Artificial World Colony: The First Journey

by Umut Orhan

What if humanity's last chance for survival wasn't Earth… but a memory?

In a future where the Blue Sphere has become uninhabitable, humanity’s hope is launched into the stars aboard massive Artificial Worlds. In one of these new civilizations, on the Navy Sphere, a twenty-year-old woman named Selene questions her origins and how humanity arrived at this point. Her only guide on this dark journey is Chacha, a wise and witty artificial consciousness.

Through "digital memories," Selene begins to uncover not only the story of the exodus from the Blue Sphere but also the staggering secrets behind her family and her own identity. But as each memory illuminates a forgotten truth, it draws her closer to a more dangerous enigma.

From the ruins of the Cotton Sphere to the birth of the Collective Consciousness, this first journey is a philosophical adventure that questions AI ethics, cloning, love, and courage. A novel that fans of Asimov, Liu and Herbert won’t be able to put down, it challenges you to rediscover what it truly means to be human.

Are you ready for a journey in pursuit of a forgotten history and a shocking truth, where the Artificial World Colony saga begins?What if humanity’s last chance for survival wasn’t Earth… but a memory?

When the Blue Sphere becomes uninhabitable, humanity launches its hope into the stars aboard colossal Artificial Worlds. On one of these new civilizations—the Navy Sphere—a young woman named Selene begins to question her origins, her family, and the truth behind humanity’s desperate exodus.

Her only guide? Chacha, a witty and enigmatic artificial consciousness.
Through fragments of digital memories, Selene uncovers staggering

The fall of the Blue Sphere and the rise of Artificial Worlds

The birth of the Collective Consciousness

The ethics of AI, cloning, and genetic engineering

Forgotten love, courage, and the cost of survival

But every answer leads to a deeper enigma—and a shocking truth that could shatter the foundations of this new civilization.

Perfect for fans of Asimov, Liu Cixin, and Frank Herbert, this philosophical sci-fi adventure explores the boundaries of technology, morality, and what it truly means to be human.

👉 Begin the journey where the Artificial World Colony saga starts. Discover the truth before it’s erased forever.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.
If this story moved you or made you think, leaving a review on Amazon would mean the world to me.
Your feedback not only helps other readers discover this book but also supports the continuation of this series.

Share your thoughts—every word matters!

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2025

About the author

By day, a professor at Cukurova University working to give artificial intelligence human-like traits; by night, a novelist who imagines the future this technology will bring. Umut Orhan brings these two identities together in his Artificial World Colony series.

With a deep academic background in Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning, he began crafting this universe during the pandemic, discovering the power of conveying technical ideas through storytelling. His goal is to make artificial intelligence accessible, even to readers who might shy away from its technical side, by presenting it through the lens of narrative and emotion.

When he takes a break from his intense work between science and fiction, he can be found either swimming laps in the pool or discovering the chemistry and story behind a good drink.

To take a deeper dive into his world, you can start a conversation with him at orhanumut at gmail dot com.

Reviews

[RiedlerReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

First – Who should read this? If you are interest in…
1. Humanity’s survival in space and general space adventures
2. The interplay between humans, AI, and where this relationship goes in the future
3. A combination of elements from The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu (and the Netflix show based on it), I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (and the movie with Will Smith), and Passengers (movie with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence)
**While reading, be aware – this is a book self-published by a first-time fiction author, so there are always going to be growing pains. There are a fair amount of grammatical/stylistic errors and plot inconsistencies that can be exasperating.

Facts/Feels – This genre of sci-fi where humans and AI have to peacefully coexist and interact has been blowing up in the past few years! l like Orhan’s perspective/continuation of previously explored ideas and how he expands upon the AI/human interplay even further.
There are three (I think?) different generations readers end up encountering and there are genetic clones based on the oldest generation in each ensuing generation. Yup. For example, we have a Miss H, whose genetic twin is Haruko from a newer generation; Vivi is friends with Haku, but Vivi’s genetic twin’s name is Veste; Captain can be named Captain Jay, Jupiter, Jay Jay, and a few more. The sheer amount of characters and the different iterations of their names becomes frustrating, especially since some of the characters show up so infrequently. To make it more complicated, the characters can experience digital memories of the past, but readers aren’t always told that it was a digital memory until after the experience, which adds another layer of confusion (and more rereading than usual!).

Final Thoughts – Ultimately, this book needs a bit of “cleaning up” before it’s ready for the masses. The author has already started that process and has done a phenomenal job. Once the plot and characters get more streamlined, this book will fit in well with others in the humanity versus (or working with!) AI. Overall the provocative ideas brought forth make me excited to read the upcoming books in the series.

For Friends/Followers – You know who you are…
Just wanted to share this extended block quote because I found it a hilarious, pertinent, and concise description of the fallibility of politics.

“The Land of Science never had elections or politics. The necessary actions were clear and the right people simply did their jobs. Since everyone – including artificial consciousnesses – was able to monitor and check each other, no one had the chance to over step their boundaries….Imagine if, in a country, a single person – who knew nothing about economics, agriculture, or healthcare – was put in charge of making all the big decisions in those fields. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?” (p.230)

[Donna Lavalley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a 4 star rating because I really liked the storyline of the book but I didnt like the educational aspect of the book. The journey Selene had to overcome and endure was something that i didnt even expect to happen at the end of the book. I recommend this book to anyone that loves science, space, and educational information about space.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promising storyline but failed delivery

This would have been a good read but it was choppy and confusing. Characters were constantly changing gender. Not as part of the story but as typos or poor editing. It made for a confusing experience.

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

📕📕📕📕📕

[Book Worm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artificial World Colony - The First Journey offered me a thought-provoking and thrilling science fiction experience that drew me in from the very first pages. The author not only tells an interstellar adventure but also skillfully explores profound themes such as the future of humanity, artificial intelligence, consciousness, loneliness, and existence.
One of the novel's strongest aspects is the artificial world ships it creates and the dynamics of life aboard them. The story of humankind venturing to the stars after the depletion of the Blue Sphere is narrated in a multi-layered way, especially through the relationship between the artificial consciousness Chandra (aka Chacha) and young Selene. Chandra's wise and occasionally witty narration pulls the reader into the story and allows you to follow even complex philosophical inquiries fluently.
Character development is quite successful. Selene's journey, evolving from childlike curiosity to the complex emotions of a young woman, deeply affects the reader. Her discoveries about her past and identity add an air of mystery to the story, compelling you to turn the pages quickly. The supporting characters, especially the first generation on the U78 ship and the tragedies they experience, enhance the novel's emotional depth.
As the author states in the foreword, the philosophy that "wherever you look in nature, you find rules, laws, and discipline" resonates throughout the novel. Humanity's mistakes, selfishness, but also its hope and desire for a new beginning, are conveyed in an impressive language through the civilizations established on different planets and the conflicts experienced.
"The First Journey" is just a beginning. Many intriguing elements, such as the events on the Cotton Sphere, the enemy artificial consciousness uS58, and the role of warrior ships like sA33 (Ares), lay an exciting foundation for the rest of the series. Particularly, the mysterious secondary consciousness of Ares and the assassination investigation that begins with Nino's death add a completely different layer of suspense to the story.
Towards the end of the book, the truths faced by Selene and Chacha draw the reader into a vortex, and the inquiries into the "source of evil" can linger in your mind for a long time.
If you enjoy science fiction novels that are thought-provoking, enriched with philosophical subtext, and also offer a gripping mystery and adventure, "Artificial World Colony - The First Journey" should definitely be on your reading list. Umut Orhan presents a thought-provoking vision of the future while making the reader a partner in the characters' emotional journeys. I eagerly await the continuation of the series