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Silicon Ward: A Near-Future Science Fiction Thriller
Not yet published
Expected 5 Jan 27What if the dreams in your head belonged to someone else?
Raj wakes up in a hospital with burns across his body and a hole in his memory. Something went terribly wrong on the day his Silicon Valley startup was supposed to launch the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence.
But that’s not what scares him most.
He remembers another man’s life. His boss’s life. Dreams so vivid they feel more real than his own.
With his girlfriend’s help, Raj searches for answers while tracking down a critical bug in the AI he helped build. But the deeper he digs, the harder it becomes to distinguish what’s real from what’s imagined.
And when the truth finally emerges, Raj faces an impossible choice between loyalty and survival.
What happens when there’s room in your head for only one survivor?
Silicon Ward is the lightning-fast first book in The Xara Paradox sci-fi thriller series. If you love mind-bending mysteries, psychological suspense, and shocking twists, this dark novella will make you question everything.
Raj wakes up in a hospital with burns across his body and a hole in his memory. Something went terribly wrong on the day his Silicon Valley startup was supposed to launch the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence.
But that’s not what scares him most.
He remembers another man’s life. His boss’s life. Dreams so vivid they feel more real than his own.
With his girlfriend’s help, Raj searches for answers while tracking down a critical bug in the AI he helped build. But the deeper he digs, the harder it becomes to distinguish what’s real from what’s imagined.
And when the truth finally emerges, Raj faces an impossible choice between loyalty and survival.
What happens when there’s room in your head for only one survivor?
Silicon Ward is the lightning-fast first book in The Xara Paradox sci-fi thriller series. If you love mind-bending mysteries, psychological suspense, and shocking twists, this dark novella will make you question everything.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 5, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
An amazing and mind bending AI sci fi story! We follow two povs; Raj and John. Raj wakes up from an accident he can't remember, and it takes him a bit to recall even the people closest to him. He's an employee of a startup company in Silicon Valley, and something has delayed the launch of their advanced AI, Xara. But something is wrong when he keeps having dreams of his boss, John's life. Something is terribly wrong, and the closer he gets to answers, the more chilling the reality becomes- if any of this is even real.
The very idea of this is chilling. I absolutely loved the back-and-forth povs, constantly keeping me guessing what the heck is going on, in the best way. They both have their own unique voices, and I found myself shivering as more and more was revealed. The writing is wonderful, and while the tech jargon is above my head, I found myself able to get the understanding I needed to follow along without much issue.
This is a short novella, and from the ending and post blurb, I am content that this is a story that will be explored more in the future. I will be following Amir Shevat and I am eager to delve deeper into this world. It's a great look into the horrifying things technology can do to us, as well as our own minds. Absolutely would recommend!
An amazing and mind bending AI sci fi story! We follow two povs; Raj and John. Raj wakes up from an accident he can't remember, and it takes him a bit to recall even the people closest to him. He's an employee of a startup company in Silicon Valley, and something has delayed the launch of their advanced AI, Xara. But something is wrong when he keeps having dreams of his boss, John's life. Something is terribly wrong, and the closer he gets to answers, the more chilling the reality becomes- if any of this is even real.
The very idea of this is chilling. I absolutely loved the back-and-forth povs, constantly keeping me guessing what the heck is going on, in the best way. They both have their own unique voices, and I found myself shivering as more and more was revealed. The writing is wonderful, and while the tech jargon is above my head, I found myself able to get the understanding I needed to follow along without much issue.
This is a short novella, and from the ending and post blurb, I am content that this is a story that will be explored more in the future. I will be following Amir Shevat and I am eager to delve deeper into this world. It's a great look into the horrifying things technology can do to us, as well as our own minds. Absolutely would recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a good AI Sci-fi book. This has all the stuff to make it a good one but its just too short!
I feel like the AI character, Xara, is the most fleshed out and wish that both John and Raj were a little more explored. We learn about them though a tiny window and there isn't enough there for me to root for one or the other. If anything I cared more about Xara!
The first half was the build up, a little bit of confusion as intended and you start with assumptions. That second half though? That was the best part. Loved how it ended too! Will certainly recommend and will keep an eye out for more in this universe if the author chooses to explore it further.
Thank you Netgalley and Shevat Ventures for the ARC!
I feel like the AI character, Xara, is the most fleshed out and wish that both John and Raj were a little more explored. We learn about them though a tiny window and there isn't enough there for me to root for one or the other. If anything I cared more about Xara!
The first half was the build up, a little bit of confusion as intended and you start with assumptions. That second half though? That was the best part. Loved how it ended too! Will certainly recommend and will keep an eye out for more in this universe if the author chooses to explore it further.
Thank you Netgalley and Shevat Ventures for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of an ARC from NetGalley.
Silicon Ward by Amir Shevat is a short story following two individuals who were part of the same organisation about to publish an AI being from their start up but then find themselves in hospital. The plot follows the two characters as they discover more about why they are in hospital and what links them to each other.
The story was entertaining and the plot twists were well done and well timed. However there was some substance lacking in the plot as a whole and some of the narrative required a little too much suspension of disbelief.
The character development was somewhat lacking but given this is a novella that is to be expected.
Silicon Ward by Amir Shevat is a short story following two individuals who were part of the same organisation about to publish an AI being from their start up but then find themselves in hospital. The plot follows the two characters as they discover more about why they are in hospital and what links them to each other.
The story was entertaining and the plot twists were well done and well timed. However there was some substance lacking in the plot as a whole and some of the narrative required a little too much suspension of disbelief.
The character development was somewhat lacking but given this is a novella that is to be expected.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Short and sweet read. It was good I would read more by this author. I got this ARC for free on booksirens. This is my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews