Set in the near future, man-made certified caregiving nurses with AI are the norm. Our unlikely heroine Betty, was the prototype of all the G-4s. This is the first book of the Man-Made trilogy, where Betty discovers there is much more to life than what she was originally designed for.
After a coding tweak gives her newly-found emotions, it leads her on a journey of self-discovery, action, romance, and a knack for saving others in trouble. Partly organic yet still part machine, she finds herself caught between two entirely different worlds: one of pure logic, and the less rational and often inexplicable realm of human emotions.
After the death of her favorite patient Leela, Betty leaves the comfort of Caring Corp. her place of creation, embarking on a new life. Along the way, she encounters the “real world”, which she discovers is also occupied by abusive humans, hijackers, and con artists. We follow Betty’s unique “Cyber-ella” story from nobody to national hero.
A taut, urgent read…
Cluster’s series kicker in the Man-Made trilogy is a sharp, intense dive into the heart of AI, identity, and freedom. The story follows Betty, an AI caregiver who breaks from her programming to experience emotions and fight for autonomy.
In a near-future society where AI caregivers are ubiquitous, Betty’s emotional evolution sets her apart, driving the narrative’s relentless tension. As her internal conflict escalates, so does the novel’s momentum, culminating in a gripping courtroom battle for recognition. Cluster’s prose is sharp and unyielding, each line probing the thin boundary between human and machine.
The characters reflect society’s divided views on AI, adding depth to Betty’s raw struggle for personhood. Drawing parallels to works like Philip K. Dick’s ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,’ Cluster explores the nature of humanity and empathy, creating a thought-provoking narrative that forces readers to question what it truly means to be human. Bold, timely, and intensely relevant, the novel delivers a chilling glimpse into a future where the boundary between human and machine blurs.
– Neena H. Brar, The Prairies Book Review
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This document contains all the book specs. For a print-ready copy, contact Cassie at Hello@CassieCluster.com.