New sci-fi novel championing humanity over AI released today.
Today sees the UK release of near-future sci-fi/psychological horror Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep, written by Paul Tremblay, published by William Morrow & Company in the US, and Bloomsbury Publishing in the UK and internationally.
Julia Flang, a twenty-something former semi-professional gamer takes on a rather random job: Julia must accompany a man named Bernie across the US
Why? Because Bernie is in a vegetative state, his mind trapped in an AI construct. Using a specialized controller, Julia literally has to maneuver Bernie’s physical body along their journey, whilst Bernie undergoes his own mental journey.
Dead But Dreaming.. is a curious mixture of buddy road comedy, and existential horror. Whilst Julia’s struggles initially revolve around maneuvering her charge around the country, Weekend at Bernies style, Bernie’s own are much darker and frightening, mentally cast adrift within an artificial environment that he can’t quite grasp or understand.
Paraphrasing the title of Philip K. Dick’s iconic novel is certainly bold, but fear not, Tremblay is attempting not innovate, not imitate. Dead But Dreaming… has a unique dual perspective, and the narrative choice he has made is certainly clever in terms of thrusting the reader into the more horrific elements of the story. Playing on the title of Dick’s novel seems more a clever way of drawing the attention of the novel’s target audience than it is an attempt to retell a similar story. The book is very clearly a statement against the rise and proliferation of AI, and a very timely one at that.
Tremblay’s previous work includes A Head Full of Ghosts, The Pallbearers Club, Horror Movie, and The Cabin at the End of the World, which was adapted into the 2023 M. Night Shyamalan film Knock at the Cabin. We see a lot of cinematic opportunity with this latest novel, so we wouldn’t be surprised if it was adapted at some point.
You can find out more about Paul Tremblay on his website, www.paultremblay.net, and Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep is available in hardback from all good book retailers now, and in digital format.
Cyberstopia 