{"product_id":"activation-degradation-a-novel-isbn-9780062895745","title":"Activation Degradation: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Murderbot Diaries makes first contact in this new,\u003cbr\u003efuturistic, standalone novel exploring sentience and artificial intelligence\u003cbr\u003ethrough the lenses of conflicted robot hero Unit Four, from Marina Lostetter,\u003cbr\u003ecritically acclaimed author of \u003cem\u003eNoumenon, Noumenon Infinity, \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNoumenon Ultra.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Unit Four—a biological soft robot built and stored high\u003cbr\u003eabove the Jovian atmosphere—is activated for the first time, it’s in crisis\u003cbr\u003emode. Aliens are attacking the Helium-3 mine it was created to oversee, and now\u003cbr\u003eits sole purpose is to defend Earth’s largest energy resource from the invaders\u003cbr\u003ein ship-to-ship combat. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut something’s wrong. Unit Four doesn’t feel quite right. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are files in its databanks it can’t account for,\u003cbr\u003eunusual chemical combinations roaring through its pipes, and the primers it\u003cbr\u003epossesses on the aliens are suspiciously sparse. The robot is under orders to\u003cbr\u003eseek and destroy. That’s all it knows. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to its handler, that’s all it \u003cem\u003eneeds \u003c\/em\u003eto\u003cbr\u003eknow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eDetermined to fulfill its directives, Unit Four launches its\u003cbr\u003eship and goes on the attack, but it has no idea it’s about to get caught in a\u003cbr\u003edownward spiral of misinformation, reprograming, and interstellar conflict. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eMost robots are simple tools. Unit Four is well on its way\u003cbr\u003eto becoming something more....\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“Talk about a stunning debut! Lostetter’s first full-length novel is an ambitious feat of worldbuilding that will remind you of classic sci-fi favorites.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRT Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Travel to the remotest reaches of deep space in this wondrous follow-up to the acclaimed \u003cem\u003eNoumenon\u003c\/em\u003e—a tale of exploration, adventure, science, and humanity with the sweep and intelligence of the works of Arthur C. Clarke, Neal Stephenson, and Octavia Butler.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOpen Book Society\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eNoumenon Infinity\u003c\/em\u003e by Marina J. Lostetter is an excellent space opera focused on beautiful character details and grand ideas on the biggest stage possible. Highly recommended.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePrimmlife\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Lostetter sweeps readers up into a thrilling sci-fi adventure...The twisty plot and masterful storytelling set this apart.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Lostetter expertly balances the thrill of discovery with the interpersonal consequences of an isolated community. The tools of speculative fiction are deployed with heart-rending attention to emotional reality in this enthralling odyssey. A striking adventure story that could hold a galaxy in its scope.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews (starred review) on Noumenon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A novel that was anything less than stellar would be an especially disappointing follow-up to the brilliant \u003cem\u003eNoumenon\u003c\/em\u003e, but Lostetter has achieved that and much more. [...] Sci-fi action and adventure held together by universally human themes; this is the genre at its very best.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A tight, compelling sequel [...] Lostetter’s characters persevere and evolve, creating a compelling portrait that feels, at its heart, ultimately both human and galactic in scope.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eStrang Horizons\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eNoumenon\u003c\/em\u003e is a grand interstellar quest that marries intimate detail with the sweep of social change and discovery across generations.  I was enthralled.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eYoon Ha Lee, author of Ninefox Gambit\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The ambitious and effective sequel to \u003cem\u003eNoumenon\u003c\/em\u003e […] Lostetter remains at the forefront of innovation in hard science fiction.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[An] ambitious and stunning debut...Lostetter handles a complex and fractured narrative masterfully, never allowing her novel to become confusing or unconvincing. There are no easy answers to the book’s questions, but the lingering sense of wonder and discovery thoroughly justifies its title.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review) on Noumenon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[An] ambitious and stunning debut...Lostetter handles a complex and fractured narrative masterfully, never allowing her novel to become confusing or unconvincing. There are no easy answers to the book’s questions, but the lingering sense of wonder and discovery thoroughly justifies its title.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eNoumenon\u003c\/em\u003e...offers a dreamlike exploration of evolving societies and the many ways humans can control, fight and love each other.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWashington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Soaked in the spirit of classic SF sensawunda, this ambitious debut explores the complexities of such an immense voyage, which pile up in surprising ways as the clones get further from the familiar.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eB\u0026amp;N Sci-Fi \u0026amp; Fantasy Blog on Noumenon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Lostetter delivers another feast for fans of hard science fiction.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Adult and mature YA readers who enjoy classic space operas of interplanetary travel and contact with alien life-forms should find this appealing.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Voyager","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44889545244901,"sku":"NP9780062895745","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062895745.jpg?v=1730231475","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/activation-degradation-a-novel-isbn-9780062895745","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}