If you had to save intelligence on Earth from extinction, how would you do it? If you could only pick a couple of billion people to bring into the future, how would you decide who they will be? With an ensemble cast, Mind Hive dramatically explores what happens when an artificial intelligence, influenced by a social justice warrior, reaches a distributed form of the singularity with one purpose: Get intelligence off Earth.

Jake Berry Ellison Jr. earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana, and since then has written several novels and short stories. He has had short works of unusual fiction published and his self-published novel “Sons of Wayne” was a semi-finalist in the Faulkner-Wisdom Creative Writing Competition in 2009; and in 2008, “Sons of Wayne” was Semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

What others say about his science fiction writing and journalism:

“Some say data or raw information is the ‘new oil’ and that artificial intelligence could someday surpass or even threaten humanity. That sounds important, but also complex and boring. Jake Ellison in ‘Mind Hive’ explores the potential (hopefully fantastical) dark side of AI in a good fun romp of a read. He is one of those rare writers who can swim as easily in fiction as non-fiction. How does he do this? Because he knows ‘truth’ can be found anywhere. And Ellison is deeply, passionately, compulsively focused on seeking truth. I’m not one to argue it exists, but it’s worth looking for, right? Ellison is great fun to read because he simultaneously has his finger on the pulse of the zeitgeist and is at the same time often repulsed by it. Did anyone notice that the words compulsive and repulsed both have the word ‘pulse’ in them? That may not mean anything but it’s the kind of observation that might happen while reading Ellison. He loves words and words love him. Insights happen when Ellison writes.” Tom Paulson, Seattle-based journalist who specializes in reporting on science, medicine, global health and poverty matters.

“Jake Ellison is one of the best reporters I worked with during my 15 years at SeattlePI (formerly Seattle Post-Intelligencer). He is passionate and ethical, great at developing sources, dedicated to the mission of journalism and a gifted writer.” Sarah Rupp, Former Executive Producer/Managing Editor at SeattlePI

“I worked with Jake Ellison for nearly a decade at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and was always impressed by his drive, dedication and intelligence. What was unique about Jake was the diversity of his skills. In his time at the P-I Jake worked as the A1 designer, an online, breaking news producer and a deeply-sourced beat reporter covering things like higher education and social issues. Jake could quite literally do it all – report the story, lay it out in the newspaper and transfer the text and images to the online product.” Chris Grygiel, AP Northwest News Editor

“Jake is a talented journalist with big-time, literary-quality writing talent, outstanding Web skills and great deadline skills and seasoning. He can run a news site intelligently, with excellent judgment, singlehandedly when necessary but he’s also a real team player.” David McCumber, former Managing Editor, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, author of “An Air That Kills: How the Asbestos Poisoning of Libby, Montana, Uncovered a National Scandal” and other books.

“Jake is one of the most progressive thinkers and best journalists I have ever known! He’s inspiring!” Jennifer Strachan, Chief Content Officer at KUOW, a Seattle public radio station.

“Jake dares. He always seeks—and finds—new, better ways to advance initiatives. More than that, he is ruthless in assessing the success of his ideas. He drove traffic for SeattlePI. Readers adored his work, because they couldn’t find it anywhere else.” Levi Pulkkinen, senior editor SeattlePI.com, widely published courts reporter and essayist.