Conscious

by Vic Grout

The intensely thought-provoking science fiction novel, Conscious, is set a year or three into the future. The ‘Internet of Everything’ is making the world a more connected place than ever before. Work, play, and everything else besides, are becoming increasingly automated … and that’s where the problem starts! Because something odd is happening: ‘things’ are beginning to misbehave and no-one can work out why. What starts as an amusing mystery quickly becomes very dangerous indeed. A ragged bunch of academics, scientists and philosophers are on the case – and may know the answer. But now they have to convince people that their crazy explanation is true. And that’s only the start. Against a backdrop of a world suddenly beginning to fall apart, they’re in a race against time to get someone to do anything about it. And not everyone is on their side! Vic Grout is Professor of Computing Futures at Wrexham Glyndŵr University in Wales. He is a professional ‘futurist’ with a particular interest in the social, political, ethical and moral dimensions of technological evolution. Having held senior positions in academia and industry for nearly 30 years, and published over 400 research papers and books on the Internet, Conscious is his first fictional novel.

Genres: Science Fiction

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2019

About the author

Vic Grout is Professor of Computing Futures at Wrexham Glyndŵr University; previously Professor of Network Algorithms, Head of Computing, Associate Dean & Director of the Centre for Applied Internet Research. He serves on the National Committee of the Council of Professors & Heads of Computing, as Chair of CPHC Wales, & the British Computer Society Information Privacy Expert Panel & Information Security Specialist Group Committee. He is a European Commission Horizon 2020 Expert & Ethics consultant.

Vic has worked in senior positions in academia & industry for nearly 30 years and published over 300 research papers, patents & books. His research covers several areas of computational mathematics & artificial intelligence, including large-scale problems in Internet design, modelling, simulation, management & control. He is an experienced futurologist, with a particular focus on the ethical & moral dimensions of technological evolution: big data, big connectivity & Internet of Things.

Reviews

[Dawn Obrien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. I really enjoyed the writers style. I won this book on Goodreads Giveaway! A story that people who are set on predicting the future or believe highly in conspiracy theories would love this book.

[Aneta · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a background novel for my critical reaserch module. It's more of an experimental novel type, which aims to teach more than to be perfect. The author is not a novelist and it's visible in writing. Sometimes it has too many dialogs and unnecessary technical details, too complex to follow. Overall the plot was interesting, I enjoyed the ending a lot - how it unraveled issues with capitalism. It was like some "villain talks", but I just absolutely loved it.

[Luis Soares · Rating 3 out of 5]

The underlying story is consistent. That's all. I found it tiring to read due to the tedious and lengthy dialogues as if the author was trying to turn small talk into a dissertation with a superhero-like plot. The whole book could have been easily written into half its length.

[Cyrus Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elegantly composed. Alarming and more exact than you might suspect.

[Elsa Popov · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of a computer science course. I enjoyed the book and found the reality a bit frightening. Could it really happen :)

[Malin ♡]

💌 I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Michelle Olms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book