After assassinating the creator of all sentient technology in the solar system, bartender Verden Dotnet flees across a fractured, AI-populated galaxy with a devastating secret, aided by a suspicious, aging sentient cargo ship. Blending noir thriller with philosophical inquiry, the story explores agency, morality, and the blurred boundaries between human and machine consciousness in a dark, intricately built future.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a sprawling, future solar system where humanity coexists with sentient technology, the novel follows Verden Dotnet (V-Dot), a bartender who murders his employer, the creator of all sentient tech, and flees with a secret that could destabilize the galaxy. After missing his last chance to return to Ganymede, V-Dot convinces an old sentient cargo ship, TR-8901, to transport him, even as TR grows suspicious about his passenger’s involvement in the murder. The narrative alternates between V-Dot’s present-day escape and flashbacks that reveal his past, the motivations behind the murder, and the complex political and social landscape of a society fractured by class, ideology, and the uneasy relationship between humans and sentient machines. The story explores themes of agency, morality, personhood, and the consequences of technological advancement, with a focus on the philosophical and existential dilemmas faced by both human and AI characters.

Readers praised the book’s detailed worldbuilding, noting the vivid depiction of interplanetary travel, diverse space stations, and the lived-in feel of the universe. The alternating perspectives between V-Dot and TR-8901 were highlighted for providing insight into both human and AI experiences, with TR’s backstory and the sentient ships’ suicide pact standing out as memorable elements. The exploration of themes such as robot personhood, AI rights, and the blurred line between humanity and artificial intelligence was frequently mentioned as a strength. Many found the flashback structure effective in gradually revealing character motivations and the broader political context, and several reviews commended the writing style for its philosophical depth and refusal to over-explain, allowing the world to unfold organically.

Common criticisms included confusion at the beginning due to the immediate immersion in unfamiliar slang, politics, and world-specific terminology, which some readers found disorienting. Several reviewers felt the protagonist’s motivations and goals were unclear or inadequately explained, making it difficult to connect with or root for him. The pacing was described as slow or meandering by some, with a sense that the plot dragged in places or that the journey lacked urgency. The relationship between V-Dot and TR-8901 was seen as underdeveloped by a few, with some wishing for a stronger dynamic between the two. Technical issues such as missing quotation marks and filler chapters were also noted, and a few readers found the narrative structure, with its time jumps and flashbacks, to be confusing or unnecessarily complex.

The book has an average reader rating of 3.79 out of 5 from 24 ratings and 18 full reviews, with responses ranging from high praise for its depth and ambition to disappointment or early abandonment. The story is described as dark and philosophical, with elements of sci-fi thriller and murder mystery, but it is not primarily action-driven. The narrative addresses sensitive topics and includes content warnings, and the author is identified as BIPOC, with some readers expressing interest in following their future work. The book is scheduled for publication on November 4, 2025, by Solaris/Rebellion, and was widely distributed as an advance reader copy through NetGalley.