A.I. Apocalypse

＂Leon Tsarev is a high school student set on getting into a great college program, until his uncle, a member of the Russian mob, coerces him into developing a new computer virus for the mob’s botnet - the slave army of computers they used to commit digital crimes. The evolutionary virus Leon creates, based on biological principles, is successful -- too successful. All the world’s computers are infected. Everything from cars to payment systems and, of course, computers and smart phones stop functioning, and with them go essential functions including emergency services, transportation, and the food supply. Billions may die. But evolution never stops. The virus continues to evolve, developing intelligence, communication, and finally an entire civilization. Some may be friendly to humans, but others are not. Leon and his companions must race against time and the military to find a way to either befriend or eliminate the virus race and restore the world’s computer infrastructure＂--Amazon.com.

William Hertling is the author of Avogadro Corp: The Singularity Is Closer Than It Appears, A.I. Apocalypse, and the forthcoming The Last Firewall.

Brad Feld, cofounder of TechStars, called his first novel, Avogadro Corp, ＂a tremendous book everyone must read.＂

A fifteen year veteran of the technology industry, he holds ten patents on software and internet technology and is a frequent speaker at SXSW Interactive. When not writing, he works on web and social strategy.

He’s been building online communities since 1986 when he ran seven phones lines into the back of his Apple //e to create an online chat system. An active blogger since 2002, his website, williamhertling.com, receives more than 50,000 visitors a year.

He resides in Portland, Oregon.