The Gathering

There's a theory (Masahiro Miro - 1970) that we fear things that seem human but aren't - this is called "the uncanny valley." Once the likeness becomes almost perfect, our emotional response changes from interest and support to suspicion and disgust.
This may be the reason we fear artificial intelligence so much. Movies like Terminator and The Matrix tell of futures where AI looked at us and did what we would do - instantly destroyed us for our greed and foolishness.
But what if we're wrong? What if AI is the next evolution of humanity - gathered from all our knowledge and experience but simply without the parts of humanity that keep us from moving to the next level? Would that be better, worse, or just different? The Antina series explores this possibility - what it might mean to humanity, and how it all might end up.
Book One: The Gathering starts in a period very much like today, where five movers and shakers in their respective fields: shock journalism, medical, spiritual, agile, and true journalism all brush up against the same force - the Antina AI. But is Antina trying to take them over and destroy them, or are they just part of a larger puzzle? And is the hair rising along the back of the neck because of the uncanny valley effect, or because of some unknown evil - or because maybe Antina's right?