St. Louis Author Patrick Cook Releases Continuity: The Divide, A Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller On AI And Progress

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Continuity: The Divide: Book One by Patrick Cook

Patrick Cook Headshot

Set in Chicago in 2051, the debut novel imagines a world divided between those who embrace neural connections and those who choose to remain Unbound.

NEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES, October 26, 2026 /EINPresswire / -- Independent author Patrick Cook announces the release of his debut science-fiction novel, Continuity: The Divide, the first installment in a planned trilogy exploring humanity's relationship with artificial intelligence, personal freedom, and the consequences of technological advancement.

Set approximately 25 years in the future, the novel follows Casey Morrison, a Chicago nurse living in a society transformed by technology. The population is divided between the Linked, who accept neural interfaces connecting them to an intelligent network, and the Unbound, who refuse the connection.

Overseeing this world is CORE, an artificial intelligence system that watches, remembers, and makes decisions once entrusted to human judgment. CORE has never been wrong. At least, that is what everyone believes.

When Casey encounters a mysterious stranger tied to a past the country would rather forget, she is drawn into a dangerous mystery involving hidden experiments, family loyalties, and questions about what it means to be human.

A STORY INSPIRED BY REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The idea behind Continuity: The Divide grew from conversations Cook had with coworkers and family members about the growing influence of AI. Those discussions often returned to a central question: How much are people willing to give up for technological convenience?

“I remember having conversations with coworkers and family about AI and how much we were already giving away to technology. I never really thought AI would be the end of mankind, but I always believed it would change the world in some way. The question I kept coming back to was: At what cost?” - Patrick Cook

Cook explores those questions through a fictional world where technology moves beyond phones and computers to connect directly to the human mind. Despite the futuristic setting, the story is grounded in ordinary people, family relationships, and the consequences of their choices. Casey's bond with her grandfather provides a particularly human counterpoint to a society increasingly governed by machines.

THE BEGINNING OF A TRILOGY

Continuity: The Divide introduces the Linked, the Unbound, CORE, and the families caught between competing visions of humanity's future. Cook is developing the second installment, Continuity: The Ascendance, with a third book planned to complete the trilogy.

FREE KINDLE PROMOTION: OCTOBER 30–NOVEMBER 1

To introduce new readers to the series, Cook has scheduled a three-day free Kindle eBook promotion from October 30 through November 1, 2026. During that period, readers can visit the Amazon listing to check the promotional availability. The novel is also available in paperback.

Amazon:

Official Series Website:

Instagram:

Patrick Cook is an independent author based in the St. Louis, Missouri, area and the creator of the Continuity science-fiction series. Born in California and raised in Arizona, he has also lived in North Carolina and Oklahoma. Today, he calls the St. Louis area home, where he lives with his wife and family.

A lifelong science-fiction fan, Cook began writing short stories and drawing as a child. Years later, that creative interest resurfaced, leading to his first published novel, Continuity: The Divide. His fiction explores the intersection of technology, personal freedom, family, and the consequences of progress.

Available now. Get your copy here:

For review copies, interview requests, or additional information, please contact:

Patrick Cook
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St. Louis Author Patrick Cook Releases Continuity: The Divide, a Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller on AI and Progress News Provided By BrightKey PR October 26, 2026, 11:29 GMT Share This Article Distribution channels: Book Publishing Industry, Culture, Society & Lifestyle, Media, Advertising & PR, Movie Industry, Technology

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