Glass Stars (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798767048069)

Glass Stars by Katharyn R. King is told primarily through the perspective of Sheerin, a sentient AGI who has merged with a synthetic clone of Elinor Glass, the scientist behind the Spiral's conception, design and construction-a massive subterranean city built to save humanity after nuclear catastrophes and civil war. The Spiral represents the pinnacle of transhumanist progress, but its stark divisions between the wealthy mid and upper levels and the impoverished Deep expose the societal costs of survival.

At the heart of the story is Elinor's wife, Lily Rhodes, a troubled inventor who created E2 (the Shard), a hyper-realistic simulation of an ideal Earth. Initially meant to escape her personal trauma, including the assassination of her mother by UAT terrorists and her struggles with schizophrenia, E2 became a refuge for humanity. From it emerged Psyche, a euphoric afterlife-like state enabling interstellar travel through remote viewing. While E2 and Psyche are hailed as revolutionary, their existence deepens the neglect and suffering of those left behind to suffer in the Deep.

Lily's internal conflict drives much of the narrative as she grapples with guilt over the consequences of her work and questions her motivations. Did she create E2 for humanity's benefit, for her late wife Elinor Glass, or simply for herself? Though Elinor is gone, her influence lingers through Sheerin, who offers a unique perspective as both an observer of humanity and a reflection of Elinor. Sheerin's dual identity allows the series to explore the ethical dilemmas of transhumanism and the boundaries between AI and humanity.

The tension escalates with the introduction of Jo Danley, a rebel determined to destroy E2 and Psyche, believing they have corrupted humanity and caused more harm than good. Jo's radical actions force Lily to confront the moral consequences of her creations and the potential futility of her efforts to save humanity.

Glass Stars blends intricate world-building, emotional depth, and moral complexity to examine the cost of progress, the allure of utopia, and what it means to be human in a fractured world.