Crackling near-term, hard-SF "dawn of AGI" novel. More ideas per page than any book I've read in ages.

What sets it apart is the density of ideas. Most of us get into Sci-Fi because we want to think, to be challenged by "what-ifs". Yet, many novels explore too little ground or do so too shallowly. Cloudthinker flips so many of the AI tropes on their heads that the author could spend three novels pulling on all the revealed threads.

Harry Buck

 Every Sci-Fi Reader will love it

This is simply a fantastic book. It was a pleasure to read. Easy to access storyline with heavy technological themes. Comparable to Blake Crouch’s and at times, it reminds me of Neal Stephenson’s more technologically focused books.

John Matthew Fox, Bookfox.com

Almost perfect

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it, especially to anyone who has an interest in speculative fiction, cyberpunk, AI or enjoys the work of writers like William Gibson.

This is a tightly-plotted, engaging... well-written book. The plot flows smoothly and the author throughout shows that he knows his craft and also has a better than average understanding of mathematics and AI, citing many references to both without ever getting bogged down in the tech. The book rolls along at a good pace without ever becoming dull and builds to an action-packed climax.

Dean Kelly

Gripping read with great representation. A perfect combination of multi-dimensional characters, fascinating world, pacey plot and AI themes.

Boogie is a genius female scientist and (mini-spoiler) doesn't even have a romantic arc in the book. Let's pause a minute and re-iterate: she is not for once thinking about love and men. She is, indeed, thinking a little about her looks, but it seems to be only for her own self-expression, never for the male gaze. And the author is actually a white male, so... Maybe there's hope for this world?

Miranda Osmelak

If ChatGPT had an origin story this would be it

While many novels and movies already moralize on the humanity of robots, McGlinchey provides a fresh take on the AI genre by explaining how they become human, and it's so plausible you wonder why big tech hasn't done it already. Unless they have...

This is a fast-paced action thriller which was tough to put down once I started. Can't wait for it to be turned into a Netflix movie.

Bonus: If you were a FAANG employee from the 2010s you might spot some fun insider references.

Deborah N

Hauntingly Accurate

We're on the cusp of so many technological changes in our world. Some wonderful, some terrifying. This book will take you down the winding trail of "what ifs" that are fast becoming a reality for all of us. Thrilling and thought provoking. I forgot this was a work of fiction several times. A great book!

Joe S

A highly recommended read

In many ways, Cloudthinker feels like a movie waiting for a screenplay. Its often ironic blend of science fiction and non-fiction keeps the story very much in the present, and the vivid imagery and polished prose keep mental images freely flowing.

The observations and warnings embedded in the narrative certainly raise questions that are increasingly poignant in a world that already embraces generative AI.

Jules Kay