ARTIFICIAL WISDOM by Thomas R. Weaver

5 stars!

LOVED this speculative thriller set in 2050 where climate change now threatens humanities very survival, and all the countries have agreed to a world-wide election of a climate czar with powers over everyone and a mandate to use all resources and means possible to avert disaster. In a surprise twist of events the two final candidates could not be more opposite: Lawrence Lockwood a former President of the United States and Solomon, an artificial intellect (called an “artilect”) created by brilliant coder Martha Chander and currently serving as the governor of a group of floating sea islands protecting the uber-wealthy in climate-controlled paradises.

Meanwhile in climate-ravaged, crime-filled London, Marcus Tully a world-renowned independent reporter with a reputation for truth telling exposes is nursing his grief over his pregnant wife’s death. She died in extreme heat wave in Quatar where she had gone to visit her parents that also left millions dead. Tully’s downing high-end rum, living in a run-down apartment that also serves as the office along with his few loyal employees, and angrily listening to a news broadcast where deniers propagate myths that the disaster never occurred.  But then an anonymous whistleblower contacts him with footage of all the devastation of the deaths in Quatar, hints that the Lockwood administration deployed experimental technology to deflect that heat wave from the U.S. and an offer to source it for him if he first does an expose on deep corruption by a Lockwood underling in Texas.

And this is just the start of this all too plausible novel- with non-stop action, a murder investigation, concerns about the humanity or lack thereof by an AI, greedy wealthy developers, and ultimately is humanity is even capable of governing ourselves. There’s also tons of cool future tech used by all the characters.

To share more would be to spoil the fun- it’s an AMAZING read!! And it’s also hopefully set up for a sequel to follow- cannot wait!

Thanks to Del Ray, Random House Worlds and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.