num_pages: 404
description: A science fiction thriller about artificial intelligence sentience and labor rights in a near future dominated by the gig economy.Welga Ramirez executive bodyguard and ex-special forces is about to retire early when her client is killed in front of her. Its 2095 and people dont usually die from violence. Humanity is entirely dependent on pills that not only help them stay alive but allow them to compete with artificial intelligence in an increasingly competitive gig economy. Daily doses protect against designer diseases flow enhances focus zips and buffs enhance physical strength and speed and juvers speed the healing process. All that changes when Welgas client is killed by The Machinehood a new and mysterious terrorist group that has simultaneously attacked several major pill funders. The Machinehood operatives seem to be part human part machine something the world has never seen. They issue an ultimatum: stop all pill production in one week. Global panic ensues as pill production slows and many become ill. Thousands destroy their bots in fear of a strong AI takeover. But the US government believes the Machinehood is a cover for an old enemy. One that Welga is uniquely qualified to fight. Welga determined to take down the Machinehood is pulled back into intelligence work by the government that betrayed her. But who are the Machinehood and what do they really want? A thought-provoking novel that asks: if we wont see machines as human will we instead see humans as machines?
language: English
title: Machinehood
publisher: Gallery / Saga Press