A script supervisor for an AI media conglomerate is caught between her intense need for an orderly life and her deeper, darker queer desires. From the creator of the Outside trilogy, a heartfelt interplanetary epic of identity, longing, and a space pirate who smuggles inappropriate stories.
‘[A] deliciously queer, timely ode to human creativity in an ever-more-algorithmic world. Its subtle philosophical depth, keen observations, and lyrical poignancy will wow you, even as its neurodivergent hero steals your heart.’
—Maria Dong, author of Liar, Dreamer, Thief and Aviary
Kelli Reynolds loves creating stories more than anything in the world. But on Callisto, a generative AI company called Inspiration owns everything, including all the media, and only Inspiration determines which stories can be told.
Kelli has a rare and coveted job where her autism is to her advantage: She precisely edits AI output into ‘appropriate’ stories for Inspiration’s massive TV audience. Her proudest creation is the pirate Orlando—a dashing do-gooder based on stories she used to tell friends.
Reenter Kelli’s ex-boyfriend Rowan, the person Kelli based Orlando on. Back when they were teenagers, their relationship was a secret. Kelli had thought that Rowan, a trans man, was her schoolmate Am, a girl.
Rowan is tangled up in the black market after he needed to get money for gender affirming surgery. He needs Kelli’s help with something . . . illegal. So, now Kelli has to decide: Will she risk the safe, tidy story of her life now for the world she once wished for? What would Orlando do?
Passionate, dangerous, and tender, Ignore All Previous Instructions is a sweeping, poignant novel about censorship, forbidden love, and growing up.
Genre: Science Fiction
‘[A] deliciously queer, timely ode to human creativity in an ever-more-algorithmic world. Its subtle philosophical depth, keen observations, and lyrical poignancy will wow you, even as its neurodivergent hero steals your heart.’
—Maria Dong, author of Liar, Dreamer, Thief and Aviary
Kelli Reynolds loves creating stories more than anything in the world. But on Callisto, a generative AI company called Inspiration owns everything, including all the media, and only Inspiration determines which stories can be told.
Kelli has a rare and coveted job where her autism is to her advantage: She precisely edits AI output into ‘appropriate’ stories for Inspiration’s massive TV audience. Her proudest creation is the pirate Orlando—a dashing do-gooder based on stories she used to tell friends.
Reenter Kelli’s ex-boyfriend Rowan, the person Kelli based Orlando on. Back when they were teenagers, their relationship was a secret. Kelli had thought that Rowan, a trans man, was her schoolmate Am, a girl.
Rowan is tangled up in the black market after he needed to get money for gender affirming surgery. He needs Kelli’s help with something . . . illegal. So, now Kelli has to decide: Will she risk the safe, tidy story of her life now for the world she once wished for? What would Orlando do?
Passionate, dangerous, and tender, Ignore All Previous Instructions is a sweeping, poignant novel about censorship, forbidden love, and growing up.
Genre: Science Fiction
Praise for this book
"A revelation. It hooked me from page one and never loosened its hold on me, building and building toward an emotional catharsis that will simultaneously destroy you and give you life." - John Joseph Adams
"[A] deliciously queer, timely ode to human creativity in an ever-more-algorithmic world. Its subtle philosophical depth, keen observations, and lyrical poignancy will wow you, even as its neurodivergent hero steals your heart." - Maria Dong
"Beautifully queer and neurodivergent to its core, this is science fiction with heart, soul, and brains." - Maria Haskins
"A thoughtful, engrossing SF novel about AI, creativity, censorship, and gender (with an autistic protagonist). Highly recommended." - Juliet Kemp
"A triumph of queer love and expression. A total adventure of a read. This book is the takedown of GenAI that I needed right now, making me feel hope and joy for the future." - Jordan Kurella
"I especially loved the deep and tender examination of queer autistic coming of age. I loved the focus on rules and rebellions and what that might mean-within oneself, with AI, with society, even within our own communities." - R B Lemberg
"Intimate, hopeful, and completely charming." - Kelly Robson
"Come for the science fiction about AI written by an actual computer scientist, stay for the BE GAY DO CRIMES.... This book is a delight, and it becomes more timely with every passing day." - Bogi Takács
"There's so much to love about Ada Hoffman's Ignore All Previous Instructions: Heists! Space pirates! Romance! Messy queer characters! Neurospiciness! An evil, AI-pushing corporation! Criminal conspiracies!" - Izzy Wasserstein
"[A] deliciously queer, timely ode to human creativity in an ever-more-algorithmic world. Its subtle philosophical depth, keen observations, and lyrical poignancy will wow you, even as its neurodivergent hero steals your heart." - Maria Dong
"Beautifully queer and neurodivergent to its core, this is science fiction with heart, soul, and brains." - Maria Haskins
"A thoughtful, engrossing SF novel about AI, creativity, censorship, and gender (with an autistic protagonist). Highly recommended." - Juliet Kemp
"A triumph of queer love and expression. A total adventure of a read. This book is the takedown of GenAI that I needed right now, making me feel hope and joy for the future." - Jordan Kurella
"I especially loved the deep and tender examination of queer autistic coming of age. I loved the focus on rules and rebellions and what that might mean-within oneself, with AI, with society, even within our own communities." - R B Lemberg
"Intimate, hopeful, and completely charming." - Kelly Robson
"Come for the science fiction about AI written by an actual computer scientist, stay for the BE GAY DO CRIMES.... This book is a delight, and it becomes more timely with every passing day." - Bogi Takács
"There's so much to love about Ada Hoffman's Ignore All Previous Instructions: Heists! Space pirates! Romance! Messy queer characters! Neurospiciness! An evil, AI-pushing corporation! Criminal conspiracies!" - Izzy Wasserstein
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