Artificial Selection

De: Marianne Pickles

Narrado por: Kristin Atherton

A cozy sci-fi mystery from the WINNER of the Green Stories Prize!

What do you get if you cross a glitching AI, a streetwise investigator, and a geneticist with a secret?

It’s the year 2101, and half of England is underwater. But society is recovering from the Melt – all thanks to ArkTech, the company that saved the world.

Charlotte Vance is smart, resourceful, and devoted to her quirky corner of the ArkTech Territory. It’s the only home she’s ever known, and she’ll do anything to keep it safe.

When Ben – the company’s whimsical, pun-loving AI – asks why a geneticist is stealing pages from library books, Charlotte leaps in to help. After all, Ben isn’t just software – he’s her best friend.

What begins as a simple investigation quickly spirals into a tangle of secrets, strange characters, and hidden truths. Charlotte finds herself caught between a criminal operation she thought she’d left behind and the increasingly awkward questions about the company she’s always trusted.

An AI, a PI, and a geneticist walk into a library… but the punchline is only the beginning.

For fans of Terry Pratchett, Becky Chambers and Martha Wells, Artificial Selection is a charming sci-fi adventure, blending clever mysteries, quirky characters, and hints of tech noir intrigue to keep you guessing. Book 1 in a series of smart, cozy sci-fi mysteries for anyone curious enough to ask why.

©2024 Marianne Pickles (P)2024 Marianne Pickles

Interesting Concept

In the near future (post climate disaster), Ben, an AI that tells dad jokes, and his partner Charlotte, the head of Awkward Questions, are investigating why pages from library books are being stolen. Although often amusing and full of heart (I love a good misfit story), leaves one to ponder lots of big topics: climate change, social responsibility, morality, conformity vs breaking the rules for the benefit of society, etc. Excellent (as always) performance by Kristin Atherton. The final chapter also drives you to a free short audio prequel download from the author's website. Also enjoyable! Looking forward to the next in series.

good dystopian AI-themed story

Enjoyable story. Loved The Melt name! I think I wouldn't feel as close to the AI as the main character did! Glad to have some closure and positive vibes at the end. The end read like a Book #1 of a series?