My novel, 18, takes place in the near future. A talented psychiatrist, Dr. Theodore Parker’s life changes irrevocably the day he meets James Grady, a billionaire known for his robotics and supercomputer technology. Grady was impressed by Dr. Parker’s idea to radically change the healthcare sector: under certain insurance plans, patients would be able to opt out of any medically necessary operations and instead receive the cash equivalent of eighteen percent of the would-be medical costs; they called the program 18. While 18 grows in popularity, Grady continues to pursue his dream of predicting the future of humanity with his company’s technology, which he is getting dangerously close to accomplishing. As factions across the globe fight over whether 18 is a force for liberation or enslavement, Dr. Parker and his allies must discover the truth about James Grady…before the tech magnate succeeds in his quest for power.