In the future, humanity has colonized hundreds of star systems. The upstart colony Carthage has conquered most of the human-settled worlds–including Earth itself–with fleets of autonomous, AI-driven warships and armies of robotic infantry. Freedom from their empire is found only in rough outer worlds on the distant fringes of settled space.
On Galapagos, a free world, newly elected Minister-General Reginald Ellison had hoped he’d seen the end of war. He spent his youth fighting in battles across his planet’s vast oceans and small islands, and his later years working to build a coalition of peace among the world’s fragmented nations. Now the arrival of an unnerving android ambassador from the distant imperial planet of Carthage threatens his world’s hopes for a free and peaceful future.
On Earth, the machines patrol the post-apocalyptic ruins of bombed-out megacities, left over from Earth’s war with Carthage. In the fallen megalopolis of Chicago, a young scavenger makes a discovery that could empower Earthlings to finally fight back, but could also endanger everyone he loves.
On Carthage, the rulers of humanity enjoy extreme wealth and luxury, while machines carry out all forms of labor and provide for their every whim. Audrey Caracala, daughter of Carthage’s top political leader, has led a protected existence, groomed to help her family rule the known galaxy. Now her family’s enemies hunt her as she searches for her missing brother in the dangerous, unfamiliar territory of the Carthaginian underworld, where she begins to face hard truths about the machines and about her own family’s legacy.
Three people, on three very different worlds, must confront alternate faces of the ever-evolving machines, which spin their own designs beyond the vision of their human masters, forging a new kind of empire that will be ruled by no man.
This was a solid sci-fi listen with an intriguing (if not entirely new) take on AI and humanity’s growing dependence on it. The book follows three different storylines that explore what happens when society outsources almost everything, from childcare, cooking, transport, to even personal relationships, to machines. It’s cautionary in tone but still manages moments of humor and action that keep it from getting too heavy.
The audiobook narration worked well for me, especially the deep and steady voice. What I appreciated was the mix of fast-paced sequences (there’s no shortage of dramatic robot encounters) and slower moments that ask how safe we really are when everything around us is automated.
My biggest hesitation is with one character’s arc. She starts off deeply integrated into a world built on AI. Raised by a nannybot, surrounded by helpful machines, but when there’s a hack on her car, trying to kill her, she flips pretty hard toward paranoia and distrust. Her change of heart didn’t quite land for me; it felt rushed, and her reactions didn’t always match her experience, especially later in the book.
Still, it’s a thoughtful read, and fans of classic “man vs machine” stories will likely find plenty to dig into here.
A timely AI-dystopia with strong narration, bold worldbuilding, and a few sharp edges that don’t always cut cleanly, but still leave a mark.
