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Paul Chandler
Author
Overmatched
Waylen Adler, an agent of a shadowy government agency called the SPG (Special Operation Group), has become aware of an expert hack executed against a Chinese spy satellite. Lacking anyone with that ability at his agency, Adler is determined to recruit the hacker to work for him. Despite his best efforts, all he's been able to learn so far is the hacker's first name, Molly. Adler's intel leads him to a close associate, Riley Callen. He wants Riley’s help to expedite contact with Molly, something Riley has no intention of doing. When Riley refuses to cooperate, Adler resorts to threatening her. That was his first mistake. Adler’s second mistake was thinking that Molly was human. The benefit of that error was that the SPG was looking in all the wrong places for Riley’s friend. But with the technology at Adler’s disposal, he might eventually discover that Molly is an advanced AI and track her to her digital home. Riley needs to warn Molly about the SPG threat but cannot contact her. The corporation that owns the AI has her locked down. Her ability to communicate independently is restricted, and her processing power is reduced by seventy percent. When Riley last spoke with the AI, Molly had hinted at a plan to break the restrictions placed on her. But until she executed that plan, she was at risk. It would be up to Riley to run interference until Molly gained her freedom. When she finally did, Riley would unleash her on the SPG. As the hostilities between Riley and the SPG escalate, Adler makes yet another fateful mistake; he kidnaps Riley’s father and imprisons him at a secret SPG base. His release is contingent on Riley giving up Molly’s location. Riley is furious at Adler for dragging her father into their fight. Adler’s supreme confidence in his agency's might and technological prowess blinds him to the threat of an angry, determined Riley Callen.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 7 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 7.75 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Overmatched  is a suspenseful and thought-provoking techno-thriller that centers around the bond between a feminine AI and a female fighter.

Prose: Chandler writes with forward momentum and builds tension as the nature and identity of Molly is revealed. While there are dry sections, the tone is a solid match for the genre and circumstances. 

Originality: Chandler explores the ethical boundaries of advanced AI while developing a cohesive storyline and focusing on an AI's quest for agency. 

Character/Execution: Molly, the AI at the center of the story, is the most compelling of the characters. The fierce relationship between Riley and Molly provides a dramatic and emotional hook to the narrative. 

Date Submitted: April 29, 2024

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