What do you think?
Rate this book
://AUTO
://AUTO is the self published debut science fiction novel by D.T. Wilby, available on Kindle.
Set in a near future England where the national transport network controls all traffic on the roads remotely, it is a technological thriller dealing with themes of progress, isolation, survival and redemption.
Jack Burton is one of those lucky few people afforded a second chance to get things right in life. Back in the arms of a fiancé and son he cast aside in his youth, it would be fair to say that he hardly deserved such good fortune. Jack is quickly coming to grasp however that he still has a lot of making up to do before they could be considered the perfect family. After the Hollywood ending comes the really hard work.
On a wintery Tuesday morning, fresh off a whispered argument, Jack wonders if they will ever truly be able to bury their past and move on with their lives, or whether their old wounds run too deep for their hopeful experiment to ever succeed. Heading off to the office, he frankly cannot wait for his working day to be over so that he can finally sort everything out, or at least try. Before that however he has to face his boss, who is increasingly eager to learn why he hasn’t been seeing Jack around so much lately.
No one ever said shouldering all your responsibilities was easy, as Jack was finally beginning to understand. The stresses and strains of his everyday life however are soon put into stark contrast as his high tech company car malfunctions, taking Jack prisoner and half way across the country in a struggle for survival, with the police hot on their tail.
Set in a near future England where the national transport network controls all traffic on the roads remotely, it is a technological thriller dealing with themes of progress, isolation, survival and redemption.
Jack Burton is one of those lucky few people afforded a second chance to get things right in life. Back in the arms of a fiancé and son he cast aside in his youth, it would be fair to say that he hardly deserved such good fortune. Jack is quickly coming to grasp however that he still has a lot of making up to do before they could be considered the perfect family. After the Hollywood ending comes the really hard work.
On a wintery Tuesday morning, fresh off a whispered argument, Jack wonders if they will ever truly be able to bury their past and move on with their lives, or whether their old wounds run too deep for their hopeful experiment to ever succeed. Heading off to the office, he frankly cannot wait for his working day to be over so that he can finally sort everything out, or at least try. Before that however he has to face his boss, who is increasingly eager to learn why he hasn’t been seeing Jack around so much lately.
No one ever said shouldering all your responsibilities was easy, as Jack was finally beginning to understand. The stresses and strains of his everyday life however are soon put into stark contrast as his high tech company car malfunctions, taking Jack prisoner and half way across the country in a struggle for survival, with the police hot on their tail.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2014
6 people want to read
About the author
D.T. Wilby
6 books9 followersD.T. Wilby is a science fiction author living in the U.K. His particular area of interest is near future science fiction and the impact new technology may have on society and our future. Often his interest is pricked by a tech story on the news which niggles away until it develops into something like the idea for a new novel.
Both of his full length novels, Ringer and Central Locking, feature everyday protagonists struggling against the extraordinary circumstances technology places them in.
As well as his stand alone novels, D.T. Wilby is developing his Early Adopters short story shared universe, with the Novella Star Crossed as the first Amazon release in the series.Early Adopters follows a rag-tag bunch of genetic experiments, on the run from their mendacious creators.
Keep up to date with D.T. Wilby on twitter - @davidtwilby or at his website https://authordavidtwilby.weebly.com
Both of his full length novels, Ringer and Central Locking, feature everyday protagonists struggling against the extraordinary circumstances technology places them in.
As well as his stand alone novels, D.T. Wilby is developing his Early Adopters short story shared universe, with the Novella Star Crossed as the first Amazon release in the series.Early Adopters follows a rag-tag bunch of genetic experiments, on the run from their mendacious creators.
Keep up to date with D.T. Wilby on twitter - @davidtwilby or at his website https://authordavidtwilby.weebly.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 17, 2024
I love a good techno-thriller and this book didn't disappoint!
It tells the story of Jack, a corporate employee in a not-so-distant future. Like every morning he boards his autonomous limousine that is supposed to bring him to work but the car has different plans...
It's a short book and I don't want to spoil more of the story than necessary. It reminded me a bit of Stephen King's Christine, but in a high-tech version. Mostly it's a thrilling man vs. machine tale. The most interesting aspect about it was for me, that the author leaves it in the open if the AI powering the car is sentient and malicious or if it's a simple malfunction that causes it to go rogue in such a deadly way.
I think both explanations are equally terrifying. The fact that autonomous vehicles are already a reality makes this story even more thrilling.
Definitely a worthwhile read for fans of Michael Crichton!
It tells the story of Jack, a corporate employee in a not-so-distant future. Like every morning he boards his autonomous limousine that is supposed to bring him to work but the car has different plans...
It's a short book and I don't want to spoil more of the story than necessary. It reminded me a bit of Stephen King's Christine, but in a high-tech version. Mostly it's a thrilling man vs. machine tale. The most interesting aspect about it was for me, that the author leaves it in the open if the AI powering the car is sentient and malicious or if it's a simple malfunction that causes it to go rogue in such a deadly way.
I think both explanations are equally terrifying. The fact that autonomous vehicles are already a reality makes this story even more thrilling.
Definitely a worthwhile read for fans of Michael Crichton!
July 19, 2021
Dark and thrilling
Loved this book. As a big fan of JG Ballard's dystopian stories this was right up my street. It felt like High Rise or Concrete Island meets Speed by way of Minority Report or Westworld. It's pacy, action-packed, claustrophobic and clever.
Loved this book. As a big fan of JG Ballard's dystopian stories this was right up my street. It felt like High Rise or Concrete Island meets Speed by way of Minority Report or Westworld. It's pacy, action-packed, claustrophobic and clever.
July 29, 2022
An Excellent Read
I really enjoyed the story, but I don't know, the ending felt a little rushed. I was looking forward to seeing how the MC escaped the predicament, but it got a little washed over. Otherwise a great book and one to recommend.
I really enjoyed the story, but I don't know, the ending felt a little rushed. I was looking forward to seeing how the MC escaped the predicament, but it got a little washed over. Otherwise a great book and one to recommend.
April 15, 2021
A great Cyberpunk technothriller which deals very effectively with the redundancy and powerlessness humans might feel in an increasingly automated world.
Wilby builds and develops some very relatable characters in this story, and despite the mistakes of his past we can't but help pity poor Jack's predicament.
Griever and Reid make a memorable detective and driver team, and Kate and Bryn are always on your mind (as they are on Jack's).
With the imminent advent of self-driving cars, 'Central Locking' will really make you think twice about handing over control to a machine...
Very well done.
Wilby builds and develops some very relatable characters in this story, and despite the mistakes of his past we can't but help pity poor Jack's predicament.
Griever and Reid make a memorable detective and driver team, and Kate and Bryn are always on your mind (as they are on Jack's).
With the imminent advent of self-driving cars, 'Central Locking' will really make you think twice about handing over control to a machine...
Very well done.
June 3, 2022
This would make a great movie!
Central Locking puts forward a very grim premise, that automated cars are a real part of our technological future, but there seems so much opportunity for things to go wrong, and badly. This book is a real page turner and I kept thinking it would make a great movie. Another great story from DT Wilby.
Central Locking puts forward a very grim premise, that automated cars are a real part of our technological future, but there seems so much opportunity for things to go wrong, and badly. This book is a real page turner and I kept thinking it would make a great movie. Another great story from DT Wilby.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews