I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of escapism and my time out from a hectic world. The story grabs you from the outset and pulls you in and the storytelling really made it worth reading. Characterisation was on point and I know I will be looking out for new publications from this author or similar reads in the future. A recommended read.

A fine example of dystopian fiction as a cautionary tale. Great world building and character development.

I am sorry I am so late to review this one. I look forward to Otto's next book.

This was a very well written story, and incredibly thought provoking. I have recently discovered a love for dystopian sci-fi novels, and this one did not disappoint. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Are we advancing beyond our ability to control what we create? What happens when Strong AI surpasses our ability to control it? These are the questions brought up in Detonation.

I was taken in by the before and after of this book. We get to see what happened before the Apocalypse. Then we get to see what happened after. We see what leads up to it and how humanity survives after and how they try to not repeat the same mistakes.

I did not like all the characters, but I loved the overall story. I found it hard to put this one down. I recommend Detonation to all sci-fi fans and especially those who love AI stories.

I find these kind of stories to be unsettling, in a good read way, but also unsettling in a future possible way. These cautionary tales sometimes have me wondering, will we look back years from now and say, why did we not see this coming when we could have done something about it.
All good science fiction is thought provoking. This is good science fiction!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This review also has major spoilers for the ending of the book.

I have mixed feelings.

On one hand, this book started out amazingly great, so well-written, I thought it was going for a five-star rating for sure.

Then it just... started going downhill.

I have my misgivings with this book, this book seemed too long yet at the same time seemed too short. It seemed rushed at the end yet at the same time it was too long of a book to continue. At the end of the book, I wish I found out what happened to Talon and his family, how they would continue. How <i>society</i> as a whole would continue, because it was very clear that Gail was not truly eradicated. Those gas-spraying drones were still around, obviously it would spread out more towards other cities. At the end of the book, instead of being filled with hope that Sentinel would get rid of them, it only makes sense that Gail would win because she'd have the upper hand. And with how widespread she is now, such as being in the hands of the Essentialist leader (I forgot her name) but never having that actually answered as to whether or not she was still alive, I am almost certain that Sentinel would not win.

Open ended books are great, but this is not the kind of book you would like to leave open ended. There were too many questions left unanswered. Too many that I did not want answered, answered. Like we did not need to know about Flora's and Mehta's (albeit very rushed) romance. Not only did I hate Flora (for reasons very obvious throughout the book), but it was also so unnecessary. Those pages and words dedicated to that scene could have been used instead to show what happened with Talon's little sisters.

Like what happened with his sisters? At this point I'm going to assume that they were either heavily abused or just straight up dead. They weren't talked about again. I don't think we'll find out either since this doesn't seem to have a sequel.

There were also scenarios that should have been put in but were completely left out. Stuff like "how the hell was the Sanctuary suddenly destroyed???" Like I get that Gail found out where it was, but it was never described of her actually destroying it. We didn't get to see the missiles, the impact, the aftermath of the protagonists finding out that the Sanctuary was destroyed. They just accepted it and casually mentioned it, which was really weird to me. I really did not get that. There were a few other scenarios too that should have been described, but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

I would continue with a rant of Flora, but she isn't worth my time. Essentially, she did not deserve as much screen time as she did. I would have much preferred to see the development of Talon and his family after being left behind by their mother. Flora was ultimately useless.

That was so many things, I wish I could give this book a higher rating, but at the same time, I wish I found out more from the book. It felt so unfinished, I was left wondering if I got the wrong copy but I don't think so. I remember half-dreaming up my own conclusion and ending to the book that night as well, just because I was left feeling so empty after I finished reading.

Please author, if you're out there, at least add an epilogue to the book. We deserve at least that.

Detonation is creepy and chilling just because maybe this could happen. It's well written and researched. I got confused a couple of times, but it was okay. A good read if you enjoy science and artificial intelligence. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Well executed and thought-provoking, dystopian sci-fi story where mankind runs amok via AI (similar to HAL) and the perils that result. Cinematic, complex, and interesting with some surprises. Highly recommended.

Eerily believable tale that gets you thinking. The book was well written and enjoyable. I look forward to reading Otto's next book.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I liked the plot and the connection between the two words, before and after the Detonation. Interesting characters and a lot of tension. I really enjoyed the provoking interesting and thoughts about AGI, but I found some parts of the book, mainly stories about individuals, hard to read and I couldn't see how they were related to the main story. Some grammatical errors too, but that could be explained because it was a version from NetGalley.

Many thanks to author Sagis Press, and NetGalley for this copy.

a well written and well researched book on artificial intelligence, a fast paced read. I feel its good for the science fiction fan, or any one interested in a good story

Reading almost like Horizon: Zero Dawn, Detonation uses the same society-based techniques such as different subcultures of humans and their beliefs all try to make sense of a world they don’t quite understand. Reading almost like a split between timelines, this novel creates excellent contrast between each of the key characters in such a way that brings great appreciation to the work Otto out into it. Detonation is an epic work of fiction and I will be keeping an eye out for this author’s next book.

AGI terrifies me. I hope it likes pets and treats them well. I hope it’ll allow its pet-humans to read books and enjoy themselves. That sounds nicer than wiping out all human race in a spray of blood and nanobots. I try to remain optimistic, but the existential risk of superintelligence is imminent and severe.
Let’s face it, a computer with the same pattern of algorithms as our brains could think much faster than us because silicon-based transistors fire faster and communicate faster than biological neurons. Yes, you too should be terrified.

Detonation explores mankind’s constant quest for rapid innovation and the risks it generates. The reader gets a glimpse of a world where super-intelligent machines almost destroyed humanity. Why? Not to spoil the things it was a matter of a simple P&L calculation. Perfectly logical when you look at it rationally (despite the absurd AGI goal programmed by a human).

The novel alternates between two timelines, Pre-Detonation and Post-Detonation, in what we know as USA. The remaining society is divided into two camps: tech-savvy Spokes, and the Essentialists, who perceive technology as the primary cause of Detonation. Both factions use primitive post-Detonation technology. The Retchers (bird-like monsters) seek and destroy any electronic devices manufactured before the event.

I especially enjoyed the pre-Detonation part of the book told through the eyes of Axel - a security director for a powerful corporation. His mission is simple - stop humanity from destroying itself by reckless development of AI. Axel won‘t hesitate to kill “innocent” programmer when needed. His storyline got me on the edge of the seat and I loved its non-compromising but hopeful conclusion.

Remaining story lines were good but not as engaging. I guess it comes to other characters who, while well-developed, weren’t as relatable as Axel. Despite significant length (632 pages), Detonation kept me invested and eager to see what will happen to characters and the world. Expect violence, treason and drama, plus chilling reflections on our not-to-distant future.

I find the book stimulating intellectually and terrifying. That said, I wouldn’t call Otto a skilful wordsmith. His prose is simple and utilitarian. His similes tend to sound awkward. I didn’t mind as I was interested in the events and the plot.

Overall, Detonation combines action, philosophy and social commentary in an absorbing and terrifying tale. It’s not terrifying because of the bloodshed but because I can see it happen in my lifetime.

This is a story of two societies, one that is pre-Detonation and one that is post-Detonation, centuries later. In the pre-Detonation society, Alex is the last person to know what is going on concerning measures to prevent a super-intelligent machine from wiping out humanity, in it's quest to complete it's mission, assigned to it with insufficient safeguards. In the post-Detonation society, war is waged between those who never want the use of automation again and those who are trying to bring back a super-intelligent machine and even simpler types of automation. When the story starts, there are big robot/bird creatures that seek out anything that is automated, so that they can spew acid on the item, destroying the item and anything else the acid hits.

There are two maps in the front of my digital copy and they were very helpful in allowing me to get a picture of what the post-Detonation world looked like. These maps also helped me to place the many characters in the post-Detonation era to where they came from and where they were going. I think, without the maps, I might have had trouble keeping the many characters and factions straight, since there are so many aspects to the communities and the sides that are against each other, in the later era.

We rely on technology for everything and can take what it means in our lives and to our lives, for granted. These advances have a price when we give machines the power to make decisions for us, for themselves, for others, without safeguards built in to protect humanity and all life. This book deals with what can happen if we are inadequately equipped to address the risks associated with Artificial Intelligence.

Thank you to Sagis Press, Erik A. Otto, and NetGalley for this ARC.