I really enjoyed this one. Part sci-fi, part dystopian with a murder tossed in. I did not see it playing out like it did. A nice surprise! Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

4.62 stars, rounded up

Well done. I get it. I get the hype now. Thomas R Weaver's book Artificial Wisdom deserves all the attention it's been given and then some. Perfect for any thriller lover.

This murder mystery techno thriller has a ton of layers with its many high-tech misdirections pointing every which way. It's hard to know which way is up. What is truth anyway? I will need a reread. Certainly before the next one comes out, because I have questions! In the best way possible.

We follow investigative reporter Tully and his crew as he digs for the truth behind the biggest "natural" disaster in world history among many - the very same one that claimed his wife and unborn daughter. He senses some seeds of manipulation, has fingers to point, and the platform to sway the world-wide election for global protectorship fighting against climate change. We see the struggle between the path that humans carve or the one that AI carves. This story is layered and intense, and what Tully sees at first ain't even the half of it.

Plot
Good plot is everything to me. The first 30% had a lot of set up and background building so it felt a bit slow. Then, after the catalyst murder takes place, the setting was so well built that the plot just takes off from there. You never knew what the next page would bring. Things were so intricately plotted out that layer after layer kept getting revealed and made me question so much. Amazing.

Characters
Because of the layering of information, our characters go on a wild ride themselves. We see this time and time again: info reveal, internal struggle, questioning truth, integration and action forward. This made for some really great, complex characters that were definitely not the same at the end of the book from the beginning.

Setting
The setting of this world is in the year 2050 which is within a tangible number of years in the future. It's easy and unnerving to picture as change can come quickly. Especially on the backs of immense computing power and technological breakthroughs. The crux of setting is that climate change is running rampant and threatening all of mankind and has already taken out millions. I appreciate that while politics plays a large role in this thriller, the book doesn't map itself onto the divisive politics of today.

Most of our story takes place on the floating city-state of New Carthage. The tech that is used, especially among the geniuses and the rich of the floating states is amazing. Weaver obviously took a lot of time mapping out this technology, and he describes the tech very well. Toward the last quarter of the book, things do start to look very Inception-like with layers within layers of virtual reality.

Themes
This book hits on its themes. We touch on privacy, power, freedom, truth, and manipulation to name a few. We question the meaning of the greater good, the consequences of weighing risk, how truth affects people's actions, if the ends justify the means or to what extent, can the will of the people be trusted period especially when being manipulated, and the consequences of faith in tech. It's rich. There's a lot here. And because the setting is in the near future, it allows for the reader to question as many things as the characters do. It might take another reread and maybe some journaling to unpack.

Set up for the next book
I expected the story to be over at about 90%. Weaver could have written this out to describe the likely tipping point for the election momentum and that's that, leaving it ambiguous as to what came next. NOPE. Weaver, the ever plotter that he is, digs. And digs some more to expose even further layers. The twists that twisted in that last 10% have me questioning everything. What a great set up for book two!

All in all, this is a great read and one that deserves a high place on every thriller lover's TBR. My advice: enjoy the world building in the beginning and pay attention because after that, everything takes off quick. Have fun!

Special thanks to the author Thomas R Weaver, Del Ray, and Netgalley for a copy of the book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Artificial Wisdom is a sci-fi murder mystery set in a future 2050.

There’s a climate apocalypse in the Persian Gulf with 400 million dead because of too much humidity. (I knew there was a reason I live in the “dry” heat of Arizona as I cannot handle humidity.) For me, that was a bit terrifying.

The future tech in this story was intriguing and my favorite bits.

Because of the state of the world, an election is taking place for one person to become the “Protector”. The final two candidates are the American President and an AI.

Throw in a few murders and a few moving luxury islands and you have a very unique storyline and I was completely sucked in.

I hope there’s a second book in the works because there were some major twists at the end with no clear resolution.

*Thanks to partner Del Rey for the gifted eARC!*

This book starts off slow but starts to pick up midway through. It's not especially great as a climate fiction book, as the change in climate does not really impact the present plot aside from being the reason for a lot of the conflict, but the environment itself does not seem to present any problems to the characters in the present. It takes a really weird turn part of the way through and ends in a very open ended manner, so if you want a satisfying, mystery solved sort of ending, this is not a book for you.

This book starts out as a murder mystery in a future where climate change has climaxed and humanities survival is on the brink of ending. Then there is a twist but no why. The reader is left figuring out the why. Some readers will be mad if they aren’t told the why. I think I know after pondering it over night and into the next day after reading it and it’s pretty scary. That should bump my review to 4 stars but the protagonist doesn’t even know what was done. There should have been a big moment of realization and what have I done and there sort of was but he doesn’t know the half of it. The idea of AI having any control is scary enough so if you like apocalyptic type stories in a near dystopian future with a little intrigue then this book is for you just remember there might be some questions left unanswered in a clear cut manner.

Part political thriller, part dystopian sci-fi, this book is absolutely worth the hype. This takes place in a near-future version of our world that has been ravaged by climate change. Two candidates are vying for the role of world protectorate: one is a former US president, the other is an advanced AI. While investigating the source of a deadly climate incident, investigative journalists Marcus Tully stumbles onto a conspiracy that could change the outcome of this election… and in doing so, may change the future of humanity.

This is fast paced with an intriguing premise and compelling characters. The mystery keeps you turning pages while the ethical questions keep you thinking about the book long after you’ve closed it. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants an exciting and easy read that also asks difficult questions.

4 stars
Artificial Wisdom is a science fiction murder mystery, set in the future. The plot was very slow building, but there were a number of elements in this book that really kept my mind, not only engaged in the story, but brought up several ethical questions related to the advancement in technology, politics, and climate. It was really fascinating, especially at the same time as this murder investigation is happening, and just when I think I have figured it out what is going to happen next we get a new twist. The way it all happens and the detailing is well written, detailed and very plausible, which I enjoyed immensely. The way this book talks about science and a number of advancements left me feeling dumb struck and way over my head, but to think if some of these things could be real would be phenomenal as well as scary, for instance one could trap you in like a virtual reality until you were released, talk about terrifying and raises a number of questions about how used it was all really fascinating . Overall I found this book thought provoking, with a captivating mystery, and an array of characters and elements that really kept the story moving.
I received an ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

This was a great book! I remember hearing about it on booktok when it was self-published, but I had the opportunity to read it now, and I understand all the hype! So many twists and turns! Who is telling the truth? There's layer upon layer, what is real and what is not?! All I can say is that I am so glad there is going to be more. I have to know the answers to all the questions. Will Marcus expose the truth? Or is he just a pawn of the AI? Just how sentient is the AI? Fabulous work! I can't wait for more! It's a chonky boy, but you don't notice! It flies by!

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, for the eArc! These gushing words are my own.

This took some brain power for me! I hooked and fully into the story from the beginning. To think what our world could be like, wow.

This was my first sci-fi thriller and it won’t be my last!

Equal parts tech thriller, murder mystery and speculative sci-fi, I found myself engrossed with the political intrigue and disturbed by how plausible it all was.

I appreciated that the speculative tech advancements were fleshed out giving you enough hints of sci-fi, and these elements were just as strong as the political manoeuvrings.

I can already visualise the TV/film adaptation.

Perfect for fans of sci-fi or fast paced thrillers as an intro to either genre!

Artificial Wisdom - Thomas R. Weaver
4 ⭐️

Are you ready for an AI president?

Artificial Wisdom throws that question right in your face, and spoiler: it's not a neat yes or no. As expected, the answer is... complicated.

I was intrigued by this premise because AI running for president? Not your everyday dystopian plot. It raises big questions like: Would an AI president be better than a human one? Would the AI president be able to save the world, rather than initiating wars and spreading corruption? Or would everything fall apart even faster, guided by unbiased logic?

The story takes place in 2050, when the climate crisis is so severe that the world decides to elect one Global Protector with unprecedented power to save humanity. The race comes down to Lockwood, a shady ex-president, and Solomon, the first-ever AI candidate, created by brilliant scientist Martha Chandra. When Martha drops dead under suspicious circumstances, determined journalist Marcus Tully, who is still hurting from losing his family in a brutal heat wave, dives into the mystery. What he finds is a chaotic blend of climate conspiracies, AI ethics drama, politics, and a plot that could change everything for humanity.

The idea? Brilliant. The execution? Less so. The pacing was slow, which might be deliberate, but it felt like it dragged more than it succeeded. Yes, with an investigative thriller, you should expect the book to be slow, but not in a way where you have more detail than story. There were a bunch of plot twists near the end of the story, which was the book's saving grace - along with the excellent writing and grammar - but these twists ended up not getting answered very well, or at all, so they ended up being a disappointment. The ending fell flat, as it barely addressed the main questions, and the writing concluded with some random thoughts from the main character, rather than a memorable line.

Speaking of the main character, Marcus Tully is thrown right into the middle of this whole murder mystery. He's someone known for refusing to kill a story, no matter the personal cost, and the price does run high, especially in the climate-stricken world. He’s not a bad character and genuinely tries to do the right thing, but what makes him truly memorable is how he pretends not to care while quietly showing he does. Most notably by looking out for his “strays,” a group of misfit assistants he's hired over the years. Every character is well-written, has a distinct personality, and serves a purpose.

Having said all that, this book is mainly for the fans of slow-paced, but detailed, investigative narratives who don't mind open-ended resolutions. Those who don't mind the uncertainty of life, and who like to make up their own conclusions. Don't expect fast-paced action, lighthearted tones, or neatly tied endings because that’s just not what this book delivers.

I'd give this book a 3.5 out of 5. The writing was excellent, and the characters had compelling stories, but the book was slow-paced and ultimately failed to deliver a memorable ending, which is crucial. Although it had potential, that wasn't enough to warrant a higher rating.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - as expected! When Smitty reviewed this book nearly a year ago, I downloaded it to my kindle. Then, I had the opportunity to receive an ARC copy ahead of the traditional US publishing date and I immediately requested (I also ordered the physical copy!)

In the dystopian, not-so-distant future an AI artilect is running against a former U.S. president in the most significant election in world history. The general population around the world is electing a protector - someone to help the world ravaged by climate change.

Most of the story is told from the POV of Marcus Tully, a no-nonsense journalist still grieving his wife and unborn daughter killed in a natural disaster, but we also get a few POVs from friends and accomplices throughout the book.

The narration is definitely written by a man, which honestly I don’t typically enjoy but in this case it’s perfect for the story. Don’t expect flowery prose here, but expect direct communication and investigative research as you follow the twisting, gripping plot.

The lessons from this book have kept me thinking and I know I will continue to debate the moral dilemmas faced head-on by Thomas Weaver in this story. If you have even the slightest interest in this book, I highly recommend reading.

Thank you so much to the talented author, NetGalley, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this book.

“Use that great artificial intelligence of yours. And then develop some wisdom.”

This was fantastic! 4.75 stars- just a bit disappointed by the ending. This book gives you a lot to think about- about technology, the climate, politics. Some things are left open-ended and you are left wondering if there won't be a sequel. Every time you think you have the mystery figured out, you continue to unveil things with the characters and realize you're just as clueless as they are. Artificial Wisdom was fast paced and had me second-guessing every character interaction.

I wasn't sure how I would feel reading about AI, but Thomas Weaver really makes this world seem like something we aren't very far away from. It was captivating and unsettling. It is a necessary conversation that we need to be having and I would recommend this to everyone.

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!

WHAT A BOOK. I went in completely blind and grabbed based off the cover. So many twists and turns. I don’t want to say much bc you just need to experience it. The future is scary I hate it here but I loved this book.

Artificial Wisdom is set in the future and the world has decided to elect someone to be manage the world's climate crisis. Surprisingly the two choices when it's time to vote are former President Lockwood who has a sketchy past and an AI named Solomon. A journalist named Tully, with a tragic past, is lured into finding out secrets about Lockwood that could change the election into Solomons favor. But decisions have to be made in order to save the future of humanity.
Overall I enjoyed the book, it definitely went in a direction I was somewhat expecting though that did not ruin it for me. Seeing as it left on a huge cliffhanger obviously more secrets are left to be uncovered and I will definitely be looking forward to the next book.

I honestly don't know where to start. I saw this book mentioned in a podcast when it was still indie published and when I saw the arc for the book on netgalley I just had to request it, as it sounded so interesting! Idon't really read scify or thriller, but I like trying out new genres and this book really gripped my attention.
In every thriller there is this moment when you go "I know who did it" and then you continue reading the book to see if you're right. Did I have this moment in this book? Yes. Was I right? Maybe. Let's just say that the last 20% and particularly the ending blew my mind and I just sat there for a few minutes after finishing the book to process what I just read.
The current political situations worldwide kind of put the issue of climate change into the background and this book reminded me once again how important it is to make climate change a worldwide priority. The author wrote a book that is set just a few decades in the future and we can see just how the climate changed literally EVERYTHING. I also really liked the technology in this book as it seemed realistic and as if it could really be developed in the next decades. The characters were really likeable and easy to sympathise with. Each of them had their own package and issues and I was quickly becoming more and more interested in their story.
Even though I finished this book 2 weeks ago, it's still on my mind and I see this book becoming one that I'll gift my friends and family for Christmas. And I'll probably read it soon with my bookclub, because this really gives you a lot of intriguing discussion material.

Happy US publication day to this wildly entertaining book! You should definitely go and pick up a copy.

It was such a fun and thrilling ride. So many layers! Just when you think you have everything figured out, something else is thrown into the mix. Such an interesting view of AI and its potential. Filled with mystery, morality, political intrigue, friendship, and the battle for a better future. This book covers so many current social issues as well as some potential new ones our future could be faced with. Quite terrifying, really. There are so many moments where I stopped to contemplate what I would do in that situation. Not many decisions in life are truly just black and white. I couldn't put his book down. Reminds me of a mix of a who done it and Blake Crouch. I definitely recommend this one!

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this eARC.

I am not going to lie when I say this started out slow for me. I at one point told someone I was bored, but after reading the whole thing, I realized the boring parts were necessary set up for an epic storyline. That made up for any and all slow parts and then some.

The themes in this book are absolutely necessary and eerily parallel to many of the things that are happening today and feel on the verge of happening in our future. So, I feel like this is an absolute must read for anyone. The characters did start out feeling one dimensional, became so much more complex as the story went on.

I absolutely loved this.

I will always recommend it.

Artificial Wisdom is a groundbreaking merge of genres that will leave a lasting impression. This story spans genres from sci-fi to thriller to mystery in a seamless and cohesive way. I originally read this during its indie publishing, and am so excited to continue the story with the sequel after this ending. The pacing of this book kept me hooked from the very beginning due to the continuous development of not only the plot but also the setting. I thought this was a vivid world with themes that I've carried with me since my first experience with this book and have continuously recommended it!