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John Hindmarsh
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The Darwin Project: Book One: Annihilation Series (The Annihilation Series 1) Kindle Edition

by John Hindmarsh (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 300 ratings
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Darwin - Demon or Friend, the Beginning or the End?

That’s Toby’s enigma. When he inherits his uncle’s corporate empire, he discovers it’s controlled by two superintelligences.

Darwin wants to prove he’s more intelligent than humans. For Bronwyn—the other SI—there’s no mystery: she already knows the answer.

The corporate empire is based on robotics—it’s the world’s largest manufacturers of processors, software, and templates for robots. Bots are taking over mundane jobs. They’re intelligent, perhaps too intelligent. Terrorist groups—led by brownshirts—are furthering social unrest.

What is the mystery of his uncle’s disappearance?

Toby’s friends are assaulted.

A brownshirt group plans to kill him.

His girlfriend is kidnapped.

Will Artificial Intelligence be the end of Humanity?

The fuse is lit for an exciting thriller.

Annihilation Series Structure -
Book One: The Darwin Project
Book Two: Body Shop
Book Three: Natural Born
Book Four: I, President

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 4
    The Annihilation Series
  2. Print length
    190 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    October 21, 2017
  6. File size
    1308 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Elon Musk -
2014- "With artificial intelligence we are summoning the demon. In all those stories where there's the guy with the pentagram and the holy water, it's like yeah he's sure he can control the demon. Didn't work out."

2017- "Robots will do everything better than us."

2017- "AI is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization in a way that car accidents, airplane crashes, faulty drugs or bad food were not -- they were harmful to a set of individuals within society, of course, but they were not harmful to society as a whole."

Stephen Hawking
2014- "The development of artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race."

Michael Vassar
2017- "If greater-than-human artificial general intelligence is invented without due caution, it is all but certain that the human species will be extinct in very short order."

Vladimir Putin
2017 - “Whoever reaches a breakthrough in developing artificial intelligence will come to dominate the world. Artificial intelligence is the future, not only for Russia, but for all humankind.”

Scary stuff, huh?

From the Author

I have a muse that sits on my shoulder and beats me over the head with a cricket bat if I don't take notice of its urgings.

About two - three years ago I encountered some comments by people like Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking about artificial intelligences (AI) and superintelligences(SI). Others have joined in, some not so alarming. Their comments - warnings, really - also caught the attention of my muse and the possibilities have been rattling around in my otherwise empty skull. (For quotes from Musk et al, see above.)

Well, you should be able to understand why my muse became excited.

Add social, economic, and political issues to the technological aspects and the result provides a basis for a suspenseful and challenging thriller series.

Now I don't know whether to describe the Annihilation Series as a technothriller or a political thriller or simply as an exciting thriller series. I'll let you make up your mind about the sub-genre possibilities.

Note that the books in this series are not intended to be standalone thrillers. They are intended to be episodes of a serial, with each book following on from the prior books.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B076NDTL36
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rexon Press (October 21, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 21, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1308 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 190 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 300 ratings

About the author

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John Hindmarsh

John Hindmarsh

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John Hindmarsh was born in 1785. From Wikipedia - Rear-Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh RN (1785 – 1860) was a naval officer and the first Governor of South Australia, from December 1836 to July 1838.

During the Battle of the Nile on 1 August 1798, the fire on board the French line-of-battle ship l'Orient put the Bellerophon (1786) in danger; all the other officers on the quarterdeck on the Bellerophon were killed or wounded, so 13-year-old Midshipman John Hindmarsh gathered some of the crew, cut the anchor cables, and raised a spritsail to get the ship moving.

You realize I write fiction? The above is all true - except I'm a different John Hindmarsh.

Yes, I write science fiction and thrillers, sometimes with crossover. Well, you need a thrill in your SF and an occasional touch of science in your thrillers. I'm Australian, and now live in Southern California, where I'm writing full time. I could be simply relaxing when I'm not writing.

My books generally are written with an American voice [well, I try], although I prefer to write British English. So I get mixed up - in any event, I claim aluminium is the correct word.

See more details at http://www.JohnHindmarsh.com

Thrillers.

Mark Midway series. Midway is genetically engineered. His challenge - to discover why. Mark One, Mark Two, Mark Three, and Mark Four are available now; individually, or as a set.

Annihilation. This series takes a thrilling perspective and examines what happens when Artificial Intelligence gets too intelligent. Remember, there's nothing artificial about AI.

The theme - AI: Demon or Friend, the Beginning or the End?

Science Fiction.

The Glass Complex series. The first book is Broken Glass, followed by Fracture Lines and the third book, Diamond Cut, was released in 2017.

Shen Ark: Departure was released as a possible beginning of a series. Currently it is a standalone title.

I have written a number of short stories, all science fiction although perhaps one or two have a touch of fantasy. Check my web site - www.JohnHindmarsh.com

Remember, for updates and the occasional freebie, join my mailing list - go to http://johnhindmarsh.com/contact/.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
300 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Manie Kilian
5.0 out of 5 stars Revolution and evolution
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2017
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In my little book any book by John Hindmarsh is a major event. So too the Darwin Project dealing with the issue of superior artificial intelligence. Set in a future America during a time of change in which human labour is gradually being replaced by automated machines, the pace is accellerating with the result that humans are finding it increasingly difficult to find and keep a job. This place humans in the difficult position of surviving. Small wonder then that a movement like the Brown Shirts is becoming more militant.
Nathan Travers, on the other hand, genius and entrepreneurial developer of superior artificial intelligence programming and hardware meant to assist and aid humankind, becomes a natural target for dissatisfied mobs.
Then he disappears.
This book is not the usual in your face confrontation of the fact of artificial intelligence like you would get with Skynet in the Terminator movies a couple of years ago. Instead, it is subtly woven into the plot as the story follows the struggles of Toby McIntosh as he steps into the shoes of his famous uncle, Nathan Travers, contending with a steep learning curve on how to manage a multi billion enterprise whilst dodging attempts on his life.
Part of a series the threads being developed in The Darwin Project is varied and promise an exciting and rich development in subsequent releases in the series. Gripping hardly seems enough to describe what is happening in this book, nor what lies ahead. My only issue is that it takes so damn much time between issues to get my hands on the next installment. Enjoy!
3 people found this helpful
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AndroOzapaKano
4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Thought Experiment
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2022
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This is the first book of a four book series. I have read the entire series and the following review applies to all four books. This series works extremely well as a fascinating thought experiment. What would be the effect on humanity if computers became super intelligent and self aware? Interesting ideas are put forward as to what might be good and what might be bad. Unfortunately, the narrative is flawed. The story is compelling and keeps your interest, but there are plot holes, inconsistencies and abandoned plot lines that make the reading experience less than completely satisfying. That said, the series is well worth reading.
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Allen Simmons
3.0 out of 5 stars Promises Much More
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2017
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This ‘project’ is off to a promising start. This is not the best of John Hindmarsh’s work. His writing in this opening work lacks the deftness and sure feel of previous works. The AI theme is creative, timely and thought provoking. However, I felt he failed in many places to suspend my disbelief, an essential for SF to grab and transport the reader successfully into the world of the characters. The plot was clunky and too forced in many places. The lead character is as yet unconvincing. I sense that Mr Hindmarsh has yet to decide who he is and what he is to become. This uncertainty spills too much into the story and holds it back. For all that, I know Mr Hindmarsh’s work and trust his ability to polish up this potential gem and make it sparkle in book two.
2 people found this helpful
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Jacki
5.0 out of 5 stars Like nothing I've read before
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2021
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This was truly an enjoyable read, so extremely different from anything I've read before, I couldn't stop reading. I've warned my husband he has to read it next and will transfer it over to his Kindle as soon as I finish this review. The concept is totally believable when contrasted to what I've observed over my many years on this planet. Hindmarsh is a new Stephen King but not creepy. I've often wondered about King's thought processes but Hindmarsh I find interesting. Have to finish the 4 books since the story continues but so be it. Will converse again when husband read this 1st in the series. Read it, you won't regret.
2 people found this helpful
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Sean Flanagan
5.0 out of 5 stars Another exceptional read crafted by a very talented author
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2020
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A mesmerizing mix: missing persons and whodunit; Naxi-type Brown Shirts; AI; quantum computing; HAL 9000; manipulation of social media; and Hearst-style yellow joirnalism. And this mixture is carefully measured and mixed by a master storyteller–the mad navigator Admiral Hindmarsh, who cements his reputation of serving up a very satisfying feast whose last nite leaves us famished and desperate for another serving. Sadly, I had not acquired the series before beginning this book, an inexplicable oversight considering my affinity for all of Hindmarsh's works.
One person found this helpful
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Kayak Jay
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Story with No Ending
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2017
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This book brilliantly brings together advances in Artificial Intelligence and politics to create a fascinating and suspenseful story. Unfortunately it ends in a cliff-hanger like an old Saturday serial. I was so excited about this book that I wanted to scream when it stopped, not ended.
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Badass
5.0 out of 5 stars I absolutely loved this book
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2018
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I finished all of authors books and series and saw this one listed. I fell in love from word one, letter one. The plot is actually something that we will be dealing with in the near future. Artificial Intelligence. The book moves society up about ten generations in AI Progress. There are so many questions. So many conundrums (conundrums are just really cool and intelligent questions.) Who makes these choices for us? Think Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Google, Facebook. Has the AI revolution already started? I highly recommend this book as SERIES.
2 people found this helpful
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localpeon
3.0 out of 5 stars I recommend it.
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2018
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I was intrigued by the opening and liked the premise as I moved into the book. There was enough to keep me reading although I stopped several times. I kept looking beyond some of the "management issues" ( to long) and then my interest picked up. I have bought the next book "Body Shop" and I do not regret it. I have settled into it and currently am enjoying it. Even though I rated Darwin Project a 3, I still would and do recommend it.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Firstpeke
5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting provocative read….
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2022
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Probably shouldn’t be read by people who consider themselves technophobes..
It will will probably create a more insidious fear of technology….

In some ways this parallels other novels by John Hindmarsh, I have read almost all his work and can surely say that he will be missed.
Onto book 2…..
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Walter Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars A fast-paced thriller with vile politicians and computers with emerging intelligence
Reviewed in Canada on March 5, 2018
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This was a very thought-provoking story that will make most readers think a bit deeper on the impact of SI (Super Intelligence) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) “bots” on human society. John Hindmarsh has computer expertise in his background, and an insightful view of what may well happen when our North American culture and economy impacts with the emergence of very smart service robots – like two trains headed at high speed towards each other on the same track.
This story and characters reminded me of some of my favourite John Ringo and David Weber books.
If this is your first John Hindmarsh novel, they you really are in luck, as he has written a four book set (with clever titles – Mark One, Mark Two, Mark Three, and Mark Four) which can easily be devoured one after another and will be time well spent

Spoiler: The ending of The Darwin Project is a cliff-hanger, and if you were enjoying this thriller up to that point, you will either be annoyed, as some readers will, or you, like me, will have purchased Body Shop, which moves the story forward… and then you realize that there will be a short wait until Mr. Hindmarsh releases “Natural Born” and “I, President”, which follow…
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Bateman Krista
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story! Great characters!
Reviewed in France on March 9, 2018
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I loved this story and am very pleased that it is the first of many.... I had the next book Body Shop already downloaded so moved straight from the last page of The Darwin Project to the first page of The Body Shop! The characters appealed to me, the story line kept me interested. Very well written! Thanks for the great read John!
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Glassman91
4.0 out of 5 stars A scary concept
Reviewed in Canada on December 19, 2020
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If The Darwin Project doesn’t scare you, then you aren’t paying attention! The story itself is well developed, but there are several annoying grammatical errors in the text. The proof readers need to up their game! A great read for any sci-fi fan.
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Amazon Customer Eliza
4.0 out of 5 stars Though provoking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book makes one actually think about the emergence of Artificial Intelligence and where one might stand. Hindmarsh makers the reader a little frightened as in the possibility of AI being able to come to decisions and actions without regard to Human input. Making the descent of the Human race a strong possibility. John Hindmarsh is a new writer to me and l did enjoy this story. 4Stars because at times the writing is a little childish.
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