Liberty (Two Democracies: Revolution) - Softcover

Shaw, Mr Alasdair C

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0995511004 ISBN 13: 9780995511002

Publisher: Alasdair Shaw, 2016

Synopsis

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. Unable to make the decision alone, it revives the sole human aboard - the enemy officer who crippled it. Commander Olivia Johnson wakes to find herself in the infirmary of a strange vessel. Her nightmares deepen when she discovers it is the ship that attacked her destroyer. Even as she recovers from her physical injuries, she can't get past her survivor's guilt. She might have failed to protect her crew, but she vows to take revenge on their killer. When the ship uncovers a genocidal plot by the commander's own admirals, Johnson realises just what is at stake. Together, the AI ship and the human officer must recruit outsiders from both sides. Training the misfits in battle to prevent the atrocity may be an impossible task, but running and hiding is no longer an option.

About this title

From the Author:

Liberty is the first full-length novel in the Two Democracies: Revolution series. After Indie and Johnson were introduced in the short story Independence, I felt I had to give them a bigger canvas on which to explore their interactions. I particularly enjoyed having them grow closer together, and as a result overcome some of their deep worries. In some ways, Indie is a much more rounded and mature personality than Johnson, but then there are times when his inexperience at interacting as a sentient being makes him look like an awkward teenager.

About the Author:

I studied at the University of Cambridge, leaving with a BA in Natural Sciences and an MSci in Experimental and Theoretical Physics. My masters options included gravitational astrophysics, planetary geophysics, remote sensing and high resolution electron microscopy. I went on to earn a PGCE specialising in Science and Physics from the University of Bangor. A secondary teacher for over ten years I have plenty of experience communicating scientific ideas. I 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 I have lived in Somerset since 2002. I have been climbing, mountaineering, caving, kayaking and skiing as long as I can remember. Growing up I spent most of my spare time in the hills. Landscape archaeology has always been one of my interests; when you spend a long time in the outdoors you start noticing things and wondering how they came to be there. At university I included geophysics in my options. I am an experienced mountain and cave leader, holding a range of qualifications including ML, SPA and LCL. I am also a course director for climbing and navigation award schemes.

About this edition

• Publisher: Alasdair Shaw
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0995511004
• ISBN 13: 9780995511002
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 434