Infinity Born

By: Douglas E. Richards

Narrated by: Corey Gagne

Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

A breathtaking near-future thriller. From the New York Times best-selling author whose books have been downloaded over a million times.

When DARPA's billion-dollar program to create artificial superintelligence is sabotaged, US operative Cameron Carr is tasked with finding the culprit. He's been on high-stakes missions before, but this time the stakes are nothing less than the future of humanity. Because the race to evolve a superintelligent computer is on, and power players around the world will stop at nothing to get there first.

In the right hands, artificial superintelligence could lift humanity to towering heights. But in the wrong hands, this technology could represent the greatest threat humanity has ever seen....

Ripped from tomorrow's headlines, Infinity Born is a roller-coaster ride of a thriller that explores the deadly perils and mind-blowing possibilities that await the human race - including both extinction and immortality.

As our phones and computers become ever smarter, Infinity Born takes an unblinking look at a technological tipping point that is just around the corner. One that will have a profound impact on the future course of human history.

©2017 Douglas E. Richards (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Excellent ScoFi Mystery Thriller...

What other book might you compare Infinity Born to and why?

The other books I would compare this to would be other books by this same author or possibly the Abraham Falls/David Archer book I AM SAL with some story differences but similar sci-fi concept.

Any additional comments?

This book is very fast paced and a great way to pick up some knowledge about artificial intelligence and super computers capable of learning. Since this is a subject I am not well versed in I won't pretend that I am. Because the author gives quite a long commentary at the end of the book and tells the reader what is real and not, it is very informative to those of us who are not as aware of what kind of technological advances have been made or are in the works.

If you've never heard anything else by this author I would suggest reading/listening to the Nick Hall series beginning with MIND'S EYE. That's the book that got me hooked on this author.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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Dreadfully Awful - some small spoilers

Perhaps the "New York Times Bestseller" refers to one time the author had a best seller, because I cannot fathom how this book, in any medium, could be a bestseller. It reads like one of my freshman compositions and the narration is sophomoric. If you ever wanted a catalog for every hackneyed metaphor and simile in the English language, you could find it here. Every character is "perfect" -- a woman who is the most beautiful "on the planet," a bad guy who has no "close second," a U.S. operative who is skilled beyond measure but is bested in his first encounter with a woman who runs a pet shelter and may not even have graduated from high school. Gah! I hate to give up on a book -- either audio or print -- but I about 2-3 hours into this one, and I really don't care what the plot is. I laugh in all the wrong places and spend a lot of time grimacing. This book is written like the first try by some high school author wanna be. Richards drops current names like rain -- which may or may not make the book obsolete in about 20 years -- and engages in long explanations that seem more like the author trying to show off than helpful information for the reader.
We're all familiar with book plots that have several characters. The exposition in these plots takes several seemingly disjointed events. But by the time Richards nears the end of his exposition, I just didn't care anymore. The scene descriptions are plodding and canned, and as I've said before, the characters are all the epitome of their particular niche. Some words are just jarring, like the character who pours himself and his girlfriend "goblets" of wine -- this is not a medieval novel.
Perhaps a good narrator could have at least made this horrible book mildly interesting, but Gagne reads as if it's his turn in a middle school reading class. His voice characterizations are barely indistinguishable, and his Russian accent is laughable.
I gave the book two stars because, had I the stomach to listen to it all the way through, the plot might have been okay. As it is I am angry that I wasted a credit on this book - something that I have never experienced before. But I was sucked in by the possibility of an interesting plot, the good reviews it astonishingly has, and the tag "New York Times Bestseller." Don't do. Don't be like me. Avoid this turkey at all costs.

Way too predictable.

Good title.
That's it. This book has nothing else going for it. Characters and story are completely boring and predictable. It seems as if the author chose a standardized plot and plugged in standardized characters to accomplish standardized actions. Did not finish the book.
The reader did not help.

Great story, great narration, would like more!

I really enjoyed this listen from start to finish. It has an interesting premise and was told in a manner that kept me interested. My only complaint is that, based on how the story turns out, it feels like there should be more! I really hope that this will end up being the first in a series because I would love to hear more about this world and its characters.

Narration by Corey Gagne was excellent and I would not hesitate to listen to other works narrated by him. Great voicing and pace all around.

Marvelous story, but not especially well written

This author finds very interesting material for his work, but his style of writing is a bit too simple. The writing is what one might expect from an adolescent or someone who is not well-read, which this researcher is definitely not, he must be well read at least in science but perhaps not in literary prose: the type of writing that makes a story a pleasurable read. Some of the time, when the wonderful science-fiction was not first and foremost in the writing, reading it was like listening to nails scratching a black board.

infinity boring?

struggled to finish. Then the final chapter seemed to be open ended and unsatisfying. missing?

Poorly written and full of storyline gaps

Poorly written, mediocre on science, and filled with unidimensional characters. What a disappointment! I am still trying to understand why this would list as a NYT best seller.

This is his best yet. Impossible to put down

I only wish these technologies and the threats they pose were imagined. The fact that they are real is sobering. This does make for a really engaging story though!

I love this author!

I love that he doesn’t dumb-down to his readers. I love the afterword information. The only thing I don’t love is the fact that I can’t get anything done when living in his stories....

Had me on the edge of my seat!

This is an awesome thought provoking story with twist and turns you dont see coming. Richards gives just enough tech knowledge to sound believable mixed with double dealing intrigue! A great read!

Rubbish.

narrator ok gave up at chapter 28 i think this book is for 10 year olds.

Best near future scifi I've read (listened)

Not flattened by superficial romance or too many god references this is the best book by Richards so far. Very believable tech, fair deal of philosophy and quite good amount of excitement for me.