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Superintelligenz
Das Rennen um die Entwicklung einer superintelligenten Künstlichen Intelligenz hat begonnen. Und das Land, das gewinnt, wird den Globus beherrschen.
Als Amerikas Programm zur Erschaffung einer mächtigen KI sabotiert wird, beginnt für den US-Agenten Cameron Carr eine verzweifelte Suche nach dem Schuldigen, wobei das Schicksal der Menschheit auf dem Spiel steht. In den richtigen Händen könnte eine solche KI die Zivilisation in ungeahnte Höhen führen. Aber in den falschen Händen könnte diese Technologie die größte Bedrohung darstellen, die die Menschheit je gesehen hat …
„Superintelligenz“ ist ein wissenschaftlich akkurater Techno-Thriller und gleichzeitig eine atemberaubende Achterbahnfahrt. Der Roman beschreibt die tödlichen Gefahren und die phänomenalen Möglichkeiten, die der Menschheit bevorstehen – einschließlich ihrer Auslöschung und ihrer Unsterblichkeit.
Während unsere Handys und Computer immer intelligenter werden, wirft „Superintelligenz“ einen unverblümten Blick auf einen technologischen Wendepunkt in unserer nahen Zukunft, der tiefgreifende Auswirkungen auf den Verlauf der menschlichen Geschichte haben wird.
Als Amerikas Programm zur Erschaffung einer mächtigen KI sabotiert wird, beginnt für den US-Agenten Cameron Carr eine verzweifelte Suche nach dem Schuldigen, wobei das Schicksal der Menschheit auf dem Spiel steht. In den richtigen Händen könnte eine solche KI die Zivilisation in ungeahnte Höhen führen. Aber in den falschen Händen könnte diese Technologie die größte Bedrohung darstellen, die die Menschheit je gesehen hat …
„Superintelligenz“ ist ein wissenschaftlich akkurater Techno-Thriller und gleichzeitig eine atemberaubende Achterbahnfahrt. Der Roman beschreibt die tödlichen Gefahren und die phänomenalen Möglichkeiten, die der Menschheit bevorstehen – einschließlich ihrer Auslöschung und ihrer Unsterblichkeit.
Während unsere Handys und Computer immer intelligenter werden, wirft „Superintelligenz“ einen unverblümten Blick auf einen technologischen Wendepunkt in unserer nahen Zukunft, der tiefgreifende Auswirkungen auf den Verlauf der menschlichen Geschichte haben wird.
518 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2017
4532 people are currently reading
3482 people want to read
About the author
Douglas E. Richards
49 books1,739 followersWrite to Doug at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and visit the author's website to be notified of new releases.
Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.
Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.
Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.
A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.
Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.
SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS
SERIES
WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)
MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)
SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)
THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)
STANDALONE NOVELS
QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT
Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)
TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)
OUT OF THIS WORLD
DEVIL'S SWORD
Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.
Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.
Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.
A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.
Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.
SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS
SERIES
WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)
MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)
SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)
THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)
STANDALONE NOVELS
QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT
Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)
TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)
OUT OF THIS WORLD
DEVIL'S SWORD
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 449 reviews
May 19, 2017
Highly recommend this book.
Fascinating read, what technology can do for the human race. Just think, especially if you're seventy something like me; did you ever thought when you picked up your first book to read, one day you were going to download and read anything you want on a device like kindle?
You have to be patient, story starts eight years ago and jumps to eight years after. Keep a open mind, don't just look at it as another sci-fi story. Author did read and researched great deal, all listed at the end and take time to read them also.
Fascinating read, what technology can do for the human race. Just think, especially if you're seventy something like me; did you ever thought when you picked up your first book to read, one day you were going to download and read anything you want on a device like kindle?
You have to be patient, story starts eight years ago and jumps to eight years after. Keep a open mind, don't just look at it as another sci-fi story. Author did read and researched great deal, all listed at the end and take time to read them also.
August 11, 2017
Infinity Born (Kindle Edition) by Douglas E. Richards
Meh. Yes really. The book never really got me engaged nor suspended my disbelief. About one third of the way through, I almost quit. But I read the reviews and decided to give it another chance. Time wasted really.
There is nothing new here to see. All the characters are one dimensional and pretty much cookie cutter. the plot is driven by the characters, but there are very few surprises along the way. And yea, the ending is as lame as the rest of the book. Moving on...
Meh. Yes really. The book never really got me engaged nor suspended my disbelief. About one third of the way through, I almost quit. But I read the reviews and decided to give it another chance. Time wasted really.
There is nothing new here to see. All the characters are one dimensional and pretty much cookie cutter. the plot is driven by the characters, but there are very few surprises along the way. And yea, the ending is as lame as the rest of the book. Moving on...
November 22, 2017
1 Star. Halfway through I thought it was going to be 3 stars, since the premise was interesting enough to keep me going, but the plot just kept going downhill.
A third of the book is just one long essay speculating on the future of humanity and the morals of emerging technologies.
The rest was just a narrative that grows increasinly more boring, meaningless, and predictable the further the story gets. The characters all talk and act like highschoolers. A Russian superspy laughs and sneers like a cartoon villan, taunting the good guys at the moment of his triumph, just without the mustache twirling.
I haven’t read any other works by the author and after this one I’ll probably never read anything else again.
A third of the book is just one long essay speculating on the future of humanity and the morals of emerging technologies.
The rest was just a narrative that grows increasinly more boring, meaningless, and predictable the further the story gets. The characters all talk and act like highschoolers. A Russian superspy laughs and sneers like a cartoon villan, taunting the good guys at the moment of his triumph, just without the mustache twirling.
I haven’t read any other works by the author and after this one I’ll probably never read anything else again.
September 28, 2017
Infinity Born is a techno-thriller, speculative fiction, sci-fi thriller, near-future thriller. So many names for one of my favorite genres. I prefer to call them techno-thrillers. Technology run amock, man against machine, etc. Not only are they fast paced and fun to read, they also give me so much to think about. New ideas and speculation on where our current technology is headed. I love these!
I have to admit that my favorite part of the book is at the end when the author gives us a synopsis and guide to the research he conducted for this story. I see myself spending countless hours combing through those resources.
The story itself is good. I listened to the Audible narration which was maybe just a little monotone. My biggest hangup was the one that I always snag on when a story tackles human immortality. What about overpopulation and overcrowding on Earth? This question wasn't directly addressed and kept taking me out of the story. One other hangup I had was with "reincarnating" certain persons years after their death. It would seem extremely awkward to me and again, wasn't addressed well if at all.
Aside from that, it was good. We had a seemingly evil scientist, an over-pontificating villain and the innocents protected by a bad-ass secret agent. What's not to love? ;-)
I have to admit that my favorite part of the book is at the end when the author gives us a synopsis and guide to the research he conducted for this story. I see myself spending countless hours combing through those resources.
The story itself is good. I listened to the Audible narration which was maybe just a little monotone. My biggest hangup was the one that I always snag on when a story tackles human immortality. What about overpopulation and overcrowding on Earth? This question wasn't directly addressed and kept taking me out of the story. One other hangup I had was with "reincarnating" certain persons years after their death. It would seem extremely awkward to me and again, wasn't addressed well if at all.
Aside from that, it was good. We had a seemingly evil scientist, an over-pontificating villain and the innocents protected by a bad-ass secret agent. What's not to love? ;-)
August 2, 2018
I liked the plot. DNF.
September 15, 2021
Humanity Reinvented
First of all, my congratulations to the author, Douglas E. Richards, for writing a book that encompasses the breadth of knowledge of Quantum Physics, Artificial Intelligence and the most sophisticated Military Spyware I've ever read, in a way that a layperson can easily understand.
That being said, what a book! There is no way I could begin to recapitulate this massively twisted, technologically brilliant and mind-blowing conceptually masterful plot.
If your head doesn't hurt when you are done reading this book, you didn't understand what happened. Richard's concepts call into question everything that makes up humankind.
The simple synopsis is boy meets girl who isn't who she seems. Boy finds out who she is. After that, all bets are off. This is a long book but COMPLETELY worth every hour it takes to read. ***** Stars.
P. S. Read all of the appendix! That is a book in and of itself!
First of all, my congratulations to the author, Douglas E. Richards, for writing a book that encompasses the breadth of knowledge of Quantum Physics, Artificial Intelligence and the most sophisticated Military Spyware I've ever read, in a way that a layperson can easily understand.
That being said, what a book! There is no way I could begin to recapitulate this massively twisted, technologically brilliant and mind-blowing conceptually masterful plot.
If your head doesn't hurt when you are done reading this book, you didn't understand what happened. Richard's concepts call into question everything that makes up humankind.
The simple synopsis is boy meets girl who isn't who she seems. Boy finds out who she is. After that, all bets are off. This is a long book but COMPLETELY worth every hour it takes to read. ***** Stars.
P. S. Read all of the appendix! That is a book in and of itself!
November 10, 2020
I learned something interesting reading this book. A kind of SF becoming reality in my little personal realm. It's completely possible to find the writing average at best from the technical standpoint, and yet consider the story and final product exceptional.
Mr. Richards is the scholar and the writer, but I believe he's also gentleman enough he would agree that scholar epithet comes first in his case. There are some repetitions of phrases and colloquialisms I could have done without, or is it just that the editor had bad hair day or considered it necessary part of writer's personality and style.
However, when I wonder first three hours into the book whether or not I'm reading the yearly SF almanac with a collection of unrelated SF stories or one wholesome book, to the extent I have to recheck the reviews, then I know something's wrong with the structure too.
These meandering lines of plot all come to the same square several hundred miles down the road, but I could have used more hints of their interconnection. However, the story is so completely mind blowing and reassuringly grounded in factualities of current state of science that all the technicalities are forgiven.
I'm not new to the whole transhumanist idea (some would say, even agenda) myself, to put it mildly. Still, this book manages to come out fresh, milking the same basic concepts some other authors played with, or better said, compiling them all into the same place in a manner that's extremely fun and pleasurable to read.
In short, the book is so good I'll be reading all the other works of this author for sure.
Mr. Richards is the scholar and the writer, but I believe he's also gentleman enough he would agree that scholar epithet comes first in his case. There are some repetitions of phrases and colloquialisms I could have done without, or is it just that the editor had bad hair day or considered it necessary part of writer's personality and style.
However, when I wonder first three hours into the book whether or not I'm reading the yearly SF almanac with a collection of unrelated SF stories or one wholesome book, to the extent I have to recheck the reviews, then I know something's wrong with the structure too.
These meandering lines of plot all come to the same square several hundred miles down the road, but I could have used more hints of their interconnection. However, the story is so completely mind blowing and reassuringly grounded in factualities of current state of science that all the technicalities are forgiven.
I'm not new to the whole transhumanist idea (some would say, even agenda) myself, to put it mildly. Still, this book manages to come out fresh, milking the same basic concepts some other authors played with, or better said, compiling them all into the same place in a manner that's extremely fun and pleasurable to read.
In short, the book is so good I'll be reading all the other works of this author for sure.
December 14, 2017
Author Douglas Richards clearly likes to read scientific articles, extrapolate futuristic ideas from those articles and then write stories that combine those ideas with “thriller” aspects. But I guess that’s the very definition of a “techno-thriller”.
For the “techno” portion of the story, the book description leads you to believe AI is the major technical thrust of the plot. AI is certainly a major plot point, but there are a number of other expansive future-tech ideas that are major components of the plot as well. Indeed, it felt like too many “big” ideas were stuffed into the story – causing the action to be paused while all these different ideas were explained to the reader.
I found the “thriller” portion of the story to be disappointing. In basic terms, it’s the reclusive genius (and his companions) vs the evil bounty hunter (and his companions). Yes, this portion of the story is better and more nuanced than I just described. The problem, as I saw it, was that the “techno” ideas were so expansive and grandiose that the “thriller” aspects seemed small and wanting in comparison.
Bottom line: A decent enough read, but the many big future-tech ideas made the whole story feel too far-fetched (while the thriller aspects seemed like they were incorporated mostly so the book could be called a “techno-thriller”).
For the “techno” portion of the story, the book description leads you to believe AI is the major technical thrust of the plot. AI is certainly a major plot point, but there are a number of other expansive future-tech ideas that are major components of the plot as well. Indeed, it felt like too many “big” ideas were stuffed into the story – causing the action to be paused while all these different ideas were explained to the reader.
I found the “thriller” portion of the story to be disappointing. In basic terms, it’s the reclusive genius (and his companions) vs the evil bounty hunter (and his companions). Yes, this portion of the story is better and more nuanced than I just described. The problem, as I saw it, was that the “techno” ideas were so expansive and grandiose that the “thriller” aspects seemed small and wanting in comparison.
Bottom line: A decent enough read, but the many big future-tech ideas made the whole story feel too far-fetched (while the thriller aspects seemed like they were incorporated mostly so the book could be called a “techno-thriller”).
September 4, 2017
I liked it. It's in The Sweet Spot of my genre. But there was something methodical about it. I've read a lot of books by this author. And they all seem so similar. The plot was great. The characters were well-developed. the world was built wonderfully. So what was wrong? I don't know. There was just something missing. A spark. I've read worse, and I read better. And I'm still on the fence about how I feel about it. I have the audio version and I may listen to it and that may give me new prospective. If so, I will update. But for the time being I would much recommend Michael Grumley' "leap" series ( it's in my favorite shelves) hands down over this. It deals with some of the same subject matter although a bit different. And I can't recommend that book enough.
February 7, 2018
Should have been better
More an action story with a good deal of chat. There is a serious disconnect apropos ethics. Deeds are explained away with very little argument and a lot of agreement.
It would have been a much better novel if ASI(Artificial super intelligence) would have won the day early on in book.
More an action story with a good deal of chat. There is a serious disconnect apropos ethics. Deeds are explained away with very little argument and a lot of agreement.
It would have been a much better novel if ASI(Artificial super intelligence) would have won the day early on in book.
August 11, 2017
Aaaarggghhh. The author has no spark of imagination whatsoever. How can he be claiming to write science fiction. He can't even write a good thriller. Everything is too stereotypical and cliched.
Even teenage geek fanboys will tire of this after a while, but his fans seem to be at a much lower stage of evolution.
Even teenage geek fanboys will tire of this after a while, but his fans seem to be at a much lower stage of evolution.
September 5, 2017
One of my favorite books that I've read this year. Fast paced thriller that takes a look at where research in Artificial Intelligence could lead us. Once we've determined that something CAN be done, the moral question of whether we SHOULD do it must be answered. These questions are covered from multiple perspectives.
September 10, 2017
Really quite poor treatise on the populist memes of current research into AI, packaged as a 'thriller' that didn't thrill me in the slightest.
Poor characterization, windy and unrealistic exposition uttered by bland, uninteresting people & badly described 'action' sequences - doesn't really pass muster as a competent near-future exploration IMHO.
Worth it for the 99p I paid though.
Poor characterization, windy and unrealistic exposition uttered by bland, uninteresting people & badly described 'action' sequences - doesn't really pass muster as a competent near-future exploration IMHO.
Worth it for the 99p I paid though.
September 28, 2017
A very provocative and fast paced story. What intrigued and captured my interest in particular was the discussion of sentient artificial (inappropriate word) intelligence. The author, Doug Richards, provides a thorough and convincing summary of the field and the various scenarios that might arise should this field be allowed to run its course.
The novel is the delivery system, so to speak. But the larger purpose is to inform, instruct and provoke readers to think about the larger issues. Though the field of AI has proceeded in fits and starts there seems little doubt that eventually all the hypotheticals could very well become realities. The question posed by the novel is whether we, as individual, or collectively, as a civilization want to allow the possible futures to become eventual realities.
The novel is the delivery system, so to speak. But the larger purpose is to inform, instruct and provoke readers to think about the larger issues. Though the field of AI has proceeded in fits and starts there seems little doubt that eventually all the hypotheticals could very well become realities. The question posed by the novel is whether we, as individual, or collectively, as a civilization want to allow the possible futures to become eventual realities.
November 26, 2021
Richards does it again
Another thrill ride.. This time we go from a devastating act of terror by a mad scientist to something much different. A scientist has been hiding for 8 years and his daughter has been in hiding also. They haven't spoken in 8 years. The Russians know who she is and try to kidnap her. All that and more on this rollercoaster ride.
Another thrill ride.. This time we go from a devastating act of terror by a mad scientist to something much different. A scientist has been hiding for 8 years and his daughter has been in hiding also. They haven't spoken in 8 years. The Russians know who she is and try to kidnap her. All that and more on this rollercoaster ride.
August 1, 2022
This was an interesting book from the perspective of what might a computer be like if it attained sentience. It is unlikely that one will anytime soon. But if it does, will it be friendly to us or not. What kind of failsafe would we have to have in place in case it was not. This is just one of the many topics this book explores on the way to being an action filled thriller.
September 17, 2017
I enjoyed this book. The characters were one-dimensional in my opinion, but the story gave you a lot to think about.
December 16, 2023
Wow...just wow. I could not put this story down. This is not my typical genre but it was riveting and has so many dark hallways and surprises to discover it was hard to put down. This may be the best story I've read all year and there has been tough competition. 5 stars!
December 14, 2024
This was a good plot in theory, but it became pretty cliched and the pieces fit too perfectly. As I was reading, I kept wanting the book to just end. Some parts of it felt ridiculous.
Read
January 10, 2025DNF @ 38
May 27, 2017
Read this book!
This may be our future. As a novel, it has everything you need to enjoy it. But more then that, if you want a glimpse of our future, read on. The references at the end of the novel, will keep you busy in researching the concepts presented and it allowed me to realise, how close we are to some the concepts being reality.
This may be our future. As a novel, it has everything you need to enjoy it. But more then that, if you want a glimpse of our future, read on. The references at the end of the novel, will keep you busy in researching the concepts presented and it allowed me to realise, how close we are to some the concepts being reality.
January 2, 2018
This is a really fascinating story that grabs you. We start off with Issac Jacobs, a genius with no formal education who discovers a means of fuel less space travel. Instead of 'gifting' this discovery to mankind, he patents it and uses it to colonize the moon and mars while also mining the asteroid belt. He becomes a trillionaire and the hero of the world.
Many tech companies have moved away from Silicon Valley to Turloc due to the expense and Issac Jacobs is one of them. Then on day part of the city is leveled with a kinetic weapon dropped from space. All of the evidence points to Jacobs and his home security system records him killing his wife and two sons before removing their heads with an ax. His only daughter who was staying with a friend is whisked away by federal authorities and placed in protective custody. She later goes missing and is finally declared dead, presumed killed by her father who is later declared dead from a car accident.
Next we meet Trish. Trish is part of an intense experiment that will last for a year during which she will undergo all manner of tests under a perfect virtual reality for a payment of two million dollars paid out over the course of many years. The tests are designed to work through every facet of human psychology and how we react in any situation imaginable. Each time they go through, their short-term memory is wiped and they are subjected to the mental torture of a different test.
The story then switches gear to the President of the US attending a top-secret test of a new ASI, Advanced Super Intelligence. The top-secret test is destroyed before it can start and Navy Lt. Cameron Carr is brought in. As America's top super spy the Secretary of Defense gives him unlimited authority to find out who did it.
This takes us on a roller coaster ride involving the devious Russians (naturally), all manner of spy equipment and some fascinating technology.
I'll stop here because any more would be a spoiler and I don't want to do that. Needless to say this book isn't perfect. I'll start with my biggest pet peeves. As best as I can fix, the story takes place about the year 2040 and we're still using cellular phones. In the year 2040? I mean they do have holographic projection, but cellular? The author also talks about big tech companies, but only brings up companies from present day. Why not invent a company just to mix it up? There are plenty of startup's to choose from.
I'm going to vent a little here so take it or leave it.
At the end of the book the author talks about the science and about speculation. Let's drive down the alley of speculation. The author is clearly a fan of Elon Musk and mentions him quite a bit. Clearly the author is speculating a great deal about Mr. Musk. Musk is a carnival barker and a rent-seeker. If not for the government subsidies (stealing from taxpayers and competitors to prop up his failing businesses) Musk would be bankrupt. At the rate Tesla hemorrhages cash, I can't envision him leading the company past 2018.
(Apologies for the rant, but with all that's wrong in the US that needs fixing, I don't like my tax dollars going to prop up a company who builds toys for rich people, and I drive a car in the same price range as a Model S) .
Many tech companies have moved away from Silicon Valley to Turloc due to the expense and Issac Jacobs is one of them. Then on day part of the city is leveled with a kinetic weapon dropped from space. All of the evidence points to Jacobs and his home security system records him killing his wife and two sons before removing their heads with an ax. His only daughter who was staying with a friend is whisked away by federal authorities and placed in protective custody. She later goes missing and is finally declared dead, presumed killed by her father who is later declared dead from a car accident.
Next we meet Trish. Trish is part of an intense experiment that will last for a year during which she will undergo all manner of tests under a perfect virtual reality for a payment of two million dollars paid out over the course of many years. The tests are designed to work through every facet of human psychology and how we react in any situation imaginable. Each time they go through, their short-term memory is wiped and they are subjected to the mental torture of a different test.
The story then switches gear to the President of the US attending a top-secret test of a new ASI, Advanced Super Intelligence. The top-secret test is destroyed before it can start and Navy Lt. Cameron Carr is brought in. As America's top super spy the Secretary of Defense gives him unlimited authority to find out who did it.
This takes us on a roller coaster ride involving the devious Russians (naturally), all manner of spy equipment and some fascinating technology.
I'll stop here because any more would be a spoiler and I don't want to do that. Needless to say this book isn't perfect. I'll start with my biggest pet peeves. As best as I can fix, the story takes place about the year 2040 and we're still using cellular phones. In the year 2040? I mean they do have holographic projection, but cellular? The author also talks about big tech companies, but only brings up companies from present day. Why not invent a company just to mix it up? There are plenty of startup's to choose from.
I'm going to vent a little here so take it or leave it.
At the end of the book the author talks about the science and about speculation. Let's drive down the alley of speculation. The author is clearly a fan of Elon Musk and mentions him quite a bit. Clearly the author is speculating a great deal about Mr. Musk. Musk is a carnival barker and a rent-seeker. If not for the government subsidies (stealing from taxpayers and competitors to prop up his failing businesses) Musk would be bankrupt. At the rate Tesla hemorrhages cash, I can't envision him leading the company past 2018.
(Apologies for the rant, but with all that's wrong in the US that needs fixing, I don't like my tax dollars going to prop up a company who builds toys for rich people, and I drive a car in the same price range as a Model S) .
January 19, 2018
I'm generally a big fan of Mr. Richards' work, but this one kind of fell flat for me. It presented some very interesting ideas (like Artificial Super Intelligence, kinetic weapons, and bio-printing), but the characters were pretty bland. There was only one character that was a bit layered, but soooo smart that it bordered on omnicience. I never really felt like any of the good guys were in danger because there was always a hidden plan.
I could almost recommend reading Part 1, for the short stories that introduce the ideas. Then, reading Part 5 for the reveal on how they are all tied together. The rest is not all that compelling.
I could almost recommend reading Part 1, for the short stories that introduce the ideas. Then, reading Part 5 for the reveal on how they are all tied together. The rest is not all that compelling.
December 18, 2017
Fascinating premise. Richards gets the tech right, and does a terrific job using it to explore some huge, fundamental questions.
I just wish the writing and the story he wraps around the concept were as good. Without ruining any surprises, the main characters never really felt in jeopardy -- and too often the action played out as a series of conversations between characters.
I don't like being told how to interpret what I'm reading any more than I like having characters spell out in detail why they're doing what they're doing. Throughout the story, I felt like the author was worried I wouldn't know why a character was acting a certain way -- wish he could've trusted us more.
I just wish the writing and the story he wraps around the concept were as good. Without ruining any surprises, the main characters never really felt in jeopardy -- and too often the action played out as a series of conversations between characters.
I don't like being told how to interpret what I'm reading any more than I like having characters spell out in detail why they're doing what they're doing. Throughout the story, I felt like the author was worried I wouldn't know why a character was acting a certain way -- wish he could've trusted us more.
May 2, 2020
Too many info dumps for my taste. The first third was intriguing, but then turned in to a giant explainathon, iterating and reiterating over what had just happened and what everyone was thinking. The action was entertaining enough, but the book would have been better served as an essay speculating on future tech possibilities.
December 25, 2021
Nach einem guten Start, der zunächst einige offene Handlungsstränge anlegt, erliegt der Autor der Versuchung eines überkonstruierten Plots. Das Grundthema KI ist dabei einigermaßen originell und die Hintergründe gut recherchiert.
Die Übersetzung ins Deutsche ist leider mit Fehlern gespickt.
Die Übersetzung ins Deutsche ist leider mit Fehlern gespickt.
December 28, 2020
Read on Aug 18, 21, 22, 23. 4.17/5 stars. Why so exact? The average of 5K ratings can't be wrong?
Strongly recommended for any reader. If science interests you at all, that's a bonus. While science is integral in most Douglas E. Richards novels, they are all largely character driven so should as easily appeal to Jane Austen or Charles Dickens fans as Frederik Pohl fans.
Amazon says I've bought 11 Douglas E. Richards ebooks AND 11 matching audiobooks. They will only show me 8 of them. That's weird. The kind of weird that annoys me. That aside, I read one of his books as a fluke no more significant than deciding to read the random book auto selected out of 15,000 books. Now, I recommend you go buy all his books. I have a few I have not read, but that will be remedied soon. He reminds me a lot of Asimov, Heinlein and even Dean Koontz. Mentioning him among those ought to alert you that I'm not likely going to miss any fiction he writes going forward.
Isaac Jordan was a legend. He was Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk combined then squared... on speed and steroids. Good start, no?
Let's back up and jump ahead at the same time. This is a story of an artificial general/super intelligence becoming sentient. "The Singularity" or super & autonomous (uncontrollable) artificial intelligence. Essentially Pre-Terminator alien intelligence that has escaped it's inescapable, isolated, disconnected, Faraday cage playpen. Ooops.
You want to know what Dark Energy is? Why would a mindless meat puppet primate mammal want to know that? Humans! Cat pets who play with changing matter to energy in order to destroy cities. Glad you don't understand gravity enough to tinker with it.
Sorry, just mimicking my idea of an ASI thinking about humans.
Douglas E. Richards is one of the near future science fiction writers who is an actual renowned scientist and who takes the time to study the literature on the topics he explores in his novels. Well, better that most. If I ever take up writing again, I'll be sticking to fantasy. Science is progressing so fast by the time you publish it isn't fiction anymore.
The prognostication in this case... "Infinity Born" Read the book?
When it happens. It will happen. The question is, will it suck and we all die, or will things get better, or will things go normal, SNAFU.
This novel examines these ideas in a thriller story. I'm a bit saddened that I've forgotten so many details in this novel but that just means I'll get to enjoy re-reading it since I can't remember how it ends.
Thanks to Cory Gagne for the wonderful audiobook performance and again to our author Douglas E. Richards
More about me here.
View all my Goodreads reviews
Strongly recommended for any reader. If science interests you at all, that's a bonus. While science is integral in most Douglas E. Richards novels, they are all largely character driven so should as easily appeal to Jane Austen or Charles Dickens fans as Frederik Pohl fans.
Amazon says I've bought 11 Douglas E. Richards ebooks AND 11 matching audiobooks. They will only show me 8 of them. That's weird. The kind of weird that annoys me. That aside, I read one of his books as a fluke no more significant than deciding to read the random book auto selected out of 15,000 books. Now, I recommend you go buy all his books. I have a few I have not read, but that will be remedied soon. He reminds me a lot of Asimov, Heinlein and even Dean Koontz. Mentioning him among those ought to alert you that I'm not likely going to miss any fiction he writes going forward.
Isaac Jordan was a legend. He was Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk combined then squared... on speed and steroids. Good start, no?
Let's back up and jump ahead at the same time. This is a story of an artificial general/super intelligence becoming sentient. "The Singularity" or super & autonomous (uncontrollable) artificial intelligence. Essentially Pre-Terminator alien intelligence that has escaped it's inescapable, isolated, disconnected, Faraday cage playpen. Ooops.
You want to know what Dark Energy is? Why would a mindless meat puppet primate mammal want to know that? Humans! Cat pets who play with changing matter to energy in order to destroy cities. Glad you don't understand gravity enough to tinker with it.
Sorry, just mimicking my idea of an ASI thinking about humans.
Douglas E. Richards is one of the near future science fiction writers who is an actual renowned scientist and who takes the time to study the literature on the topics he explores in his novels. Well, better that most. If I ever take up writing again, I'll be sticking to fantasy. Science is progressing so fast by the time you publish it isn't fiction anymore.
The prognostication in this case... "Infinity Born" Read the book?
When it happens. It will happen. The question is, will it suck and we all die, or will things get better, or will things go normal, SNAFU.
This novel examines these ideas in a thriller story. I'm a bit saddened that I've forgotten so many details in this novel but that just means I'll get to enjoy re-reading it since I can't remember how it ends.
Thanks to Cory Gagne for the wonderful audiobook performance and again to our author Douglas E. Richards
More about me here.
View all my Goodreads reviews
June 4, 2017
Richards AGAIN hits one outta the park!
Simply put: I'm jealous. Envious? Both! This man has written books I've only been able to write in my mind, like short stories, every time I read of yet another technological innovation. Exponential growth in ... every ... human effort hasn't been unnoticed by this gal because of a steady diet of sci-fi since I was 13 years old. Always a dreamer, the "what if's" that followed closing one book after another have made me almost unsurprised when fiction became fact. Now, at age 60, I can only marvel at the minds that have done the so-called impossible. And can completely immerse myself in the near-future sci-fi tales like Douglas Richards creates. I've witnessed too much not to know how close his words are to being nonfiction.!
The story was believable, fast-paced and enjoyable just as a thriller. For me, the appendix was as good as the story. I love it when a writer reveals his sources! Especially when they are all true. It's why I love all his books!
Before my grandmother passed away she told me she felt very fortunate to have lived in the 20th century. She said experienced an amazing life: from being a child in the days before electricity had reached rural central Texas, when she'd made the family soap, rode in buckboard wagons drawn by horses to a young woman driving cars on paved roads, using machines to wash and dry clothes, and in middle age, to see men walk on the moon. Nane died of Alzheimer's. Her gifts to me were a love of reading, appreciation of the wonders of science and an awareness of how quickly the human condition can change. If eternity is a mere blink of God's eye, what would his laugh be?
I believe we are finding out as we write, read and think!
Thanks, Douglas E. Richards! It no longer amazes me too much that you, too, have heard the inhale of breath that precedes merriment and know the exhale will be a gasping, doubled over roar of a belly laugh!
If we don't self-destruct first.
TEN STARS! Well done, kudos!
Simply put: I'm jealous. Envious? Both! This man has written books I've only been able to write in my mind, like short stories, every time I read of yet another technological innovation. Exponential growth in ... every ... human effort hasn't been unnoticed by this gal because of a steady diet of sci-fi since I was 13 years old. Always a dreamer, the "what if's" that followed closing one book after another have made me almost unsurprised when fiction became fact. Now, at age 60, I can only marvel at the minds that have done the so-called impossible. And can completely immerse myself in the near-future sci-fi tales like Douglas Richards creates. I've witnessed too much not to know how close his words are to being nonfiction.!
The story was believable, fast-paced and enjoyable just as a thriller. For me, the appendix was as good as the story. I love it when a writer reveals his sources! Especially when they are all true. It's why I love all his books!
Before my grandmother passed away she told me she felt very fortunate to have lived in the 20th century. She said experienced an amazing life: from being a child in the days before electricity had reached rural central Texas, when she'd made the family soap, rode in buckboard wagons drawn by horses to a young woman driving cars on paved roads, using machines to wash and dry clothes, and in middle age, to see men walk on the moon. Nane died of Alzheimer's. Her gifts to me were a love of reading, appreciation of the wonders of science and an awareness of how quickly the human condition can change. If eternity is a mere blink of God's eye, what would his laugh be?
I believe we are finding out as we write, read and think!
Thanks, Douglas E. Richards! It no longer amazes me too much that you, too, have heard the inhale of breath that precedes merriment and know the exhale will be a gasping, doubled over roar of a belly laugh!
If we don't self-destruct first.
TEN STARS! Well done, kudos!
May 15, 2017
I just finished 'Infinity Born', which is probably the most thought provoking thing I have read in a long time. If your not familiar with Richard's writing this is an excellent place to start. He has taken our world and mixed a very small amount of 'What If' in the current and ongoing quest for advanced Artificial Intelligence - A.I. is already here and in common use. SIRI, Google, Echo, and many others are forms of A.I., which while obvious when pointed out was not something I had actually realized. The changes (Or maybe a better term would be additions) that he introduces make for a fascinating look at our world - sometimes a disturbing one. Whatever you would like to call them, he makes you think - these are not reams of mindless fiction, but ones which make you examine what is going on and consider what You would do. The character development is excellent (No surprise there as this is true in all of his writing) and the technical aspects are as well.
Its obvious that Richard's spends a lot of effort in learning about what he writes, so much so that after reading his books I come away feeling I have more knowledge than I started with - and often find myself doing research on my own about what he wrote about. (I admit I became more interested in science when I was young through references in science fiction, so that is really nothing new, except for the fact that most of the other 'contemporary' fiction does not make me do that). Richard's writing has that same affect as my early exposure to Science Fiction - something I had not realized I missed until now.
If your looking for a an engrossing and highly enjoyable book, look no further. This is the first in what I hope to see is a series (Yes, its that good).
Its obvious that Richard's spends a lot of effort in learning about what he writes, so much so that after reading his books I come away feeling I have more knowledge than I started with - and often find myself doing research on my own about what he wrote about. (I admit I became more interested in science when I was young through references in science fiction, so that is really nothing new, except for the fact that most of the other 'contemporary' fiction does not make me do that). Richard's writing has that same affect as my early exposure to Science Fiction - something I had not realized I missed until now.
If your looking for a an engrossing and highly enjoyable book, look no further. This is the first in what I hope to see is a series (Yes, its that good).
May 10, 2017
At last, I really love the cover and tittle. Very science fiction. It really shows what the story is all about.
I respect Mr. Richards for being able to make great story. I have no doubt about all his science fiction story. It is a must read for me. This is stand alone story. Not continuation from his Nick Hall series. The main character is Cameron Carr, Naval lieutenant and special ops, in USA. He was tasked with the job to solve who sabotaged US efforts to develop AGI program. The other characters are couple David Bram and Riley Ridgeway, Isaac Jordan, etc. To be honest I think all of them are interesting characters if not a little bit bland. I don't mean it's not interesting. It just your typical hero and genius characters. And I like the bad guys. I mean it was quite rare to have smart bad guys.
The story is very interesting. It was about AI. I won't tell you the detail because the science was a little bit too heavy for me. Mr Richards craft the story expertly. Unfortunately I don't quite like the opening. Not bad but a little too hasty for my liking. And the ending doesn't help either. Unlike his previous science fiction stories, this one is quite straightforward and predictable. After you read certain part, you kind of know how it will end. All in all, it was a little too long for its own good. I don't know why but the narrative and several change point of view is quite not smooth. It is jumping but it was all explained at the end.
Anyway, the themed was quite similar with Split Second. But I prefer Split Second much more than this one. It just that Mr Richard should tone his science a little bit and make the story unpredictable. Still it is great story and make you wanting for more. I really recommend this story for science fiction lovers.
Rating : 4.5 of 5 stars
www.sharing55tories.blogspot.com
I respect Mr. Richards for being able to make great story. I have no doubt about all his science fiction story. It is a must read for me. This is stand alone story. Not continuation from his Nick Hall series. The main character is Cameron Carr, Naval lieutenant and special ops, in USA. He was tasked with the job to solve who sabotaged US efforts to develop AGI program. The other characters are couple David Bram and Riley Ridgeway, Isaac Jordan, etc. To be honest I think all of them are interesting characters if not a little bit bland. I don't mean it's not interesting. It just your typical hero and genius characters. And I like the bad guys. I mean it was quite rare to have smart bad guys.
The story is very interesting. It was about AI. I won't tell you the detail because the science was a little bit too heavy for me. Mr Richards craft the story expertly. Unfortunately I don't quite like the opening. Not bad but a little too hasty for my liking. And the ending doesn't help either. Unlike his previous science fiction stories, this one is quite straightforward and predictable. After you read certain part, you kind of know how it will end. All in all, it was a little too long for its own good. I don't know why but the narrative and several change point of view is quite not smooth. It is jumping but it was all explained at the end.
Anyway, the themed was quite similar with Split Second. But I prefer Split Second much more than this one. It just that Mr Richard should tone his science a little bit and make the story unpredictable. Still it is great story and make you wanting for more. I really recommend this story for science fiction lovers.
Rating : 4.5 of 5 stars
www.sharing55tories.blogspot.com
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