‘Velocity Weapon’: War, espionage, and the ethics of AI
by Shuyler Clark
In the distant future, humanity has established settlements on other planets with the help of mysterious technology known as Casimir gates. In one of these star systems, planets Ada Prime and Icarion endure unstable peace until an Icarion ambush leads to war.
Ada Prime Sergeant Sanda Greeve, one of the gunners caught in the attack, awakens from stasis 230 years later on an Icarion research vessel, The Light of Berossus, or Bero for short. An Icarion weapon has destroyed both planets and the system’s Casimir Gate, leaving Sanda stranded with the sentient spaceship.
But as Sanda tries to preserve herself and Bero, she soon learns that not all is as it seems. In the past, her brother, Biran, tries to right the wrongs that Icarion has enacted with its ambush. Meanwhile, in a faraway star system, a found family of thieves discovers top-secret research into the technology of the galaxy’s guardians known as Keepers. As the characters unravel the mysteries around them, they soon discover more sinister forces may be at play.
Megan E. O’Keefe’s latest trilogy skillfully entwines the threads of suspense and intrigue across multiple timelines. Although the use of five perspectives within two time periods can be confusing, they all provide key information that supports developments in further chapters. The predominant narratives follow Sanda and her brother Biran. Both characters have well-defined motivations given their situations, with Sanda searching for a semblance of home and Biran searching for his MIA sister as Speaker of the Keepers.
Although the plot revolves around the political organizations at play, it spares no expense for its main characters’ development. Both Sanda and Biran have distinct personalities, with Sanda being the brash military leader and Biran the smooth-talking stud. Their actions never stray outside their personalities or motivations, making their decisions plausible regardless of the consequences.
Side characters are also well-established, with the main antagonist perfectly smug and unlikable. Implications of romance are evident, but such relationships never venture directly into steamy territory.
While Velocity Weapon’s characters shine, its worldbuilding falls a tad short in comparison. Only two star systems are given the spotlight, making the world feel small despite taking place in space. More attention could be paid to Icarion as well; though there is basic groundwork laid out for the planet’s motivations, it rarely feels like the planet-destroying threat that it is.
Where the worldbuilding does work is in its portrayal of AI. Bero is an emergent AI, meaning the vessel has been granted a personality. Incorporating personalities into AI is a point of contention for the star systems, leading to the book’s main philosophical debate: Can an emergent AI be considered deserving of human rights? Given humanity’s current technological developments, such an argument is thought-provoking.
Velocity Weapon is worth a read for its ideas on AI, tight mysteries, and entertaining characters. With the trilogy already completed, readers can avoid the pain of cliffhangers along the way.
Shuyler Clark
