When aliens, artificial intelligence and humans collide…IT’S WAR.
Publication Date: September 15, 2013
Genre: Futuristic Thriller/ Science Fiction
Criss lives in a special kind of prison. He can see and hear
everything around the world. Yet a restrictor mesh restrains his reach and
keeps him cooperative. His creator, Dr. Jessica Tallette, believes his special
abilities offer great promise for humanity. But she fears the consequences of
freeing him, because Criss, a sentient artificial intelligence with the
intellect of a thousand humans, is too powerful to control.
everything around the world. Yet a restrictor mesh restrains his reach and
keeps him cooperative. His creator, Dr. Jessica Tallette, believes his special
abilities offer great promise for humanity. But she fears the consequences of
freeing him, because Criss, a sentient artificial intelligence with the
intellect of a thousand humans, is too powerful to control.
Guided by her scientific training, Tallette works cautiously
with Criss. That is, until the Kardish, an otherwise peaceful race of alien
traders, announce they want him for themselves. With technologies superior to
Earth’s, the Kardish express their desires with ominous undertones.
with Criss. That is, until the Kardish, an otherwise peaceful race of alien
traders, announce they want him for themselves. With technologies superior to
Earth’s, the Kardish express their desires with ominous undertones.
The
Union of Nations is funding Tallete’s artificial intelligence research and she
turns to them for help. Sid, a special agent charged with leading the response,
decides Earth’s greatest weapon is the very AI the aliens intend to possess.
But what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? And what
is humanity’s role if an interstellar battle among titans starts to rage?
~Excerpt~
They made their way outside the pub and
started up the walkway. Cheryl and Sid were side by side, with Jack
following close behind. Without consciously thinking it through, Sid
moved to put his arm around Cheryl.
started up the walkway. Cheryl and Sid were side by side, with Jack
following close behind. Without consciously thinking it through, Sid
moved to put his arm around Cheryl.
As he lifted his arm, Jack roared
at the top of his lungs. “Sid! At your nine!”
at the top of his lungs. “Sid! At your nine!”
The volume and urgency in Jack’s
voice drove Sid to act. He grabbed Cheryl by the shoulders, yanked
her forward, and used his leg to sweep hers out from under her. His
actions caused her to plummet to the ground, and he fell above her,
absorbing his weight in his hands and toes. He gathered her head and
legs in his arms, pulling her into a ball, using his body to shield
her from the unknown danger now at his back.
voice drove Sid to act. He grabbed Cheryl by the shoulders, yanked
her forward, and used his leg to sweep hers out from under her. His
actions caused her to plummet to the ground, and he fell above her,
absorbing his weight in his hands and toes. He gathered her head and
legs in his arms, pulling her into a ball, using his body to shield
her from the unknown danger now at his back.
At the same time, Jack dove behind
a garden planter on the walkway. He hit the ground and tilted his
head to peer around the barrier. The man had moved, and it took Jack
a brief moment to relocate him. With a quiet zwip, a bolt of white
energy discharged from the assailant’s weapon. The bolt flew above
Sid and Cheryl, hitting the outside wall of the pub and creating an
impressive impact crater.
a garden planter on the walkway. He hit the ground and tilted his
head to peer around the barrier. The man had moved, and it took Jack
a brief moment to relocate him. With a quiet zwip, a bolt of white
energy discharged from the assailant’s weapon. The bolt flew above
Sid and Cheryl, hitting the outside wall of the pub and creating an
impressive impact crater.
Jack, weapon already primed while
he was mid-dive, swung his arm from behind the planter and returned a
shot in kind. Zwip. The bolt hit the man in the chest. He collapsed
and didn’t move. Jack scanned the street, looking for any other
danger. Sid, now up and with his own weapon primed, joined Jack in
searching and assessing. Except for the fallen man, neither of them
could identify a further threat.
he was mid-dive, swung his arm from behind the planter and returned a
shot in kind. Zwip. The bolt hit the man in the chest. He collapsed
and didn’t move. Jack scanned the street, looking for any other
danger. Sid, now up and with his own weapon primed, joined Jack in
searching and assessing. Except for the fallen man, neither of them
could identify a further threat.
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About the Author
As a young child, Doug stood on a Florida beach and
watched an Apollo spacecraft climb the sky on its mission to the moon. He
thrilled at the sight of the pillar of flames pushing the rocket upward. And
then the thunderous roar washed over him, and shook his body and soul.
watched an Apollo spacecraft climb the sky on its mission to the moon. He
thrilled at the sight of the pillar of flames pushing the rocket upward. And
then the thunderous roar washed over him, and shook his body and soul.
Since then, he has explored life as an educator and
entrepreneur. He enjoys telling inventive tales, mentoring driven individuals,
and everything sci-tech.
entrepreneur. He enjoys telling inventive tales, mentoring driven individuals,
and everything sci-tech.
In his new book, Crystal Deception, Doug swirls his
creative imagination with his life experiences to craft a science fiction
action-adventure story with engaging characters and a plot line with surprises.
creative imagination with his life experiences to craft a science fiction
action-adventure story with engaging characters and a plot line with surprises.
He lives in Connecticut with his wonderful wife and
with pictures of his son, who is off somewhere in the world creating adventures
of his own..
Giveaway!
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