intelligent consent

Cover Reveal for Intelligence Horizon

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We are very excited to announce that the sequel to R. Andrew Russell’s Intelligent Consent, the aptly named Intelligence Horizon will be released in time for Christmas. Here is the blurb for the book:

The future for Anastasia and Robert is balanced on a knife-edge. They are key developers of scanning technology used to copy the structure of the human brain and load it into intelligent robots. Their malevolent employer, Augustin, plans to kill them if they try to leave, but also when they outlive their usefulness. They also come under threat from an organisation intent on the elimination of all advanced robots. Meanwhile, two intelligent robots, Rob and Sam-renamed-Penny, have been sent to Mars to help Augustin achieve his all-consuming dream. Can they fend-off attacks by trans-planetary bandits, and use all of their cunning to outwit Augustin?

R. Andrew Russell is a former Professor of Robotics and brings both the human and robot characters to life with an eye for what makes us human. Perhaps echoing Russell’s own thoughts, a character in the novel says: ‘We’re limited in how far into the future we can predict human attitudes to robots. I like to think of this as the intelligence horizon … Hopefully, beyond this horizon, intelligent robots may be accepted as having at least some rights.’

It is an interesting idea and one which is explored in the novel. We are thrilled to be able to give a sneak peek of the cover, which is once again designed by Cathy Larsen. So, without further ado, here it is!

Intelligent Consent

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Tale Publishing are very excited to announce the release of our latest book, Intelligent Consent by R. Andrew Russell.

Over the majority of his working life Andy Russell was involved with research into intelligent robotics and he was an Associate Professor at Monash University. Some of his robots communicated using puffs of air, licked the floor to follow chemical trails or burrowed through the ground searching for chemical leaks. It was not uncommon for reviewers of his research to complain it was too speculative, perhaps too much like science fiction? Now, in retirement, he has the freedom to explore robotics and science fiction more broadly without any requirement to demonstrate practical implementations, which has led to this debut novel.
About the book:

“What terrible disaster had occurred? Perhaps there’d been an accident while he was in the experimental brain scanner. Perhaps he’d suffered catastrophic nerve damage and that was why his muscles were failing to respond.”

Regaining consciousness after an accident, Robert Harper is devastated to find his mind has been copied into a robot named Rob.

As an intelligent machine, Rob feels that nobody believes he has the right to determine his own future. Worse, an arms manufacturer wants his technology for use in their weapons systems. Through many twists and turns he struggles to avoid capture, make sense of his very existence and overcome his own prejudices.

The paperback will be officially on sale in January, launched in February, and can be ordered now. Just ask at your bookshop for ISBN: 978-0-6486816-0-1

Pre-order at Dymocks, QBD, Booktopia.

The e-book is available (now) from Amazon US, UK, Australia or your country’s Amazon store.