It’s been quite a while since I posted last.
To cut a long story short, life’s path can take many turns.
Eventually, I found the time to restructure my schedule and a long-time dream of writing a novel reappeared and captured my imagination.
I’ve been a writer all my life. I enjoy communicating and expressing thoughts and ideas to an audience.
Apart from the poetry and short stories on this blog, in my earlier life, I wrote something like 1800 published articles, a few long-form historical works, and a multitude of submissions to government inquiries and policy proposals.
But a novel? Now there’s a novel idea!
I knew I had a novel in me. I’ve heard that many times. It always seemed to be a ‘when I retire’/ bucket list kind of proposal.
Well, that’s sort of where I found myself a few years ago. I treated myself to a new laptop, read widely on the ‘how to’ of novel writing, and dived into what would be about a nine-month journey. (I’ve heard others note that writing a book and finally publishing it is like bringing a child into the world!)
I would like to tell readers that I structured my writing in a systematized fashion, building the framework for the story, developing the characters, and otherwise following systems recommended by the ‘how to’ genre. But that was not the case at all, even though I had every intention of following that path.
Looking back now, I find it hard to form an accurate representation of how I developed Tuesday’s Child: Artificial Intelligence and the Demise of Human Autonomy except to note the profound effect the characters had on me, personally, whilst ever they were living rent-free in my head. It was almost as though they existed before I knew/created them!
The tale revolves around two long-time friends who are thrown together through personal tragedy. They developed a computer program designed to assist professionals working with trauma and mental health. Working through the ethics of their program and observing other nascent applications using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, they become aware of the inherent dangers of AI for humanity and human existence. Unwittingly, they become the public voices of concern and, ultimately, the only people on the planet with the ability to undo an increasingly bleak future where decisionmaking at every level of human activity, is made by machines.
Tuesday’s Children is an account of the very best in human nature seen through the eyes of deep friendships and romance. It explores the qualities of loyalty and courage and a future where such human traits may ultimately prove to be of little worth.
To answer the obvious question: No, I did not use AI to write the book, though I did ask ChatGPT to craft a form of UN Resolution which is included in the text. (there’s a storyline hint for you!) These days, there are programs that will write an entire novel for you on request. Such a product might make good sales (unlike this struggling writer thus far!), but I think it misses something…the joy of the journey.
And that, in a nutshell, describes my experience: the joy of the journey!
Tuesday’s Child: Artificial Intelligence and the Demise of Human Autonomy is available as an Amazon E Book. Follow the link in the title text.
I’m working on a follow up book as I write on the dawn of the androids.
Cheers for now,
Paul
Paul Russell: Musings 