About the Book

Book: Synapse

Author: Steven James

Genre: Thriller, Sci-Fi

Release Date: October 8, 2019

Thirty years in the future, when AI is so advanced that humans live side by side with cognizant robots called Artificials, Kestrel Hathaway must come to terms not just with what machines know, but what they believe. Is hope real for them, or merely an illusion?

Soon after experiencing a personal tragedy, Kestrel witnesses a terrorist attack and is drawn into a world of conspiracies and lies that she and Jordan, her Artificial, have to untangle. With a second, more brutal attack looming on the horizon, their best chance of stopping it is teaming up with federal counterterrorism agent Nick Vernon.

But the clock is ticking—and all the while, Jordan is asking questions that Artificials were never meant to ask.

Deftly weaving suspense and intrigue into a rich, resonant tale that explores faith and what it really means to be human, Steven James offers us a glimpse into the future and into our own hearts.

Synapse is an unforgettable, gripping story of dreams shattered, truth revealed, and hope reborn.

Get your copy HERE!

My Review:
The opening was strong but painful. It's just 30 years from now. Pastor Kestrel decided to have a baby, minus the usual methods. Those must not have been working for her, though we don't have the backstory on what happened or why. However, her baby didn't make it. This was a hard thing for me to deal with for an opening. Her brother decides to help her copy by giving her a humanoid robot. More like I-Robot than any other famous one, this one hails to more an of Asimov type robot, but then going to some extra levels due to the Christian content of the book.

So while Kestrel is having a major crisis of her faith, Jordan is dealing with all too human issues. He has questions that open up more questions and discussion and thinking for the characters and hopefully more humans; the ones reading this novel. As an Artificial, Jordan tends to steal the "show". I love all the questions he asks about being human as we go on this journey with him. Oh, and not to leave out, there's tons of action happening too because of some bombings and Kestrel's being a witness to that. There's more to that, so much more, but I'm not telling you because I want to you read this book! What I will tell you is that I didn't want to put this book down, I didn't want it to end. I would read an entire series with this premise. I think James did a fantastic job with this story. I can see it being a format for so many group discussions if it's used for that.

5 Stars

About the Author

Steven James is the critically acclaimed, national bestselling author of sixteen novels. His work has been optioned by ABC Studios and praised by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, the New York Journal of Books, and many others. His pulse-pounding, award-winning thrillers are known for their intricate storylines and insightful explorations of good and evil. When he’s not working on his next book, he’s either teaching master classes on writing throughout the country, trail running, or sneaking off to catch a matinee.

More from Steven

“James is a pro at creating suspense.”

Criminal Element

“stimulating tale…thrilling story of greed and corruption”

Publishers Weekly STARRED review

Read my op-ed on robots and faith in the New York Times

I grew up reading and loving science fiction stories. I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of artificial intelligence, but as I’ve thought about it over the years, I’ve realized that our lives are not based just on what we know, but also what we believe. So, I started asking myself, “What would the world look like if machines developed artificial belief?” Within a few decades, advanced AIs might very well have consciousness and self-awareness. At that point, what will they choose to believe about the meaning of live, God, and the afterlife?

All of these questions were in my mind as I wrote Synapse, a story that takes place 30 years from now in a world very much like our own. This is a cautionary tale with implications that are both chilling and revealing and I think that if you like suspense, you’ll love this near-future thriller.

—Steven

Learn more at stevenjames.net

Facebook and Twitter: @readstevenjames

Buy the book: https://www.tnzfiction.com/synapse-a-novel/