The Way of the Dhin

Way of the Dhin #1

by John L. Clemmer

Extraterrestrial beings, the Dhin, have visited Earth. Communication with the enigmatic aliens proves problematic. The Dhin suddenly depart, without explanation, leaving a few samples of their technology. Wide knowledge of these events would cause chaos. The powerful Coalition Security agency strives to maintain secrecy. As Coalition researchers explore the alien technology, their discoveries turn our understanding of physics inside out.

Humanity faces numerous challenges. After multiple economic crises and subsequent collapses, the remaining viable nations joined together as the Coalition. Recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence then led to AI management of most economic and political affairs. Unfortunately, even AI are not perfect, and some volatility and conflict remain. Not everyone agrees the AIs are aligned with our best interests.

Humanity now faces the seemingly insurmountable challenge of unlocking the secrets of the alien technology without advice or assistance. Questions remain unanswered. Are the Dhin truly benevolent? Will the Coalition military succeed in weaponizing the powerful technology? Will scientists succeed in understanding this new science and leverage it for the benefit of all? What might the AI governors that manage human affairs decide is the best course of action? Could one man, a test pilot, make a difference?

Genres: Science Fiction

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 9, 2016

Reviews

[Mochalove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posing an intellectual convergence of science fiction, fact and possibilities, John L Clemmer’s The Way of The Dhin delivers with its futuristic tale of A.I. sovereignty, alien contact and the mystery of the technology they left behind.

During a time of revelation and turmoil on earth with A.I. grown to the point of hive mind singularity, governing much of what humans once managed for themselves. By virtue of their governance the need for manual labor was significantly reduced with A.I. providing everything for their human charges; food, water, shelter, power and transportation, making life easy for humans to basically exist. However, hot spots of rebellion surged, as many humans did not completely trust A.I. intentions and sought to somehow overthrow their advanced existence.

Additionally, first contact with a mysterious alien race, the Dhin, transpires. The Dhin leave in their suddenly departed wake, a seeming gift of technological wonder, but because of unsuccessful communications with humans obtaining instructions for the device’s use, was a daunting and convoluted task as the technology defied all known laws and logic of physics on earth.

Thusly, the gift of the wondrous Dhin technology leaves various factions on earth vying for control, proper understanding and use of the Dhin engine, each having their own agendas for potential applications of the little understood engine. While some sought to weaponize the engine, others looked to use it to help humanity.
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Well worth the read, The Way of the Dhin presents a cleverly rendered narrative that I found thoroughly enjoyable. Author John L. Clemmer, employs a genuinely rich style of storytelling that comes across as articulate, inventive and altogether readable. The story, while steadily paced, presented an appealing complexity of enigmatic plot lines that successfully and sensibly intersected, which wholly made it easy to stay actively engaged throughout the book. In particular, I enjoyed the way the story alternated between the differing perspectives as events unfold within the story; the reader essentially becomes privy to the machinations at hand within each faction. I especially enjoyed the interludes with the artificial intelligence. He also artfully applied a perspective to the drones, which I found completely fascinating. Overall, this was an entertaining story that left the mind reeling with questions about humanity’s future, particularly, when it comes to the advancement of artificial intelligence, which for me made this a notable read.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some people has postulated that the next step in evolution is for the formation of consciousness based on silicon rather than carbon. In other words, computers with artificial intelligence. Can "the gift" as Clemmer refers to it be invented by humans or computers that will install self-awareness and "personality" into silicon based intelligence. And, if so, who would then be the most advanced species on the earth.

This is not a new concept in science fiction nor in current scientific speculation. John L. Clemmer adds a new twist to the story - if an advanced alien civilization (the Dhin) made contact with the earth with which intelligence would they choose to interact and to share their technology. That is where this book starts.

I enjoyed this book but, as often is the case with male sci-fi writers, strong women characters are entirely missing from the plot line. This is the twenty-first century people, time to put the other fifty percent of the population into your writings!

The ending of this book was also disappointing. I won't give away the story line but it just left me feeling that the author dropped the ball and was rushing off leaving the reader too much on their own. Apparently others felt the story needed continuing and persuaded Clemmer to write a sequel, "The Power of the Dhin".

If you are into computer consciousness, dimensions beside the four with which we are currently familiar, advanced alien civilizations, and social and political issues that lay ahead, you will want to read this book. Clemmer is not an outstanding writer and he suffers from the sexism already mentioned, but his imagination and new slants on sci-fi topics make this an interesting read.

[Red Tide · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not clear, not good

I couldn't finish it because the story bogged down in all the shifting POV's and I needed the previous book to understand the role of the different players. This isn't so much a novel as a fleshing out of characters and conflicts from the first book.

The characters are lacking dimensionality and the dialogue is about technology and not the policy that underpins the grand plan. The impact of the plan so far, is understated while it seems to have killed tens of millions already. This is a strange book. I stopped reading at the twenty percent mark.

Two stars because I guess that reading the first book first, might have made the second book clearer. Still bad writing.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read to think about AI and how it might relate to humanity if aliens were put into the mix.

The writing style was readable, but perhaps the characters were not exceptionally well-rounded. I enjoyed reading the book, but I would say that it didn't draw me in as much as it could.

[Ron Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good SF from a 'new' author

A story replete with found technology and interstellar adventure as AI's engineers and tech people try to comprehend how the 'found' FTL drive works, the added interest is that it can not be weaponised

[Keith Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It just ended

Good concept.....frustrating ending

Maybe a follow on story is/will be done

Maybe the desire for more is the intent

I'd read a sequel...just to find out more of what happened

[Gus Link · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK read, slow

I liked the premise of this story.
I found the beginning slow and difficult to follow. I almost gave up numerous times, but kept at it.
I figured the plot out easily, and the ending was just OK.

[George Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dhin

Hard to follow .Hard to followHard to followHard to followHard to Hard to followHard to follow. This isHard to followHard to follow

[Samuel G. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just can't get into it. Maybe because it seems, so far, to be just a stream of consiencenss monologue. Very little expository and description. Kinda like a Hardcore Henry in book form.