
Artificial Selection: A Near-Future Science Fiction Mystery Novel
Marianne Pickles
A cozy sci-fi mystery from the WINNER of the Green Stories Prize!
What do you get if you cross a glitching AI, a streetwise investigator, and a geneticist with a secret?
It’s the year 2101, and half of England is underwater. But society is recovering from the Melt – all thanks to ArkTech, the company that saved the world.
Charlotte Vance is smart, resourceful, and devoted to her quirky corner of the ArkTech Territory. It’s the only home she’s ever known, and she’ll do anything to keep it safe.
When Ben – the company’s whimsical, pun-loving AI – asks why a geneticist is stealing pages from library books, Charlotte leaps in to help. After all, Ben isn’t just software – he’s her best friend.
What begins as a simple investigation quickly spirals into a tangle of secrets, strange characters, and hidden truths. Charlotte finds herself caught between a criminal operation she thought she’d left behind and the increasingly awkward questions about the company she’s always trusted.
An AI, a PI, and a geneticist walk into a library… but the punchline is only the beginning.
For fans of Terry Pratchett, Becky Chambers and Martha Wells, Artificial Selection is a charming sci-fi adventure, blending clever mysteries, quirky characters, and hints of tech noir intrigue to keep you guessing. Book 1 in a series of smart, cozy sci-fi mysteries for anyone curious enough to ask why.
What Readers Are Saying…
"In the top echelon of near-future storytelling. Looking forward to the next one."
“I loved the world and characters of this book. It felt like a world inhabited by real people with real problems, in a future that is very relatable.”
"That ending? Perfection. It left me feeling hopeful, which is rare these days, isn't it?"
Duration - 10h 51m.
Author - Marianne Pickles.
Narrator - Kristin Atherton.
Published Date - Friday, 24 January 2025.
Copyright - © 2024 Marianne Pickles ©.
Location:
United States
Networks:
Marianne Pickles
Kristin Atherton
The ArkTech Series
Neon Mess Press
English Audiobooks
INAudio Audiobooks
Description:
A cozy sci-fi mystery from the WINNER of the Green Stories Prize! What do you get if you cross a glitching AI, a streetwise investigator, and a geneticist with a secret? It’s the year 2101, and half of England is underwater. But society is recovering from the Melt – all thanks to ArkTech, the company that saved the world. Charlotte Vance is smart, resourceful, and devoted to her quirky corner of the ArkTech Territory. It’s the only home she’s ever known, and she’ll do anything to keep it safe. When Ben – the company’s whimsical, pun-loving AI – asks why a geneticist is stealing pages from library books, Charlotte leaps in to help. After all, Ben isn’t just software – he’s her best friend. What begins as a simple investigation quickly spirals into a tangle of secrets, strange characters, and hidden truths. Charlotte finds herself caught between a criminal operation she thought she’d left behind and the increasingly awkward questions about the company she’s always trusted. An AI, a PI, and a geneticist walk into a library… but the punchline is only the beginning. For fans of Terry Pratchett, Becky Chambers and Martha Wells, Artificial Selection is a charming sci-fi adventure, blending clever mysteries, quirky characters, and hints of tech noir intrigue to keep you guessing. Book 1 in a series of smart, cozy sci-fi mysteries for anyone curious enough to ask why. What Readers Are Saying… "In the top echelon of near-future storytelling. Looking forward to the next one." “I loved the world and characters of this book. It felt like a world inhabited by real people with real problems, in a future that is very relatable.” "That ending? Perfection. It left me feeling hopeful, which is rare these days, isn't it?" Duration - 10h 51m. Author - Marianne Pickles. Narrator - Kristin Atherton. Published Date - Friday, 24 January 2025. Copyright - © 2024 Marianne Pickles ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:14
Chapter 1
Duration:00:21:59
Chapter 2
Duration:00:19:59
Chapter 3
Duration:00:24:15
Chapter 4
Duration:00:30:18
Chapter 5
Duration:00:26:41
Chapter 6
Duration:00:19:33
Chapter 7
Duration:00:19:08
Chapter 8
Duration:00:18:09
Chapter 9
Duration:00:23:48
Chapter 10
Duration:00:22:01
Chapter 11
Duration:00:17:00
Chapter 12
Duration:00:17:07
Chapter 13
Duration:00:22:10
Chapter 14
Duration:00:29:55
Chapter 15
Duration:00:25:35
Chapter 16
Duration:00:28:04
Chapter 17
Duration:00:26:29
Chapter 18
Duration:00:19:28
Chapter 19
Duration:00:15:31
Chapter 20
Duration:00:25:53
Chapter 21
Duration:00:38:51
Chapter 22
Duration:00:27:47
Chapter 23
Duration:00:23:44
Chapter 24
Duration:00:32:21
Chapter 25
Duration:00:28:26
Chapter 26
Duration:00:35:26
Epilogue
Duration:00:10:23
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:48