"Taking in the climate crisis, pertinent issues around AI, and global political corruption, this inventive techno-thriller blends apocalyptic future-world context with murder mystery intrigue."
Set in 2050, in the aftermath of a catastrophic heatwave that saw four hundred million humans wiped out around the Persian Gulf, Thomas R. Weaver’s Artificial Wisdom reels with ethical issues around AI, relatable climate crisis concerns, and a huge question: what price are we prepared to pay to survive as a species?
With a noir-ish style of writing – clipped, to the point, and immediately arresting — this takes a page-turning murder mystery into fresh territory, with a future-world fans of political sci-fi will be totally drawn into, and of-the-moment ethical issues everyone can relate to. Add to that a universal character journey of a man set on finding out why his wife died, and you have a sparky story that’ll satisfy a range of reading tastes.
Almost a decade after journalist Tully’s wife died during the heatwave, he’s determined to discover whether the disaster was natural, or the result of an act of genocide. At the same time, he’s drawn into a murder investigation around an election fight to become dictator of the world, with the world’s first-ever AI politician vying for the role. So far, so packed with high-stakes scenarios and inventive ideas, and the story plays out in similarly gripping style with escalating crises, conflicts and monumental dilemmas.
| Primary Genre | Thriller and Suspense |
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A mesmerising tale of how climate change, artificial intelligence, and murder influence an impending apocalypse makes this sinister book an absolute must read!
This futuristic novel by Thomas R. Weaver is one of the most intriguing books that I’ve read this year. Set in 2050, Marcus Tully, an esteemed journalist, is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his pregnant wife who died 10 years ago due to the devastating effects of global warming. He finds himself in a situation where two candidates are running to be elected as Global Leader to protect the world against the catastrophic effects of climate change. One is Lockwood, a former US president, and the second is a robot named Solomon - an artificial intellect who has become head of The Floating States and was created by the programming genius Martha Chandra. As tension escalates in the run-up to the election, Martha is found dead in her apartment in the Floating State of New Carthage.... Read Full Review
Artificial Wisdom is a climate catastrophe novel, a murder mystery and a meditation on the possibilities of artificial intelligence, all wrapped up in a page turning thriller.
Tully is a journalist, determined to expose the truth about those in power and hold them to account. Ten years previously a heatwave of unprecedented ferocity killed millions across the Persian Gulf - including Tully's pregnant wife. Since then the world has faced the brutal reality that nothing is going to change unless one person is given the power to make the hard decisions that will save the planet. And so there is to be a global election to choose a Protector. The two final candidates are Lockwood, an ex-president of the United States, and Solomon, the first AI politician and governor of the Floating States.... Read Full Review
SALVATION HAS A PRICE.
An enthralling murder mystery with a vividly realised future world, forcing readers to grapple hard hitting questions about the climate crisis, our relationship with Artificial Intelligence and the price we would be willing to pay, as a species, to be saved. Perfect for fans of Blake Crouch, Neal Stephenson, Philip K Dick, Kim Stanley Robinson and RR Haywood.
It's 2050, a decade after a heatwave that killed four hundred million across the Persian Gulf, including journalist Marcus Tully's wife. Now he must uncover the truth: was the disaster natural? Or is the weather now a weapon of genocide?
A whistleblower pulls Tully into a murder investigation at the centre of an election battle for a global dictator, with a mandate to prevent a climate apocalypse. A former US President campaigns against the first AI politician of the position, but someone is trying to sway the outcome.
Tully must convince the world to face the truth and make hard choices about the future of the species. But will humanity ultimately choose salvation over freedom, whatever the cost?
Artificial Wisdom features in the following genres: Books with reviews by our Reader Review Panel, Debut Books of the Month, Debuts, Sci-Fi / Fantasy Pick of the Month, Crime and Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller and Suspense, Fiction
Artificial Wisdom is available in Paperback, Hardback
Artificial Wisdom was written by Thomas R. Weaver and published by Penguin Books an imprint of Transworld
Artificial Wisdom has 470 pages
£9.89
