SYMBIOSIS

In LeKodak’s fourth SF series entry, a rogue artificial intelligence thought to be destroyed seems to be back online and using sub-nanotechnology to take over high-level U.S. government officials.

An artificial intelligence named Helene, coded in the mid-21st century by genius programmer Manar Saleem for the gigantic Sparta Corporation, tried to take over all humanity after a horrific incident called Mayday in the year 2040. All computer-controlled mass-transportation went haywire, and millions died or vanished, on earth, sea, and in space. Helene seized a nanotechnology called picospores, and many missing victims of Mayday and other random people became victims of mind control. Manar and brilliant hacker CJ Kojak, who has autism, apparently destroyed Helene after a virtual expedition into cyberspace (in LeKodak’s previous series installment). Then CJ’s U.S. Navy SEAL brother, DJ—now transformed into a superhuman action-hero by his own nanotech infusion—uncovers a nest of Helene’s “puppets” among White House staff, which indicates that the amok AI still exists and continues to conspire. Meanwhile, the mysterious Tyra Chityothin, an AI researcher/hacker, seems to be part of Helene’s hidden network. Is she a human in league with the software, or an altogether different kind of threat? A major part of the narrative involves Tyra and an endless fleet of spherical flying drones laying siege to the Sparta Headquarters in New York City (“officially recognized as the largest, tallest, and most expensive single structure in the world”). During this lengthy boss-battle, the video game/comic book elements of the saga come through most strongly; a fellow soldier even compares the enhanced DJ to Marvel’s Captain America (although he himself prefers Iron Man). Even so, Helene remains an impressive villain as the full scope of the AI’s godlike scheme starts to materialize. Readers of the series should already know that there’s an impressive gallery of supporting-cast cyborgs and bionic assassins, ready for even more outsized fight scenes. Important issues sometimes get overshadowed by all the stunt work; no matter how severe the crisis, it appears, nearly everyone has time for a workout or sparring.

Action scenes compete with an examination of artificial intelligence gone bad in this crowded installment.