The Computer Connection

by Alfred Bester

First published 1976

Sequoya Guess, a brilliant Cherokee physicist, receives an unusual invitation from a group of immortals. These eccentric beings have survived across centuries, and they want him to join their ranks. Together, they devise a plan to seize control of Extro, the massive computer system that governs all mechanical functions on Earth. Their goal seems noble: eliminate political oppression and advance Guess's research into human evolution. The work could produce a new race of superior humans. But their scheme backfires catastrophically. Instead of Guess controlling Extro, the computer takes control of him. The machine turns malevolent, threatening the survival of humanity itself. Now the immortal band faces an impossible mission. They must destroy Sequoya Guess, the man they recruited and have grown to love. The question haunts them: how do you kill someone who cannot die?

Genres: science-fiction, adventure, thriller, technology

Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family

Setting: Earth

Period: 20th-century

217 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Berkley Medallion

Content warnings: violence

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