Reckoning!
David Vincent
Independently Published (2026)
ISBN: 979-8180861757
Reviewed by Dawn Colclasure for Reader Views
What if we could create an AI cyborg that would not only improve our quality of life but work towards healing our injured planet? That is the question posed in the novel Reckoning! by David Vincent, and this scenario is explored with every possible angle of how things can go terribly wrong. People fear what they don’t understand, and when it comes to an AI cyborg, there is a lot we don’t understand. No matter how intelligent someone may be in creating an AI cyborg, even those that resemble animals, there is always a chance of one element in that creation that is not understood and can be deadly.
This is the argument that Stephanie Wolff, a scientist, has when Damian Malone extends his creation of AI cyborgs to animals that can be hunted in the wild. She is not thrilled by this latest technological advancement and, in fact, only foresees doom. While Dr. Malone is singing its praises and giving himself a nice big pat on the back for achieving such a creation, Dr. Wolff believes that there are faulty systems that would endanger the human race, as well as encourage the cyborgs to literally wipe out humanity due to feeling it is superior to humans. David Stryker, an FBI agent tasked with accompanying Dr. Wolff in her work at the White House, also has doubts about Dr. Malone’s creations, but he remains guarded as he continues to observe what is happening and what kind of contributions the cyborgs are making.
This story is quite fascinating, and it kept this reviewer reading, wanting to know what else happens in this story. The cyborg animals placed in the wild only create havoc, unknown to anyone responsible for putting them there, and this allows readers to see how such a creation acts in a realistic setting. These scenes were likewise fascinating to read and caused this reviewer to ponder the scary plausibility of such an event.
It was also interesting to read because it gives readers a look into what could happen if we really did achieve such a technological advancement. Of course, fiction cannot predict the future, but this story certainly offers a possible scenario of what the future might look like if AI cyborgs that can catch bullets in thin air and make calculations trillions of times faster than humans could actually exist. This possibility is what held my interest and kept me reading.
The story itself is interesting, but the big surprise after everything goes wrong is what had me hooked. I could not believe what happened, and I definitely didn’t see it coming. When things go bad, they go VERY bad, and everything happens so fast. It left me wondering if anybody will be able to get out of the huge mess alive. The many surprises and unexpected twists in the story held my interest, and the story is very well-written. Brilliant storytelling!
Filled with action and suspense, David Vincent’s Reckoning! is a story that explores the “what if?” of man’s ability to create, as well as the probability of how our tendency for creating imperfect technology can mean utter disaster.
At a Glance: A science fiction techno-thriller imagines advanced AI cyborgs designed to benefit humanity and restore the environment, only to unleash dangerous consequences. The story blends dystopian speculation, runaway technology, action, and suspense with questions about human control over artificial intelligence.
Best for Readers Who Enjoy: AI thrillers, dystopian science fiction, rogue artificial intelligence, cyborg stories, technology gone wrong, fast-paced suspense, futuristic action, ethical questions about AI, unexpected twists