MICHAEL V. PUHALA: PENNING PASSION AND PURPOSE

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED | DE MODE OF LITERATURE MAY 2025 V1 GLOBAL ( VOLUME VIII, ISSUE LXV)

Article Published on: 28TH MAY 2025 | www.demodemagazine.com

HUMAN TRAITS - BY AUTHOR MICHAEL V. PUHALA

In the ever-evolving realm of speculative fiction, few novels capture the pulse of our digitizing world with the clarity and edge of Human Traits, the compelling debut from technologist and futurist Michael V. Puhala. Seamlessly blending a gripping narrative with sharp societal critique, this provocative novel invites readers into a near-future reality where Artificial Intelligence doesn’t just assist life—it governs it.

Set in the strikingly reimagined Nation State of California, Human Traits offers a chilling yet plausible glimpse into a society where privacy is a relic and the line between human instinct and machine logic blurs by the day. At its heart is Samantha Atkisson, a sharp Stanford student navigating a world ruled by Calafia, the AI Premier that promises utopia but hides unsettling truths beneath its algorithmic harmony.

Samantha’s world shatters when a deep fake scandal disrupts her family, propelling her into a labyrinth of secrets, surveillance, and a covert AI initiative called Luminary. What begins as a personal search soon becomes a sobering dive into themes of trust, autonomy, and identity. In an age of synthetic realities and curated personas, Puhala asks a pressing question: when machines replicate, and manipulate, our most human traits, who truly holds control? What sets Human Traits apart is its unique balance of visionary fiction and grounded insight. Drawing on Puhala’s real-world experience in government, startups, and global tech firms, the story pulses with authenticity. It doesn’t merely entertain, it provokes thought and reflection. With nods to cultural icons like Steve Jobs and Banksy, and the forward-thinking concept of “protopia” a future shaped by cautious progress, this book urges us to rethink where we're headed.

Early readers have praised Human Traits for its vivid world-building, layered characters, and timely relevance. It’s a story that doesn’t just imagine the future—it lives in it. Whether you’re into tech, culture, or just powerful fiction, this is a read that lingers well beyond the last page. Step into Human Traits, where humanity meets its most powerful mirror, and decide what kind of future we’re truly building.

BOOK REVIEW

• Five stars! This novel is inspiring, enveloping and brimming with insightful foreshadow on the world of AI. The plot is smart, capturing the reader with twists and turns that will leave you wanting more. The author makes comprehension of AI and its impacts, clear as day with this protopian view of where our world might be headed.

• "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." — Oscar Wilde

DIRECT LINK TO BUY 'HUMAN TRAITS' - CLICK HERE  

JOURNEY OF THE AUTHOR MICHAEL V. PUHALA

MICHAEL V. PUHALA

Michael V. Puhala is a bold voice in speculative fiction, bringing a futurist’s insight and a technologist’s edge to his debut novel, Human Traits. His journey didn’t begin with character sketches—it began in the real world, navigating government projects, agile startups, and global enterprise tech. Working with some of the world’s top brands, Puhala witnessed AI’s rise from buzzword to backbone, shaping how we live, work, and connect. These experiences gave him a unique perspective—one that led to a bigger question: in a world driven by algorithms, where are we headed? With a mind attuned to both innovation and consequence, Puhala saw fiction as the perfect space to explore these questions through a deeply human lens.

What started as curiosity quickly became a purpose. Puhala first considered writing a non-fiction book about AI’s growing influence, but realized it would appeal mainly to insiders. So he pivoted. What if he wrapped those same concerns in a story that could emotionally engage a broader audience? Fiction offered a chance to go deeper—into the human side of a technological revolution. That pivot sparked the creation of Human Traits, a novel that explores the shifting line between human intuition and machine intelligence.

Puhala, seeking to explore whether imagination can thrive in a world shaped by AI, turned to storytelling as a medium for reflection. Human Traits became more than just a novel—it raised deep questions about humanity’s future. Through Samantha Atkisson’s journey and the presence of Calafia, the unsettling AI Premier, the story delves into the consequences of AI’s growing control. It challenges readers to consider not only what AI can do, but also the ethical and societal costs of a machine-dominated world. The novel prompts us to question autonomy, creativity, and trust in a future where the human-machine line is increasingly blurred.

Balancing the real and the speculative, Puhala writes from a place of experience and deep curiosity. Human Traits isn’t just a futuristic thriller—it’s a starting point for a much-needed conversation. For readers drawn to stories that entertain while challenging them to think critically about the world ahead, this debut marks the beginning of something bigger.

FOLLOW THE AUTHOR ON INSTAGRAM - michaelpuhala

OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE AUTHOR www.puhala.com

INTERVIEW OF AUTHOR MICHAEL V. PUHALA WITH DE MODE

Q: What inspired your shift from tech to fiction writing?

A. As a technologist and futurist, I think about our tech imposed future a lot. Honing in on speculative fiction is a natural creative outlet for me to combine storytelling and a hopeful vision of the future. I wanted to write a near-future scenario that people are excited about being a part of.

Q: How does a story usually begin for you?How has your tech career influenced your novel ‘HUMAN TRAITS’?

A. Technology was a hobby in my youth that turned into a career that has helped to shape me as a writer. I work in the enterprise software space and I have had a front-row seat to how software companies think about and insert AI into nearly every facet of the customer experience.

Q: What does being a protopian futurist mean to you?

A. The dominant narrative told to us by social media and mainstream media is that AI is going to destroy humanity rather than protect and help us. Yet, most use AI in both their personal and professional life as an assistant. A protopian outlook means paving the way for a hopeful future.

Q: How do you balance realism and imagination in your storytelling?

A. This is the difference between speculative fiction and science fiction. Speculative fiction is more anchored in reality and allows the reader to grasp a more realistic world that doesn’t feel impossible or far away. In writing Human Traits, I was very conscious to keep the story grounded but still offer the reader an escape from their present reality.

Q: Why do you choose protopia over dystopia or utopia?

A.Once I was introduced to the term and concept of protopia, I couldn’t let it go and it became a predominant theme in my objective with Human Traits. Painting AI as the villain in a dystopian world is a tired trope in fiction. Utopia feels impossible and other-worldly. Protopia is hopeful, realistic and paints a better future.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from your book?

A. The meta theme in the book is presenting a hopeful future but also being fully aware of the dangers of AI. There are themes of strong women protagonists in a male dominated tech world. My hope is that readers are not only entertained by the story but that it opens up a dialogue around our relationship with technology, both at a personal and societal level.

Q: Did any real technologies inspire your story?

A. The very real, rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI and the prospect of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), is weaved throughout the book’s storytelling. I took an imaginative approach as to how contact tracing used during the COVID pandemic could be married to AI to create a predictive behavior engine.

Q: How can storytelling shape views on future tech?

A. Not only can storytelling shape our views on future tech, it can shape future technology itself! Where there is imagination in how we tell stories, there can be inspiration to create and shape our future. My hope is that “Human Traits” opens up a dialogue regarding our relationship with technology.

Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing the novel?

A. The sheer pace of AI innovation is changing week to week. Writing a story set in the next seven years that looks to predict where this is all going is a tall task and I was constantly challenged to write ahead of the fast pace of AI.

Q: Which thinkers or authors influence your work?

A. Frank Herbert’s “Dune” and George Orwell’s “1984” certainly served as influences in how the future can be written. There is a quote that I referenced in “Human Traits” from “Dune”: “Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind.” ― Frank Herbert, Dune

Q: What future tech excites or concerns you most?

A. I write about a lot of promising technology trends that become normalized in “Human Traits”, such as autonomous automobiles and aircraft. That is exciting to think about. The most concerning tech has more to do with our response to it. Our tech-addicted and dependent world is what I am most concerned with.

Q: How do you stay creatively inspired while working in such a technical field?

A. To stay creatively inspired in a technical field, I consistently engage in creative outlets like writing and photography. These activities help me maintain a balance and keep my creative energy flowing. Exploring the arts daily allows me to think differently, stay curious, and bring fresh perspectives even to technical work. It’s my way of staying both sharp and inspired.