AFTER INTELLIGENCE

In this YA/SF campus novel set at an influential tech academy, a student becomes entangled in a school program to incorporate androids into the student body.

Charlotte Blythe is a second-year student at Cognation Academy, a school run by Cognation Industries, a tech giant in near-future America: “In addition to running the most elite boarding school in North America, the company controlled the global virtual and augmented reality markets.” Everyone wears “viewer glasses” or “viewer contacts,” which render handheld devices obsolete. Charlotte’s links to Cognation run deep: Her sister, Marissa, a former academy student, is now a doctoral candidate in the company’s tech ethics program. Their parents work for Cognation—on a top-secret project in an undisclosed location. The company and the school are shrouded in secrecy—which is why it’s a shock to nearly everyone that the newest academy students are 10 androids developed by Cognation. Spearheading the program is Dr. Rosalind Menta, “a rising star in the tech ethics world.” Charlotte, immediately fascinated by the new students, is particularly drawn to Isaac, tall and handsome. Charlotte is more enthusiastic about the program than nearly all of her classmates, including her best friends, Chai Murthy and Jace Templeton. Invited to serve as an android guide, Charlotte jumps at the opportunity; as luck would have it, she’s paired with Isaac. As the two form a connection, questions continue to swirl about the purpose and ethics of the program. Marissa tells her sister to be careful. Sharing her reservations about the program, Marissa says, “Something doesn’t add up.” Problems emerge with an android named Denton, who shows little interest in his human classmates and can hack the school’s systems. When a student named Gavin Hooper gets hurt, further concerns about Denton—and the program as a whole—surface.

Marie’s novel demonstrates narrative confidence, delivering strong characterizations and lucid prose. The campus setting of the academy, full of high-tech buildings, quirky teachers, hidden paths, and social intrigue, is reminiscent of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, with science and technology in place of magic. The tech aspect gives the book a more topical edge and flirts with dystopian potential. In a world of weakened governments and all-powerful corporations, the story raises provocative—and familiar—questions about the ethics of progress, corporate interests, and individuality and self-determination. It’s also a satisfying tale of friendship and self-discovery, as Charlotte, Chai, and Jace try to maintain their bond while also making room for new relationships and intimacies. Marie captures a school’s gamut of personalities. Minor characters include Beckett Willoughby, an entitled jerk, and Athena Fawlings, a fierce achiever. While the author taps into character tropes, she doesn’t rely on them too heavily. And though bigger questions haunt the story, Marie never loses sight of what an adolescent is really like. As one kid says to another, “Dude, I wonder if androids like to zip line.” Broken up into short chapters, the work moves briskly, and the author has a knack for building in little moments of suspense and anticipation that will propel readers through the tale. Though many story questions get answered, the plot proves quite modest in scope; fortunately, signs point to a sequel and a series in the making.

A gripping tale of tech ethics, adolescent drama, and futuristic features.