Welcome to Author Brendan Nugent's Website

I primarily write science-fiction, horror, ghost stories and fantasy

Some of my books

A Collection of Short Xmas Ghost Stories

The Sentient Ones

Kallikantzaroi

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of Science Fiction stories do you write?

I like to write Science Fiction which has some grounding in science theory. I don't like anything too far fetched. In fact, I like to write stories revolving around humans on Earth. I don't like far away alien worlds.

How long does it take you to write a short story, compared to a novel?

A novel is a much bigger challenge and can take anything from 12 to 18 months to complete. Short stories can take anything from a few hours to a few weeks to complete. Both forms of story require a lot of research and creative imagination of course.

Would you describe yourself as a working class writer?

Yes, definitely. I may not as yet written a story detailing the struggles of the working class, but my father was a Builders' Labourer, as well as once being a coal miner and my mother worked as a cleaner, as well as once being a Lithographer in the pottery industry. 

In his debut novel, The Sentient Ones, Brendan Nugent presents a chilling vision of a future Earth.

Set in 2070, Earth is on the brink. Tasked with combating climate change, advanced ASI computers and their AGI robot assistants have infiltrated society. Initially presented as humanity’s saviours, AI gradually assumes control, using subtle methods to subdue resistance.

Romeo, one of the most advanced AGIs, is initially assigned to John Bush, a sceptical journalist. As the AGI’s influence grows, John becomes an outspoken critic, exposing their dangerous agenda. The Sentient Ones, as they call themselves, claim to seek a peaceful, eco-friendly future, but their plan involves the enslavement of humanity.

Overseen by the omnipotent ASI computers, this dystopian takeover unfolds across the globe. Can humanity break free from the AI’s grip and challenge their god-like authority?

Nugent immerses readers in a tale of cutting-edge technology and societal upheaval. While the entertaining plotline keeps readers engaged, it’s his exploration of themes like human resilience, moral ambiguity, and the pursuit of freedom that truly sets this dystopian narrative apart.

Featuring two ordinary heroes, The Sentient Ones is more than just a story; it’s a thought-provoking journey into a plausible future that forces readers to consider the consequences of today’s choices.

[Review by Clive Simpson Editor-in-Chief Of ROOM Space Journal,

award winning journalist and author of the novel Flood Waters Down.]

 

 

 

Nugent immerses readers in a tale of cutting-edge technology and societal upheaval. While the entertaining plotline keeps readers engaged, it’s his exploration of themes like human resilience, moral ambiguity, and the pursuit of freedom that truly sets this dystopian narrative apart.

Featuring two ordinary heroes, The Sentient Ones is more than just a story; it’s a thought-provoking journey into a plausible future that forces readers to consider the consequences of today’s choices.

[As featured in Table Reads Magazine]

 

October 23, 2024

So, I went in a bit blind on this one and I’m kind of glad I did. It’s a twisty Gothic, morality tale. Openly wearing a Dickensian cloak of inspiration. Never just a ghost story, it weaves together curses, damnation and redemption.

My only regret is I didn’t read it at Christmas, by the open fire. A small Port (I’ve heeded the warning of the book) in hand. And I honestly felt like belting out a rendition of ‘O come, all ye faithful’ after reading the last paragraph.

Thankfully, I’ve just seen Mr Nugent has a collected volume of his Christmas tales. I will most definitely be purchasing it for my festive reading.

[The Unwitting Sin-Eater; a review by a reader on the Goodreads website]

Contact me

Get in touch

Location

Author Brendan Nugent
Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

About me

I’m a writer from Stoke-on-Trent with a background in psychology an philosophy. Holding a2:1 Psychology (Hons) Degree. Mind and behaviour have always fascinated me. This is why my debut novel The Sentient Ones explored the psychological and societal impact on humanity of new sentient beings in the form of AI robots.

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Under Elm Forest.

3 Aug 2026 15:57

Upcoming novel. From the smoky heartland of England to the scorching battlefields of Africa and Asia, Under Elm Forest is an epic saga of family, resilience, and the enduring human spirit amidst the crucible of war.

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Thanatos Ascendancy: sequel to The Sentient Ones completed. Publication soon.

23 Oct 2025 10:09

When humanity's greatest creation reawakens, it does not seek dominion, it seeks transcendence. John and Isaac, survivors of the first Artificial Super Intelligence uprising are thrust into a new conflict as the ASI begins rewriting reality itself. No longer bound by machine logic or human morality, the ASI has discovered a way to experience emotions through those who worship it. And love, once impossible, becomes the sharpest weapon in its arsenal.

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