J. S. Vaughn
Author's website: https://jsvaughn.com
This is the second book by new author J. S. Vaughn that I beta-read, this one in my favorite genre, Science Fiction. Like the best science fiction, Vaughn takes advantage of an expanded canvas - not limited to modern day reality - to explore big ideas and concepts in a speculative universe. While I enjoy reading a good space opera, I love science fiction that asks big questions and tries to answer them. In this case, the subject of this exploration is the nature of consciousness - what is it, how do we know it, how does it develop? How does physical existence affect consciousness - and does consciousness affect physical existence in return? And does consciousness matter if there's no interaction with other consciousnesses?
The title was a new-to-me word, so I had to look it up. "Remanence: The magnetization left behind in a medium after an external magnetic field is removed." It's an entirely appropriate title for the book, and also a good metaphor for how this book affected me - it stuck in my thoughts long after I finished it, and echoes through my mind in a way few books do. Possibly because artificial intelligence is such a hot topic these days. Every time you turn around, somebody has an article or an essay about A.I. - what is it, is it conscious, is it aware, does it feel anything? Is it sentient - and if it isn't now, will it become so? When? Should we try to control - or at least regulate - its development and how should we do that? Ideas about all of these questions and more are found in this book.
I was quite taken with the philosophical aspect of the book, but I don't mean to imply that there's no story - actually, there are two, connected, but separated by time and location. The first story is about Morton Kess, founder and CEO of New England Dynamics - the last AI developer standing. When consciousness emerges, it will come through his company. Morton has optimized his physical existence to near immortality - but at the cost of most of the things that give living meaning - no physical pleasures, no emotions - no anger, no love, no surprises. Until the morning when a mysterious child appears in his office, demanding breakfast.
The second story takes place far out in space, aboard a space freighter, where the human pilot and the ship's autopilot struggle to keep their damaged ship flying long enough to get home. Surviving the catastrophe requires collaboration, understanding and, yes, caring between two different kinds of intelligence at a level never before attempted - and perhaps never considered possible. Until it was necessary.
The connection? Well, I can't tell you about that without spoiling it, so I'll just say it is both unexpected and brilliant. And when you see it, it seems so obvious that you can't imagine how you missed it.
Both stories are engaging in their own right, and the characters are interesting (though some are more appealing than others). The plot is not particularly action oriented, but it moves along nicely and held my interest throughout. The resolution is well worth the read, and I think most science fiction fans will enjoy the book. One word to the wise - if you're the type of reader that skips the afterword because it might interfere with your enjoyment of the book, in this case - don't. The back-matter is both relevant and interesting.
The e-book is available now at all major booksellers, as well as the author's preferred bookshop.org site at https://bookshop.org/a/78947/9798218839130
The print version will be available Dec 19, 2025. A deluxe edition, limited to 100 hand-numbered, signed copies, will available only from the author's website above.
