First published 2019
In a war-ravaged Kurdistan, a group of children who have lost everything receive an unexpected gift. These traumatized orphans find themselves at the center of an artificial intelligence breakthrough that promises to reshape human existence. The technology they encounter represents more than just advanced computing. It offers the possibility of healing, connection, and transformation on a scale never before imagined. Meanwhile, across the ocean in Washington DC, an elderly woman submits to experimental medical treatments that will alter her reality in ways she cannot anticipate. As AI capabilities expand rapidly around the globe, both the children and the woman discover that the line between human and machine intelligence grows thinner each day. Their separate journeys converge around a single question that will determine the future of civilization. The orphans must decide whether to embrace this powerful gift or reject it, knowing that their choice will ripple outward to touch every life on Earth. Hope and uncertainty intertwine as humanity stands at a crossroads between its past limitations and its digital future.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, thriller, artificial-intelligence
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, technological-advancement
Setting: Kurdistan, Washington DC
Period: 21st-century
41 pages · Kindle Edition · Tor Books
Content warnings: violence, war