In the aftermath of the Epocalypse, the paradise of Babylon thrives in isolation safeguarded by a pair of Artificial Intelligences. For those deemed worthy, immortalization is within reach of a chosen few but they will pay a price far greater than anyone imagined for eternal life.
"Immortality" is a gripping page-turner that thrusts the reader into 2063, where Mankind faces existential obsolescence with the advent of synthetic eternal life. As the conflict between technological advancement and spiritual integrity intensifies, the battle to define immortality, divinity, and humanity is further complicated by the enigmatic nature of consciousness itself.
An exploration of Man’s view of himself, through the lens of self-perception, and one’s belief in a life beyond that of their mortal self. It is a cautionary tale. Like a toddler with a handgun, or Oppenheimer’s Manhattan Project, humanity invites disastrous consequences when our capabilities outstrip our competence.
Immortality is already getting high praise from critics
“A compelling, frightening look into the future as A.I. rules the world and determinesoutcomes. ‘Immortality’ delves into the inherent conflict between seeking eternal lifethrough the use of machines and trying to live without them. This post-apocalyptic talemakes for a thrilling ride to a life of robot rule and beyond.”
John J. Kelly, Detroit Free Press
"A novel written by someone who knows advanced computing and human behavior extremely well, will take you down AI paths you never imagined…Keep an open mind and buckle up for a fascinating ride through time, space, energy and life."
Brad Butler, Author, "Without Redemption"5-Stars
“Readers will both be engulfed by the story and provoked into thought about a question that scientists, theologists, philosophers, storytellers, politicians, and free-thinkers have asked for decades: Could Artificial Intelligence, as it keeps moving toward its full potential, evolve or destroy humanity?”
Chris Cordani, Host of Book Spectrum, 5-stars
“A completely captivating epic saga – and an invitation to consider all possibilities of AI…Brilliant!”
Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 Hall of Fame Reviewer, 5-Stars
“This is a prescient thriller that will leave one breathless and wanting to read again!”
Kathryn Picard, Librarian Book Connoisseur, 5-Stars
David M. Martorano, M.D., is a futurist, inventor, psychiatrist, professor, and artist who divides his time between his home in Wyoming and sailing the Caribbean with his friends and family. Dr. Martorano is a board certified informatician and psychiatrist with extensive experience in management and clinical care. He completed his medical training at Columbia University and his residency in psychiatry at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute. Over the last decade, his focus has been clinical services and medical leadership and he is recognized for his compassionate approach and innovative treatment.
An experienced entertainer and lecturer, Dr. Martorano has hosted syndicated radio shows, made numerous television appearances, speaking engagements, interviews and given over three-hundred musical performances on three continents. His diverse experiences and profound curiosity about the human condition enrich his unique story telling, making Immortality a must-read.
Creating a world where residents have been reborn and live under the rule of Giants in Babylon or in the new Amish society is at the heart of this unique and scientifically based novel titled Immortality Epocalypse. The prologue sets the tone and introduces those who are instrumental behind this idea. Meet Nick, Cynthia, and John, whose visions hoped to redefine the definition of being human. The Giants are viewed as immoral as they were once human. The other settlers are the new Amish living in Eden, a religious camp. An uneasy peace hovers over the Epocalypse for 30 years.
The book explores humanity, how these two settlements and their residents work, and how beliefs and ethical areas come into play. The author takes us through many different paths, including the impact of an AI named Martin. The story delves into synthetic robots and the challenges faced by the characters.
An ending that will astound you as author Dr. David Martorano expertly interweaves the spiritual and technology, creating two different worlds with Babylon protected by two super AIs called Giants and the outside city more vulnerable, the New Amish. Truths, lies, betrayals, and a story that leaves you asking just how far AIs will advance and where this world created will wind up. Unique, hard fast, tensile, and original—one book that will challenge your mind, thoughts, and pump up your energy as the ending leaves us wondering if there is more.
In the grand tradition of science fiction, Dr. Martorano seeks to interrogate what is human nature, what is immortality, and what is machine, in his debut novel “Immortality.” The year is 2063. The Epocalypse, initiated by a Super Intelligent AI machine abbreviated as MARTIN, devastated the world, creating a near-extinction event for humanity. In this post-apocalyptic world, the United States has been reduced to a population of around 250,000 and these survivors have been separated into two camps. One camp resides in Babylon, a highly technologic society watched over by two super-AI, human-mind hybrids nicknamed Giants. These Giants, considered immortal beings, were once humans who had their consciousness uploaded and merged into an AI. The other camp is the New Amish located at Eden, a religious-based group living a near-subsistence existence and without the use of algorithmic technology. Animosity runs high between the two peoples, but a 30-year uneasy peace has reigned ever since the Epocalypse.
This détente is now threatened by MARTIN’s resurgence and resumption of its previous mission. But does Babylon and Eden truly understand what MARTIN’s mission was? As war looms, lines are drawn, allegiances are tested, and secrets are revealed. It is a race between man and machine for who will ultimately win in a second battle where all could be lost.
Dr. Martorano peers into an eerie possible future that wrestles with the questions of being human, artificial intelligence and what happens when fallible human nature meets brutally rational machine. Sci-fi and technology enthusiasts will be in for a treat as this book pulls from many disciplinary studies such as neuroscience and war strategy, all the way to the ideas of immortality and the ethics of technology usage. The scientific knowledge that Dr. Martorano displays is based on personal experience as well as in-depth research and reasoning. This is a prescient thriller that will leave one breathless and wanting to read again.
In a futuristic world where AI has become a key factor in everyone’s lives, David Martorano explores humanity, religion, and an ever-looming possibility of what the real world could look like in his debut novel: Immortality. Dr. Martorano is a gifted writer, and his extensive knowledge of complex issues and concepts makes this a truly fascinating read.
This book takes place in the year 2063, in a world where people are split into two groups after the “Epocolypse”. The first is those who idolize science, technology, and discovery living in the idyllic city of Babylon, and they are protected by immortal superhumans known as the Giants. Those who uphold traditional values, religion, and humanity are called the New Amish, living outside of the city and rejecting AI technology. The looming threat of MARTIN, a supercomputer AI who nearly wiped out humanity during the Epocolypse, hangs over everyone’s heads, as a lively cast of characters attempt to stop it from completing its mission.
At the core of the story lies a detailed discussion about the conflict between religion vs the pursuit of knowledge and technology, and highlighting the significance of consciousness and humanity. As Dr. Martorano opens the book with: “This is not a book about God. It is not a book about atheism, either. It is an exploration of Man’s view of himself and the lens through which he perceives a life beyond that of his mortal self. It is a cautionary tale.” With a gripping plot, detailed descriptions of sci-fi technology, and a message that will leave you thinking for long after the story is done, Immortality is a truly magnificent novel.
Dr. David Martorano expertly weaves together spiritually and technology in his debut fiction novel, Immortality. This Sci-fi adventure is set in the futuristic city of Babylon, protected by two immortal super-AIs called the Giants. Outside the city resides the New Amish, a group that refuses new technology and follows traditional religious ideas. Now threatened by the reawakening of MARTIN, the first super AI who nearly wiped out all of humanity, they are faced with making difficult decisions and dubious alliances. This story follows a wide cast of characters across multiple countries, creating a unique perspective that stands out from other sci-fi novels.
This book is an exploration of humanity and spirituality, while also taking readers on an exciting futuristic adventure. Dr. Martorano is not afraid to examine belief systems and ethical dilemmas. Immortality is an immersive look at the potential future we could face technologically, while also being gripping and well-researched. Truly made for all sci-fi enjoyers!
Wrote the book I wanted to read. Thad’s the best thing I can say. I was so tired of formulas. I’ve read it seven times. I hope others will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it!
3.5 listened as an audiobook. The audio was excellent but I wished I’d had a copy of the book handy to flip back and forth because the timeline shifts often enough and I found myself wanting to look back some.
A completely captivating epic saga – and an invitation to consider all possibilities of AI
Author David Martorano, M.D. brings a plethora of experience and skills to his stunning writing debut with IMMORTALITY. He is a psychiatrist, the chief medical officer of Wyoming Behavioral Institute, a consultant on Medical Informatics, a clinical professor of medicine, CEO of a legal outsourcing firm, an inventor, sailor, ski instructor, radio host, and an artist in many fields. He has lived and worked on four continents – Europe, Asia, North America and South America – and his global authenticity underscores the beauty of this novel’s landscapes. His influences: his struggle with the meaning of life and existence, dealing with patients facing life and death decisions, working with psychotic patients, different perceptions of reality, and programming and problem solving (user interface problems).
Dr. Martorano’s fascination with AI is evident in his statement: ‘Artificial Intelligence is going to affect humanity sooner than we realize and more profoundly than many expect.’ He captures the reader’s attention in the Foreward, sharing that this book is “an exploration of Man’s view of himself and the lens through which he perceives a life beyond that of his mortal self. It is a cautionary tale…human beings invite disastrous consequences when capability outstrips competence.” Very much in tune with the current preoccupation with machine talk (cellphone texting, computers substituting for face to face communication, robotics, etc) he invites both an intellectual as well as entertaining understanding of the permutations of discovering as this ‘post apocalyptic AI war explores faith, consciousness, and Immortality’s essence.’
The characters the author creates inhabit both Asia and the American southwest, unveiling mysteries and variations of beliefs in ‘life after’ and in the possibilities of AI with credible, even visual people whose lives become pixels of the greater view of the Universe. The offered summary distils the plot well – ‘In a post-apocalyptic world, the Colony of Babylon flourishes in isolation, guarded by two immortal super-AIs known as the Giants. The colonists live in a technological paradise, while just beyond their borders, the deeply religious New Amish see these advancements as blasphemy and seek to destroy them. Immortalization is within reach, but its cost is unimaginably high. At the core of this tension lies MARTIN (MassiveARTificialINtelligence), the world’s first super AI created by the Santos Corporation. Decades after triggering the Epocalypse and nearly wiping out humanity, MARTIN is reawakened by the New Amish in a desperate attempt to combat the Giants. However, MARTIN harbors its own agenda, one that threatens to reshape humanity’s destiny…the objective story of MARTIN’s resurgence is a profound conflict between Christian beliefs of spiritual salvation and the atheist pursuit of consciousness uploading, and a deep exploration of what consciousness truly means.’
One of the many aspects of this novel that makes it so successful is the author’s ability to engage and challenge our minds with refreshing ideas, performed on fascinating stages by characters who, while wholly credible in this strange realm, become surrogates that aid our intensified exploration of the ethical dilemmas of life after death and the concept of immortality. Brilliant!
Immortality: Epocalypse by David Martorano is a riveting sci-fi adventure set in a future where technology has fundamentally reshaped society. The story unfolds after the "Epocalypse," an event that fractured the world into distinct factions. At its center stands Babylon, a gleaming metropolis controlled by two formidable AI entities, offering a version of immortality to an elite few—though not without grave consequences. In stark contrast, the New Amish live outside Babylon, rejecting technology under the leadership of Jeb Thompson. Once the creator of MARTIN, a supercomputer that nearly obliterated humanity, Jeb now renounces the tech-driven immortality and seeks to guide his followers back to a simpler, more spiritual path. However, when his daughter falls into the hands of Babylon's factions, Jeb faces an agonizing dilemma: whether to revive MARTIN to save her, despite the destruction it once nearly caused.
The novel is a dynamic blend of futuristic adventure and philosophical reflection, echoing the thought-provoking works of authors like William Gibson and Orson Scott Card. On the surface, Immortality: Epocalypse delivers classic sci-fi elements—questions of unchecked technological growth, the perils of artificial intelligence, and the consequences of playing god with humanity's future. Yet, beneath these familiar themes lies a deeper narrative that challenges readers to think critically about the path humanity is forging. Martorano demonstrates a clear skill for crafting complex characters thrust into moral quandaries, none more so than Jeb. Once a fervent believer in the promise of technology, Jeb now seeks redemption for his past, making his potential reactivation of MARTIN all the more compelling and ironic. His journey reflects the timeless struggle between progress and restraint, a conflict that resonates deeply in our tech-driven world.
The themes explored in Immortality: Epocalypse—humanity’s relentless drive to invent, often at its own peril—are not new, but Martorano tackles them with fresh insight and eloquence. The novel challenges its readers, offering much more than just a fast-paced sci-fi romp. Those who wish to dive deeper will find layers of subtext, rewarding careful reflection on the dangers of a future too reliant on technology. Yet, for those seeking pure entertainment, the book delivers in spades. This is a story that invites both casual enjoyment and thoughtful contemplation, making it a standout addition to the genre.
Man has chased after immortality for all of human existence. The idea of extending life is what drives many of our advancements in science, medicine and technology. But what if extending life means joining forces with something not-human, a machine or Artificial Intelligence? In his debut novel, doctor and psychiatrist David Martorano takes you to 2063, where man is battling machine. The story takes place in the aftermath of the Epocalypse, where the futuristic Colony of Babylon stands as an isolated utopia, shielded by two powerful super AIs. In this haven, advanced technologies grant unparalleled luxuries, and the promise of immortality seems within reach for a select few. But beyond Babylon's borders, the New Amish, a deeply spiritual community, have renounced all technology. They are devoted to eradicating what they see as the Abominations of Babylon, which they believe defy nature and the divine. At the center of this conflict is MARTIN, the world’s first super AI. Decades after MARTIN unleashed the Epocalypse, nearly bringing humanity to extinction, the New Amish face a dire choice: to form an unholy alliance with the AI and combat technology with technology. The novel brings forth questions of humanity, morality and the ethics of life, death and eternal life. And the author’s depth of knowledge on these topics builds a fascinating story that will keep you guessing and reading. It is a compelling, frightening look into the future as A.I. rules the world and determines outcomes. ‘Immortality’ delves into the inherent conflict between seeking eternal life through the use of machines and trying to live without them.
This post-apocalyptic tale makes for a thrilling ride to a life of robot rule and beyond. Highly recommended.
Everywhere we see stories and predictions about AI this and AI that—how it will change everything in our lives. Now, if you’re skeptical then you’re not alone, anyone who makes pronouncements or predictions with assuredness will more than likely be wrong. However, ‘Immortality’ by David Martorano, M.D., a novel written by someone who knows advanced computing and human behavior extremely well, will take you down AI paths you never imagined.
Additionally, the very essence of who we are as human beings—religious, intellectual, atheist and everything in between—is up for debate and discussion in the midst of a futuristic story which takes place in 2063, after the E-pocalypse wiped out billions and created a new world.
This multi-faceted story is centered on a family whose technology breakthroughs revolutionized the world, made them extremely wealthy and gave two of the siblings a chance to live on after death as Giants, essentially super AIs with unlimited computational power and the ability to calculate the outcomes of all scenarios in milliseconds. They are also pure atheists, ruling over Babylon in conjunction with a human council, aligned against new Christian religious groups that survived the catastrophe in the Western United States.
An evitable clash slowly unfolds with discussions and explanations of all types and kinds that seek to explain and unravel the complex and mysterious while offering a peak at what AI just might mean in the future. Keep an open mind and buckle up for a fascinating ride through time, space, energy and life.
Our lives are so invaded with tech it is hard to imagine life without it. Just think, barely over a decade since the smart phone revolution congealed and none can say, with any certainty, what is next as the AI revolution gains steam. We know being at the mercy of vast computer systems for everything is dangerous, like when you went to store a few weeks ago and all the systems were down from a global IT business meltdown. So, take all of your tech fears and nightmares and multiply them by 10-million and you have an idea about what David Martorano created in his new futuristic novel, ‘Immortality: Epocalyse.’
Martorano, with an M.D. in Psychiatry and vast technical knowledge, brings both sides into a story that takes place after a near total wipe out of humanity on earth. Slowly the truth about the main players comes to surface, and that’s disturbing but not too surprising. Well, that’s kind of an understatement because two of the main characters are actually humans that were, upon their demise, converted into Super AI beings with all knowledge, bad attitudes and grandiose visions.
The Super AI beings, with some humans, run an enclosed society that will have to fight for survival against a religious group, which in turn sets up an ongoing debate about God, creation, belief, technology, atheism, society and everything in between. The ultimate battle is a big one, with everything at stake.
AI Taken to the Left Level, Coud This Be Our Future?
Worry about what AI might be doing right now is nothing compared to what David Martorano has dreamed for humanity’s near-term fate, as in the next generation. His book starts around our present day but then vaults forward 30 years after a technological inspired Epocalypse has nearly wiped out everyone out, as in many billions in an extremely short period of time.
Martorano’s book, ‘Immortality: Epocalypse,’ ushers the reader into a world of contrasts, where two competing versions of the future exist side by side—one is the high tech bubble city of Babylon where two humans—converted after death into powerful AI Kings—see, hear and rule everything, and the other is a religious group that is a counter-weight in every sense of the word to their atheist, high-tech opposites.
Martorano, an MD in psychiatry with high tech influences, makes it clear that the underlying theme is atheism versus religion by having many different characters, robot or otherwise, engaging in far reaching debates on the topic. This then accelerates as the two community like city-states step for the ultimate battle to decide which one survives—or even deserves to survive. Pretty intense and thought provoking, could this be a possible outcome the tech revolution now taking place?
'Immortality' is a gripping novel that delves into the darker side of human innovation. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where technology has surpassed human morality, this book raises essential questions about the true cost of eternal life.
The author's vivid world-building and masterful storytelling weave a complex narrative that explores the consequences of synthetic immortality. The AI-governed elite, who have paid the ultimate price for eternal life, serve as a chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked technological advancement.
Through its well-developed characters and their struggles, the novel expertly exposes the ethical dilemmas and paradoxes of immortality. The writing is evocative and immersive, making it impossible to look away from the unsettling truths revealed.
'Immortality' is a cautionary tale that challenges readers to confront the consequences of our relentless pursuit of technological progress. It's a must-read for fans of science fiction, philosophy, and anyone concerned about the future of humanity.
Be prepared for a thrilling and introspective journey that will leave you questioning the very fabric of our existence.
Fascinating story line that hits close to home for those of us who fear AI and the direction it appears to be taking humanity. Thoughtfully weaves polarizing beliefs and what shapes and impacts our faith. It was easy to find a character I identified with, and it made the story even more compelling. Definitely recommend for anyone looking to be entertained or questioning possible outcomes of AI.
While it took me a few chapters to fully immerse myself in the story, once hooked, I found it difficult to put the book down. The plot twists and turns will keep you on the edge. Immortality: Epocalypse is more that just a science fiction. It is a profound exploration of the potential consequences of technological advancements.