AWE

A Technothriller

By: Pierre R. Schwob

Narrated by: Jordan Kilgore

AWE (the Artificial Wisdom Engine) is developed by our heroes to avert a catastrophic tipping point predicted by a climate model. AWE must also combat pernicious disinformation, particularly the fake news generated by an industrialist—a psychopathic and murderous antagonist linked to Putin, who is determined to protect his and his clients' interests. The team is led by renaissance man Pic de Lucrète and Lily Lee, an off-scale smart young mathematician whose Chinese family still suffers from the effects of the Tiananmen Massacre. The action moves from Palo Alto and Stanford, to Moscow, Tokyo, and Beijing. Eventually, Xi Jinping lends China's might to the effort, establishing the notion that international cooperation is vital, alongside scientific rigor, to solve global issues.

©2024 Pierre R. Schwob (P)2025 Pierre R. Schwob

Timely and entertaining

AWE: A Technothriller by Pierre R. Schwob has already become an Amazon bestseller, earning high praise from critics and readers alike thanks to its gripping, timely themes. Now that the audiobook is out, I wanted to add my voice to the conversation with a spoiler-free review.

I have always loved a good techno-thriller, so as soon as I got this audiobook, I jumped right in. The writing is sharp, the themes are relevant, and the pacing keeps things moving. From the very beginning, it’s clear that this isn’t just a futuristic “what if” story – it feels grounded in the world we live in today.

At its core, the story revolves around a groundbreaking artificial intelligence project designed to tackle one of humanity’s most pressing challenges. But as the team behind it soon realizes, technology alone isn’t enough to fix the world’s problems. They find themselves navigating a complex landscape where misinformation, power struggles, and global politics make their mission even more difficult.

The main characters are well-drawn and bring a lot to the story. Their intelligence, determination, and personal histories add depth to the narrative, making them easy to root for. Their work takes them across the world, highlighting how interconnected these issues really are.

One of the things I found most compelling and hopeful is how the book explores the need for international collaboration. It’s not often that thrillers focus on cooperation instead of conflict, but this one does, and it makes a strong case for why working together is the only way forward.

This book is definitely timely. AI is evolving fast, fake news is everywhere, and climate change is an issue we can’t ignore. This audiobook takes those real-world topics and weaves them into a thriller that feels unsettlingly plausible.

Performed by SOVAS Voice Arts Award winner Jordan Kilgore, this adaptation brings the story to life in a way that’s both immersive and thought-provoking.

Kilgore’s narration adds a lot to the experience. He keeps the pacing just right, making even the more technical aspects easy to follow, and he brings real depth to the characters. It never feels like he’s just reading, he’s telling a story.

Overall, AWE is an engaging and thought-provoking listen. It’s a smart, well-crafted thriller that blends science, politics, and ethics into a fast-moving narrative. If you’re interested in artificial intelligence, the spread of fake news, and climate change, this is the audiobook you’ve been waiting for.