Artificial Selection: A Near-Future Science Fiction Mystery Novel

by Marianne Pickles

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 fiercely dedicated to her work. The ArkTech Territory is the only home she’s ever known, and she’ll do anything to keep it safe.

So when Ben, the company’s curious AI with a fondness for dad jokes, asks why a geneticist is stealing pages from library books, Charlotte is happy to help. After all, Ben isn’t just software – he’s her best friend.

But what begins as a routine investigation soon raises deeper questions about Charlotte’s world.

She’s pulled into the orbit of a criminal operation she thought she’d left behind – and what she uncovers forces her to confront an uncomfortable truth about the company she’s always trusted.

An AI, a PI, and a geneticist walk into a library… but the punchline could cost Charlotte everything.

Artificial Selection is fun, intriguing, and ultimately uplifting – the first in a series of smart 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.”

"Honestly, I devoured it in one go, in just a single day – it was that good. The world-building? Absolutely brilliant… Charlotte Vance is such a relatable character. She's flawed, smart, and determined, and I was completely rooting for her… The humor was spot-on too – not overdone, just enough to balance the story’s emotional weight. And that ending? Perfection. It left me feeling hopeful, which is rare these days, isn't it?"

Genres: Science Fiction

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2024

About the author

Marianne Pickles writes mystery novels set in the future. She grew up in Scotland near Aberdeen, where many people worked on offshore oil rigs in the North Sea. Now she lives on low-lying land in the Fens with her partner, David. They are contemplating learning to kayak.

She studied English Literature and Classics at the University of Edinburgh. In 2023, Marianne’s novel Time Hack won first prize in the Green Stories novel competition.

Reviews

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy the book as much as I expected to. I love SF and books with AIs and this one had potential but I got tired with long descriptions of indifferent events. In general, it was a decent story and from what I read there are sequels as well but I kind of lost my interest midway and was just reading to finish the book. I'm not gonna be reading the sequels.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artificial Selection was a super fun and intriguing read that also managed to give me lots to think about. We're following Charlotte (a main character that's somehow both mysterious and relatable), Head of Awkward Questions, and her employer/buddy, Ben the AI, as they make their way through a post-climate-apocalypse utopia (?) in search for answers to awkward questions that may short-circuit Ben (and possibly bring about another mini apocalypse). Questions only humans, thinking and feeling like humans, can answer.
Ben reminded me a bit of Lovey from the Wayfarers series and maybe also a bit of the Carls from An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, mostly for their ability to connect with humans. The vibes are also quite similar, cosy and fun but exploring some deep themes, like an AI's ability to understand human motivations and the fairness of algorithmic decision making. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a cosy and thought-provoking sci-fi.

** Disclaimer: I know the author IRL, so cannot be completely unbiased, but I truly did love this book!

[Gary Hardenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story but no reveal at the end

I would give this a 3.5 if I could. The author does build a great post-apocalyptic world and developed great characters. I really like Charlotte and the AI, Ben. Their communication is entertaining and fun as well as enlightening. The writing is also quite good. I’m not a big fan of “chase scene” person, but there’s 10% section of this book of Charlotte being chased by a crazed woman and her brothers. It’s riveting! So why did I only give this book 4 stars and really want to give it 3.5? Very little happens in the book. The story is based on a person or two stealing blank pages from pre-melt books. It seems there’s a big secret. That the ruling corporation maybe had a hand in the Melt. However, by the end, they were stealing pages and escaped to the mainland. That’s it. I know there’s still a lot of story we don’t know but the author doesn’t care to share any of that in this book.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Charlotte and the world building

Artificial Selection by Marianne Pickles

Good! Sea level has risen 70 meters (230') with resultant population decline, relocation, famine, etc. Decades later a powerful, ecologically responsible company has arisen creating architectural oases in various places. Anyone who is accepted to live there becomes an employee-citizen with all their needs taken care of. Charlotte has been hired by the AI, Ben, whose automations keep the whole territory running. Light switches. Water pressure. Air traffic control. Energy distribution. It’s all Ben. And on top of that, he gives info and guidance to every employee-citizen whenever they need it. Her title is the Head of Awkward Questions: she helps "him" understand human motivation so he can do a better job. Loved Charlotte and the world building. Felt real. Looking forward to a sequel.

[Todd Millard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally write reviews, but feel this book calls for 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. The heroine isn't a super hero and the "villains" aren't murderous psychopaths. They are just people dealing with life and the gray areas we all deal with. Loved it and am waiting for more stories from this world.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a surprise! I haven't read sci-fi in ages, so seeing this was awesome. Charlotte and Ben are a great pair. Who knew an AI could be so fun and witty? I shared all of it. So glad there's another one coming.

[Cody · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

Boring ZZZ
I tried, but just couldn't get into it.
Maybe if the disaster had been explained right from the get-go. But I never got far into the book to find out what happened. And I read quite a bit. It was like watching paint dry.
I obviously can't recommend this book.

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 5 out of 5]

AI and the dystopian future. EOTWAWKI, Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, read with the Alexa audio assist application. Warning story incorporates some 'dad-type jokes'. A Female question resolver investigates issues resulting from unexplained human behaviors.

[Tara gander · Rating 1 out of 5]

Super boring.Ben, the AI was the most likable character and the story was fun-solving a stupid mystery that seems irrelevant.

[Sue]

I'm sooooo bored....

[Simon Warner · Rating 2 out of 5]

366 pages of absolute nothingness.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

First AI I’ve met in a while that I didn’t want to see catch fire!

Can’t wait for the sequel. I’m prepared to bribe the author. Anyone got any ideas for doing that?

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

just wow

[Julie Malcolm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't quite put my finger on why I struggled to finish this - the idea is good but I found it very easy to put down

[Luis A Quijano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I think this is a very good book. I takes you to a different world, even though is our world in the future. Very well written.

[Colleen Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting world building but there was a whole lot of catching shuttles and going from here to there. For such a fast-paced story, it felt sort of boring.

[Melissa Applegate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous, light-hearted, and an enjoyable read.

[David M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, novel premise and setting. Well worth the read