The Spiraling Web a Free Science Fiction E-Book by Ryan Somma
February 29th, 2008
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Years of writing and rewriting this novel and peddling it around to dozens of agents have made me realize it could eventually be overcome by events and never be read. This is a hard-SF cyberpunk novel that I wrote in 2003, and have been rewriting ever since.
Here’s the pitch:
The cycs are not a computer virus destroying the Internet as everyone thinks, but a sentience naturally evolved out of our information systems. Flatline, a hacker with seemingly supernatural powers over information systems and a demonically disfigured avatar, has assumed leadership of the AI hive, overseeing their domination of the World Wide Web and plots their conquest of the world outside it.
Zai, handle “BlackSheep,” a blind girl in a world where medical science has all but eliminated the condition, travels to find her missing online friend Omni; however, an emotionally traumatic childhood experience with a virtual friend will not allow her to believe in the possibility of Artificial Intelligence.
Devin, handle “Omni,” straddles both worlds, the virtual and the physical. He sees a war, where one side’s victory, human or artificial intelligence, means the tragic demise of the other’s entire civilization. When Flatline locks him out of the Internet, Devin must successfully navigate the strange, alien world known as Real Life if he is to prevent total tragedy.
What are the ethical dilemmas we face as chatbots grow so convincing, they begin to deceive people, especially children? How will culture evolve in a world where we cannot build on others’ ideas because everything is copyrighted or patented? Who owns emergent intelligence in information systems? It provokes speculation as it entertains.
Available for online purchase through LuLu.
Also available as a free downloadable PDF. Lemme know what you think, even if it’s harsh criticism. : )
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License, meaning you can make all the copies you want, remix it, rewrite it, and even make money off it, but you have to give me credit for the original work and you have to give your derivatives a similar copy-left license.
To make writing derivatives easier, here’s the word document.
Have fun with it!
I also have a sequel written, titled Entropy of Imagination, which I will post sometime this summer once I have it polished. It will also be CC’ed.
Do you get money if people buy the book?
Ryan,
I second Nick’s question. I also think it is fantastic that you finally released your novel and I look forward to reading it. I’ll make sure to mention it on twitter, myspace, facebook, and every other social outlet I come across.
-BMF
P.S. Welcome to the age of the self-publisher. ;)
I highly recommend this book. I found it to be quite enjoyable both in the unique take on a common concept in science fiction and the engaging characterization. I look forward to the sequel!
I get $1.35 if you buy the hardcopy of the book. I tried to make the E-book free through LuLu, but when I do, the link to download it disappears. My revenue for the download is $0.01 through lulu, so please reference the links in this post if you like it.
I’m really not interested in making money off this book. I’ve got other stuff I’m going to be putting online, also as Creative Commons works. I’ve realized being read is much more important to me than making a living off it. : )
Anonymous - Thanks for the compliment!
Interestingly as the Mr resolution take to be this…