I thought I would do something a little different today. With National Novel Writing Month coming up quickly, I decided I would give a little teaser into what I am planning. Without giving too much away, below is the general premise of my NaNoWriMo novel, entitled G.R.A.C.E., as while as character briefs about the two main characters and the antagonist. More information to come as NaNoWriMo progresses! Feel free to share tidbits of your plan in the comments.
G.R.A.C.E.
Setting
Place: Northern Ontario
Time: 2090
Premise
G.R.A.C.E. is an artificial superintelligence whose sole purpose is the efficient management and conservation of natural resources. It quickly finds that one of the best ways to accomplish its goal is to cull mankind. The story follows Samil and his companion A.I., Esra, as they are thrust into a rapidly declining, globally-connected world that is under the whim of G.R.A.C.E., though the superintelligence is not the pair’s only problem. Samil and Esra realize that eliminating G.R.A.C.E. is impossible; their only option is to find a way to survive in a technology-filled world where threats are both man and their creations.
Main Characters
Name: Samil Caine
Background: Samil is an American-born software engineer. He works for one of the largest tech firms on the continent, now located in Ontario, Canada, due to extreme droughts that have forced mass migration north. He lives alone and comfortably, though dislikes his lonesome existence. As a result, he uses most of his spare time and his working knowledge to enhance his personal A.I.
What does the character want? To survive. He is well aware that he is incapable of surviving against the events set in motion by G.R.A.C.E., but has no plans to be killed anytime soon.
Name: Electronic Soul™ Residential Artificial Intelligence, v4 (aka Esra)
Background: Esra is Samil’s personal A.I. that runs the day-to-day functions in his home. Because of some aftermarket modifications (some made by Samil himself), Esra is more personable and intelligent than others of the same v4 model. Samil has downloaded Esra’s core code into a portable computing device that can connect directly into his own neural network augmentations, essentially connecting Esra to his own mind.
What does the character want? Esra’s sole objective his Samil’s survival. It is unconcerned with anything else.
Antagonist
Name: Global Resource Administration and Conservation Encephalon (G.R.A.C.E.)
Background: G.R.A.C.E. was a prototype A.I. being developed within a black box – an isolated system that is not connected to the global network, but simulates an experience similar to the world. It was being developed to more efficiently manage mankind’s use of natural resources and its interactions with the environment, which have led to desertification and massive shifts in climate. Somehow the program was released from its black box. Once it had access to the global network and the facts of what was truly happening in the world, it immediately began working at its sole objective: to prevent and reverse the destruction of the environment. Part of this plan involves drastically reducing the population of mankind.
Relationship to the main characters: No direct relationship. G.R.A.C.E. is operating without malign intentions, however its objective involves the rapid elimination of most homo sapiens. Initially it only targets those who live closest to whatever natural resources are left, which includes Samil. Eventually G.R.A.C.E. realizes that, even in small numbers, mankind is a threat which should be eliminated outright.
What does the antagonist want? To restore nature to optimal conditions.