They invited it in
—without asking what it would replace.
58% TOO FAR
THE STORY
Seven years. Countless sacrifices. And now anthropologist Zadie Thornton’s doctoral research on humanity’s adaptation to AI is already obsolete. With her PhD on the line, she accepts her uncle’s mysterious offer to glimpse AI’s future. But instead of a cutting-edge lab, she wakes up on another planet.
MushÄ“ški is home to the Anunnaki, descendants of ancient Sumerians who merged AI into their DNA five millennia ago. The result? Superhuman cognition… but at a cost. Their emotions have dulled. Their thoughts have grown uniform. Once convinced they’d reached the pinnacle of evolution, they’re now crumbling under a destabilizing disorder called Quantum Psychosis. In search of a cure, the Anunnaki have recreated extinct human species in vast biodomes, hoping to relearn what they’ve lost.
For Zadie, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to observe what humanity once was, while living among what her people could become.
But as fascination gives way to unease, and the disorder spreads, noble intentions turn dark. Zadie must confront the true cost of progress and what it really means to be human.
58% Too Far is a cerebral, emotionally rich, and chillingly plausible exploration of our future evolution where the fusion of AI and humanity leads not to transcendence, but to slow erasure. Perfect for readers who appreciate the speculative urgency of Blake Crouch, the philosophical insight of Ted Chiang, and the haunting emotional resonance of Kazuo Ishiguro.
READER FEEDBACK
“Connecting past, present, and future, this novel is both fascinating and thought-provoking—a bold, imaginative reflection on the direction we're heading as a species.”
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
"Author M A Noordermeer has written a book like none I've ever read before, and this cerebral, high-concept sci-fi tale is told with a human heart and philosophical edge, almost like a morality tale for the modern age. A highly recommended and impressive sci-fi work for fans of smart, urgent, and imaginative writing."
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M A NOORDERMEER
M A Noordermeer grew up with a one-legged dad, a three-legged cat, and a fascination with what makes us human. She won writing awards at school—until teachers took issue with her choice of controversial topics.
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After her first year of university, dabbling in philosophy, psychology, and sociology, she flew to Japan to work as an English teacher and fund her pilot training. She earned her commercial pilot’s license, became a flying instructor, then shifted into aviation strategy, completing a degree in Aviation Management and an MBA along the way. She co-founded the carbon offsetting company CarbonClick, and raised four kids in a blended family.
At last, she came back to writing. Her debut novel, 58% Too Far, draws on lifelong interests in extinct human species, ancient civilizations, and AI. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand, where she writes things her teachers probably still wouldn’t have approved of.