From the author of the acclaimed The World Wasn’t Ready for You comes a thrilling first novel, set in a near future where artificial intelligence runs the world, involving a young medical student who must unravel family secrets to uncover the truth of his father’s mysterious death. In a time not so far from our own, society is run by a global AI system controlled by an all powerful corporation. The Shepherd Organization oversees every medical school in the country save one in New Orleans, the renegade Hippocrates which still insists on human-led medicine. It is the last choice school for an ambitious young New Yorker named Pok. But after his father—himself a physician—dies under mysterious circumstance that seems connected to “the shepherds” and their megalomaniacal young CEO, Pok finds himself on a quest for answers that leads right to Hippocrates. Once enrolled, he stumbles upon a further mystery: a strange illness is plaguing newcomers to New Orleans who grew up under shepherd rule. What is causing this fatal anomaly?  And how does it relate to the mystery of Pok’s father’s death and his own mysterious past? “Thanks to Key’s background as a medical practitioner, the teaching-hospital setting feels utterly believable. Key raises timely questions about the benefits and downsides of letting technology control medicine . . . . If you’ve been craving a futuristic version of The Pitt , look no further.” ⎯ The Washington Post "This gripping and heartfelt coming-of-age tale from debut novelist Key takes place in a near-future America dominated by an AI system . . . . The worldbuilding fascinates and Pok is a wonderfully believable protagonist acting from both good intentions and naive suppositions. Key should win plenty of new fans with this." — Publishers Weekly "In theory, AI has the potential to revolutionize health care by minimizing the potential for human error. Key’s debut novel shows a concerningly realistic future if this path is chosen, solidifying his place as a strong voice of contemporary sf . . . . Pok’s ethical and moral struggles with AI will resonate with those concerned with society’s trajectory. For fans of Michael Crichton, Elizabeth Bear, and Annalee Newitz." — Booklist "A medical-minded dystopia with mystery elements that emphasizes the importance of human connection and equity for everyone in a world of artificial intelligence. For readers of Laila Lalami." ⎯ Library Journal "The writing shows the author’s rich imagination . . . . An enjoyable tale about AI’s dark underbelly." ⎯ Kirkus Reviews " The Hospital at the End of the World is the rare speculative novel that brings to life the world in which we already live. Justin C. Key has my full attention. His stunning debut deserves yours."— LeVar Burton " The Hospital at the End of the World is smart and brims with imagination, a novel both as big as the future and as intimate as a son's love for his father. Key is a rising star in Afrofuturism, artfully tending the path laid by Octavia E. Butler." ⎯ Tananarive Due, Los Angeles Book Prize and Bram Stoker Award winner, author of The Reformatory "Justin C. Key writes with sharp-eyed intelligence, integrity, and an unbridled but humane imagination. The Hospital at the End of the World is the cyberpunk, anti-AI, anti-tech-fascism, medical mystery/thriller you need in your life right now. Don't miss it." - Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie and A Head Full of Ghosts “A masterful and suspenseful work of science fiction informed by Key’s own medical training and his keen sense of the human psyche.” ⎯ Cory Doctorow "A medical thriller, a family saga, a meditation on the practical value of human interaction, and a deep look into an imaginary future, Key's debut novel is smart, exciting, and full of heart. Highly recommended." - Karen Joy Fowler "A vital book. Vital, by all of its definitions: essential, full of life, necessary. This is a near-future medical thriller that manages to celebrate humanity, caregivers, and humane-ness, while also asking important and relevant questions about the nature of medicine, the decisions we are ceding to algorithms, and the nuances of our increasingly unprivate lives. Since finishing it I keep looking for excuses to bring it up in conversation, if only to say, "You need to read this book." ⎯ Sarah Pinsker, Nebula and Hugo-winning author of We Are Satellites and A Song For A New Day "The more you read Key the more layers he reveals. From sci-fi to horror to fantasy, he now turns his deft eye to techno-thriller. Key takes his first-hand expertise and takes careful aim at the medical industrial complex, technology, and examines what it means to be human. Thought-provoking as it is gripping, its complex worldbuilding and layered commentary speaks to a near future with words meant for today. Visionary, chilling, and pulse-pounding—like John Grisham meets Cory Doctorow— The Hospital at the End of the World is the medic