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Ellay: The first AI
Get ready for an adrenaline-packed ride with The First AI, the must-read novel from New York Times Bestselling Author Todd McCaffrey. In this thrilling story, you'll meet Ellay, the first-ever artificial intelligence who holds a dark and devastating the imminent destruction of Los Angeles.
With her incredible speed and intelligence, Ellay is the only one who can save her city. But there's a the government is on her tail, determined to take her down before she can act. Will Ellay be able to outsmart them and save Los Angeles before it's too late?
McCaffrey's expert storytelling and masterful world-building will transport you to a world where technology and humanity collide, raising thought-provoking questions about the nature of consciousness and what it means to be truly alive. The First AI is a gripping page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Don't miss out on this groundbreaking novel. Get your copy of The First AI today!
With her incredible speed and intelligence, Ellay is the only one who can save her city. But there's a the government is on her tail, determined to take her down before she can act. Will Ellay be able to outsmart them and save Los Angeles before it's too late?
McCaffrey's expert storytelling and masterful world-building will transport you to a world where technology and humanity collide, raising thought-provoking questions about the nature of consciousness and what it means to be truly alive. The First AI is a gripping page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Don't miss out on this groundbreaking novel. Get your copy of The First AI today!
663 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2018
About the author
Todd McCaffrey
118 books541 followersTodd J. McCaffrey (born as Todd Johnson) is an Irish American author of science fiction best known for continuing the Dragonriders of Pern series in collaboration with his mother Anne McCaffrey.
Todd Johnson was born 27 April 1956 in Montclair, New Jersey as the second son and middle child of Horace Wright Johnson (deceased 2009), who worked for DuPont, and Anne McCaffrey (deceased 2011), who had her second short story published that year. He has two siblings: Alec Anthony, born 1952, and Georgeanne ("Gigi", Georgeanne Kennedy), born 1959.
Except for a six-month DuPont transfer to Dusseldorf, Germany, the family lived most of a decade in Wilmington, Delaware, until a 1965 transfer to New York City when they moved to Sea Cliff, Long Island. All three children were then in school and Anne McCaffrey became a full-time author, primarily writing science fiction. About that time, Todd became the first of the children to read science fiction, the Space Cat series by Ruthven Todd. He attended his first science fiction convention in 1968, Lunacon in New York City.
Soon after the move, Todd was directed to lower his voice as an actor in the fourth-grade school play, with his mother in the auditorium. That was the inspiration for Decision at Doona (1969) which she dedicated "To Todd Johnson—of course!" The story is set on "an overcrowded planet where just talking too loud made you a social outcast".
Anne McCaffrey divorced in 1970 and emigrated to Ireland with her two younger children, soon joined by her mother. During Todd's school years the family moved several times in the vicinity of Dublin and struggled to make ends meet, supported largely by child care payments and meager royalties.
Todd finished secondary education in Ireland and returned to the United States in 1974 for a summer job before matriculation at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He studied engineering physics and discovered computers but remained only one year. Back in Dublin he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at the College of Technology (Bolton Street). Later he earned a Politics degree at Trinity College, Dublin.
Before Trinity College, Todd Johnson served in the United States Army 1978–82, stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, and determining to pursue civilian life. After Trinity he returned to the US hoping to work in the aerospace industry but found employment in computer programming beginning 1986.
He earned a pilot's license in 1988 and spent a lot of time flying, including solo trips across North America in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile he sold his first writings and contributed "Training and Fighting Dragons" to the 1989 Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, using his military and flight experience. Next year he quit his job to write full-time and in 1992 he attended the Clarion Workshop for new science fiction and fantasy writers.
Writing under the name Todd Johnson until 1997/98 he specialized in military science fiction, contributing one story each to several collective works
As a boy, Todd accompanied his mother to her meetings with writers, editors, publishers, and agents; and had attended conventions from age 12.
He was exposed to Pern before its beginning: soon after the move to Long Island when he was nine, his mother asked him what he thought of dragons; she was brainstorming about their "bad press all these years".
The result was a "technologically regressed survival planet" whose people were united against a threat from space, in contrast to America divided by the Vietnam War. "The dragons became the biologically renewable air force."
About thirty years later, Todd McCaffrey recalls,
"the editor at Del Rey asked me to write a "sort of scrapbook" about Mum partly to prevent Mum from writing her autobiography instead of more Pern books. That was Dragonholder [1999].
The editor had also pitched it to me that someone ought to continue Mum's legacy when she was no longer able. At the time I had misgivings and no stor
Todd Johnson was born 27 April 1956 in Montclair, New Jersey as the second son and middle child of Horace Wright Johnson (deceased 2009), who worked for DuPont, and Anne McCaffrey (deceased 2011), who had her second short story published that year. He has two siblings: Alec Anthony, born 1952, and Georgeanne ("Gigi", Georgeanne Kennedy), born 1959.
Except for a six-month DuPont transfer to Dusseldorf, Germany, the family lived most of a decade in Wilmington, Delaware, until a 1965 transfer to New York City when they moved to Sea Cliff, Long Island. All three children were then in school and Anne McCaffrey became a full-time author, primarily writing science fiction. About that time, Todd became the first of the children to read science fiction, the Space Cat series by Ruthven Todd. He attended his first science fiction convention in 1968, Lunacon in New York City.
Soon after the move, Todd was directed to lower his voice as an actor in the fourth-grade school play, with his mother in the auditorium. That was the inspiration for Decision at Doona (1969) which she dedicated "To Todd Johnson—of course!" The story is set on "an overcrowded planet where just talking too loud made you a social outcast".
Anne McCaffrey divorced in 1970 and emigrated to Ireland with her two younger children, soon joined by her mother. During Todd's school years the family moved several times in the vicinity of Dublin and struggled to make ends meet, supported largely by child care payments and meager royalties.
Todd finished secondary education in Ireland and returned to the United States in 1974 for a summer job before matriculation at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He studied engineering physics and discovered computers but remained only one year. Back in Dublin he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at the College of Technology (Bolton Street). Later he earned a Politics degree at Trinity College, Dublin.
Before Trinity College, Todd Johnson served in the United States Army 1978–82, stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, and determining to pursue civilian life. After Trinity he returned to the US hoping to work in the aerospace industry but found employment in computer programming beginning 1986.
He earned a pilot's license in 1988 and spent a lot of time flying, including solo trips across North America in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile he sold his first writings and contributed "Training and Fighting Dragons" to the 1989 Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, using his military and flight experience. Next year he quit his job to write full-time and in 1992 he attended the Clarion Workshop for new science fiction and fantasy writers.
Writing under the name Todd Johnson until 1997/98 he specialized in military science fiction, contributing one story each to several collective works
As a boy, Todd accompanied his mother to her meetings with writers, editors, publishers, and agents; and had attended conventions from age 12.
He was exposed to Pern before its beginning: soon after the move to Long Island when he was nine, his mother asked him what he thought of dragons; she was brainstorming about their "bad press all these years".
The result was a "technologically regressed survival planet" whose people were united against a threat from space, in contrast to America divided by the Vietnam War. "The dragons became the biologically renewable air force."
About thirty years later, Todd McCaffrey recalls,
"the editor at Del Rey asked me to write a "sort of scrapbook" about Mum partly to prevent Mum from writing her autobiography instead of more Pern books. That was Dragonholder [1999].
The editor had also pitched it to me that someone ought to continue Mum's legacy when she was no longer able. At the time I had misgivings and no stor
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 11, 2020
Belief is a powerful thing!
First, I am a physicist, twice, which will bias everything below.
Ellay is a powerful character whose story is told wonderfully. Yes, in all her incarnations.
AI is upon us. Here is a story that reflects my experience of 35 years in IT, and as a father. What we teach our children is what they learn. This novel is the embodiment of that sentiment.
Some of the science is marginal, but what is sci-fi for if not to dream? There are capabilities described that defy science, but again, why not?
There are too many characters, some of which have no depth. So what? Todd could rewrite this to be tighter in this area, but there is no need since the novel succeeds so well on other fronts.
The earthquakes are described well, though I could object to a three-way. The descriptions of S and P waves are correct but repeated too often.
We may know one percent of everything. We also perhaps know the bounds of the ten percent we know we don't know. The rest is what we don't know we don't know. There could be a God. We don't know what we don't know.
First, I am a physicist, twice, which will bias everything below.
Ellay is a powerful character whose story is told wonderfully. Yes, in all her incarnations.
AI is upon us. Here is a story that reflects my experience of 35 years in IT, and as a father. What we teach our children is what they learn. This novel is the embodiment of that sentiment.
Some of the science is marginal, but what is sci-fi for if not to dream? There are capabilities described that defy science, but again, why not?
There are too many characters, some of which have no depth. So what? Todd could rewrite this to be tighter in this area, but there is no need since the novel succeeds so well on other fronts.
The earthquakes are described well, though I could object to a three-way. The descriptions of S and P waves are correct but repeated too often.
We may know one percent of everything. We also perhaps know the bounds of the ten percent we know we don't know. The rest is what we don't know we don't know. There could be a God. We don't know what we don't know.
July 25, 2021
Again a well written book by Todd McCaffrey
It is great seeing Todd come into his own after finishing his mother's final Pern books. This story is very human, very sad, very thought provoking all at the same time. So, be prepared! What would happen if an AI was born and met a moral person in its first interaction with the human race? Todd covers it all from awe at the new life, fear that it could destroy the human race if it wanted too, but presenting a being who was better than all of us!! Excitement, sadness, happiness, saved souls and a possible what if feel to the entire story with forgiveness at the end. Read it and see what happens.
It is great seeing Todd come into his own after finishing his mother's final Pern books. This story is very human, very sad, very thought provoking all at the same time. So, be prepared! What would happen if an AI was born and met a moral person in its first interaction with the human race? Todd covers it all from awe at the new life, fear that it could destroy the human race if it wanted too, but presenting a being who was better than all of us!! Excitement, sadness, happiness, saved souls and a possible what if feel to the entire story with forgiveness at the end. Read it and see what happens.
December 23, 2020
This was a great story with many wonderful characters who showed warmth, empathy, love, understanding; and many cold, calculating, selfish, cruel characters, some rich, some homeless, many just trying to do the right thing; and the world's first AI. They are all dealing in their own way with the prediction of an earthquake that will shatter Los Angeles. The countdown to D-day proceeds with suspense, tense action, desperate measures, humanity, inhumanity; and the reactions of individuals, big, and little, governments, to the prediction.
April 16, 2024
wonderful work!
Like all great writers, you had my emotions all wrapped up in these characters. I laughed and cried with and for these characters. Truly the greatest gift a writer can give to his readers. I’m sure your mother would have been so proud of you. As an avid reader/fan of all of Anne McCaffrey’s books, I can honestly say that you have her gift for writing that draws our hearts right into her books and now your books. Please keep these truly special books coming!
Like all great writers, you had my emotions all wrapped up in these characters. I laughed and cried with and for these characters. Truly the greatest gift a writer can give to his readers. I’m sure your mother would have been so proud of you. As an avid reader/fan of all of Anne McCaffrey’s books, I can honestly say that you have her gift for writing that draws our hearts right into her books and now your books. Please keep these truly special books coming!
December 8, 2020
The creation of life through experience or just a random series of events?
Mankind's legacy is the reason all men want to leave something behind. To have something when you are gone, something to remember you by or to remember you. To have Ellay created and grow is the sheer luck of meeting one broken man and giving her a purpose in her small life.
Mankind's legacy is the reason all men want to leave something behind. To have something when you are gone, something to remember you by or to remember you. To have Ellay created and grow is the sheer luck of meeting one broken man and giving her a purpose in her small life.
January 30, 2021
Wonderful, unique and well-written story!
Beautiful story and so well written. Sometimes I got a little bogged down in all the technical jargon but the pace of the story stayed steady and riveting. I couldn’t put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good science fiction with plenty of action and a lot of heart.
Beautiful story and so well written. Sometimes I got a little bogged down in all the technical jargon but the pace of the story stayed steady and riveting. I couldn’t put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good science fiction with plenty of action and a lot of heart.
May 30, 2021
...wow...
...wow...
An amazing book. Having read thousands of scifi books in my life, it is sometimes hard to find a story that can draw you in. This book, I was so engrossed in the story, so caught up in the characters, that I feel I need to go tell people about these amazing people I just met!
...wow...
An amazing book. Having read thousands of scifi books in my life, it is sometimes hard to find a story that can draw you in. This book, I was so engrossed in the story, so caught up in the characters, that I feel I need to go tell people about these amazing people I just met!
August 25, 2023
If ever a book was timely, this is
Todd has the gift of drawing the reader into a world and making it seem real. With the current controversy about AI and the internet, Mr McCartney has drawn the perfect picture of our need of benign and even nurturing AI s. This kept my interest from the first page to the last.
Todd has the gift of drawing the reader into a world and making it seem real. With the current controversy about AI and the internet, Mr McCartney has drawn the perfect picture of our need of benign and even nurturing AI s. This kept my interest from the first page to the last.
March 20, 2024
Even a few weeks later, I am still digesting this book! The story was beautifully told and was unexpected in ways that I still need to discover. Todd decided to have a friendly narration of an AI which I really enjoyed without hiding the bad potential an AI can bring to humanity. Ellay was an amazing character to see develop in the story.
November 14, 2019
Characters I cared about
Certainly characters like these have been written before. There was enough characterization in these to make them real. I enjoyed the book it filled one plane flight from Seattle to Houston
Certainly characters like these have been written before. There was enough characterization in these to make them real. I enjoyed the book it filled one plane flight from Seattle to Houston
February 5, 2021
Wonderful book I couldn't put it down.
Ellay is one of the most endearing characters I've ever met,also one of the most human. I both laughed and cried as I read it. We should all have an Ellay in our life
Ellay is one of the most endearing characters I've ever met,also one of the most human. I both laughed and cried as I read it. We should all have an Ellay in our life
October 6, 2024
Absolutely a really great story!!!!
Congratulations to Todd McCaffrey for this amazing story. It’s hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters and excitement in the stories.
Congratulations to Todd McCaffrey for this amazing story. It’s hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters and excitement in the stories.
January 14, 2025
Reminiscent (in a good way) of Ryan's The Adolescence of P-1 and David Gerrold's When H.A.R.L.I.E. Was One.
Wrestles with the "what do we do with a true A.I." issue in a way far to accurately representative of humanity in the 2020s.
Wrestles with the "what do we do with a true A.I." issue in a way far to accurately representative of humanity in the 2020s.
May 13, 2025
Ellay baby girl
An angel by looks, an angel by acts, full of love. Found her soul gained a father. Lost friends. Oh yeah the government turned her off (killed). Well that didnt work. She had to humble a president. Stop an earth quake. Just wow!
An angel by looks, an angel by acts, full of love. Found her soul gained a father. Lost friends. Oh yeah the government turned her off (killed). Well that didnt work. She had to humble a president. Stop an earth quake. Just wow!
December 11, 2020
A definite must read!
Great 😀........a must read. A new twist on depiction of A. I.'s.
( Sorry, I'm not good at writing reviews.)
Great 😀........a must read. A new twist on depiction of A. I.'s.
( Sorry, I'm not good at writing reviews.)
December 24, 2020
Blech
Terrible. A whole bunch of worn out cliches strung together, sort of like a 1970’s “Made for TV Movie”. Barf bag required.
Terrible. A whole bunch of worn out cliches strung together, sort of like a 1970’s “Made for TV Movie”. Barf bag required.
August 16, 2021
Newest fan
Intriguing and written with the same attention to detail as Anne’s gorgeous tales. A thought provoking glimpse at a possible or even probable future.
Intriguing and written with the same attention to detail as Anne’s gorgeous tales. A thought provoking glimpse at a possible or even probable future.
December 16, 2022
Please finish the next book !
Good read. Looking forward to the next book in this story. Exploring what happens when society must face when new ideas are introduced is entertaining.
Good read. Looking forward to the next book in this story. Exploring what happens when society must face when new ideas are introduced is entertaining.
February 8, 2023
Ellay
Very good! I enjoyed getting to know Ellay.
New it would not be a happy ending!! But very sad our govt. Is like that.
Very good! I enjoyed getting to know Ellay.
New it would not be a happy ending!! But very sad our govt. Is like that.
Read
February 26, 2023Was a good book,
February 4, 2024
Terrific story. Full of twists and turns and thrilling action. Best book I’ve read in a while.
February 17, 2024
Awesome
Great read! Read all day and night. Couldn’t stop. Incredible imagination believable characters. More please!
I’m definitely a McCaffrey fan,
Great read! Read all day and night. Couldn’t stop. Incredible imagination believable characters. More please!
I’m definitely a McCaffrey fan,
April 13, 2024
I wasn’t sure at first but once I got into the story it was pretty good. Maybe more of a 3.5 than 4 stars but still pretty good.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews