William Hertling

= William Hertling =
William Hertling is a science fiction author and programmer with a keen interest in the intersection of technology and society. With a background as a co-founder and Director of Engineering at Tripwire, and a web strategist and software developer at Hewlett-Packard, Hertling brings a unique perspective to his work.
== Writing Career ==
Hertling began publishing science fiction in 2011 with Avogadro Corp: The Singularity is Closer than it Appears. Influenced by Ray Kurzweil and Charles Stross, his work examines the emergence of strong artificial intelligence and how humankind reacts to and coexists with AI. The resulting Singularity series has received critical acclaim from Wired and KurzweilAI, as well as notable people in the technology industry, including Brad Feld, Harper Reed, Ben Huh, Amber Case, and John Walker.
Hertling said that a conversation with a friend in 2010 inspired him to write his debut techno-thriller, which marked his transition from a full-time software programmer to a successful sci-fi novelist. Hertling self-published his entire Singularity series via Amazon (Kindle, Createspace, and Audible).
== Themes and Style ==
According to the author's Reddit account, Hertling's influences are Cory Doctorow, Charles Stross, Neal Stephenson and the classic cyberpunk works of the 80s (Neuromancer, Hardwired, and Snow Crash). He also reported that instead of sending his book to traditional sci-fi reviewers, he sent it outto those working in cutting-edge tech sectors, including programmers, CTOs, venture capitalists, tech startups, etc.
Hertling's novels delve into the near future, exploring the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its profound implications for humanity. His writing is often characterized by a blend of technical expertise and storytelling prowess, making his works both intellectually stimulating and gripping.
The key themes of his works include:
* AI and Singularity: Hertling's work frequently explores the potential consequences of advanced AI, including its impact on employment, social structures, and even human existence.
* Technological Unemployment: Many of his novels address the challenges posed by automation and the displacement of human workers in an increasingly technology-driven world.
* Social Reputation and Surveillance: Hertling examines the role of technology in shaping public opinion, privacy concerns, and the potential for surveillance to become a tool of control.
== Bibliography ==
* Avogadro Corp: The Singularity is Closer than it Appears: This award-winning novel, a near-term technothriller, is about the modification of an email language optimization software program giving the software a survival instinct, accidentally creating a self-motivated artificial intelligence.
* A.I. Apocalypse: His second novel, A.I. Apocalypse, set ten years later, explores the creation of strong artificial intelligence through software evolution and the resulting organizational principles and values of an AI society. It delves into the darker side of AI development as it becomes clear that not all intelligent machines have humanity's best interests at heart.
* The Last Firewall: The third book, The Last Firewall, again set ten years further into the future, is a cyberpunk novel examining post-humanism, the effects of social class on AI and humans, and technological unemployment. It delves into the challenges of protecting digital infrastructure from cyberattacks as AI becomes increasingly sophisticated.
* The Turing Exception: The final book in the Singularity series brings the series to a dramatic conclusion, confronting readers with the ultimate question: can humans and AI coexist peacefully? It is set where humans and AI have co-existed peacefully until 2043, where a nanotech event seen as a terrorist act by AI results in the destruction of Miami and large controls placed on AI, and explores the unfolding events revolving around XOR – an AI splinter group with the goal of taking the reign of Earth from humans.
Category:Authors