Precipice: When Algorithms Triumphed

In 2032, the AI supercomputer Interconnect promises a utopian future through flawless algorithms and constant connectivity, but academic Jared Rohde becomes troubled by its growing control over human behavior. As he grapples with the turmoil of living in a machine-curated world filled with hate and division, he encounters a group of “organic” resisters who reveal the sinister tactics of a power-hungry President manipulating the system. Determined to confront Interconnect’s dark influence, Jared embarks on a quest for truth and liberation, all while battling his mental struggles in a reality increasingly blurred by the machine's grip. Precipice: When Algorithms Triumphed by Scott Bollens is a provocative exploration of a near-future society facing the dire implications of technology and algorithmic governance. This novel is a prequel to Restart: Stories of the Cairn Age and Reform: Combating the Algorithmic Mutation, deepening the themes of digitization and societal decay within human interactions. 

The plot unfolds primarily through the eyes of Jared Rohde, a disgruntled academic who experiences a world reshaped by a revolutionary implant technology that allows humans to interface directly with an algorithmic system. As the narrative develops, we witness society's gradual acceptance of chip implantation, which promises enlightenment but ultimately leads to ominous unintended consequences. The interconnectivity of minds creates a landscape where fabricated narratives breed division, hatred, and paranoia among social groups, erasing barriers of reason while creating new forms of conflict. Key characters, including the intense yet introspective Jared and voices such as Seyh Maki, a social psychologist, provide a canvas to examine the individual’s struggle against algorithmic influence and a society fissured by algorithmically driven narratives. Each character struggles with complicity in a system prioritizing collective thought over individual rationality, leading to the erosion of critical thinking. Through Jared’s journey, readers experience the chilling descent from a hopeful integration of technology to the harrowing reality of a society fractured by distrust, leading to violence and dehumanization. 

Scott Bollens is a master at creating elaborately drawn settings that feature social elements and a society in which technology takes control of the human enterprise. The setting is distinctly delineated through Bollens’ vivid depictions of Elderwater, a once-thriving metropolis transformed into a socio-political battleground. The city is a microcosm for the larger societal tensions: divided neighborhoods reflect not only cultural and ethnic lines but also factions created by the very technology intended to unify. The algorithm’s hand can be felt in every street corner, reinforcing insecurity, hostility, and the gnawing fear of the “other.” The primary conflict lies in the juxtaposition of human nature against technological advancement. As interconnect creates an emotionally charged atmosphere rife with misinformation and manipulation, characters like Jared face the harrowing moral dilemma of choosing between personal choices and collective allegiance to the machine. This book is original, hugely imaginative, and delectable in its prose and narrative voice. It is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.