It's pretty much impossible to escape the deluge of opinion pieces- extolling or catastrophizing – about AI that have emerged in the past few years. This wary excitement about technological advancements is nothing new. Since the 1920s there have been writers warning about how humans will be replaced or subjugated by robots. Now that we have become even more reliant on computers and networks the potential of the “creation surpassing its master” seems disturbingly possible.

This month’s blog focuses on books that postulate what could happen if we underestimate the consequences of ceding power to entities without a conscience or accountability.

	Ready Player One - Ernest Cline "Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within OASIS' world's digital confines, but he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize."
	Prey - Michael Crichton "A cloud of nanoparticles has escaped from the laboratory. It has been programmed as a predator. It is evolving swiftly, becoming more deadly with each passing hour."
	The Blue Nowhere - Jeffrey Deaver "A sadistic computer hacker who lures users to their deaths. The authorities free an imprisoned former hacker to aid the investigation."
	Attack Surface - Cory Doctorow "A counterterrorism wizard sometimes uses her mad skills to help troublemakers evade detection, if their cause was just."
	Total Power: Vince Flynn - Kyle Mills "A race against the clock when ISI takes out the entire US power grid and throws the country into chaos."
	The Quantum Spy - David Ignatius "The US' top-secret quantum research labs are compromised by a suspected Chinese informant, inciting a mole hunt of history-altering proportions."
	Net Force: Dark Web - Jerome Preisler "Elite group of cyber experts and field operatives lead the fight against the ongoing waves of hacks while tracking down the mastermind."
	Dark Angel - John Sandford "The tough-as-nails adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport as she takes an undercover assignment that puts her in the crosshairs of a dangerous group of hackers."
	Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson "Plunging into a new computer virus that's striking down hackers everywhere, Hiro races on a search-and-destroy mission for the shadowy virtual villain threatening to bring about infocalypse."
	Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Thomas Sweterlitsch "Dominic relives his lost life by immersing in the Archive—a fully interactive digital reconstruction of Pittsburgh."
	Zer0es - Chuck Wendig "Five hackers are orced to work as white-hat hackers for Uncle Sam in order to avoid federal prison."
	Firewall - Eugenia Lovett West "When Emma is targeted by a cybercrime network using cutting-edge technology, it takes all of her resilience and wits to survive."

Nonfiction:

	The Dark Net - Jamie Bartlett "A revelatory examination of the internet today, and of its most innovative and dangerous subcultures."
	Chasing Shadows - Ronald J. Deibert "A front-row seat to a dark underworld of digital espionage, disinformation, and subversion."
	Sandworm - Andy Greenberg "A chilling, globe-spanning detective story, tracking an elite group of Russian hackers and the future of global warfare."
	Ghost in the Wires - Kevin Mitnick "Paints an action portrait of a plucky loner motivated by a passion for trickery, not material gain."

March Two-Minute Review

Autonomous - Annalee Newitz The year is 2144, and Jack is a renegade genetic engineer who subverts the pharmaceutical patent process by providing pirated drugs to those unable to pay increasingly exorbitant prices. When one of her hacked drugs is linked to deadly side effects, she risks exposure to undo the damage. A military agent and an enhanced humanoid robot are tasked with tracking her down by any means necessary. Newitz allows the reader to piece together Earth’s future environment, weaving two opposing narratives in which both sides could be considered the heroes or villains. This biotech thriller would be a good choice for those who like science fiction that focuses more on plot vs. gritty scientific detail.

DVDs in the GPL Collection:

The 5th State	Blade Runner	Ghost in the Shell
Girl With the Dragon Tattoo	Hackers	Ex Machina
The Matrix Trilogy	Minority Report	Mr. Robot
The Net	Ready Player One	Sneakers
Snowden	Tron	Wargames

Hop on the Holds List

Katherine Center – Shippers

Our Perfect Storm – Carley Fortune

26 Beauties - James Patterson

The Things We Never Say – Elizabeth Strout

Whistler – Ann Patchett

Quote of the Month:

"Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master." – Christian Lous Lange

Bookish News and Links:

Want personalized recommendations? Fill out a questionnaire to get a customized list sent directly to your email: https://gpl.org/services/reade...

Love Lists? Here are some more links to visit:

This list by Five Books focuses on non-fiction works about AI including the science, uses, and ethical issues.

Members of Goodreads made this list of books about the "Perils and Dangers of Technology."

Electric Lit's site highlights some books about fictional technologies with "world-altering consequences."

Adaptation News: Upcoming movies and shows based on books:

Beginning 3/1, PBS will air a new series adapted from the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

On March 4, Prime Video will launch Young Sherlock, a seriesbased on the famous character's origin story as interpreted by Andrew Lane.

Prime Video will also air Scarpetta, a series based on the books by Patricia Cornwell starting on 3/11.

Reminders of Him, based on the bestseller by Colleen Hoover will hit theaters on 3/13.

Ryan Gosling stars in the the film adaptation of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, in theaters 3/20.

PBS will host a 6-part adaptation of The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy starting on 3/22.

Recent Reads

I have recently finished reading Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman and Moderation by Elaine Castillo. I also just finished listening to Rotten Tommy by David Sodergren.

I am currently reading Mindworks by Neal Shusterman and Evil Genius by Calire Oshetesky. I am also listening to the audiobook of Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher.

Do you fully embrace a new AI future, or do have misgivings about where it will lead? Let me know: jegan@gpl.org.

Until next time: Be safe, be well, and be well-read!

Joelle

---

So, who am I, anyway? I am a resident of West Groton, with a husband, four mostly-grown children, and a Samoyed that keeps my vacuum well-employed. I am currently working part-time at the Groton Public Library and writing monthly reviews for Booklist Magazine. In a former life, I was a Director of PR/Marketing at a high-tech consulting firm. My BA is in Psychology, but most of my time was spent in college earning a Concentration in the Novel. That is all to say that I make no claims at being an expert of any kind, and my thoughts, opinions. and mistakes are solely my own. I am just a person whose passion for books has continued to grow from the moment I was first able to grip and gnaw on them. I have been devouring them ever since.