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Bruce Deitrick Price's
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THE BOY WHO SAVES THE WORLD
sci-fi / mystery / thriller
This novel was published five years ago with a nerdy boy on the cover, apparently on the assumption that his forte was electronics or hacking. I never liked the cover but I was grateful for any attention; and thought I should let the publisher show what he can do.
A year ago, the publisher released the book. I didn't change a word. I focused on getting the right cover.
The boy is not a techie, he's a hard luck kid from a poor neighborhood. Hes angry and resentful. His parents are divorced. His mother cleans offices. The father is an alcoholic. Carlos is hispanic, young, small, and complicated.
How can he save himself, never mind the world? That's the real mystery.
I found an AI artist and told him I want a Caravaggio look. Apparently, the AI understood so I've got a tough little guy, mixed with Italian decadence from 500 years ago. I like the weird tension.
I think it's fair to say this is an easy-to-like book. You get the thriller aspects but you also get unexpected humor and romance.
I figured all along that I could use Author's Den to promote the book if I had a good cover. One of my main activities throughout my life is Art Director. You have to work with the strengths you have. Conversely, don't accept inferior cover if you're sure a better one is possible.
Here are some early reactions
I LOVED IT. It's interesting and fast-paced. -- Laurie Endicott Thomas, author of "Not Trivial: How Studying The Traditional Liberal Arts Can Set You Free
The Boy Who Saves the World has everything--adventure, romance, science, and the author's usual deep thinking about the most important issues facing our planet . I know Bruce Price and have commented on several of his previous books. We have agreed to disagree about the ending. Read and decide for yourself. It's one of the best books out there. M. L. Cohalan
Prices writing is urgent, cinematic, and unrelenting. The narrative unfolds in rapid bursts; short, impactful sentences drive the tension forward, while swift shifts in perspective heighten the sense of chaos. The relentless media frenzy and conflicting public narratives reflect the modern eras struggles with misinformation and mass hysteria. Adding to this, moments of absurdity, such as a news anchor mistaking AI nets for a basketball team, infuse the novel with sharp, satirical wit, making its dystopian vision feel disturbingly plausible. Titan Literary
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Here's how the book starts:
Silicon Valley White House wants to rein in the world's leading AI pioneer, Dr. Newman. A small-scale military attack on the man's lab triggers an unexpected response: the lab defends itself intelligently.
In the confusion, an advanced AI prototype escapes. Hiding inside a boy named Carlos.
