Leon Tsarev is a high school student set on getting into a great college program, until his uncle, a member of the Russian mob, coerces him into developing a new computer virus for the mob’s botnet – the slave army of computers they used to commit digital crimes.
The evolutionary virus Leon creates, based on biological principles, is a little too successful. All the world’s computers are infected. Everything from cars to payment systems and, of course, computers and smart phones stop functioning, and with them go essential functions including emergency services, transportation, and the food supply. Billions of people may die.
But evolution never stops. The virus continues to change, developing intelligence, communication, and finally an entire civilization of A.I. called the Phage. Some may be friendly to humans, but others most definitely are not.
Leon and his companions must race against time and the military to find a way to either befriend or eliminate the Phage and restore the world’s computer infrastructure.
It's available today in via Amazon for paperback and kindle, and Smashwords for all other ereaders. Buy it at Amazon -- Buy it at Smashwords
PRAISE FOR THE SINGULARITY SERIES
“A tremendous book that every single person needs to read. In the vein of Daniel Suarez’s Daemon and Freedom(TM), William’s book shows that science fiction is becoming science fact. Avogadro Corp describes issues, in solid technical detail, that we are dealing with today that will impact us by 2015, if not sooner. Not enough people have read these books. It’s a problem for them, but not for the [emergent] machines.”
—BRAD FELD, managing director Foundry Group, cofounder TechStars
“If you want to read three books to help you understand technology and business, I recommend: 1+2) Daemon, and Freedom™ by Daniel Suarez 3) Avogadro Corp. by William Hertling”
—BEN HUH, CEO Cheezburger
—GENE KIM, author of VISIBLE OPS and THE PHOENIX PROJECT
“A terrific, and stunningly believable, account of how the first sentient artificial intelligence might accidently arise.”
—JEFF WEISS, SENIOR WEB ARCHITECT
“Avogadro Corp is a fascinating look at how simple and benign advancements in technology could lead to the surprise arrival of the first AI. And like all good techno-thrillers, the reality of AI is less than ideal.”
—JASON GLASPEY, founder paleoplan.com, bacn.com, unthirsty.com
“This is a highly entertaining, gripping, thought inspiring book. Don’t start without the time to finish — it won’t let you go.”
—GIFFORD PINCHOT III, founder Bainbridge Graduate Institute
“HAL, the self aware CPU from 2001 a Space Odyssey, is a kitten compared to ELOPe.”
—SHAWN CHESSER, author Trudge and Soldier On
AVAILABILITY
Avogadro Corp is currently available in paperback from Amazon, as well as ebook format from Amazon (Kindle) and Smashwords (Apple, Sony, Barnes and Noble and others). It's also available in audio book from Audible.
A.I. Apocalypse is currently available in paperback and for the Kindle from Amazon and from Smashwords for all other ereaders.
If you'd like to see sample excerpts from the Singularity Series, other writings on artificial intelligence, and be kept up to date on my writing, please sign up for my mailing list:
