On a planet far from Earth, Lt. Thomas Walker serves as a scout for his colony. Although set in the future, the inhabitants are bereft of most technology and other modern conveniences after a mysterious event plunged them into a dark age. Thomas is sent on a mission to retrieve a piece of an artifact emitting an undecipherable signal. Having lost his family to the hostile Others roaming the planet, Thomas has nothing to lose. With nothing but guilt over his loss to keep him company, he sets off on a dangerous mission.
As Thomas travels across a vast, unforgiving, and utterly foreign landscape, his sorrow transforms into a kind of madness. When he comes upon a sleek floating Artificial Intelligence, Thomas is more than puzzled. Human history has inspired distrust of any thinking machine. The story morphs into a crazy battle pitting humans against violent indigenous beings and rogue AIs. Thomas befriends a charming AI named SAM who helps him come to terms with his grief and in turn finds purpose in life.
Witty and smart, Toby Cox’s novel will make you closely consider your dependency on technology. With intriguing world building and vivid imagery, Beyond the Contested Zone is a perfect read for science fiction fans across the universe!
