Virtual War - (Paper War) by Ryan Lekodak (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

With a malevolent artificial intelligence grasping for power, the future of humanity hangs in the balance.

It's the year 2043, and our heroes are doing everything they can to save the world from Helene, a power-mad AI intent on taking control of society at every level possible. Will their combined brute strength, brilliant minds, and unflappable courage be enough to save the world as they know it?

With so many mysteries still to be solved and time running out, these unlikely warriors face increasingly impossible choices. Will they ever discover what happened to the millions who vanished without a trace three years earlier? Is there a way to harness Helene's technology and use it for good?

As the battle for survival continues, the conflict enters a new realm entirely: the virtual world. Will fighting the AI on its turf increase their chances of victory, or will they end up trapped in a confusing landscape, unable to return to the lives they know?

Only one thing is certain: neither side can stop until the other is defeated.

Review Quotes

★★★★★"With AI increasingly in the news, and in our lives, LeKodak's Paper War series about humankind's dependence on AI is a timely, terrifying, and potentially prophetic read. Equal parts speculative fiction and cautionary tale, readers who were blown away by Tad Williams' Otherland saga back in the '90's will want to read these Paper War novels asap."-Paul Goat Allen, BlueInk Review

★★★★★"A highly engaging and immersive dystopian work filled with suspense and technological intrigue, exploring the consequences of battling an AI threat in both the physical and virtual realms. A character-driven story at its core, it's the emotional toll of the fight for survival that truly had me gripped, with some very powerful tests of character that the main cast undergoes in descriptive detail that tugs at the heartstrings."-K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite

★★★★★"Bonds will be tested and loyalties exposed as a few brave individuals risk everything to create humanity's last bastion against the machinations of a machine hellbent on the subjugation of the human race. Virtual War revolves around an intricate plot by the humans to take the initiative in their ongoing battle with a devious artificial intelligence program. The way that LeKodak presents antivirus software with creatures is incredibly inventive and will catch the reader's attention. Reminiscent of Tron, The Matrix, and Insidious, Virtual War is a singularly mind-blowing literary experience."-Essien Asian, Readers' Favorite

★★★★★"LeKodak incorporates genre-bending non-human capabilities in the human characters operating in the virtual realm, and there are even nods toward the metaphysical, which is a fascinating construct and one that requires the courage of a skilled writer. LeKodak delivers an ending that is satisfying in how he ties up all the loose ends but also lets us know that there could, and should, be more to come. Exceptional."-Asher Syed, Readers' Favorite

★★★★★"Virtual War is, at its core, a high-tech thriller that drips with fabulous nuts and bolts, and pits the protagonists and their human mistrust and vulnerabilities against the ultimate game of divide and conquer. The action balances the tech and the endgame flirts with the series continuity, and I'll keep reading for as long as LeKodak keeps writing."-Jamie Michele, Readers' Favorite

★★★★★"As one reads this thought-provoking work, one can't help but wonder about the use of AI, especially with the recent advances in the field, what ethics should be considered, and how can it be used for the good of humanity without causing any harm to society."-Frank Mutuma, Readers' Favorite