Eleven tales exploring the rise of artificial intelligence amid the twilight of the human creative era
From a groundbreaking music technology company using nanotech to keep songs perpetually fresh to a rural American town thrown into chaos by an elaborate deep-fake, Fennec’s stories ask important questions about creativity, truth, and what it means to be human in an era where consciousness can be encoded, and reality is malleable.
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Artificial Artifacts explores timely issues such as technological dependency, everlasting life, psychological invasions, the concept of time, mistrust of governments and large corporations and the enduring legacy of human creativity, all while reflecting on the transformative marvels and existential threats posed tech advancements.
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The collection introduces Peter Byrell, an enigmatic tech mogul whose narrative connects each story. As Byrell’s influence unfolds, readers are invited to ponder the chilling consequences of our technological advancements and the blurred lines between creator and creation.
"An Amazing Read"
"As a big fan of the Black Mirror series, this book takes many of the best attributes from that series and adds compelling characters and vivid world building so its not just an interesting one-off thought exercise, but a place you want to stay in and explore even as you are transported to the next story. The varied uses of time-jumps, narration, documents etc. are all artfully done to explain the different concepts without just being an information dump. The variation and combination of the short stories anthology is also very well done. The stories connect conceptionally without feeling repetitive, like a great music album. Its a great book with several stories that I already want to go back and read again. I would very highly recommend."
- Rob Bartilucci
"Entertaining and thought-provoking"
"You will need to suspend disbelief just enough to embrace the power hidden within these pages. The author has almost created a new genre with a blend of political satire and science fiction that leaves the reader wondering “what are we doing?” and at the same time preparing for “what are we going to do?!” With the world becoming more divided than ever and technology rolling out faster each day it is a welcome combination of entertainment and philosophical contemplation. I enjoyed the stories and will reread it with pen and paper handy."
- Elisabeth Sander
"A Great Debut"
"I highly recommend the book. It is at times daunting and at others disturbing. Parts of it is mind-blowing while interspersed with satire and some poignant human studies."
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- Roger Jones
Discover John's latest works here!
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​JimmyGoggle, A Short Story:
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Jaden, a digital vigilante, uses advanced VR goggles to expose so-called crimes across a future London, gaining fame - and infamy. But when a sudden blackout strips him of his tech, he’s left vulnerable to the very people he’s shamed, forcing him to confront the chaos he’s unleashed.
A gripping tale of surveillance, justice, and the price of online notoriety, JimmyGoggle explores what it means to wield power in a world where we’re all being watched. ​​​​​
Compatible with most eReaders
Peter's Strings, An Epilogue to Artifacts:
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Dive deeper into "Artificial Artifacts" with a complimentary companion book that explores the world of Peter Byrell, unraveling the mysteries and hidden connections of the enigmatic AI pioneer.
Compatible with most eReaders
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About the Author
John Fennec is a debut author and seasoned professional investor, whose insights into technology and life sciences significantly inform his writing. His recent work in artificial intelligence revealed its vast potential as well as haunting implications, inspiring him to fulfil his lifelong dream of authorship. With the support of a family of scientists and colleagues in tech, John crafts stories grounded by scientific realism, which he terms ‘the art of the plausible’.
Residing in London with his wife and three children, John balances his professional pursuits with a rewarding family life.
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Artificial Artifacts is his first published work.
