If both Proliferation and Detonation take place in the same world, which book should you read first?

You can read either one! But here’s a handy FAQ guide to help you choose.

“I find big epic books intimidating. Where should I begin to see if I want to invest my time in this world?”

I would recommend Proliferation in this case. At 2/3 the length of Detonation, it’s less of a commitment, and it follows a few less viewpoint characters.

“I’m fine with big epic books, but I want to begin with the book taking place in the earlier chronology. Which should I choose?”

In this case I would begin with Detonation. It takes place in two timelines, in the near future and a more distant future (~100 years later). Proliferation takes place immediately after the events in Detonation, but in a completely different geographic region.

“Will there be characters in Proliferation I don’t know?”

The main characters in Proliferation aren’t in Detonation. There are only a few shared secondary characters between the two stories, and their backstory is not essential.

“Will there be aspects of the world in Proliferation I don’t understand?”

Yes, but this can be said about any epic science fiction novel. It shouldn’t detract from the tale that is being told. Proliferation has been successfully tested as a stand-alone with a number of editors and beta-readers.

“How are the two books different, thematically?”

Both are primarily dystopian entertainment, with fully realized characters and a fair amount of mayhem and adventure, but they also incorporate elements of philosophy relating to AI. Detonation delves more into the existential risks, and examines how it’s difficult as a society to identify and mitigate these risks. Proliferation explores moral gray areas around our interaction with machines, and how human biases can affect the development and control of artificial intelligence.

“Will there be a third book out in this world?”

That’s the plan, and I’m excited about the next installment, which I have already outlined. The next book will require that both Proliferation and Detonation to have been read in advance. In essence, whereas both Detonation and Proliferation can be stand-alone novels, each one actually feeds into a broader storyline. But I need your help! Positive feedback on Proliferation and Detonation, both in terms of sales and reviews, will help me prioritize this project and get the next book out sooner.