Description
In the future, AI are everywhere. They are our employers, our employees, our friends, lovers and even our children. Over half the human race lives online. But in the Caspian Republic, the last true human beings have made their stand, and their repressive, one-party state is locked in perpetual cold war with the outside world.
Security Agent Nikolai South is tasked with escorting a dead journalist's widow through the virulently anti-AI and repressive Caspian Republic. But as they delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the death and the secrets it uncovers, South must choose between his loyalty to his country and his conscience.
About the Author
Neil Sharpson lives in Dublin with his wife and their two children. Having written for theatre since his teens, Neil transitioned to writing novels in 2017, adapting his own play The Caspian Sea into When the Sparrow Falls.
A huge fan of animation, Neil writes Unshaved Mouse, a comedic review blog mostly focusing on animated film and comic book movies.
He is a graduate of the Abbey Theatre's New Playwright's Programme, and was shortlisted for the Maguire International Playwrighting Award.
Reviews
"The world of the Caspian Republic is drawn with precision worthy of Philip K. Dick and the plot, with its gripping twists and turns, is worthy of comparison with Le Carre at his best. Rarely does such an exciting and innovative new voice emerge, both refreshing the genre and reminding the reader of what made them fall in love with it in the first place." -- Jessica Traynor, essayist and poet
"A gripping and intriguing debut." -- Amelia Mellor, author of The Grandest Bookshop in the World
"A propulsive science fiction thriller... richly imagined [and] expertly told." -- Kevin Power, author of Bad Day in Blackrock and White City
"Part spy thriller, part dark dystopian, When The Sparrow Falls is a complex examination of identity, technology, power, and control." * The Nerd Daily *
"An impressive debut" * ParSec Magazine *
"A witty, playfully philosophical exploration of what it means to be human in a digital age." * SFX *
"An original and gripping thriller." * The Guardian *
"A gripping and unsettling work of science fiction." * SciFiNow *
"Mixes Cold War nostalgia with smart thinking about artificial intelligence and spiritual identity." -- The Times Sci-Fi Book of the Month * The Times *
"A complex, sometimes profound novel." -- The FT * The FT *
"The fast-paced and engaging plot, and the extraordinarily interesting political dynamics of the setting make for one of the best debut novels of the year." * The Hugo Book Club Blog *
Book Information
ISBN 9781781089163
Author Neil Sharpson
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Solaris
Publisher Rebellion Publishing Ltd.
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 128mm * 23mm
Security Agent Nikolai South is tasked with escorting a dead journalist's widow through the virulently anti-AI and repressive Caspian Republic. But as they delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the death and the secrets it uncovers, South must choose between his loyalty to his country and his conscience.
1984 meets Blade Runner in a John le Carre thriller.
About the Author
Neil Sharpson lives in Dublin with his wife and their two children. Having written for theatre since his teens, Neil transitioned to writing novels in 2017, adapting his own play The Caspian Sea into When the Sparrow Falls.
A huge fan of animation, Neil writes Unshaved Mouse, a comedic review blog mostly focusing on animated film and comic book movies.
He is a graduate of the Abbey Theatre's New Playwright's Programme, and was shortlisted for the Maguire International Playwrighting Award.
Reviews
"The world of the Caspian Republic is drawn with precision worthy of Philip K. Dick and the plot, with its gripping twists and turns, is worthy of comparison with Le Carre at his best. Rarely does such an exciting and innovative new voice emerge, both refreshing the genre and reminding the reader of what made them fall in love with it in the first place." -- Jessica Traynor, essayist and poet
"A gripping and intriguing debut." -- Amelia Mellor, author of The Grandest Bookshop in the World
"A propulsive science fiction thriller... richly imagined [and] expertly told." -- Kevin Power, author of Bad Day in Blackrock and White City
"Part spy thriller, part dark dystopian, When The Sparrow Falls is a complex examination of identity, technology, power, and control." * The Nerd Daily *
"An impressive debut" * ParSec Magazine *
"A witty, playfully philosophical exploration of what it means to be human in a digital age." * SFX *
"An original and gripping thriller." * The Guardian *
"A gripping and unsettling work of science fiction." * SciFiNow *
"Mixes Cold War nostalgia with smart thinking about artificial intelligence and spiritual identity." -- The Times Sci-Fi Book of the Month * The Times *
"A complex, sometimes profound novel." -- The FT * The FT *
"The fast-paced and engaging plot, and the extraordinarily interesting political dynamics of the setting make for one of the best debut novels of the year." * The Hugo Book Club Blog *
Book Information
ISBN 9781781089163
Author Neil Sharpson
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Solaris
Publisher Rebellion Publishing Ltd.
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 128mm * 23mm
