Minds of Sand and Light (Council of AIs)

2024 AUREALIS AWARDS FINALIST - BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL ‘Clever and timely, Minds of Sand and Light is an intriguing exploration of AI that manages to be both optimistic and terrifying in the possibilities it offers‘ Robin Hobb Iain M Banks and Max Barry collide with a splash of Murderbot in this wildly original, gripping and new trilogy. The world is in the midst of a new Cold War - between the wasteful nations of the West, and the oppressively tyrannical regime of the Greater Far East. Ruth Sharpe and Cassie Bailey are radical journalists and brilliant hackers investigating the rumours that multiple governments are covertly run by sentient AI systems. What they uncover is a much more dangerous secret ... They will need to cut through decades of lies from both sides to reach the truth and warn the world - while the clock ticks down to the extinction of all human life. In this gripping dystopic thriller from the bestselling author of the Dark Heavens and Dragon Empire series, Ruth and Cassie will have to decide what price humanity is willing to pay for its own salvation. ‘What a thrilling, complex and brilliant tale!‘ – Short and Sweet Reviews by‘Beautifully Written and Compelling‘ – Nonstop Reader ‘All the Stars!‘ – Any Book Any Time ‘A clever, fast-paced near-future thriller with humor and romance‘ - Books+Publishing Magazine ‘Clever and timely ... An intriguing exploration of AI that manages to be both optimistic and terrifying‘ - Robin Hobb ‘Action-packed and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed it!‘ - Amanda Bridgeman ‘Every book she puts out it sure to thrill‘ - Alan Baxter Reader Reviews: ‘This book is brilliant‘ ‘Top Class Speculative Fiction‘ ‘A Rollicking Exploration of Humanity‘ ‘Murderbot adjacent, globe trotting cyber thriller romance with a wickedly snarky edge‘