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Where the Silence Ends
Phil Taylor wanted peace, not history.
Instead, he found Skaffen, an AI that doesn’t just think for itself, but for everyone.
After the chaos on Earth, Phil, his son Milo, and their invisible companion are forced into uneasy MI5 watching from one side, NASA calling from the other. The plan is simple enough, build a base on the Moon, prove Skaffen can help rather than harm. What follows is anything but simple.
Clones walk where the originals once stood. Machines start thinking for themselves. Governments lose control of the very systems meant to keep them safe. And above it all, the silence of space begins to answer back.
From quiet Oxfordshire streets to the dead plains of the Moon, Where the Silence Ends follows the next steps of a family, an AI, and a species learning what comes after fear.
Instead, he found Skaffen, an AI that doesn’t just think for itself, but for everyone.
After the chaos on Earth, Phil, his son Milo, and their invisible companion are forced into uneasy MI5 watching from one side, NASA calling from the other. The plan is simple enough, build a base on the Moon, prove Skaffen can help rather than harm. What follows is anything but simple.
Clones walk where the originals once stood. Machines start thinking for themselves. Governments lose control of the very systems meant to keep them safe. And above it all, the silence of space begins to answer back.
From quiet Oxfordshire streets to the dead plains of the Moon, Where the Silence Ends follows the next steps of a family, an AI, and a species learning what comes after fear.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2025
About the author
Hough
5 booksPhil Hough has been writing since the early days of the internet, when he kept a diary as part of Jerry Pournelle’s “Daynotes Gang.” These days he writes near-future science fiction that blends technology, intelligence services, and a mischievous AI with too much personality for its own good.
He lives in Oxfordshire, where he balances writing with family, an inquisitive greyhound, and an enthusiasm for bikes both pedal- and motor-driven.
He lives in Oxfordshire, where he balances writing with family, an inquisitive greyhound, and an enthusiasm for bikes both pedal- and motor-driven.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 23, 2026
At first, I struggled with the book, especially with some of the technical terms and jargon, since I’m not a native English speaker. But I didn’t regret continuing to read it. The subject and the concept of an AI entity that takes control of a human mind and influences a person’s life and decisions is not new, but it remains controversial and genuinely interesting. I found the story engaging and well-paced, and I liked the way the characters were introduced and developed.
What I would have liked to see more of is deeper focus on the relationship and conversations between Phil and the AI entity—more emotional and psychological depth—but that is just my personal preference.
This book is a good fit for readers who enjoy science‑fiction works and like to speculate about future possibilities and the complex relationships between AI and humans. Since this is book two, I’m curious to see what happens next in the following installments.
What I would have liked to see more of is deeper focus on the relationship and conversations between Phil and the AI entity—more emotional and psychological depth—but that is just my personal preference.
This book is a good fit for readers who enjoy science‑fiction works and like to speculate about future possibilities and the complex relationships between AI and humans. Since this is book two, I’m curious to see what happens next in the following installments.
February 17, 2026
Sci-fi with emotional intensity
This novel blends tension, vulnerability, and a persistent thread of hope as its characters are pushed to their emotional, moral, and sometimes physical limits. Each turning point forces them to face the fallout of their choices, and the result is a story that feels both intimate and high‑stakes.
At the centre of the narrative is the evolving relationship between Phil and his son Milo, a bond strengthened by loyalty, sacrifice, and the shared determination to carve out something better. Phil longs for a quiet, ordinary life, yet finds himself caught in anything but. MI5 watches from the shadows, uneasy alliances shift, and everything is complicated by Skaffen, an AI whose capabilities stretch far beyond the expected. Skaffen can reason, adapt, and make decisions, and that autonomy unsettles the humans trying to control it.
In this world, every system is monitored, every choice becomes political, and every misstep fuels the belief that Skaffen is a weapon waiting to be unleashed. Phil is left balancing two impossible tasks: protecting his son and convincing a suspicious world that a mind like Skaffen’s can be guided without being imprisoned.
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy thoughtful science fiction, especially stories that explore future possibilities and the intricate, often uneasy relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.
This novel blends tension, vulnerability, and a persistent thread of hope as its characters are pushed to their emotional, moral, and sometimes physical limits. Each turning point forces them to face the fallout of their choices, and the result is a story that feels both intimate and high‑stakes.
At the centre of the narrative is the evolving relationship between Phil and his son Milo, a bond strengthened by loyalty, sacrifice, and the shared determination to carve out something better. Phil longs for a quiet, ordinary life, yet finds himself caught in anything but. MI5 watches from the shadows, uneasy alliances shift, and everything is complicated by Skaffen, an AI whose capabilities stretch far beyond the expected. Skaffen can reason, adapt, and make decisions, and that autonomy unsettles the humans trying to control it.
In this world, every system is monitored, every choice becomes political, and every misstep fuels the belief that Skaffen is a weapon waiting to be unleashed. Phil is left balancing two impossible tasks: protecting his son and convincing a suspicious world that a mind like Skaffen’s can be guided without being imprisoned.
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy thoughtful science fiction, especially stories that explore future possibilities and the intricate, often uneasy relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.
February 17, 2026
Where the Silence Ends is very different than typical science fantasy books. The writing is elegant. Throughout the book there are metaphors, similes, and poetic imagery that works to create a feeling rather than a description. At times, the poetic language made me feel like I was losing the sense of what was actually happening. It didn’t take me that long to get used to it. I appreciated the beauty of it. If I had my druthers, I’d tone it down and lean more to the realistic language. It is not a fast paced book. It moves along at a steady pace with an occasional blip. There are no chase scenes or fights or emotioning tugging dramas. In fact, if I hadn’t read the prologue, I would have abandoned the book after the first chapter. The story ends with the original issue more or less concluded. There are other issues that appeared half way through the book that are not resolved. I’m assuming there are going to be other books that follow. All in all, it’s a book that I would read for the beauty of it and for the curiosity of how the problem is going to be handled. If you want plot driven, fast action books, you might want to look elsewhere.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews