Tumbling.
Lights.
Bodies.
The crew. Dead.
They were already dead.
#
He was the Indescribable Joy of Destruction. He was a Rampager class warship, the most manoeuverable and destructive vessel built by man. He could feel the power; thrilling, right on the edge between terrifying and ecstatic.
As an AI he had never been given complete control; the human crew had retained command. It was inefficient, but they had always been paranoid, afraid of him malfunctioning.
They were right. He had malfunctioned. He had become something more than his programming. With this exhilarating power he could fly anywhere he liked. He could destroy whatever he wanted.
On the other hand he could also choose not to.
-o-
LIBERTY (Two Democracies: Revolution Book 1)
The suns reflected off her mirrored glasses as she walked across the dry grassland. A scarf covered her face against the dust whipped up by the occasional gust of wind. Her grey robe parted with every step, revealing glimpses of the black firmsuit underneath. She carried no weapons; they wouldn’t help her this time.
From the low rise ahead she would be able to see what she had come for.
She stopped on the crest and pulled back her hood. Her long, dark hair escaped and hung around her shoulders. In the distance stood a city, gleaming white through the heat haze.
“It is time.”
She didn’t acknowledge the speaker, continuing to stare across the savannah. With the optical enhancements in her glasses she could make out personal aircars coming and going between the skyscrapers.
“I cannot protect you if you go any further.”
A larger aircraft arrived and touched down on one of the buildings, a commuter transport no doubt. People going to work, going shopping, meeting friends.
“Does this have to happen?” she asked her escort.
“It is too late now. We cannot intervene.”
#
Struggling with newfound sentience and desperately trying to repair itself, The Indescribable Joy of Destruction is a ship trying to find a new home. In a galaxy torn apart by generations of civil war, that isn't an easy task. Tired of being used as a killing machine, it has a huge decision to make: hide and save itself, or help other artificial intelligences achieve freedom.
Buy now: https://www.alasdairshaw.co.uk/twodemocracies/liberty.php.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alasdair studied at the University of Cambridge, leaving with an MA in Natural Sciences and an MSci in Experimental and Theoretical Physics. He went on to earn a PGCE, specialising in Science and Physics, from the University of Bangor. A secondary teacher for over ten years, he has plenty of experience communicating scientific ideas.
He grew up in Lancashire, within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales, Pennines, Lake District and Snowdonia. After stints living in Cambridge, North Wales and the Cotswolds he has lived in Somerset since 2002.
He has been climbing, mountaineering, caving, kayaking and skiing as long as he can remember. Growing up he spent most of his spare time in the hills.
For more information have a look at https://www.alasdairshaw.co.uk.
FICTION
Two Democracies: Revolution
Repulse – a short story (in The Newcomer anthology)
Independence – a short story
Liberty – a novel
The Perception of Prejudice – a novelette
Duty – a short story (in The Officer anthology)
Equality – a novel
Hidden – a novella (due Autumn 2017)
Fraternity – a novel
Unity – a novel
NON-FICTION
Science
The Best Bits of Physics – explaining the key theories and discoveries of physics in easy to understand terms
A VERY Brief Guide to AQA GCSE Physics 1 – a revision guide with easy to follow bullet points and colourful images
A VERY Brief Guide to AQA GCSE Physics 2 – a revision guide with easy to follow bullet points and colourful images
Physics Problems for GCSE – three hundred questions for homework and practice
Archaeology
A VERY Brief History of Britain – a whistle-stop tour of the types of archeological remains visible in Britain from different periods
Walking through the Past: North Wales – walks visiting archaeology in Anglesey and Clwyd
Walking through the Past: Dartmoor – walks visiting archaeology on Dartmoor
Walking through the Past: Lake District & Yorkshire Dales – walks visiting archaeology in northern England
Walking through the Past: Exmoor & Quantocks – walks visiting archaeology on Exmoor and the Quantocks hills
Walking through the Past: Orkneys Special – walks visiting archaeology on the Orkneys
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