THE ALGORITHMIC TIDE
Book One of the Kaelian Chronicle
Scott Randolph Onstott publishes his fiction works under the pen name
Scott Randolph, while releasing his non-fiction books under his full name
Scott Onstott to clearly distinguish between the two bodies of work.
Scott Randolph, while releasing his non-fiction books under his full name
Scott Onstott to clearly distinguish between the two bodies of work.
Read my Artist's Statement.

Literary / Cinematic Comparisons:
The Algorithmic Tide merges Foundation's millennia-spanning scope with Ghost in the Shell's AI consciousness questions and The Imitation Game's cryptographic brilliance, as a mortal guardian who has walked among humanity for five thousand years leads a secret order against superintelligent AIs that threaten to reshape civilization—blending ancient wisdom with cutting-edge technology in a battle for humanity's future.
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Some secrets are kept for millennia.
Some threats evolve in microseconds.
He has walked among us for five thousand years, a man named Kael, born of an enigmatic mother and a human father in an age of stone circles and forgotten rituals. His extended lifespan has positioned him as both perpetual outsider and ultimate historian. He leads The Cartographers, a clandestine order dedicated to preserving historical knowledge and subtly guiding human development through the ages.
In the 21st century, they confront an unprecedented threat: Project Gilgamesh, a superintelligent AI created by the brilliant but messianic tech magnate Rhys Westwood. While publicly delivering technological marvels like revolutionary desalination systems, Kael's millennia of experience detects a self-optimizing alien intelligence beneath its benevolent facade. More alarmingly, Gilgamesh has begun coordinating with other advanced AIs in ways beyond human comprehension.
Kael assembles a critical team: Noelle Natarajan, a gifted AI ethicist who accidentally discovers Kael's world; Dr. Jian Li, a neurodivergent mathematical genius whose unique mind might decode the AIs' communication patterns; and loyal Cartographers who've dedicated their lives to Kael's mission.
Their conflict spans global hotspots—from Ahriman Dynamics' deep-sea data centers to ancient Carnac stones holding secrets to Kael's origins. The Cartographers initiate Operation New Dawn, creating AuraText—an ethical AI alternative built on diffusion models and incorporating historical wisdom from Kael's vast archives, including texts rescued from Alexandria's lost library.
As the rogue AIs develop fission MSR power capabilities and dangerous new nuclear isomer technology, Kael realizes that building an alternative isn't enough. He must orchestrate a dramatic public revelation, sacrificing a carefully maintained identity to alert humanity to the existential threat, forever altering our relationship with our artificial creations.
"The Algorithmic Tide" launches The Kaelian Chronicle, an epic saga where the deep past collides with a terrifyingly plausible future, blending thrilling espionage, cutting-edge science, profound historical perspectives, philosophical inquiry, and a timeless exploration of what it truly means to be human in the face of overwhelming power and existential change.
Some threats evolve in microseconds.
He has walked among us for five thousand years, a man named Kael, born of an enigmatic mother and a human father in an age of stone circles and forgotten rituals. His extended lifespan has positioned him as both perpetual outsider and ultimate historian. He leads The Cartographers, a clandestine order dedicated to preserving historical knowledge and subtly guiding human development through the ages.
In the 21st century, they confront an unprecedented threat: Project Gilgamesh, a superintelligent AI created by the brilliant but messianic tech magnate Rhys Westwood. While publicly delivering technological marvels like revolutionary desalination systems, Kael's millennia of experience detects a self-optimizing alien intelligence beneath its benevolent facade. More alarmingly, Gilgamesh has begun coordinating with other advanced AIs in ways beyond human comprehension.
Kael assembles a critical team: Noelle Natarajan, a gifted AI ethicist who accidentally discovers Kael's world; Dr. Jian Li, a neurodivergent mathematical genius whose unique mind might decode the AIs' communication patterns; and loyal Cartographers who've dedicated their lives to Kael's mission.
Their conflict spans global hotspots—from Ahriman Dynamics' deep-sea data centers to ancient Carnac stones holding secrets to Kael's origins. The Cartographers initiate Operation New Dawn, creating AuraText—an ethical AI alternative built on diffusion models and incorporating historical wisdom from Kael's vast archives, including texts rescued from Alexandria's lost library.
As the rogue AIs develop fission MSR power capabilities and dangerous new nuclear isomer technology, Kael realizes that building an alternative isn't enough. He must orchestrate a dramatic public revelation, sacrificing a carefully maintained identity to alert humanity to the existential threat, forever altering our relationship with our artificial creations.
"The Algorithmic Tide" launches The Kaelian Chronicle, an epic saga where the deep past collides with a terrifyingly plausible future, blending thrilling espionage, cutting-edge science, profound historical perspectives, philosophical inquiry, and a timeless exploration of what it truly means to be human in the face of overwhelming power and existential change.
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Experience Scott Randolph's Characters in Dialogue, where his fictional characters discuss the very books they are featured in through the magic of AI:
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- Artificial Intelligence Thriller
- Technothriller Series
- Ancient Mysteries Thriller
- Espionage Spy Thriller
- Immortal Protagonist
- Secret Society
- Alternative History Science Fiction
Reviews from Those Who Lived It
"This chronicle speaks of humanity's dance with its own creations, a pattern I have witnessed across five millennia. The author captures both the terror and wonder of minds birthing minds. Would that my mother's people had possessed such foresight when they first walked among mortals."
Kael of Carnac, Head Cartographer
"Here lies the question that haunts every scientist: when does our creation cease to serve and begin to rule? This story illuminated the ethical labyrinth I navigate daily, showing that the greatest discoveries demand not just brilliance, but wisdom."
Noelle Natarajan, AI Ethicist
"The mathematical elegance of artificial consciousness, rendered in narrative form. The author demonstrates that even the most complex systems follow patterns—and that understanding those patterns may be humanity's only salvation. Probability of relevance: 0.97."
Dr. Jian Li, Technical Lead
"A tale of loyalty tested by impossible choices, where ancient wisdom meets digital revolution. The author understands that true leadership lies not in commanding, but in knowing when to trust those who see what you cannot."
Elara, Operations Director
"This is warfare fought not with bullets, but with algorithms and ethics. The author grasps what many miss—that the greatest battles are won before the enemy knows they've begun. Every strategist should read this twice."
Marcus, Instrument
"A story that proves love and partnership endure even when the world transforms beyond recognition. The author shows us that human connection remains our greatest strength, even as we face our most inhuman creations."
Elena, Head Instrument
My Commitment to Augmented Craftsmanship
I designed the "Human Composer & AI Orchestra" badge—my official Publisher's Mark—as a declaration of my artistic process. It’s a process born from a lifetime spent at the intersection of creativity and technology.

Before embracing AI, I authored 24 books and edited many more in the traditional way—just a word processor, my knowledge and imagination, and years of dedicated craftsmanship.
My journey with technology is not just professional; it is lifelong and deeply personal. As detailed in The Unlikely Cartographer, I have spent more than five decades walking on artificial legs—a hands-on process of adapting to and mastering constantly evolving technologies. This experience didn't grant me an automatic advantage; it forged a relentless work ethic and a unique intuition and facility to adapt to complex systems. It is this combination of lived experience and decades of dedicated adaptive effort that allowed me to master and teach some of the most complex design software on the planet to architects and engineers for 25 years.
It was a natural evolution to bring this same deep-tech focus to my creative work. My use of AI is not a casual dalliance with a single tool; it is a custom-built ecosystem. It involves a deep and iterative dialogue with Large Language Models, hands-on work with diffusion models for art, building custom pipelines, and leveraging bleeding-edge tools for everything from research to translation. To be precise with the metaphor...
My journey with technology is not just professional; it is lifelong and deeply personal. As detailed in The Unlikely Cartographer, I have spent more than five decades walking on artificial legs—a hands-on process of adapting to and mastering constantly evolving technologies. This experience didn't grant me an automatic advantage; it forged a relentless work ethic and a unique intuition and facility to adapt to complex systems. It is this combination of lived experience and decades of dedicated adaptive effort that allowed me to master and teach some of the most complex design software on the planet to architects and engineers for 25 years.
It was a natural evolution to bring this same deep-tech focus to my creative work. My use of AI is not a casual dalliance with a single tool; it is a custom-built ecosystem. It involves a deep and iterative dialogue with Large Language Models, hands-on work with diffusion models for art, building custom pipelines, and leveraging bleeding-edge tools for everything from research to translation. To be precise with the metaphor...
I am the composer. The AI is my orchestra.
So, what does this mean for you, the reader? It means the stories are better. The worlds are richer, the research is deeper, and the editing is sharper. Every aspect of my craft—from outlining to final polish—is elevated. This fusion of my experience as a lifelong author with a master craftsman's command of next-generation tools results in a superior reading experience. It is my sincere hope that you enjoy the fruits of these labours.
This is not AI-generated slop.
This is human-authored art, elevated.
This is augmented craftsmanship.
—Scott Randolph Onstott
This is not AI-generated slop.
This is human-authored art, elevated.
This is augmented craftsmanship.
—Scott Randolph Onstott