Books by Barry Redhead
Books
The books set in the Redhead Future Fiction universe cover a broader narrative scope than the science fiction short stories: the length of a novel allows more time to develop characters, explore political tensions and examine how AI, consciousness and society influence one another.
On this page, you’ll find an overview of the planned and published volumes, including details on formats, external purchase links and a dedicated section for reading samples. If you’re new to the universe, it’s also worth taking a look at the sci-fi short stories and the author’s profile.
An introduction to the Redhead universe
Barry Redhead’s novel projects build on the themes of his sci-fi short stories: cinematic depictions of future scenarios in which AI, biotechnology, digital religion and questions of power collide. Volumes 1–3 form a cohesive series of science fiction novels, complemented by standalone projects such as Codename: Darwin and Paradise 4.0.
Below you will find a concise book gallery providing a visual overview. Detailed information on content, formats and extracts can be found in the next section.
Volume 1 – The Hiss of the Dying Candle
Volume 1 – ‘YESTERDAY, EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY DIFFERENT THIS MORNING’ Redhead Future Fiction
The first volume in my SCIENCE FICTION short story series introduces you to the interconnected universe of Redhead Future Fiction: a near future in which AI systems, global corporations and political power struggles are inextricably linked. The focus is on a handful of central characters whose decisions have far-reaching consequences.
Themes (selection): Available or planned formats: e-book, print (details and editions can be found via external bookshops).
- AI systems: between control and autonomy
- Global politics and shifts in power
- Consciousness, identity and digital doppelgängers
Volume 2 – The Cage of Consciousness
Volume 2 – ‘YESTERDAY, EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY DIFFERENT TOMORROW’ Redhead Future Fiction
Volume 2 delves deeper into the characters and storylines of the first novel: alliances shift, AI systems are entrusted with new tasks, and the question of who is truly in control in this universe becomes even more pressing.
Themes (selection): Available or planned formats: e-book, print (details via the linked bookshops).
- The consequences of past decisions and moral grey areas
- Media reality, disinformation and surveillance
- Relationships caught between the forces of power and technology
Volume 3 – Hybrid, Alien, Machine
Volume 3 – ‘YESTERDAY, EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY DIFFERENT TOMORROW’ Redhead Future Fiction
Volume 3 continues the central conflicts of the universe and opens up space for new storylines. Whether as the conclusion to a first trilogy or as a springboard to further projects: the focus lies on the consequences arising from the close intertwining of technology, power and personal responsibility.
Themes (selection):
- The consequences of technological decisions across generations
- Systemic change, uprisings, silent revolutions
- The limits of humanity in an expanded future world
Available or planned formats: E-book, print (status subject to publication progress; up-to-date information can be found via bookshops).
Codename: Darwin
Code Name: Darwin centres on experimental AI projects that blur the lines between research, power politics and personal responsibility. The novel is set in the Redhead Future Fiction Universe, but can be read as a stand-alone story.
Themes (selection): Available or planned formats: E-book, print (details via the linked bookshops).
- Experimental AI and unexpected side effects
- Biotechnology, optimisation and ethics
- Secret programmes, leaks and the question of transparency
Paradise 4.0 – Science Fiction Novel Series
Paradise 4.0 – the science fiction saga by Barry Redhead
The future promises humanity a new paradise. But who decides what this paradise should look like – and what price we must pay for it?
“Paradise 4.0” is a cinematic science fiction universe and a trilogy of novels by Barry Redhead. At its heart is a humanity whose lives are being fundamentally transformed by artificial intelligence, digital control and rapid technological progress. The boundaries between security and surveillance, freedom and manipulation, and human and machine are beginning to blur.
The stories tell of people who, amidst social upheaval, are fighting for their freedom, their identity and a future worth living. In doing so, Barry Redhead combines gripping entertainment with pressing questions: Can technology save humanity? Who controls artificial intelligence? And does a perfect world remain human when algorithms make decisions for its inhabitants?
‘Paradise 4.0’ blends science fiction, futuristic thrillers and social commentary into an atmospheric saga about power, artificial intelligence, human hope and the dream of a better life. The universe comprises a trilogy of novels, a comic book project and planned animated productions.
Discover the books, characters, reading samples, images, film clips and background information from the world of “Paradise 4.0” – a future that could be closer than we think.
43/53 – Science Fiction Novel series
43/53 – the science fiction prequel to Paradise 4.0 Before a new world can emerge, the old one must lose its sense of security. But is the journey towards a better future really a fresh start – or do people carry their mistakes with them wherever they go? “43/53” is the prequel to Barry Redhead’s science fiction universe “Paradise 4.0”.
This prequel reveals the political, social and technological developments that pave the way for the world depicted in the subsequent novel trilogy. Artificial intelligence, digital control and the desire to transcend Earth’s boundaries irrevocably transform people’s lives. As crises on Earth intensify, the move to a lunar colony promises safety and a fresh start.
Yet even far from Earth, power, dependence and human conflicts persist. The settlers must realise just how vulnerable a community is when help remains out of reach and every decision can determine life and the future. In ‘43/53’, Barry Redhead combines socially critical science fiction with space colonisation, human destinies and cinematic suspense. This prequel expands on the story of ‘Paradise 4.0’ and explains how the decisions of the present could have given rise to a future in which the boundaries between progress, control and survival become blurred.
Discover the backstory, characters and context of ‘43/53’ – the atmospheric prequel to the science fiction saga ‘Paradise 4.0’.
Dummy
DUMMY– When humanity’s stand-in wants to live He has no life story, no rights and no name. He was designed to withstand the forces from which humans are meant to be protected: acceleration, impact, deformation and destruction. His body is a measuring instrument. Officially, his suffering does not exist. But what happens when a crash-test dummy not only records data but also develops memories? When recorded stress gives rise to fear – and fear gives rise to the will to carry on living?
With *DUMMY*, Barry Redhead crafts a serious science-fiction thriller about artificial consciousness, technological obsolescence and a society that increasingly judges the worth of humans and machines by their usefulness. The novel is currently in development and is scheduled for publication between 2027 and 2028.
