Derivation, Book 1

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Free Preview Edition

As a first-time author, I am offering a free preview edition of the first novel in the series. This is the first 70 chapters, or about half the first book, which should offer potential readers a sufficient sample of the series.

Yes, you read that right, this FREE Preview Edition is about half the first book! That’s FAR more than you’re going to find anywhere else, so download your FREE copy TODAY!

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Status

Manuscript completed 10-22-2022. 140 chapters over 4,300 pages (in Microsoft Office 365 Word), so it’s a LARGE book!

Unfortunately, a professionally designed cover image … necessary to promote and/or publish in most cases … will cost money I simply do not have as a first-time author. I initially tried a GoFundMe, but only netted about $50 (very disappointing), so I ended that fundraiser. I eventually stumbled across Fiverr – Freelance Services Marketplace, where I eventually discovered rebecacovers, Profile, Fiverr from Ukraine. Rebeca was wonderful to work with, and I think you will agree the cover shown on this page is impressive, and a concept which hadn’t occurred to me.

A message frequently repeated within the story is helping others as you are enabled to help, because one never knows when they might need some help from others they once helped. I received very little help on the GoFundMe at a time I really needed some help, so I’ll be remembering who did and didn’t help if I ever make it big as an author. The lesson here being that as important as it is for those on their way up to remember those who helped them, it is likewise just as important to help others on their way up if you have been enabled to help, even if this is only in some minimal way. The least amount does add up. End of soapbox sermon.

Synopsis

Sighted 8-year-old Craig Edwin receives his first computer for Christmas 1985. Intrigued by computer programming, Craig begins tinkering. By age 12, his interests expands into electronics, and by age 13, he inexplicably develops an interest in making a computer smart enough to interpret the visual world in patterns of audio cues as an aid to the blind. He creates a sophisticated artificial neural network … a simplified though still very powerful form of artificial intelligence … capable of adapting to the wide varieties of environments to which his X.V.S. or auXiliary Vision System will be exposed. The only forseen barrier is an environment too complex for a computer to interpret.

Elsewhere, slightly over 4 months younger sighted Anjela “Anjie” Sims possesses a most unusual brain enabling her to accelerate through primary school before heading off to UCLA at the age of 10 to become a medical doctor. Specifically, a neurologist. Inexorably drawn to the field of neuroprosthetics, she becomes fascinated by the prospects of restoring normal senses of eyesight and/or hearing to the disabled. There’s just one problem … A-Ware, or adaptive awareness through hardware and software, requires sophisticated adaptive software to process data flowing between a project computer and the animal or human brain.

Craig has now completed his first year of studies at MIT when disaster strikes his formerly charmed life. His eyesight is growing mysteriously spotty, but every eye specialist he seeks is mystified. Within months, Craig is totally blind, without even any light perception. He begins adjusting to his expected lifelong blindness, only now he has a personal stake in perfecting his X.V.S. solution as an aid for the blind.

Execor International is a global powerhouse in numerous fields of scientific research and development, but over time, some among its highest administrative levels have grown corrupt. The organization only halfheartedly lives up to its founding mantra … to push the envelope, to break down barriers, to make the impossible possible.

Craig’s mastery of artificial neural networks has captured the interest of Execor’s Computer Science and Defense Science divisions, so upon his departure from MIT in 2002, he has two jobs offered him on a silver platter. Defense Science is particularly interested in Craig’s artificial neural network techniques for enhancing the detection of existing and potential threats to each of its five global campus security grids.

Late one early January 2007 afternoon in his Execor Special Projects lab, Craig completes the latest test of his most sophisticated X.V.S., only to realize he has finally encountered the expected barrier of a too complex environment for his solution. He needs a more powerful computer, such as the human brain, though gaining help from an outside neuroscientist, much less determining the status of the rumored Neuroscience division, will require going through corrupt Senior Campus Director, Dr. Brian Medford.

Feeling quite defeated and at the end of a proverbial rope, Dr. Craig Edwin, raised Christian, does the only other thing he can think of to do. He goes to God in prayer, asking for the miracle of a neuroscientist who might help him complete his work while also expressing that he would do most anything to make his solution work … unaware that brilliant Dr. Anjela Sims has recently been hired as Director of Execor’s new Neuroscience division.

However, Dr. Anjela Sims is only too aware of those who will stop at nothing to either prevent A-Ware from ever existing, or weaponizing it for evil purposes. Now the project team must race to not only create the world’s most advanced neuroprosthesis but to develop enhanced arsenal tools to protect and defend themselves and innocent others.

Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of a sexual nature.

Bonus Online Resources

Since I can’t create any of the visuals stuck in my head, I decided to put together an Apple Music playlist of all the songs mentioned throughout the first novel. I may convert this playlist for other platforms, but here’s the Apple Music version for now (note this is a safelinks format for your protection):
A-Ware01, The OFFICIAL playlist of the first novel in the series!