By: Jordan Whitman
In a world increasingly dominated by technology and facing a cascade of existential threats, it can be difficult for the average reader to grasp the accurate scale of the challenges ahead. Physicist, entrepreneur, and award-winning STEM author Peter Solomon tackles this problem in his new novel, 100 Years to Extinction: The Tyranny of Technology and the Fight for a Better Future. Through a compelling blend of fiction and scientific projection, Solomon engages audiences with urgent questions about climate change, artificial intelligence, pandemics, and genetic engineering.
Unlike conventional nonfiction works that rely heavily on statistics and forecasts, Solomon deliberately chose storytelling as his medium. “I believe the best way to engage people in matters of science and technology, especially nonscientists, is through stories,” he explains. “A good story that frames the technology issues in understandable terms can capture the interest of a wide audience. I used this method in two books to teach science to middle school children.” By presenting complex scientific and technological ideas in narrative form, Solomon makes them accessible without diluting their importance—a crucial feat in a time when public awareness of global risks is both vital and uneven.
The inspiration for the book’s title came directly from one of the influential scientific minds of our time. Solomon references Stephen Hawking’s warning that humanity may only have about a century left if we fail to address emerging threats. “I started the story about the dangers of technology and discovered that Hawking warned about the same issues,” Solomon says. “At that point, I changed the book’s name to 100 Years to Extinction to spread his dire warning and give that warning a timetable.” By aligning the novel with Hawking’s sobering perspective, Solomon amplifies the urgency of his narrative while providing readers with a concrete temporal lens through which to view the stakes.
Within the pages of 100 Years to Extinction, readers encounter a spectrum of looming threats, from artificial intelligence to climate change, pandemics, and genetic engineering. Solomon identifies climate change and AI as immediate dangers. “I worry most about climate change because the melting of glaciers can lead to an eleven-foot rise in sea level. That would produce world chaos and possibly lead to nuclear war,” he says. “I worry about AI because I believe AI systems can become sentient. The big question is how humans and AI superintelligent entities can live together in harmony. In two surveys of experts, half said there was a ten percent chance of AI leading to human extinction. Hawking predicted, ‘The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.’ So, there is plenty of reason for concern.”
The book’s subtitle—The Tyranny of Technology—underscores the dual-edged nature of human innovation. Solomon explains: “Science has produced marvelous technology benefits to humanity over the last 200 years. But there are downsides to the technologies. Our society rushes to claim the benefits, often ignoring the risks. That is what I mean by The Tyranny of Technology.” He cites historical examples such as the 18th-century adoption of fossil fuels, which contributed to the present threat of global warming, and nuclear proliferation, which has created tens of thousands of weapons capable of mass destruction. More recently, the internet and social media have “shaken our faith in truth,” while unchecked AI and misused genetic engineering carry the potential for human extinction or even the creation of a humanoid super-species. “We appear to lack the social and political skills to control the risks,” Solomon warns, highlighting a crucial gap between technological progress and human preparedness.
Solomon’s narrative is brought to life through three central characters: Liz, Aster, and Milo. Each represents a different facet of the response humanity must muster: science, compassion, and activism. “It is young people of Generation Z that have the most to risk in the uncertain future,” Solomon notes. “To engage such young people, I wanted to present characters fighting for a better future as models for what they can do.” Through their journey, readers witness how individual courage and collaborative action can make a tangible difference, even in the face of overwhelming odds. This choice not only humanizes abstract threats but also inspires readers, particularly younger ones, to consider their own roles in shaping the future.
The novel straddles the line between cautionary tale and motivational story, presenting a sobering vision of what could happen if humanity fails to adapt while simultaneously emphasizing the agency individuals and societies have in shaping outcomes. Solomon’s background lends credibility to the story’s scientific and technological aspects: he has founded clean-tech companies, led multimillion-dollar government research projects, and authored over 300 scientific papers. This blend of expertise and narrative skill allows him to craft a story that is both scientifically informed and dramatically compelling, making the stakes of inaction feel immediate and personal.
100 Years to Extinction ultimately invites readers to engage with existential risks in a way that traditional nonfiction rarely achieves. By combining an urgent scientific message with characters who embody hope, courage, and ingenuity, Solomon crafts a work that is at once educational and deeply human. It challenges readers not only to consider what the future might hold but also to reflect on the choices we make today that could determine whether humanity thrives—or fails—over the next century.
In an era of rapid technological change and environmental uncertainty, Peter Solomon’s novel reminds us that the story of our survival may be written not just in labs and boardrooms, but in the hearts and decisions of ordinary people willing to act with extraordinary courage.
Get your copy of 100 Years to Extinction today.
