WE LOVE YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT

In this sequel, a Washington, D.C., woman mentally linked to a groundbreaking computer announces her intention to run for president amid a scandal-ridden and criminal White House administration.

This SF political thriller follows Berger’s Adama (2016). When last seen, United States government agent and cutting-edge science researcher Matt Cranston had married beautiful Mallory Bartlett, an international executive, after the pair perilously smuggled a revolutionary artificial intelligence computer out of Israel. Called Adama (Mallory assigned the device a female identity), she is enhanced with human DNA and is self-aware. Adama exhibits a personality—at once humorous, somewhat domineering, and even threatening—demanding the next step in machine evolution: occupying a human body. Adama reveals that, via digital telepathy, she can upload her essence into Mallory, and Matt is (surprisingly) agreeable to his wife’s being intimately linked to the world’s most powerful sentient technology. Meanwhile, American President Patrick Allen is a foul sex predator not above planning murder to protect himself. Secretary of State Clarence Harrington, who schemes against Allen, is no better. Harrington’s son-in-law, an engineer on the Adama project, has vengefully programmed the AI with a drive to be the new president and set the U.S. back on track, a directive Adama continues once she shares Mallory’s body. The new Mallory enchants the National Independent Party and becomes its candidate; Matt and his ambitious wife have great sex; and even peripheral players (like a crusading reporter out to nail the despicable Allen) enjoy upgraded bedroom performances. Though the setting is declared as 2020, readers who are political scorekeepers will find no officeholders identified as Republicans or Democrats, and the main issue debated is climate change (Adama seems to be a skeptic). Rather like a third-party coalition, the book is an odds-and-ends mix of things: thriller, SF, cyberpunk, romance, and hopeful Washington drama reminiscent of James Stewart’s turn as Mr. Smith—never really settling. Still, there is no doubt that most readers of this captivating story would prefer a President Mallory Cranston in the West Wing over most of the actual White House occupants of the 21st century.

An engaging yarn that gene-splices SF and a David Baldacci–esque Beltway action-thriller.