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The Way of the Dhin is a Science fiction novel by John L. Clemmer
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Extraterrestrial beings, the Dhin, have visited Earth. Communication with the enigmatic aliens proves problematic. The Dhin suddenly depart, without explanation, leaving a few samples of their technology. Wide knowledge of these events would cause chaos. The powerful Coalition Security agency strives to maintain secrecy. As Coalition researchers explore the alien technology, their discoveries turn our understanding of physics inside out.
Humanity faces numerous challenges. After multiple economic crises and subsequent collapses, the remaining viable nations joined together as the Coalition. Recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence then led to AI management of most economic and political affairs. Unfortunately, even AI are not perfect, and some volatility and conflict remain.
Not everyone agrees the AIs are aligned with our best interests.
Humanity now faces the seemingly insurmountable challenge of unlocking the secrets of the alien technology without advice or assistance. Questions remain unanswered. Are the Dhin truly benevolent? Will the Coalition military succeed in weaponizing the powerful technology? Will scientists succeed in understanding this new science and leverage it for the benefit of all? What might the AI governors that manage human affairs decide is the best course of action? Could one man, a test pilot, make a difference?
A Word from the Author
I enjoy keeping up with new discoveries in science and technology. Consider all the things we’ve discovered now that would look like magic if someone from 1600 CE had those things handed to them. They would think that we were breaking the laws of physics. So what if that happened with us, today? Someone just brought us some tools that let us do those supposedly impossible things. Furthermore, suppose that even if they wanted to, they couldn’t effectively communicate how it worked to us or why they’d given us those tools?
That’s the main plot line in The Way of the Dhin. It’s set in a fairly near future, where along with having alien technology dumped in our laps, Artificial Intelligence has escalated rapidly past the level of, say, Watson and Siri’s great-grandchildren. You may have heard it called the Singularity. All sorts of things are managed for us, but unfortunately getting to that point wasn’t smooth. Suddenly we’re not entirely in control anymore and as you’d expect, some people aren’t at all comfortable with that. The story is the intersection of those two plot lines.
I was inspired you to write the novel when I discovered an author I loved, Iain M. Banks, had died. Talking with a friend about that, I said “I should write a book.” It’s got nothing to do with the universe his stories are set in, other than exploration of the same core themes of enigmatic aliens and incredibly powerful AI.
(John L. Clemmer, June 2016)
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