Infinity Engine

Starred review from February 13, 2017
Asher (War Factory) completes his Transformation series with this powerful work that transcends the borders of morality, existence, and spacetime itself. The rogue AI Penny Royal continues to be the guiding force of this story, which centers on Room 101, the enormous spacefaring war factory where Penny Royal was created and where the last volume’s climactic battle took place. Sverl, an alien who’s been converted to an AI by Penny Royal, gains control of Room 101 as others converge on it. Thorvald Spear, one of Penny Royal’s first victims, resumes his quest to find it, knowing that he is “the judgment the AI had created for itself.” Another AI, the Brockle, has decided that it must defend the human and AI Polity from Penny Royal, regardless of how many lives it costs. The final action moves to Panarchia, the planet where Thorvald died, which now orbits a black hole. Asher imagines incredible beings wielding vast alien technologies, devastating space battles, and mind-blowing science, but all ultimately hinges on Thorvald Spear and his very human choices.

Starred review from February 15, 2017
Asher delivers an action-packed conclusion to the Transformation trilogy that began with Dark Intelligence (2015) and continued in War Factory (2016). Penny Royal, the enigmatic AI, continues to manipulate humans, aliens, and machines toward a purpose known only to her. Thorvald Spear, linked to the memories of Penny Royal's murderous past and once bent on revenge, now is simply looking for answers as to her intentions. The Brockle, a psychotic and terrifyingly ambitious forensic AI once used by the Polity for brutal interrogations, is determined to hunt down and destroy Penny Royal. The story is densely packed with epic battles, fascinating descriptions of space ship construction, and colorful characters. Veteran storyteller Asher excels at framing exquisite technological detail within short chapters and shifting points of view to create a fast-paced adventure. As with the previous books in the cycle, there is plenty of compelling discussion of consciousness, intelligence, morality, and the meaning of existence. A concise glossary precedes the novel, so that ambitious readers can jump right into the action; but to appreciate the full arc of the story, it is best to begin with Dark Intelligence.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)