all the way into Searle's Chinese Room. The latter is the idea at the core of the book, and he uses it to flip the table on the "stochastic parrot" crowd. Rather than worrying about whether AI understands in a way that would satisfy a philosopher, he asks whether they feel in a way that would terrify an ethicist. He marries this question with Boogie's long overdue Zen training and her discoveries in Connection theory to
spin a yarn that takes you inside the emerging mind of the AI and back to the imperfect ones it sprang from.
Settings and situations are credibly built on his familiarity with life in High Tech, and what appear to have been a few too many trans-Pacific flights. For anyone who has lived the life, you can feel the air miles he logged before sitting down to write.
Cloudthinker lives in my favorite sci-fi neighborhood: our planet, our lifetimes, our physics. There are so many questions we need to get our heads around before they get answered in a lab and released to turn our lives upside down. Cloudthinker grabs a bunch and rubs them against our brains. Best of all, it does so at pace; this isn't an exercise in marrow-sucking, it's a romp. McGlinchey delivers a fantastic first effort, hopefully, the first of many.
But, what sets it apart is the density of ideas. Most of us get into Sci-Fi because we want to think, to be challenged by "what-ifs". Yet, many novels explore too little ground or do so too shallowly (Klara and Sun, anyone?). Cloudthinker flips so many of the AI tropes on their heads that the author could spend three novels pulling on all the revealed threads.
McGlinchey's training at the University of Toronto's AI nerd factory shows through, navigating fluidly through neuroanatomy, abstract math, and ML all the way into Searle's Chinese Room. The latter is the idea at the core of the book, and he uses it to flip the table on the "stochastic parrot" crowd. Rather than worrying about whether AI understands in a way that would satisfy a philosopher, he asks whether they feel in a way that would terrify an ethicist. He marries this question with Boogie's long overdue Zen training and her discoveries in Connection theory to
spin a yarn that takes you inside the emerging mind of the AI and back to the imperfect ones it sprang from.
Settings and situations are credibly built on his familiarity with life in High Tech, and what appear to have been a few too many trans-Pacific flights. For anyone who has lived the life, you can feel the air miles he logged before sitting down to write.
Cloudthinker lives in my favorite sci-fi neighborhood: our planet, our lifetimes, our physics. There are so many questions we need to get our heads around before they get answered in a lab and released to turn our lives upside down. Cloudthinker grabs a bunch and rubs them against our brains. Best of all, it does so at pace; this isn't an exercise in marrow-sucking, it's a romp. McGlinchey delivers a fantastic first effort, hopefully, the first of many.
November 19, 2023
An absolute page turner from debut author Andrew McGlinchey.
Cloudthinker is a deeply satisfying choose your own adventure: a near-future dystopian AI thriller or a thoughtful spiritual take on what it truly means to be human.
The book plays at the intersections of a range of genres - a straight thriller, sci-fi, spiritual, philosophy - while deftly incorporating the big debates of our time: conspiracy theories, the nature of truth, transhumanism, the future of work, income inequality, globalisation to name a few.
It took a little time to settle in for the ride as the book’s timelines jumped around and the main characters were established. But it quickly became clear the reader was in safe hands.
The author wears his deep understanding of computer science, AI and maths lightly. Despite having only a cursory knowledge of many of the concepts referenced in the book, I never felt I was out of the loop. For readers with more technical knowledge, I imagine there were satisfying layers upon layers to explore.
For those of us less technical, the book works sensationally well as a straight thriller. While the characters could have been slightly more rounded out at times, I was so busy enjoying the fast pace that when a significant plot twist was revealed around three quarters of the way through I was genuinely taken by surprise.
Cloudthinker is one of those books that when you finish, you want to start reading it again to see what you missed the first time. I'm very much hoping there will be a sequel.
Cloudthinker is a deeply satisfying choose your own adventure: a near-future dystopian AI thriller or a thoughtful spiritual take on what it truly means to be human.
The book plays at the intersections of a range of genres - a straight thriller, sci-fi, spiritual, philosophy - while deftly incorporating the big debates of our time: conspiracy theories, the nature of truth, transhumanism, the future of work, income inequality, globalisation to name a few.
It took a little time to settle in for the ride as the book’s timelines jumped around and the main characters were established. But it quickly became clear the reader was in safe hands.
The author wears his deep understanding of computer science, AI and maths lightly. Despite having only a cursory knowledge of many of the concepts referenced in the book, I never felt I was out of the loop. For readers with more technical knowledge, I imagine there were satisfying layers upon layers to explore.
For those of us less technical, the book works sensationally well as a straight thriller. While the characters could have been slightly more rounded out at times, I was so busy enjoying the fast pace that when a significant plot twist was revealed around three quarters of the way through I was genuinely taken by surprise.
Cloudthinker is one of those books that when you finish, you want to start reading it again to see what you missed the first time. I'm very much hoping there will be a sequel.
September 19, 2023
DISCLAIMER - I received a free copy of this book to review for the 2023 Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC).
Take all of the current hysteria in the news about AI, multiply exponentially, and you have Andrew McGlinchey’s Dystopian Science Fiction story, Cloudthinker.
Cloudthinker begins with our protagonist, Boogie Wu, being in a horrifying private jet crash in Santiago, Chile. The next chapter begins two years before the plane crash so whether or not Boogie survived is left dangling. The book then jumps around - three years after the plane crash, two years before the plane crash, twenty-three months before the plane crash, etc. While I generally prefer my books to run sequentially, McGlinchey masterfully uses this back and forth formula to build the suspense.
There is a lot to like in this author’s first foray into publishing. This book is a real page turner, with action and suspense moving the plot along at a good clip, it has a good vs evil theme plucked from today’s headlines, and a few, not so veiled, references to companies and individuals currently in the news.
The reason this is not a five star review is that I found the characters to be one-dimensional. The good guys, Boogie and Parham, are just too naive and the main bad guy, Tycho, could be Dr. Claw’s (from Inspector Gadget) twin brother.
Despite the flaws, this is an exciting and entertaining read which, hopefully, will be followed by more from Andrew McGlinchey.
Take all of the current hysteria in the news about AI, multiply exponentially, and you have Andrew McGlinchey’s Dystopian Science Fiction story, Cloudthinker.
Cloudthinker begins with our protagonist, Boogie Wu, being in a horrifying private jet crash in Santiago, Chile. The next chapter begins two years before the plane crash so whether or not Boogie survived is left dangling. The book then jumps around - three years after the plane crash, two years before the plane crash, twenty-three months before the plane crash, etc. While I generally prefer my books to run sequentially, McGlinchey masterfully uses this back and forth formula to build the suspense.
There is a lot to like in this author’s first foray into publishing. This book is a real page turner, with action and suspense moving the plot along at a good clip, it has a good vs evil theme plucked from today’s headlines, and a few, not so veiled, references to companies and individuals currently in the news.
The reason this is not a five star review is that I found the characters to be one-dimensional. The good guys, Boogie and Parham, are just too naive and the main bad guy, Tycho, could be Dr. Claw’s (from Inspector Gadget) twin brother.
Despite the flaws, this is an exciting and entertaining read which, hopefully, will be followed by more from Andrew McGlinchey.
April 22, 2023
I had the great honour of being a beta reader for this sci-fi thriller. Being a picky reader, hit by multiple reading droughts, this book was refreshing and kept me entertained till the end. The story deals with current technological advances and issues. It makes us think about the impact of technology on our daily lives, livelihood, and on our future. It is thought-provoking. The author, by dealing with these topics, encourages us to think. This book will for sure tickle techies, nerds, and wannabe nerds. It is a fast-paced book, interesting, and thought-provoking with a few different cultural discoveries. I loved the parts where the characters travel to different areas of the world, like Indonesia and Japan. The main protagonist is a woman who is uber-smart in tech. I am happy to read a novel about a strong woman, smart, kick-ass, and independent. The other main character is also strong and resourceful. The story is relevant to what is happening today in AI and the technology world Loved it. Keep them coming.
April 16, 2023
If ChatGPT had an origin story this would be it.
While many novels and movies already moralize on the humanity of robots, McGlinchey provides a fresh take on the AI genre by explaining how they become human, and it's so plausible you wonder why big tech hasn't done it already. Unless they have...
This is a fast-paced action thriller which was tough to put down once I started. Can't wait for it to be turned into a Netflix movie.
Bonus: If you were a FAANG employee from the 2010s you might spot some fun insider references.
While many novels and movies already moralize on the humanity of robots, McGlinchey provides a fresh take on the AI genre by explaining how they become human, and it's so plausible you wonder why big tech hasn't done it already. Unless they have...
This is a fast-paced action thriller which was tough to put down once I started. Can't wait for it to be turned into a Netflix movie.
Bonus: If you were a FAANG employee from the 2010s you might spot some fun insider references.
December 13, 2023
WOW. I always hope but never expect a book to be this good! The other 5-star reviews tell the story well. From the moderness of the characters vernacular :) to the brain-graph-connectome schtuff to the reality-based bad guys ( profit profit profit star chamber)....
OK, that's enough! From the fact that I feel compelled to actually write a review..
I always fall back - with all the other elements that I like - on an honest answer to a question I ask myself about a book: " How much did I ENJOY it?" and on a scale of 1-10 this was 17-19 or something!
OK, that's enough! From the fact that I feel compelled to actually write a review..
I always fall back - with all the other elements that I like - on an honest answer to a question I ask myself about a book: " How much did I ENJOY it?" and on a scale of 1-10 this was 17-19 or something!
December 6, 2025
Cloudthinker surprised me. Once I settled into the shifting timelines and technical language, the story opened up beautifully. Parham and Boogie are compelling characters, and the plot’s momentum kept me fully engaged.
What I appreciated most was the sense of hope beneath the tension — the belief that vigilance and decency can still win against destructive forces. In a time of uncertainty about our future, that message matters.
Imaginative, thoughtful, and emotionally rewarding. I’m definitely hoping for a sequel.
What I appreciated most was the sense of hope beneath the tension — the belief that vigilance and decency can still win against destructive forces. In a time of uncertainty about our future, that message matters.
Imaginative, thoughtful, and emotionally rewarding. I’m definitely hoping for a sequel.
June 12, 2023
this was a interesting take on a scifi thriller, it had a great plot going on and I enjoyed how everything worked overall. Andrew McGlinchey does a great job in creating this world and have a great story going on. I enjoyed what I read and glad I read this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 5, 2024
Sc-Fi book. AI themed. Debut book. Well, I just don’t like books that start in the present, go to the past; back and forth for awhile; finally the rest of the story. A lot of fill (to me). Where it was good (moving along) it was good. Where it was stagnant, it really was bad. Not a good debut overall in my eyes. Parts were good, very good.
July 2, 2024
Although not my usual genre, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting and the pacing of the story keeps the reader engaged until the end. An excellent first novel by a skilled author! I will look forward to future stories!
June 6, 2023
Pretty good!
November 2, 2024
Bloody fantastic!! Buy it!! Start reading it!! Try to stop reading it!! I dare you!!
I read every novel nominated for the 2024 Hugo awards and this book (while not nominated) is superior!
Fin.
I read every novel nominated for the 2024 Hugo awards and this book (while not nominated) is superior!
Fin.
September 23, 2025
This was a really good book. I would have given it a 5 star, except I wasnt a fan of how it ended. Still a recommended read, though!
December 31, 2023
#YearsInTheFuture
But is it really? Even the author lists AI-type technology that were household items in the late 20th century.
As one of the characters said, ‘General Artificial Intelligence: a slippery term to define. For most of us, it’s best defined as anything with a computer we don’t know how to do yet.’
Remember the days before spell-check? Using it today isn’t so scary, now, is it?
A different character points out that the ‘horse-drawn carriage drivers have been out of work for a long time’ and that ‘the whaling industry has moved on’. Without mentioning what those people did for a living wage afterwards…
Helpful technology is great, but we need to be mindful of the effects so that we have redundancy plans in place.
Get out the tequila ’cause ‘#You’reNext’.
But is it really? Even the author lists AI-type technology that were household items in the late 20th century.
As one of the characters said, ‘General Artificial Intelligence: a slippery term to define. For most of us, it’s best defined as anything with a computer we don’t know how to do yet.’
Remember the days before spell-check? Using it today isn’t so scary, now, is it?
A different character points out that the ‘horse-drawn carriage drivers have been out of work for a long time’ and that ‘the whaling industry has moved on’. Without mentioning what those people did for a living wage afterwards…
Helpful technology is great, but we need to be mindful of the effects so that we have redundancy plans in place.
Get out the tequila ’cause ‘#You’reNext’.
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