Oracle’s Vision by Alan Bayles
The battle for the fate of Earth has only begun as Detective Inspector Dave Barnes and his team must fight against a malevolent AI hell-bent on dominating multiple worlds.
With Terra, a counter-Earth in a parallel dimension, under its control, the tyrannical AI known as Oracle continues her relentless march across the multiverse‚ and now she holds Earth Prime in her sights.
While Dave Barnes and members of The Castle battle to stop the dangerous AI from succeeding in her invasion, all is not lost on Terra where a group of resistance fighters are marshalling their forces to free those who have been assimilated as mindless foot soldiers.
With conflict waging on both worlds, and Oracle tightening her grip, hope comes from an unlikely source when the duplicitous Colonel David Barnes offers information that could prove vital. But can this master of deception be trusted to aid in the fight for two worlds?
As Oracle becomes increasingly unhinged, and with the fate of humanity at stake, it becomes clear to those who resist that the AI will stop at nothing to rule the multiverse. In a desperate struggle to survive, can those on opposite sides unite in a mission to save two worlds? And, with the stakes so high, will all who fight live to see freedom from Oracle's reign of terror?
About the author
Born in Hartlepool in 1970. I have lived in Langley Park, Durham, England up until 2006, where I moved to Northern Ireland married my wife, Monica in 2007 (still very much happily married). I love reading fantasy, science fiction, action & adventure and thrillers. Favourite authors are Stephen King, James Herbert, Clive Cussler, Dean Koontz, Audrey Niffenegger and Neil Gaiman. I am a big Marvel Comics fan and enjoy watching movies. Favourite tv shows are Blake’s 7, Babylon 5 and Star Trek. In April 2020 my love of fantasy and science fiction inspired me to write my first book – Double Jeopardy, the first book in my mirror wars series – which contains nods to some of my favourite authors, films and TV shows that have ignited my imagination over the years. I also used my “experiences” of being a twin to help me write about evil doppelgangers! In January 2024 I released the second book in my mirror wars series, Oracle's Vision.
Review
‘Orcale’s Vision’ is a blistering follow-up to ‘Double Jeopardy’ and it is packed full of action, twists and turns and gasp-out-loud moments! This is the second book in the series and normally I would say all books are able to be read as a standalone but in this case I would recommend reading the first book to gain the maximum enjoyment of reading this one. If it helps it is a brilliant read and this one is just the same.
Just like the first book, this one opens up in the past and we learn more of Oracle’s history and how she came to be in the multiverse. To be honest I was less interested in this section as I wanted to know what had happened to our characters in the present but once we met up with them I was engrossed as the action was relentless! All of our characters from ‘The Castle’ are being tested to the end of their mettle, having to deal with trauma and the constant fight to keep Oracle at bay. Relationships, both professional and personal are being torn apart by the pressure and events that take place. There are losses on our side and I may have shed a tear when they occurred.
Oracle is becoming interesting to me now. Not that I didn't resonate with her as a despot ruler but now we are entering a new era that is surprising even herself - is she experiencing human emotions? This is always been a huge debate in AI discussions - both academically and fictionally and I can't wait to see where this leads! I am already desperate to read book three, especially after that epilogue.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
