Rick Tabor's AI thriller pits a robotic dog against corruption

Rick Tabor’s latest novel, "The Blink of Humanity," was released on Sept. 7 and pairs artificial intelligence with international politics in a race to prevent a global catastrophe. According to Covering Katy, the book follows Mila Cross, a bioengineer with epilepsy who develops robotic medical-assistance dogs for people with the condition. Her own AI-powered dog, Kelsey, becomes her partner after two suitcase nuclear bombs destroy Chicago and kill the love of her life. The story then moves to the Arctic, where Mila and Kelsey join forces with a stranded extraterrestrial. The Inuit who rescued the alien from the CIA are part of that group. The novel’s political thread centres on Colon Pyles, a corrupt real estate mogul who hides his exploitation of trafficked girls while rising to national power. With help from Russian President Vladimir Zmeya, he becomes president of the United States. Tabor said he wanted to write about the clash between corrupt political power and the resilient spirit of the marginalised. He also said that through Mila, Kelsey and their unusual allies, readers would see a "terrifyingly plausible world" pushed to its edge, with love as the only hope. Amazon’s listing page mirrors the core premise, though it refers to the heroine as Mia rather than Mila. It describes her as epileptic, says she created a robotic dog to assist and protect her, and repeats the detail that an Inuit freed the alien from the CIA. "The Blink of Humanity" is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other major online booksellers. Tabor’s previous novel, "Children of the Scroll," won the 2026 StoryTrade Award for Best Urban Fantasy and was a finalist in the thriller category of the American Legacy Book Awards. He also hosts the podcast "Authors Learning Something New," which focuses on writing and the experiences of authors. Tabor lives in Katy with his wife and children, and a book signing is planned for the 2026 Tex-indie Author Book Fair on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 10510 Westview Dr. in Houston.