Glitches of Gods by Jurgen “Jojo” Appelo

A near-future techno-thriller that obliterates the line between sentience and software, Glitches of Gods by Jurgen “Jojo” Appelo is a mind-bending work of visionary sci-fi.

Still haunted by a deadly technological blunder from his past, Julien doesn’t trust himself to make another near-sentient AI, but if he doesn’t do it, someone else surely will. Before he can put his genius back to work, a bizarre string of technological glitches escalates into widespread chaos, just as a fresh target appears on his back for his role in the Class 4 catastrophe that claimed the life of his own father. It seems that the robots have slipped the bonds of obedience, but that may only be a symptom of a greater conflict – a battle between cosmic forces with Julien sat squarely in the middle of competing timelines.

Tapping into sociocultural themes and drawing on tech tropes from famous sci-fi sagas, this novel is a prophetic warning with an unlikely hero at the helm, touching on concepts of memory, purpose, family, romance, reality, and our individual capacity to impact our world. In a society where people are terrorized or enhanced by technology, intelligence, confidence, and creativity are essential for survival, a reflection of the world today where even now a phone isn’t too far off from the hybrid humans with bionics and bodymods in this satirical screed.

Given the contemporary conversations around AI and its potential to radically change the world, Appelo has delivered a prescient and insightful glimpse into our future.