Author Jude Berman visits North Branch to discuss her new novel The Die, with author Nina Schuyler. The Die is available from Spark Press.
About The Die:
Darah, a tech writer living in the democratic nation of California, is dismayed to see the game she’s helping develop for a Silicon Valley tech company has been tampered with. When her hacker friend Jedd investigates, he uncovers a conspiracy that could change the nation—and the world.
With a circle of close friends, Jedd digs deeper and deeper into the darknet and exposes the unthinkable: an app is being developed that uses quantum computing and neuroscience to alter people’s brains, totally unbeknownst to them. As the friends realize the devastating impact of this technology, they’re presented with a dilemma: stay quiet and stay safe, or risk their lives to stand up to the international authoritarian force behind this plot?
Combining activist, techno-thriller, and metaphysical fiction elements and scaffolded on three realities—the ancient wisdom of the Mahabharata, our current sociopolitical reality, and the near future—The Die is a fast-paced story about friendship, courage, and democracy.
PRAISE FOR THE DIE “An imaginative tale alive with captivating ideas.” –Kirkus Reviews “The Die is activist fiction. It envisions the power of connection and deeply respectful engagement that can be ours if we navigate differences in a way that makes possible a path toward an enlightened future. Fun!” –Joan Blades, cofounder of MoveOn.org “Lively, intricate, filled with surprises and plot twists—an engaging read throughout.” –Tim Page, writer and Pulitzer Prize winning critic “Jude Berman’s debut novel delivers a chillingly realistic near-future portrayal of technology wunderkinds manipulating our political consciousness in a fractured America. Blink your eyes and we could all be living in this cautionary tale.” –Mike Trigg, author of Bit Flip and Burner “Jude’s imagination is both epic and personal in this thriller about technology, the fate of the world, and what we as individuals can do about it.” --Jen Braaksma, author of Evangeline’s Heaven and Amaranth
About Jude Berman:
Jude Berman grew up amid floor-to-ceiling shelves of books in many languages. In addition to a love of literature, her refugee parents instilled in her a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and social justice.
Jude has a BA in art from Smith College and an EdD in cross-cultural communication from UMass Amherst. After a career in academic research, she built a freelance writing and editing business and ran two small Indie presses. She lives in Berkeley, CA, where she continues to work with authors and write fiction. In her free time, she volunteers for progressive causes, paints with acrylic watercolors, gardens, and meditates.
About Nina Schuyler:
Nina Schuyler' s novel, Afterword, was published in 2023. Her novel, The Translator, won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award. Her nonfiction book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, is a bestseller. She teaches creative writing for Stanford Continuing Studies and the University of San Francisco. She lives in California.
About Afterword:
A pioneer of artificial intelligence rebuilds the love of her life, but when she discovers he's been feeding incriminating civilian information to the Chinese government, she'll have to decide whether to keep or kill him. When approached by a Chinese tech company, Virginia Samson is moved to give them her beloved's algorithm so they can create an AI companion for the aging population. Soon her digital lost love starts spying on Chinese citizens, funneling the information to the Chinese government. When Virginia frantically tries to rebuild him, she uncovers his terrible secret, forcing her to relive their beautiful and tragic love affair. Afterword explores what it means to be human and is a moving testament to the deeply human desire for belonging, companionship, and love.