Artificial Hydra - Joe Kucharski (https://readatjoes.org) - May 6, 2025

The Star Trek episode “Space Seed” features a glorious showdown. Khan, a genetically enhanced human who awakened onboard the USS Enterprise after a hundreds year slumber with visions of conquest dancing in his head, is invited to a formal dinner with the command crew. What is supposed to be a time for merriment turns into a battle of words as Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock direct and deflect Khan’s suddenly aggressive stance. The scene is beautiful and masterful and the heightened frenzy is accomplished all through dialogue without a single phaser blast or Vulcan nerve pinch.

Gregory Ryman accomplishes a similar task in his techno-spy novel follow up to Louisiana Hydra. In his second book, Artificial Hydra, Ryman lays out a race to obtain and control AI protocols worldwide. Those in control would gain unfettered access to thousands of terabytes of data – all gleaned from private citizens through their personal social media presence and online shopping habits. And similar to that classic episode of Star Trek, the crux of this competition all comes through carefully constructed dialogue. There are elusive hints and shadowy ruses. There are hidden messages and intercontinental proposals. The frenzy here is also heightened as the clock ticks down.
 

Ryman decodes a realistic threat from within the digital ether and places together a crafty thriller with highly relevant – and more than-a-little creepy – stakes. Artificial Hydra is an old-school spy story elevated with future-is-now prompts. Yet even “Space Seed” hinged its climax on a mano y mano slugfest. Artificial Hydra could have benefited from a phaser blast or two.
 

Artificial Hydra continues the fictional adventures of William Stinson and Stephanie Borden by placing them in the very real world of generative AI. After attending a conference, Borden and twelve other AI experts are suddenly kidnapped. Stinson, along with the best from the CIA, FBI, and Tim Horton’s, go on the offensive to get her back while also preventing America’s private data from being scooped up in a ready-to-sell AI net for your friendly-neighborhood Mega-Corp.
 

Ryman’s exposition of AI is perfectly in line with present-day understandings and tenants. This almost reads like a TED Talk, albeit one with a cat-and-mouse game added in the margins. Worry not, Ryman supplies plenty of cheese.

​

Sci-fi sounding content aside, this escapade remains grounded. Ryman reduces Stinson’s techno-wizardry down to a more human level, at least on a more relatable flavor ala 007’s Q as opposed to Tony Stark type tomfoolery. This time around, Stinson and Borden are separated. Borden ends up being feet-on-floor while Stinson is somewhat relegated to a support role, which is a better arrangement for both characters. Working as a Jeremy Irons-type Alfred Pennyworth, albeit substituting a single malt Scotch for a jasper-infused green tea, gives Stinson singular authority. Likewise, Borden’s alone-time provides ample time for character growth.  

 

They both get time for dialogue. Perhaps even too much. Ryman’s writing style tends to include detailed descriptions of conversations and keystrokes along with the minutiae of precise footfalls all in a downloadable report. But Ryman is having fun – and his joy is easily conveyed.

​

Whereas the cloak-and-dagger genre elements fall into a standard rhythm, Ryman perfectly underscores it all with the relevant inclusion of generative AI and keeps the pressure moving in a quality story. Ryman concludes Artificial Hydra with a plea on the ethical use of such technologies. 

​

“Think of its accomplishments!” Khan once boasted about possible solutions his augmented intelligence could bring about. Scary? Prophetical? Time will tell. And hopefully Gregory Ryman has another hydra head to uncoil.