Ex Libris WWEnd: Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton
Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton
St. Martin’s Press | April 9, 2024
From the creator of Mickey7, soon to be a major motion picture titled Mickey17 directed by Oscar award-winning Bong Joon Ho starring Robert Pattinson, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, comes Edward Ashton‘s newest standalone book, Mal Goes to War.
The humans are fighting again. Go figure.
As a free A.I., Mal finds the war between the modded and augmented Federals and the puritanical Humanists about as interesting as a battle between rival anthills. He’s not above scouting the battlefield for salvage, though, and when the Humanists abruptly cut off access to infospace he finds himself trapped in the body of a cyborg mercenary, and responsible for the safety of the modded girl she died protecting.
A dark comedy wrapped in a techno thriller’s skin, Mal Goes to War provides a satirical take on war, artificial intelligence, and what it really means to be human.
Read the first chapter for free at Worlds Without End.
Praise for Edward Ashton and the Mickey7 Series:
“A wildly entertaining mix of action and big ideas peppered with humor and a bizarre love story.” —NPR
“A brisk, spirited sci-fi romp…hugely enjoyable.” —Max Barry, author of Providence
“The fun [in reading Mickey7] is trying to keep up with Mr. Ashton’s twists and turns, and the extra fun is that you never do.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Ashton’s follow-up to his excellent Mickey7 (2022) is just as much fun as its predecessor.” —Booklist
“A nonstop SF adventure from beginning to end.” —Library Journal, starred
Edward Ashton lives with his adorably mopey dog, his inordinately patient wife, and a steadily diminishing number of daughters in Rochester, New York, where he studies new cancer therapies by day, and writes about the awful things his research may lead to by night.
He is the author of the novels Three Days in April and The End of Ordinary, as well as several dozen short stories which have appeared in venues ranging from the newsletter of an Italian sausage company to Louisiana Literature and Escape Pod.
2024 Philip K. Dick Award Nominees
The 2024 Philip K. Dick Award nominees have been announced:
- Danged Black Thing by Eugen Bacon (Apex)
- The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman (Tin House)
- Infinity Gate by M. R. Carey (Orbit)
- Wild Spaces by S. L. Coney (Tordotcom)
- Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila (Rosarium)
- These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs (Orbit)
The award is presented annually to a distinguished work of science fiction originally published in paperback form in the United States from the previous calendar year. The winner will be announced at Norwescon 46, March 28-31, 2024 in Seattle, WA.
Have you read any of these? What looks good to you on the list?