The Algorithm Plague: A Chilling Probability With Shorter Odds Than You Think…

by Dennis J. Hickey

A gesture of love. A mathematical genius. A brilliant algorithm. What happens when it all goes horribly wrong?In an attempt to obliterate obsolete software, Min-Jun unwittingly develops a software plague, unleashing something far more a self-replicating algorithm that wipes out all digital infrastructure. No internet. No personal computers. No digital communication. No banks. No money.
The world goes dark.
Suddenly, everyday things we take for granted disappear. In a world dependent on digital tools, what happens when there is no access to information? Or communication devices? How will we cope when banking systems collapse and food supply chains grind to a halt? With useless communication devices and transport systems in disarray, how will families get to their loved ones?
As as fear and confusion spread like wildfire, governments scramble to understand this untraceable threat. Can they unite as they seek to quell the fears of the masses? How will they recover from this attack?
At the heart of the crisis, society calls upon a computer science professor, John Davenport, to help solve the mystery behind the attack. But will his unlikely solutions succeed against the rising panic and our uncertain future?
We are offered two devolve into a fractured society as each of us tries to secure our own survival, or unite with stoicism and resolve, rebuilding society based on analog technology, a barter system, and good old-fashioned trust.
What would the world look like without smartphones and internet access? Can we survive without the very thing we thought we couldn’t live without?

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2025

About the author

A retired professional mechanical engineer from the UK with over 50 years of experience in engineering design and development, Dennis J Hickey is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Mechanical Engineers (I. Mech. E.) and a named inventor on over a dozen UK patents. He holds an MSc by research from Warwick University in the "Role of the Institutionalised Inventor," focusing on inventors within corporate organisations. Dennis is new to writing but has a passion for Sci-Fi and thriller novels.

Reviews

[Alicia Grez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Very easy to read and follow. I really appreciated how real-world causes and effects were outlined for an event such as this, especially the breakdown of the new banking/currency system. All very fascinating. Would enjoy seeing more by this author.

[Ana Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read plenty of apocalyptic fiction, but this one feels the most plausible. The author clearly understands both the fragility of our systems and the resilience of human beings. The tension is perfectly balanced with moments of quiet humanity. And the solution proposed at the end? Unexpected, brilliant, and deeply moving.

[Rose Brownley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a chillingly plausible exploration of what happens when our digital lifelines vanish overnight. What begins as an ambitious act of innovation spirals into catastrophe, as Min-Jun’s attempt to erase obsolete software unleashes a self-replicating algorithm that wipes out the global digital infrastructure. With no internet, no banking, and no communication networks, the world is thrust back into an analog age and into chaos.

The narrative moves at a taut pace, balancing technical insight with deeply human stakes. Through the perspective of John Davenport, a computer science professor tasked with finding a solution, the book probes not only how we might fix such a disaster, but also whether our society is prepared to live without its digital crutches. Are we doomed to fracture and hoard, or capable of uniting with resilience, trust, and ingenuity.

[Tarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting read. It does come across as a little dry at points and much less action packed than typical apocalypse reads but the premise is so interesting and the story is well told.

[Olive Ziegert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could this really happen? Let's hope not. This is always a possibility with computers. Good read.

[Marcia Claesson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating premise. This book is reading for that reason alone. It isn't extremely well written, but it does make you think.