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The Mind Sleuth #2
Mind in the Clouds
A suspenseful whodunit, where not all the suspects are human.
Recently graduated and newly hired Ruger-Phillips employee, Dr. Sam “Doc” Price is excited to be starting his new assignment. He will be assessing training developed for a team. It is, however, a team like no other, because only one of the team members is human; the other is one of the most intelligent and lethal systems ever built by man – the Joint Aerial Combat Capability or JACC. Loaded with the latest in detection and threat assessment technology, JACC is a silent, deadly hunter in the sky. Doc discovers, however, that JACC may not be the only killer on the remote, Nevada test range where he now finds himself. Soon, he is involved in a cat and mouse game with an unknown adversary. In this fight for his life and the lives of his friends, Doc asks himself, how do you match wits with the mind in the clouds, when you are not sure if you are facing the cold, exact logic of machine intelligence or the coldblooded urges of a human murderer?
Recently graduated and newly hired Ruger-Phillips employee, Dr. Sam “Doc” Price is excited to be starting his new assignment. He will be assessing training developed for a team. It is, however, a team like no other, because only one of the team members is human; the other is one of the most intelligent and lethal systems ever built by man – the Joint Aerial Combat Capability or JACC. Loaded with the latest in detection and threat assessment technology, JACC is a silent, deadly hunter in the sky. Doc discovers, however, that JACC may not be the only killer on the remote, Nevada test range where he now finds himself. Soon, he is involved in a cat and mouse game with an unknown adversary. In this fight for his life and the lives of his friends, Doc asks himself, how do you match wits with the mind in the clouds, when you are not sure if you are facing the cold, exact logic of machine intelligence or the coldblooded urges of a human murderer?
- GenresThriller
266 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2016
12 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Bruce M. Perrin
15 books127 followersBruce Perrin has been writing for more than 20 years, although you will find most of that work only in professional technical journals or conference proceedings. But, after completing a PhD in Industrial Psychology and a career in psychological R&D, he is now applying his background and fascination with technology and the human mind to writing novels. Besides writing, Bruce likes to tinker with home automation and is an avid hiker, logging nearly 2,500 miles each year in the first two years of Fitbit ownership. When he is not on the trails, he lives with his wife in St. Louis, MO. For a closer look at his writing life, book reviews, and progress on his upcoming works, please join him at www.brucemperrin.blogspot.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 18, 2020
Ever since The Terminator, I’ve been a huge fan of stories that explore the realm of AI and what could possibly go wrong. The Matrix dove deep into the aftermath. Mind in the Clouds by Bruce M. Perrin explores a different side of AI: the masterminds.
Dr. Sam “Doc” Price uncovers startling evidence that team he’s overseeing, and the drone they are to operate, could be used for sinister purposes.
Author Bruce M. Perrin pulls us into a web of conspiracy that had me glued from beginning to end. This is a story that not only gives us a glimpse into the development of AI, but possible agendas that can be forced when mankind is given such power.
I highly recommend this book to readers who are into stories about AI, and even of that’s not your cup of tea, it’s still worth a read. There are a lot of great ideas in here that can have one thinking about all the possibilities with AI, good and bad.
Dr. Sam “Doc” Price uncovers startling evidence that team he’s overseeing, and the drone they are to operate, could be used for sinister purposes.
Author Bruce M. Perrin pulls us into a web of conspiracy that had me glued from beginning to end. This is a story that not only gives us a glimpse into the development of AI, but possible agendas that can be forced when mankind is given such power.
I highly recommend this book to readers who are into stories about AI, and even of that’s not your cup of tea, it’s still worth a read. There are a lot of great ideas in here that can have one thinking about all the possibilities with AI, good and bad.
June 8, 2016
I was kind of wondering when someone would write a book about UAVs, drones, or whatever those things flying high in the sky that we can't always see. This author wrote about just that and he did a fantastic, if limited job. The main character, Sam Price, is a Doctor of Cognitive Psychology. And if you know what that means, then you're smarter than I am. So for the majority of us, I'll explain it. He's called "Doc" as a nickname that stuck when he went to work for a medium-sized engineering and research company based in St. Louis, MO. And yes, his doctorate is only one of the many that work at this firm. His specific are dealing with how the mind knows things, or at least that's my interpretation of what I read in the dictionary. How his doctorate applies to the story is a little sketchy for me, but just be aware that "Doc" is a very smart guy.
He's kind of new to the business world so his assignments with this new company haven't all been leading edge work. He's hoping his next assignment will have a little more substance to it so he can prove his worth to the company. So, when he's assigned to study the training provided to the Operations Coordinator for the Joint Aerial Combat Capability (JACC) pronounced "jack". Of course, this is a military funded program since everything dealing with the military has an acronym. Doc will have to travel to Las Vegas and specifically to the Nellis AFB Test Range. There is a prototype JACC air vehicle in testing at that range.
Of course, this sounds like a very exciting assignment. Unfortunately, it becomes way too exciting when Doc finds the pilot for the JACC air vehicle a dangerous person, not to be trusted. He also comes to believe that the civilian Program Manager for JACC is a bombastic politician who wants his semi-autonomous system to get fully funded. And this sets up a dangerous situation. You see, JACC is built for reconnaissance and attack. It can not only find it's target, but also take it out with highly effective weapons. The question becomes, who is actually in control?
The writer writes pretty well. There are a number of places where I find his conversations more of a lecture. I don't think real people talk like he has them in his book. I've worked in the environment, he describes and even the tech guys didn't go around spouting a bunch of geek speak if they wanted anyone to pay attention to them. But, I guess the author does have to explain a lot of stuff to us laymen. We just don't ask the question of "why" often enough and we're usually satisfied with short answers. This story gives you a lot of in-depth answers, but doesn't solve the entire question of who's in charge?
Oh, also, I did not know this was the second book of a series. That was never mentioned when I was requested to read and review this book. I have no idea what the first book is about.
He's kind of new to the business world so his assignments with this new company haven't all been leading edge work. He's hoping his next assignment will have a little more substance to it so he can prove his worth to the company. So, when he's assigned to study the training provided to the Operations Coordinator for the Joint Aerial Combat Capability (JACC) pronounced "jack". Of course, this is a military funded program since everything dealing with the military has an acronym. Doc will have to travel to Las Vegas and specifically to the Nellis AFB Test Range. There is a prototype JACC air vehicle in testing at that range.
Of course, this sounds like a very exciting assignment. Unfortunately, it becomes way too exciting when Doc finds the pilot for the JACC air vehicle a dangerous person, not to be trusted. He also comes to believe that the civilian Program Manager for JACC is a bombastic politician who wants his semi-autonomous system to get fully funded. And this sets up a dangerous situation. You see, JACC is built for reconnaissance and attack. It can not only find it's target, but also take it out with highly effective weapons. The question becomes, who is actually in control?
The writer writes pretty well. There are a number of places where I find his conversations more of a lecture. I don't think real people talk like he has them in his book. I've worked in the environment, he describes and even the tech guys didn't go around spouting a bunch of geek speak if they wanted anyone to pay attention to them. But, I guess the author does have to explain a lot of stuff to us laymen. We just don't ask the question of "why" often enough and we're usually satisfied with short answers. This story gives you a lot of in-depth answers, but doesn't solve the entire question of who's in charge?
Oh, also, I did not know this was the second book of a series. That was never mentioned when I was requested to read and review this book. I have no idea what the first book is about.
May 20, 2016
I'd recommend this well-produced thriller to readers interested in military systems and the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence in the new types of weaponry. Readers who like a high level of realism in their reads will enjoy this book.
I really enjoyed the second half of the book which is full of suspense, action and lively, realistic dialogue. I also really appreciated how the author concluded the book, tieing up all the loose ends. I don't like spoilers but I did find the idea behind the book quite frightening. The question raised of which we should fear the most - armed artifical inteligence or the capacity of greed and violence in humans - very interesting.
The first half of the book concerns itself with explaining the technology behind armed drones, the chains of military command and the system of safeguards in place. Many readers will appreciate the details provided and say they gave an authentic feel to the book by explaining how such a sophisticated weapon could turn rogue. Personally other than where the background history of Sam, Marshall and Drew was given I didn't feel all the information was necesary to take the story forward. I'll be honest, much of the technology I didn't really understand and I found the fact I started to skip over some of it didn't damage my understanding or enjoyment of the second half of the book where for me, the real story started.
Overall an enjoyable read which I think will be more fully appreciated by readers with a greater interest in technology than I have.
I really enjoyed the second half of the book which is full of suspense, action and lively, realistic dialogue. I also really appreciated how the author concluded the book, tieing up all the loose ends. I don't like spoilers but I did find the idea behind the book quite frightening. The question raised of which we should fear the most - armed artifical inteligence or the capacity of greed and violence in humans - very interesting.
The first half of the book concerns itself with explaining the technology behind armed drones, the chains of military command and the system of safeguards in place. Many readers will appreciate the details provided and say they gave an authentic feel to the book by explaining how such a sophisticated weapon could turn rogue. Personally other than where the background history of Sam, Marshall and Drew was given I didn't feel all the information was necesary to take the story forward. I'll be honest, much of the technology I didn't really understand and I found the fact I started to skip over some of it didn't damage my understanding or enjoyment of the second half of the book where for me, the real story started.
Overall an enjoyable read which I think will be more fully appreciated by readers with a greater interest in technology than I have.
May 29, 2016
I’ve read a lot of science fiction over many decades and watched my fair share of films dealing with robots, Artificial Intelligence and the moral implications of new technologies, but nothing with this depth. This isn’t science fiction, it is what is happening today, or in the very near future. It is the inside track of committees and contractual relationships, leading to a day of death and destruction.
This is an author who really knows their topic and writes with the insights that only a real expert can. The technical detail permeates the story and lends credibility to the action. The author’s voice also matches that of the two main characters perfectly, as it has the restrained rationality of someone giving a measured view of a world on the brink of massive change.
The first fifth is a slow build which establishes the main character, their work, and their romantic interest. A quarter of the way in, the book picked up momentum as it headed towards the main event and I was keen to get there. A few quick diversion into past events and finally the day of action. The main character is faced with the question of whether he is being hunted by man or machine and that question becomes the key to his survival. A final twist is delivered post action.
The love interest does feel like a bit of a tag on and the long build up to the action may drag with some readers, but it all comes together nicely in the end.
April 15, 2021
Bruce Perrin's next installment of his Mind Sleuth series, Mind in the Clouds, asks the philosophical and psychological question: how much control should we let artificial intelligence have over important decisions -- like on the battlefield? When the protagonist, Sam "Doc" Price, faces existential peril at the mercy of an IA-powered autonomous war drone, the answer becomes far less philosophical. Mr. Perrin's clever plot and impeccable writing allow us to ponder the highbrow questions while being pulled along an entertaining journey of intrigue, peril, romance, and mystery.
The premise of the story is a real-life nightmare. An autonomous military drone, equipped with deadly missiles and guns, is being presented to a group of politicians in a life-fire demonstration. The aircraft, nicknamed "Jack," is supposed to seek and destroy enemy targets. But what if Jack decided to attack the buildings and people on the test range who were supposedly running the show? How would you stop Jack, or escape with your life? The author sets up this perilous situation early on, then jumps back and forth between the events leading up to "The Day" on the Nevada test range and the actual events -- minute by minute -- of that exciting day. The technique keeps the climax of the story as an ever-present part of the narrative, and extends the tension throughout the book as Sam and his lone companion in the Operations building try to sort out what's happening and how to stop it - or at least survive it. The backstory unfolds in bits and pieces, including Sam's burgeoning romance with Nicole back in St. Louis. He hopes to be able to see her again, and we hope so, too.
Mr. Perrin is such a skilled writer that he is able to weave the pieces of this puzzle together without creating confusion, although the reader will be challenged in the first few chapters to pick up the threads quickly in order to fully grasp what's happening. There is a mystery from the first chapter that Sam must make sense of by the end in order to piece together what is truly happening, and the reader comes along for the ride without really having an opportunity to solve the riddle before Sam. Still, the format is fresh and works in no small part due to the excellent writing. (It would be best if you can read this book straight through rather than picking it up and putting it down frequently in order to maintain the continuity.)
While the plot is original and interesting, it is not without a few hard-to-manage spots and a few leaps of faith. The main events are told first person through Sam’s eyes, and he is able to connect some dots that seem unrelated and reach some conclusions that defy logic. There are some unresolved issues at the end as well as a rather hanging relationship point that makes you wonder what that subplot was doing there in the first place. Still, it’s an enjoyable and attention-keeping read and well worth spending time with a master craftsman like Bruce M. Perrin.
The premise of the story is a real-life nightmare. An autonomous military drone, equipped with deadly missiles and guns, is being presented to a group of politicians in a life-fire demonstration. The aircraft, nicknamed "Jack," is supposed to seek and destroy enemy targets. But what if Jack decided to attack the buildings and people on the test range who were supposedly running the show? How would you stop Jack, or escape with your life? The author sets up this perilous situation early on, then jumps back and forth between the events leading up to "The Day" on the Nevada test range and the actual events -- minute by minute -- of that exciting day. The technique keeps the climax of the story as an ever-present part of the narrative, and extends the tension throughout the book as Sam and his lone companion in the Operations building try to sort out what's happening and how to stop it - or at least survive it. The backstory unfolds in bits and pieces, including Sam's burgeoning romance with Nicole back in St. Louis. He hopes to be able to see her again, and we hope so, too.
Mr. Perrin is such a skilled writer that he is able to weave the pieces of this puzzle together without creating confusion, although the reader will be challenged in the first few chapters to pick up the threads quickly in order to fully grasp what's happening. There is a mystery from the first chapter that Sam must make sense of by the end in order to piece together what is truly happening, and the reader comes along for the ride without really having an opportunity to solve the riddle before Sam. Still, the format is fresh and works in no small part due to the excellent writing. (It would be best if you can read this book straight through rather than picking it up and putting it down frequently in order to maintain the continuity.)
While the plot is original and interesting, it is not without a few hard-to-manage spots and a few leaps of faith. The main events are told first person through Sam’s eyes, and he is able to connect some dots that seem unrelated and reach some conclusions that defy logic. There are some unresolved issues at the end as well as a rather hanging relationship point that makes you wonder what that subplot was doing there in the first place. Still, it’s an enjoyable and attention-keeping read and well worth spending time with a master craftsman like Bruce M. Perrin.
March 25, 2016
Drew had once worked for Air Dynamics (engineer, Pittsburg, PA, drones).
Llano Estacodo, TX. Drew (piolet) had acquired the most advanced hunting machine ever invented.
He was on hot pursuit of Wiley (Contact # 024). Target confirmed.
R.J. (27) & Dr. Jon Huston (MD, PhD, Ruger-Phillips) had invented the Brain Hemisphere Blocker.
Dr. “Doc” Sam Price (narrator, PhD, Cognitive Psychology, Ruger-Phillips) called Dr. Jon Huston.
What information was Sam looking for?
Dr. Mark Dillon (40+, Air Dynamics, JACC) came to visit with Sam &, Ken Waters (Ruger-Phillips, Sam’s supervisor). The meeting was highly classified.
Lieutenant-Colonel Raymond Dempsey (USAF, Contracting Officer’s Technical Rep.) was reviewing the progress reports from Dr. Jim Marshall (Omega Systems Program Mgr., JACC).
Colonel Charles “Chuck” Newberry (USAF, Air Combat Command) would talk with Ray later on.
Dr. Nicole Veles (PhD, biomedical engineer, human physiology/engineering) was Sam’s coworker.
Sam was off to Nellis Air Force Base.
Sam met with Troy Sayers (JACC Operations Coordinator, aka guinea pig) & Dr. Jim Marshall (50+, PhD, Omega Systems Program Mgr., JACC, Automatic Target Recognition (ATR).
What happened to Sam at Deadman’s Gulch?
What was Dr. James “Jim” Marshall discussing with Dr. Hal Brinkley (VP, R & D, Omega Systems)?
What about Brandt “Drew” Drury (JACC Pilot, Omega Systems, former Air Dynamics)?
My undergrad Psychology. 1 of my favorite Professors was a IP. Brilliant man. Very Impressive resume.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written psychological thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great psychological thriller movie, or a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Llano Estacodo, TX. Drew (piolet) had acquired the most advanced hunting machine ever invented.
He was on hot pursuit of Wiley (Contact # 024). Target confirmed.
R.J. (27) & Dr. Jon Huston (MD, PhD, Ruger-Phillips) had invented the Brain Hemisphere Blocker.
Dr. “Doc” Sam Price (narrator, PhD, Cognitive Psychology, Ruger-Phillips) called Dr. Jon Huston.
What information was Sam looking for?
Dr. Mark Dillon (40+, Air Dynamics, JACC) came to visit with Sam &, Ken Waters (Ruger-Phillips, Sam’s supervisor). The meeting was highly classified.
Lieutenant-Colonel Raymond Dempsey (USAF, Contracting Officer’s Technical Rep.) was reviewing the progress reports from Dr. Jim Marshall (Omega Systems Program Mgr., JACC).
Colonel Charles “Chuck” Newberry (USAF, Air Combat Command) would talk with Ray later on.
Dr. Nicole Veles (PhD, biomedical engineer, human physiology/engineering) was Sam’s coworker.
Sam was off to Nellis Air Force Base.
Sam met with Troy Sayers (JACC Operations Coordinator, aka guinea pig) & Dr. Jim Marshall (50+, PhD, Omega Systems Program Mgr., JACC, Automatic Target Recognition (ATR).
What happened to Sam at Deadman’s Gulch?
What was Dr. James “Jim” Marshall discussing with Dr. Hal Brinkley (VP, R & D, Omega Systems)?
What about Brandt “Drew” Drury (JACC Pilot, Omega Systems, former Air Dynamics)?
My undergrad Psychology. 1 of my favorite Professors was a IP. Brilliant man. Very Impressive resume.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written psychological thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great psychological thriller movie, or a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
April 18, 2016
Sam Price is a cognitive psychologist who works for a company that assesses the merits and results of research projects as the “disinterested third party.” He’s sent to Nevada to a military testing facility to assess the training provided to the person who coordinates the use of a new type of unmanned aerial vehicle for use by the military. JACC, as it’s known, is an artificial intelligence capable of making its own determination as to who on the ground is hostile. While it can be operated by a pilot on the ground, it can also launch an attack based on its assessment without input from a human.
I’m beginning to wonder if Bruce Perrin has used some of the new mind research to read mine, because he keeps picking subjects that already scare me! This is his second book in the Mind Sleuth series. The first, Half A Mind, dealt with brain research, which has creeped me out ever since I saw the first news story about it. Mind in the Clouds deals with weaponized drones and drones in general are the bogeyman in my mind. I think both brain research and drones will end up being like splitting the atom—lots of good uses, but also many deadly ones. I believe both will drastically change our world just as splitting the atom did. From the first pages of Mind in the Clouds, I dreaded what was coming, and when it happened, I was totally caught up in the action and excitement.
Like with Half A Mind, the first book in the series, there is a considerable amount of technical description. Most is in the first half of the book and it’s needed. The only complaint I had is the second chapter rehashing what had happened in book one. I felt it somewhat confusing since there’s time spent on it, then it simply disappears. It had no bearing on the current story and I think the book would be better without it. Other than that, all I can say is that I love this series and I usually don’t care for techno-thrillers.
I’ve read each book in the series as part of a Goodreads review round and was given a free copy of Mind in the Clouds in exchange for an honest review. Had I paid for it, I would have felt I’d gotten my money’s worth. I’ll be looking for number three.
I’m beginning to wonder if Bruce Perrin has used some of the new mind research to read mine, because he keeps picking subjects that already scare me! This is his second book in the Mind Sleuth series. The first, Half A Mind, dealt with brain research, which has creeped me out ever since I saw the first news story about it. Mind in the Clouds deals with weaponized drones and drones in general are the bogeyman in my mind. I think both brain research and drones will end up being like splitting the atom—lots of good uses, but also many deadly ones. I believe both will drastically change our world just as splitting the atom did. From the first pages of Mind in the Clouds, I dreaded what was coming, and when it happened, I was totally caught up in the action and excitement.
Like with Half A Mind, the first book in the series, there is a considerable amount of technical description. Most is in the first half of the book and it’s needed. The only complaint I had is the second chapter rehashing what had happened in book one. I felt it somewhat confusing since there’s time spent on it, then it simply disappears. It had no bearing on the current story and I think the book would be better without it. Other than that, all I can say is that I love this series and I usually don’t care for techno-thrillers.
I’ve read each book in the series as part of a Goodreads review round and was given a free copy of Mind in the Clouds in exchange for an honest review. Had I paid for it, I would have felt I’d gotten my money’s worth. I’ll be looking for number three.
April 7, 2021
This review is for the audio book.
I enjoyed this book and it certainly keeps you on your toes, as it kept going back in time (or 28 days earlier) to what happened previously. It did work because it built up the tension but it could get a bit confusing if you missed what the date was. This is the second book in the Mind Sleuth series but I think the series should be changed to eye opener to the scary world we live in because both book could easily have been based on facts and become a reality. There was a lot of technical jargon which just went over my head but the mystery of how they were going to get out of the situation and who was doing it kept me hooked until the end. The geeky stuff was nicely balanced out by his maybe relationship. And of course suspecting everybody of being the mastermind. I liked the main character and hope his next work assignment isn't so scary but then again if it was there wouldn't be much of a story.
Sam or 'Doc' to his friends is excited to finish up his latest work project and get back home to finally go on a date for the girl of his dreams but things don't go to plan. The AI unmaned plane he was supposed to be observing goes rouge and sees everybody on the base as a possible target. Is there a bug in the program? Or is someone more human responsible? Artificial intelligence is trained to think for themselves and Jacc armed with the latest weapons is the last thing you would want hunting you. Can Doc out smart a machine to stay alive?
I liked the narrator and thought he made the science stuff easy to follow with his perfect delivery.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I enjoyed this book and it certainly keeps you on your toes, as it kept going back in time (or 28 days earlier) to what happened previously. It did work because it built up the tension but it could get a bit confusing if you missed what the date was. This is the second book in the Mind Sleuth series but I think the series should be changed to eye opener to the scary world we live in because both book could easily have been based on facts and become a reality. There was a lot of technical jargon which just went over my head but the mystery of how they were going to get out of the situation and who was doing it kept me hooked until the end. The geeky stuff was nicely balanced out by his maybe relationship. And of course suspecting everybody of being the mastermind. I liked the main character and hope his next work assignment isn't so scary but then again if it was there wouldn't be much of a story.
Sam or 'Doc' to his friends is excited to finish up his latest work project and get back home to finally go on a date for the girl of his dreams but things don't go to plan. The AI unmaned plane he was supposed to be observing goes rouge and sees everybody on the base as a possible target. Is there a bug in the program? Or is someone more human responsible? Artificial intelligence is trained to think for themselves and Jacc armed with the latest weapons is the last thing you would want hunting you. Can Doc out smart a machine to stay alive?
I liked the narrator and thought he made the science stuff easy to follow with his perfect delivery.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
April 9, 2016
I found the idea of this book to be interesting. It involved violence with a technology twist that made it unique to read. However, I found it hard to get into because the writing was a bit choppy. There were pages filled with chunks of dialogue that made the writing flat. I wish there had been more descriptions and less dialogue, but that is just my opinion. This would have made the writing more interesting to read.
Since the majority of this novel involved in depth technology discussion, I did learn a lot about these new concepts. For example, drones played a large role in the story and I didn't know very much about them before. Perrin is very knowledgeable about these forms of technology as well as psychology and the human mind, and that did show in his writing. I could tell through his story that he was passionate about his work, but in the sections of the book where the writing fell flat I felt that he was waiting to get to a more interesting part of the novel. There was just not enough time put into certain sections of the book. I just think that if he went back through and added more descriptions and less dialogue, the novel would be stronger. All this novel needs is for the dialogue and descriptions to be mixed instead of separated, and that would take this novel from good to great.
If you are a technology buff, this novel would be for you. It is written for intellectual readers and those interested in more information than fiction. This novel was good and I do recommend it to crime buffs.
Since the majority of this novel involved in depth technology discussion, I did learn a lot about these new concepts. For example, drones played a large role in the story and I didn't know very much about them before. Perrin is very knowledgeable about these forms of technology as well as psychology and the human mind, and that did show in his writing. I could tell through his story that he was passionate about his work, but in the sections of the book where the writing fell flat I felt that he was waiting to get to a more interesting part of the novel. There was just not enough time put into certain sections of the book. I just think that if he went back through and added more descriptions and less dialogue, the novel would be stronger. All this novel needs is for the dialogue and descriptions to be mixed instead of separated, and that would take this novel from good to great.
If you are a technology buff, this novel would be for you. It is written for intellectual readers and those interested in more information than fiction. This novel was good and I do recommend it to crime buffs.
July 22, 2016
Imagine a drone that provides the military capability to identify targets, classify them, and then decide autonomously to destroy them. Imagine a machine that can decide on its own to take a human life. You might say this is fantasy, but you would be wrong. That capability is closer than you think. In Mind in the Clouds, Bruce M. Perin expertly explores the psychological and moral implications of this technology.
This novel is techo-thriller. The first half is all techo, the last half all thriller. The author goes to great lengths to establish the technical groundwork to support the action that comes much later. How much detail is too much? I guess that depends on the reader. I am an engineer by education and a pilot by profession, so the subject matter…drones (by the way, pilots hate drones) and their capabilities is of interest to me. Having said that, I believe the level of detail could have been pruned back a little allowing the reader to get to the action sooner.
The plot is clever and the characters believable. The dialogue is expertly written, but in places, especially early on, there is just too much of it. There is also a relationship subplot that doesn’t add much to the story.
Having said that, at the final accounting, this a very well written book. The author’s talent is undeniable. What sets this work apart is that it not only supplies thrills, but also forces the reader to consider the underlying moral issue. It is exciting and thought provoking. It was a pleasure to read and review Mind in the Clouds. I would recommend it to any fan of this genre.
This novel is techo-thriller. The first half is all techo, the last half all thriller. The author goes to great lengths to establish the technical groundwork to support the action that comes much later. How much detail is too much? I guess that depends on the reader. I am an engineer by education and a pilot by profession, so the subject matter…drones (by the way, pilots hate drones) and their capabilities is of interest to me. Having said that, I believe the level of detail could have been pruned back a little allowing the reader to get to the action sooner.
The plot is clever and the characters believable. The dialogue is expertly written, but in places, especially early on, there is just too much of it. There is also a relationship subplot that doesn’t add much to the story.
Having said that, at the final accounting, this a very well written book. The author’s talent is undeniable. What sets this work apart is that it not only supplies thrills, but also forces the reader to consider the underlying moral issue. It is exciting and thought provoking. It was a pleasure to read and review Mind in the Clouds. I would recommend it to any fan of this genre.
June 2, 2016
Mind in the Clouds by Bruce Perrin gives the reader a chilling look at the problems autonomous weapons with artificial intelligence could pose if they got into the wrong hands.
In the opening scene, reminiscent of something out of The Most Dangerous Game, Drew, the crack drone pilot, delights in hunting down his prey by over-riding the unmanned helicopter/drone’s protocols. Later the reader learns that Drew has said that humans are the only big game he’s never bagged. And then there’s the incident where he leads Sam (“Doc”) to believe he (Doc) is about to be killed by the drone’s missile. So, of course, Drew is the major suspect when things go seriously awry during a demonstration of JACC’s (Joint Aerial Combat Capability) abilities before legislators, military, and a few visitors out in the remote desert base.
But Perrin develops several other suspects as well. And there’s the possibility of a conspiracy. After a while, the reader, like Doc, is left wondering who, if anyone, is trustworthy. The appeal of the main character is his quiet, reasoned approach. He reviews the facts, considers solutions, trusts his instinct, and forms a plan.
While there is a romantic interest and an old female friend, these relationships are peripheral. The story is a military adventure, with lots of technical information about unmanned weapon systems, their special capabilities and their real dangers.
In the opening scene, reminiscent of something out of The Most Dangerous Game, Drew, the crack drone pilot, delights in hunting down his prey by over-riding the unmanned helicopter/drone’s protocols. Later the reader learns that Drew has said that humans are the only big game he’s never bagged. And then there’s the incident where he leads Sam (“Doc”) to believe he (Doc) is about to be killed by the drone’s missile. So, of course, Drew is the major suspect when things go seriously awry during a demonstration of JACC’s (Joint Aerial Combat Capability) abilities before legislators, military, and a few visitors out in the remote desert base.
But Perrin develops several other suspects as well. And there’s the possibility of a conspiracy. After a while, the reader, like Doc, is left wondering who, if anyone, is trustworthy. The appeal of the main character is his quiet, reasoned approach. He reviews the facts, considers solutions, trusts his instinct, and forms a plan.
While there is a romantic interest and an old female friend, these relationships are peripheral. The story is a military adventure, with lots of technical information about unmanned weapon systems, their special capabilities and their real dangers.
August 14, 2016
What if we had artificial intelligence weaponry? We quite possibly have the capability in this present day… What would be the advantages and consequences? Would it be worth the risk? Perrin’s novel is a gripping inside look into this reality. A good look into the technological aspect of unmanned weapon systems, and how they function, demonstrating that the author is an intelligent, educated individual on the subject.
I personally extremely detest modern day weaponry. It represents the uttermost selfishness and greediness of humanity. If you want to kill someone, shoot them directly with an arrow, not blow up the entire environment around them killing species, plants and animals as well. Modern day warfare is the definition of absolute disrespect, recklessness, and laziness in my opinion. But this is what we have come to… and Perrin draws in these facts of reality in this tale of man, trust, and technology.
A unique technological thriller, filled to the brim with information, that keeps you guessing and questioning. Worth the read if you love intelligent tech thrillers with developed characters a hint of spice, romance and wit.
I personally extremely detest modern day weaponry. It represents the uttermost selfishness and greediness of humanity. If you want to kill someone, shoot them directly with an arrow, not blow up the entire environment around them killing species, plants and animals as well. Modern day warfare is the definition of absolute disrespect, recklessness, and laziness in my opinion. But this is what we have come to… and Perrin draws in these facts of reality in this tale of man, trust, and technology.
A unique technological thriller, filled to the brim with information, that keeps you guessing and questioning. Worth the read if you love intelligent tech thrillers with developed characters a hint of spice, romance and wit.
July 22, 2016
I remember the New York World’s Fair in the sixties. I marveled at what might be a future of possibilities making lives better and advancing humanity beyond the simple. What never occurred to me was just how much might actually change and how it would affect all our lives – for better or worse.
Bruce Perrin’s Mind in the Clouds gives you a glimpse into the worse. Sam Price is called upon to assess a military project called JACC, an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of seeking out hostile enemies and eliminating them—without any human control. Imagine having drones in the sky –protecting and serving. Feel safe?
Although a little technical, the novel scares you into turning pages until the final chapter. I enjoyed Mind in the Clouds. If not for a couple of chapters that I felt were unnecessary and some technical information that had me scratching my head I would have given this a 5. Four and ½ stars for putting me on the edge.
I received a copy of this book for my honest review.
Bruce Perrin’s Mind in the Clouds gives you a glimpse into the worse. Sam Price is called upon to assess a military project called JACC, an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of seeking out hostile enemies and eliminating them—without any human control. Imagine having drones in the sky –protecting and serving. Feel safe?
Although a little technical, the novel scares you into turning pages until the final chapter. I enjoyed Mind in the Clouds. If not for a couple of chapters that I felt were unnecessary and some technical information that had me scratching my head I would have given this a 5. Four and ½ stars for putting me on the edge.
I received a copy of this book for my honest review.
March 23, 2016
Keep your mind in the Clouds! They may bring danger!
The book is amazing. It took me a while to get into it,though.
It involves technology and I'm not very fan of the topic.
On the other hand, the writer's background in psychology is paramount to lift the reader into the crime perpetrator's/ perpetrators' mind. (I would never spoil your pleasure)
It's a tricky path that can lead you to the wrong person/persons.
It happened to me. I couldn't decide for my suspect/suspects and when it was said and done I was like huh? Are you kidding Bruce?
It's written in first and third person and it makes the story spin.
The plot seems obvious but you get really surprised at the end.
Everything could be perfect if I enjoyed technology better. It's not the book or the writer to be blamed.
It's me and I would never tell you differently.
Good Read indeed!
The book is amazing. It took me a while to get into it,though.
It involves technology and I'm not very fan of the topic.
On the other hand, the writer's background in psychology is paramount to lift the reader into the crime perpetrator's/ perpetrators' mind. (I would never spoil your pleasure)
It's a tricky path that can lead you to the wrong person/persons.
It happened to me. I couldn't decide for my suspect/suspects and when it was said and done I was like huh? Are you kidding Bruce?
It's written in first and third person and it makes the story spin.
The plot seems obvious but you get really surprised at the end.
Everything could be perfect if I enjoyed technology better. It's not the book or the writer to be blamed.
It's me and I would never tell you differently.
Good Read indeed!
March 24, 2016
** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
'Mind in the Clouds' was one of those books that kept me on the edge of my seat. I love reading about stories that involve real life possibilities and the catastrophic results that could follow. This book was so descriptive and the creativity was astounding. I could picture the events happening as they played out. Very scary to be in the middle of technology going to the extremes. Full of action, detailed technological advances with the AI, thrilling scenarios and mystery. The characters were great. Sam was an integral player in the overall outcome. He's smart, intuitive and is an all around great guy. This book is a great add to your tbr list.
'Mind in the Clouds' was one of those books that kept me on the edge of my seat. I love reading about stories that involve real life possibilities and the catastrophic results that could follow. This book was so descriptive and the creativity was astounding. I could picture the events happening as they played out. Very scary to be in the middle of technology going to the extremes. Full of action, detailed technological advances with the AI, thrilling scenarios and mystery. The characters were great. Sam was an integral player in the overall outcome. He's smart, intuitive and is an all around great guy. This book is a great add to your tbr list.
August 7, 2020
I have been a big fan of science fiction robots ever since Robby the Robot appeared in “Forbidden Planet.” Artificial intelligence has come a long way since of Robby. This book brings AI up to the present and imagines a world where AI presents a chilling new threat to mankind.
The author is clearly well-versed in AI and seamlessly blends his insightful expertise about the technical details into this gripping mystery.
I like how the author puts under the microscope just what might happen if a powerful AI technology, like the Joint Aerial Combat Capability (JACC) Drone, was appropriated for evil, rather than good.
Located in the Nevada test range, protagonist “Doc” Price, soon finds himself in a fight for his life with a mysterious foe, but is the foe human or something more?
The author is clearly well-versed in AI and seamlessly blends his insightful expertise about the technical details into this gripping mystery.
I like how the author puts under the microscope just what might happen if a powerful AI technology, like the Joint Aerial Combat Capability (JACC) Drone, was appropriated for evil, rather than good.
Located in the Nevada test range, protagonist “Doc” Price, soon finds himself in a fight for his life with a mysterious foe, but is the foe human or something more?
September 30, 2016
This is another story by Bruce Perrin, and this one delves into artificial intelligence and who is control of it. It showscases just what might happen if we lost control of AI technology and it fell into the wrong hands, and it was very well-written and engaging. Sam is an interesting and fun character to follow, though I wish there had been a little less exposition for the entire story and it moved just a little bit faster. All told, though, the situation being presented is fascinating and terrifying, and the book is great. For anyone who is a fan of Bruce's other works, this is one you won't want to miss!
March 20, 2018
An enthralling, chilling and thought provoking read.
Thoroughly enjoyed the geeky main character and revelled in the cognitive psychological aspects of the story. It's a fascinating look at the potential of autonomous machines and an unlikely, but possible, scenario that could develop.
Strong characters, intelligent attention to detail and a great plot ensured this was a quite riveting read.
I found this gem via a promotional site, a great way to find a new author to add to my favourites list. Purchased the first book of this series after reading this one and am looking forward to reading it!
Thoroughly enjoyed the geeky main character and revelled in the cognitive psychological aspects of the story. It's a fascinating look at the potential of autonomous machines and an unlikely, but possible, scenario that could develop.
Strong characters, intelligent attention to detail and a great plot ensured this was a quite riveting read.
I found this gem via a promotional site, a great way to find a new author to add to my favourites list. Purchased the first book of this series after reading this one and am looking forward to reading it!
March 1, 2019
Every time I think about driverless cars I find myself saying no way I could handle that. Well this novel even takes it further then cars--try to imagine drones that have no operator--when they will be used by the armed forces!! Nightmares are made of this in my opinion--
Well, read what could happen when operators are taken out of the picture--or are they?
Can artificial intelligence be trusted not to take over-Can humans be trusted not to abuse it?
This novel will make you think twice about driverless ANYTHING-------
Well, read what could happen when operators are taken out of the picture--or are they?
Can artificial intelligence be trusted not to take over-Can humans be trusted not to abuse it?
This novel will make you think twice about driverless ANYTHING-------
September 8, 2018
Great Book
I loved this book. It was full of turn the page moments as it was exciting and full of adventure. I loved Jeremy in this story and the ending was perfect. I’ll not give away the ending but it was great as I love romance. Bruce did a great job penning this story. It is a bit funny is spots which I liked. I would recommend this book to all readers. Great five start read.
I loved this book. It was full of turn the page moments as it was exciting and full of adventure. I loved Jeremy in this story and the ending was perfect. I’ll not give away the ending but it was great as I love romance. Bruce did a great job penning this story. It is a bit funny is spots which I liked. I would recommend this book to all readers. Great five start read.
October 28, 2020
Thrilling and intelligent
This book is an excellent mystery, thriller, and military tale. Doc is an intelligent guy and it’s fun to go along with his thought processes as he solves the mystery. The AI stuff was very interesting, and though the story jumps around the dates, that’s necessary, because JACC or Jack does some really terrifying stuff. Loved it! It goes well with Doc’s other stories.
This book is an excellent mystery, thriller, and military tale. Doc is an intelligent guy and it’s fun to go along with his thought processes as he solves the mystery. The AI stuff was very interesting, and though the story jumps around the dates, that’s necessary, because JACC or Jack does some really terrifying stuff. Loved it! It goes well with Doc’s other stories.
September 7, 2021
Received as an audio review copy, this is an honest review. The exquisitely haunting series continues as Dr. Sam Price finds himself matching with not only with a disturbed person with murderous mind but whom as access to a powerful drone that could brilliantly be used to achieve the agenda. This audio book once again is narrated by the wonderful Denver C Risley, giving a harrowing journey that is a web secrets that are memorable. Highly recommended.
September 26, 2021
This author did a lot of research to bring this Story to life. The possibility is so probable with how quickly Computer Technology is developing across the World.
MC is a analytical minded man who's brain just keeps going through all the information he has absorbed. Narrator did a good job with the storyline too.
MC is a analytical minded man who's brain just keeps going through all the information he has absorbed. Narrator did a good job with the storyline too.
May 19, 2021
A clever techno-thriller filled with lots of twists and turns. Filled with brilliant characters and detailed scenarios, this mystery will keep you guessing until the end.
April 11, 2019
Sam Price is a young man not long out of college with a degree in cognitive psychology. His job is to assess the technical training of employees who are involved in a wide variety of technological applications. In this instance, he is sent to examine how drone coordinators are trained for an autonomous military grade attack drone.
I had read the previous book in this series and really enjoyed it even though it had a very slow start. This book follows much the same pattern, but the action and intensity did not get going until two-thirds the way into the book. Much of it was taken up by expositional dialogue masked as a conference call. I love tech stuff, but I think much of this could have been edited down. It's very clear that the author knows his "stuff," but I think he's intelligent enough to think of more creative ways to convey all of this information, which tended to get repetitive as well.
It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that the action picked up, but yet I never felt any intensity from the characters to the life and death situation. Sam's emotions never really came through until he talked about his ex-girlfriend, Jill. I really felt like they had a connection which he didn't have with Nicole. All his conversations with her lacked joy and the heart flutter of anticipation of seeing her again. I'm not suggesting that you turn this into a romance, but I'd think it would be great if the author dug deeper into Sam as a character. Especially after the series got off to such a great start with the first book.
The themes of the book were the most interesting part. The question whether a human or an AI should be in control of an attack drone is a controversial one. Where the AI is more efficient and can possibly save lives more quickly, yet the human brings in ethical judgments that the AI cannot process.
I'd recommend this book to those who love realistic technology in their scifi.
I had read the previous book in this series and really enjoyed it even though it had a very slow start. This book follows much the same pattern, but the action and intensity did not get going until two-thirds the way into the book. Much of it was taken up by expositional dialogue masked as a conference call. I love tech stuff, but I think much of this could have been edited down. It's very clear that the author knows his "stuff," but I think he's intelligent enough to think of more creative ways to convey all of this information, which tended to get repetitive as well.
It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that the action picked up, but yet I never felt any intensity from the characters to the life and death situation. Sam's emotions never really came through until he talked about his ex-girlfriend, Jill. I really felt like they had a connection which he didn't have with Nicole. All his conversations with her lacked joy and the heart flutter of anticipation of seeing her again. I'm not suggesting that you turn this into a romance, but I'd think it would be great if the author dug deeper into Sam as a character. Especially after the series got off to such a great start with the first book.
The themes of the book were the most interesting part. The question whether a human or an AI should be in control of an attack drone is a controversial one. Where the AI is more efficient and can possibly save lives more quickly, yet the human brings in ethical judgments that the AI cannot process.
I'd recommend this book to those who love realistic technology in their scifi.
November 7, 2022
Audiobook: I liked book 2 of "The Mind Sleuth" series. The story was well-written and thought provoking. One can tell that the author has researched the material thoroughly and was well-versed in the subject matter. My difficulty was that the author took too long to get into the plot of the tale. Having stated that, the story eventually caught my interest, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Denver C. Risley's narration was good, and his performance added to the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
December 27, 2022
Dr. Sam Price, known as Doc, is sent by his firm to a remote Nevada test site that has training materials for an unmanned drone. The drone, is loaded with weapons of all types, is programmed to distinguish threats from non-threats. But over time the drone starts making its own decisions about what constitutes a threat.
February 16, 2023
This book is far too technical for me. An armed rogue drone! Yikes! It is full of danger, death, destruction and a little romance. Very well thought out and written. Artificial intelligence is scary.
The narration adds excitement to the story and makes it feel real.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author through Story Origin.
The narration adds excitement to the story and makes it feel real.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author through Story Origin.
July 5, 2016
In attempting to review Mind in the Clouds by Bruce Perrin, I feel like a teacher frustrated by a hugely gifted student who delivers monumentally brilliant answers peppered with strangely basic lapses. Perrin is an excellent writer. He has a facility for words, is very comfortable with them, and can pace his writing with effortless ease. He also has equal, if not greater, expertise in the language and jargon of technology. And therein lies the problem for many of his readers. His writing, for at least the first fifty per cent of the book, is somewhat stressful for the uninitiated mind. His technical explanations are clear and reach the brain on a surface level but probably will not penetrate the memory of most ordinary readers. And that is bad for the story. Any publisher advising a prospective novelist will invariably stress that the story is all. Get to the story right away, he’ll say. Publishers’ readers will rarely get beyond the first twenty pages of any MS without having already decided whether it goes on to the next stage or suffers rejection. So it is vital to grab the reader, and the publishers’ reader, early.
Mind in the Clouds is based on a fascinating premise, even for those of us who are not technologically astute. What would happen if an Artificial Intelligence was left to make its own decisions about matters of life and death? From Perrin’s obvious expertise, it becomes clear that this is a problem that offers frightening prospects for the future. Unfortunately, the first fifty per cent of the book is so highly technical that it suffers also from a dearth of action and thus offers little to grab the ordinary reader’s interest. It does pick up a bit with the introduction of the off-colour Drew but it is well into the second half before he story takes off. Conspiracy, mystery suspense abound here, but is it a little too late for some readers?
Other reviewers have talked about the story but I want to make one or two comments about the writing. I do not wish to be critical but it is these points that caused me the frustration I mentioned earlier.
To begin with, Perrin needs to be more aware of the need for ‘show’ as opposed to ‘tell’ in his story-telling. Too much of what happens early in the book is third-hand narrative. This would be much more effective if the events themselves were allowed to transpire in the present tense without a narrator. For example, he rarely has an actual phone conversation with Nicole. He simply gives a summary of the phone conversations. This does little to engender empathy. We’d be much more informed, and interested, if the conversations were offered to us verbatim.
The second issue is dialogue. And there are two problems here. Good dialogue is vital in any story. Perrin offers long unbroken utterances by various characters, many so technical that the reader gets lost. At the very least, the other person should drop in the odd, “You’re kidding!” or “That’s terrible.” Anything to halt the unrelenting flow of technological jargon. The reader’s brain needs these breaks to enable it to assimilate something of what is being said. Even without jargon, of course, dialogue should be short and pithy.
The other problem is dialogue attribution. Writers are advised not to abuse their dialogue with widespread use of such unnecessary attributions as ‘he hollered’, ‘he snapped’, ‘he bellowed’. Neville Shute relied only on ‘he said’ and that worked perfectly. Perrin, however, offers no attributions at all. One long speech is followed by another long speech, without any indications of the emotional responses of the conversationalists, with the result that often the reader get lost and begins to wonder which speaker is saying what.
I hate to sound so critical of what has the potential to be a superb techno-thriller but these issues were problematic for me. I still believe, however, even with these basic writing defects, that technology buffs will love this story.
Mind in the Clouds is based on a fascinating premise, even for those of us who are not technologically astute. What would happen if an Artificial Intelligence was left to make its own decisions about matters of life and death? From Perrin’s obvious expertise, it becomes clear that this is a problem that offers frightening prospects for the future. Unfortunately, the first fifty per cent of the book is so highly technical that it suffers also from a dearth of action and thus offers little to grab the ordinary reader’s interest. It does pick up a bit with the introduction of the off-colour Drew but it is well into the second half before he story takes off. Conspiracy, mystery suspense abound here, but is it a little too late for some readers?
Other reviewers have talked about the story but I want to make one or two comments about the writing. I do not wish to be critical but it is these points that caused me the frustration I mentioned earlier.
To begin with, Perrin needs to be more aware of the need for ‘show’ as opposed to ‘tell’ in his story-telling. Too much of what happens early in the book is third-hand narrative. This would be much more effective if the events themselves were allowed to transpire in the present tense without a narrator. For example, he rarely has an actual phone conversation with Nicole. He simply gives a summary of the phone conversations. This does little to engender empathy. We’d be much more informed, and interested, if the conversations were offered to us verbatim.
The second issue is dialogue. And there are two problems here. Good dialogue is vital in any story. Perrin offers long unbroken utterances by various characters, many so technical that the reader gets lost. At the very least, the other person should drop in the odd, “You’re kidding!” or “That’s terrible.” Anything to halt the unrelenting flow of technological jargon. The reader’s brain needs these breaks to enable it to assimilate something of what is being said. Even without jargon, of course, dialogue should be short and pithy.
The other problem is dialogue attribution. Writers are advised not to abuse their dialogue with widespread use of such unnecessary attributions as ‘he hollered’, ‘he snapped’, ‘he bellowed’. Neville Shute relied only on ‘he said’ and that worked perfectly. Perrin, however, offers no attributions at all. One long speech is followed by another long speech, without any indications of the emotional responses of the conversationalists, with the result that often the reader get lost and begins to wonder which speaker is saying what.
I hate to sound so critical of what has the potential to be a superb techno-thriller but these issues were problematic for me. I still believe, however, even with these basic writing defects, that technology buffs will love this story.
April 14, 2016
Fascinating study but with limited appeal.
There is much to like in this book, but it takes a modicum of perseverance to reach it. I generally find it interesting when novels delve into pertinent contemporary issues, and that is the case in Mind in the Clouds. The story involves a cognitive psychologist doing a heck of a lot of psychoanalysis of a team working on a cutting edge drone project. It has a bit of a "Wargames" feel to it—evaluating the responses of man versus AI with respect to life-and-death military decisions—although not necessarily reaching the same conclusions.
The author clearly has a great deal of knowledge on the subject, as well as real insight into the quirks of personalities and the dynamics of human interaction. The technical knowledge of how unmanned aircraft are controlled (beyond just the flying, including the more important decision-making aspects) that appears in this story is out of my realm of expertise, but the impression I have is that the author knows his stuff and would probably be an excellent teacher. This is a double-edged sword, however, because long stretches of the book have the feel of reading a user manual. It led me to wonder how important it was that readers—who learn as the protagonist has things explained to him—understand every last detail. I pride myself on being able to appreciate slower-paced stories, but this one was more of a trial than most.
The writing, while not exceptional, is pretty solid. There is not much flair here, but neither are there many errors. However, there are two issues I see that exacerbate the problem of the overly technical subject matter. The first is that the author relies a little too much on "telling" rather than "showing." For example, a potentially romantic conversation between two characters about Chicago vs St Louis sports that led to a mock confrontation that caused tears of laughter would be so much better with actual dialogue and organic reactions. These sorts of scenes can bring a story like this alive, and I cannot help but feel they were missed opportunities.
The second issue is a lack of dramatic conflict in Part I, which makes those pages difficult ones to work through. This section is mainly a setup of the overall story arc, meaning it lacks those short-term dramas that make individual chapters interesting. As an example, within the first 50% of the book, the two main sources of tension were a cordially strained workplace personality conflict and an unprofessional prank during which the main character was in no danger and only found out about after the fact. This type of conflict is subtle and nuanced, and will not satisfy any but the most engaged of readers. Which is a shame, because the second half becomes far more exciting and rewards readers who stuck with the story.
The POV is curious mix of 1st and 3rd person. It is not exactly hard to follow, but somewhat unorthodox and jarring.
Ultimately, I am glad I made it through the tedious section to get to the action and resolution. I found myself curious where the author was going with things, both with respect to the fate of the characters and what real-life lessons we could draw. Without giving too much away, I came away satisfied with both.
I hope the author continues to refine his craft with respect to the issues mentioned above, because I see a ton of potential here.
Readers looking for a turbocharged thriller will likely stall out somewhere in the first half, but those looking for a slower burn (as well as those with a particular interest in the drone program or group behavioral analysis) will be rewarded.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
There is much to like in this book, but it takes a modicum of perseverance to reach it. I generally find it interesting when novels delve into pertinent contemporary issues, and that is the case in Mind in the Clouds. The story involves a cognitive psychologist doing a heck of a lot of psychoanalysis of a team working on a cutting edge drone project. It has a bit of a "Wargames" feel to it—evaluating the responses of man versus AI with respect to life-and-death military decisions—although not necessarily reaching the same conclusions.
The author clearly has a great deal of knowledge on the subject, as well as real insight into the quirks of personalities and the dynamics of human interaction. The technical knowledge of how unmanned aircraft are controlled (beyond just the flying, including the more important decision-making aspects) that appears in this story is out of my realm of expertise, but the impression I have is that the author knows his stuff and would probably be an excellent teacher. This is a double-edged sword, however, because long stretches of the book have the feel of reading a user manual. It led me to wonder how important it was that readers—who learn as the protagonist has things explained to him—understand every last detail. I pride myself on being able to appreciate slower-paced stories, but this one was more of a trial than most.
The writing, while not exceptional, is pretty solid. There is not much flair here, but neither are there many errors. However, there are two issues I see that exacerbate the problem of the overly technical subject matter. The first is that the author relies a little too much on "telling" rather than "showing." For example, a potentially romantic conversation between two characters about Chicago vs St Louis sports that led to a mock confrontation that caused tears of laughter would be so much better with actual dialogue and organic reactions. These sorts of scenes can bring a story like this alive, and I cannot help but feel they were missed opportunities.
The second issue is a lack of dramatic conflict in Part I, which makes those pages difficult ones to work through. This section is mainly a setup of the overall story arc, meaning it lacks those short-term dramas that make individual chapters interesting. As an example, within the first 50% of the book, the two main sources of tension were a cordially strained workplace personality conflict and an unprofessional prank during which the main character was in no danger and only found out about after the fact. This type of conflict is subtle and nuanced, and will not satisfy any but the most engaged of readers. Which is a shame, because the second half becomes far more exciting and rewards readers who stuck with the story.
The POV is curious mix of 1st and 3rd person. It is not exactly hard to follow, but somewhat unorthodox and jarring.
Ultimately, I am glad I made it through the tedious section to get to the action and resolution. I found myself curious where the author was going with things, both with respect to the fate of the characters and what real-life lessons we could draw. Without giving too much away, I came away satisfied with both.
I hope the author continues to refine his craft with respect to the issues mentioned above, because I see a ton of potential here.
Readers looking for a turbocharged thriller will likely stall out somewhere in the first half, but those looking for a slower burn (as well as those with a particular interest in the drone program or group behavioral analysis) will be rewarded.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
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