Carlos Cotta, professor of Languages and Computer Systems at the University of Málaga, has published his first novel, 'The Infinite Night', a hard science fiction thriller with technological suspense and cosmic horror. The work begins with a hacker investigating a breach in a quantum system, drawing from his three decades of research in artificial intelligence and computing.
The professor from the University of Málaga Carlos Cotta has made the leap to narrative with 'The Infinite Night', his first novel, which he defines as "hard science fiction, technological suspense, and cosmic horror". According to Diario Sur, the story begins when a hacker investigates an impossible breach in a quantum system considered invulnerable, and what seems like a technological failure ends up pointing to something beyond comprehension.
Cotta, born in Málaga in 1970, enrolled as a student at the Technical School of Computer Engineering in 1988, the same year it opened. After graduating, he began an academic career under the guidance of Professor José María Troya, which led him to earn his doctorate and achieve a professorship. For over three decades, he has researched the resolution of complex problems with applications ranging from video games to indoor evacuation or investment portfolio selection.
His scientific background underpins the novel, which is built on quantum computing, artificial intelligence, complex systems, and the limits of knowledge. "It is the result of a lifetime of passion for science fiction as a reader and also a passion for science," explains the author. "There are scientific topics that excite you and make you wonder: what would happen if...? And there comes a moment when you realise that the answer is even more interesting than the question."
Despite the technical density, Cotta assures that the novel is suitable for all audiences. "It is a novel of what is called hard science fiction," he clarifies. "The reader who is less versed in these topics can see those elements simply as a backdrop, because they won't affect their understanding of the plot too much."
The author also reflects on real cybersecurity: "Right now, there is nothing invulnerable. There are technological and mathematical limitations that, who knows, maybe one day we will be able to solve." The plot unfolds in the near future, in 2035, a year he imagines with a much more significant role for artificial intelligence, with the arrival of agent AI, capable of acting on its own.
Regarding the risks of this advancement, Cotta warns: "The risk is not that artificial intelligence is evil, but that the definition of the objectives and the means provided to achieve them could lead to situations that were not contemplated or foreseen by its designers." He advocates for the need for responsible AI, with human oversight and safeguards to prevent harm to others.
'The Infinite Night' is already available in bookstores.
You may also like
