Books like Coils by Roger Zelazny

Roger Zelazny’s "Coils" follows the emergence of a new entity whose inner workings are made of microprocessors and whose essence is stored across data banks ranging from Wall Street to the Kremlin. The being is neither benevolent nor malevolent, yet its potential is deemed a threat. The powerful Angra Oil Corporation views it merely as a resource to harvest, while two individuals—one male, one female—must navigate the perilous conflict between corporate greed and the machine’s own spirit. The narrative explores themes of technology, corporate exploitation, and the struggle for autonomy in a world increasingly governed by data. Zelazny blends speculative science with a cautionary tale, prompting readers to consider the ethical dimensions of artificial consciousness and the ways in which powerful entities might co-opt or destroy it. Keywords: microprocessors, data banks, corporate exploitation, Wall Street, Red Square, artificial consciousness, dystopia, corporate versus individual, technology ethics, corporate control, new entity, Angra Oil Corporation, man versus machine, corporate greed, rogue technology.

First publish date: 1982