Who Would Like This Book:
If you love bold, imaginative space opera packed with mind-bending technology, rogue AIs, and alien ecologies that actually feel, well, alien, Dark Intelligence is for you. Neal Asher delivers high-octane action, twisted mysteries, and a universe as dangerous as it is fascinating. From vengeful soldiers to crime lords mutated by their own deals, the cast grapples with identity, memory, and the price of power. If you’re a fan of Alastair Reynolds, Peter F. Hamilton, or Iain M. Banks, or if you crave deep mythology and universe-spanning intrigue, you’ll feel right at home - and probably won’t want to put it down.
Who May Not Like This Book:
This book might not be for everyone. Newcomers to the Polity universe may feel overwhelmed, as Asher drops references and characters from previous books with little explanation - there’s definitely some “you had to be there” moments. If you’re after a character-driven story with warm, relatable protagonists, or if you prefer gentler, more optimistic sci-fi, this may be too dark, technical, or violent for your taste. The story’s complexity, rapid viewpoint shifts, occasional graphic content, and a sense that not everything is fully explained may put off those wanting tidy resolutions or lighter reads.
About:
'Dark Intelligence' by Neal Asher is a return to his Polity universe, featuring a complex plot centered around a black AI known as Penny Royal. The novel explores themes of machine intelligence, personal stories intertwined with broader implications, and a diverse array of characters in various exotic and familiar locales. Readers are taken on a journey through brilliant cityscapes, seedy districts, dark asteroids, and the Graveyard - a devastated region between humanity and its former interstellar foe.
The book is praised for its world-building, intricate plot development, and the portrayal of vivid and diverse characters, including criminals, veterans, aliens, and unique artificial intelligences. The story unfolds at a decent pace, keeping readers engaged with surprises along the way, while offering a glimpse into a darker and more brutal universe compared to other sci-fi works.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include body horror, violence, and themes related to PTSD.
From The Publisher:
One man will transcend death to seek vengeance. One woman will transform herself to gain power. And no one will emerge unscathed.
Thorvald Spear has been brought back from the dead. Killed a century earlier by Penny Royal, an unstable AI who turned rogue in the middle of a human versus alien war, the resurrected Spear has one thing on his mind: revenge.
Crime lord Isobel Satomi got more than she bargained for when she struck a deal with Penny Royal. Turning part-AI herself gave her frightening power, but the upgrade came with horrifying repercussions-and it's turning Isobel into something far from human.
Spear hires Isobel to track down Penny Royal, but as she continues her metamorphosis, it's clear that Isobel's monstrous transformations will eventually become uncontrollable. Will Spear finish his hunt before becoming the hunted?
Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.
Ratings (5)
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Want To Read (6) | |
Not Interested (1) |
What can you read after
Dark Intelligence?
About the Author:
Neal Asher is a science-fiction writer whose work has been nominated for both the Philip K. Dick and the British Fantasy Society awards. He has published more than fifteen books, many set within his Polity universe, including Gridlinked, The Skinner, and Prador Moon. He divides his time between Essex and a home in Crete.
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