Edison in the Hood - by Nadia Uddin (Paperback)

About the Book

Artificial intelligence may solve the world's biggest problems, but can it fix our most challenging relationships?

Book Synopsis

When Aisha Malik's mother died, she took a secret with her-one that destroyed her relationship with Aisha's brother, Sam. But what if Aisha could revive her mother's brain just long enough to reenact their last conversation and discover the truth?

Aisha is an ambitious PR executive with a forte for making complex and controversial topics accessible to the masses. Her brother, Sam, is a despondent genius who loves to fight everyone and everything in the name of justice, hopping from one political fight to another and hiding a mental illness that causes him shame. When the opportunity arises for Aisha to work with brilliant scientist and leading futurist Jay Edison at his Brain Reinvigoration Project, she begins obsessing over artificial intelligence and its potential to revive her mother's brain. She begs Sam to participate, unaware that he has begun working with groups that have very different visions for the future of artificial intelligence. The siblings set out to define the role that technology should play in society, asking themselves, "Artificial intelligence may solve the world's biggest problems, but can it fix our most challenging relationships?"

Edison in the Hood is a stunning and provocative debut that explores what it truly means to be human and possess free will in a culture gripped by automation. As Aisha and Sam grieve their mother's passing, they delve into the complex morals of scientific advancement, revealing how technology plays a part in relationships-with both the living and the dead.

Review Quotes

"Edison in the Hood will resonate with sci-fi fans and those who enjoy dissecting episodes of HBO's Westworld. It will make a reader think. Many books aren't thought-provoking; Edison in the Hood is." -Daily Voice

"Uddin takes us on a wild ride through the worlds of the mind, memory preservation, and love between siblings. Brilliant and unique, this genre-bending book is both profound and exciting." -Taylor Larsen, author of Stranger, Father, Beloved

"A deft and brilliantly original debut in which deep emotional intelligence and bold imagination combine to thrilling effect." -Hermione Hoby, author of Virtue and Neon in Daylight

"Nadia Uddin's Edison in the Hood is the work of a writer with both a big mind and a big heart. Uddin's exploration of science, technology, and the moral questions that arise from advancements touted as life-enhancing is fascinating and engaging. She explores family dynamics, mental illness, and the complexities of a society that values innovation at any cost with great sensitivity and intelligence. This is an exciting and memorable debut." -Christine Sneed, bestselling author of Little Known Facts and Please Be Advised: A Novel in Memos

"I was swept up by Uddin's nuanced and witty depiction of artificial intelligence alongside human emotion. Propulsive, thought-provoking, and tender, Edison in the Hood is a beautiful debut." -Lily Brooks-Dalton, author of Good Morning, Midnight

"A fascinating, fun, and profound exploration of the near future, Nadia Uddin's Edison in the Hood delves into the big questions: AI, nanotechnology and what constitutes love." -Elizabeth Gaffney, author of Metropolis

"Uddin's rich world building skillfully portrays the novel's dichotomy: technology has made life easier and more beautiful, but those who can't access it are left stranded, and the gap between the haves and have-nots is stark . . . Uddin delivers some twists that may shock readers while leaving the concept of identity appropriately vague in the end, a fitting conclusion to the story's philosophical reflections." -BookLife

"Uddin's novel is never formulaic, focusing mainly on emotions and how relationships are affected by technology. Characters are complicated in intriguing ways; the Ray Kurzweil-like Edison-a cheery, wizened genius who beholds Zain's empire with Panglossian, optimistic delight-is perhaps the most straightforward figure . . . A promising speculative debut that doesn't feel as if it rolled off the usual robotics assembly line." -Kirkus Reviews