Nina Schuyler never intended to become a prognosticator. But the Fairfax author somewhat assumes that role with her riveting “Afterword,” a prescient yet eloquent third novel that’s as topical as tomorrow’s headlines. The literary page-turner prophetically taps into ethical and moral quandaries surging to the fore over the deployment and potential abuse of artificial intelligence. “It wasn’t planned in any way,” Schuyler said of the timeliness of her novel. “It was passion and curiosity that got me interested in this area … I didn’t set out to write science fiction.” But it didn’t hurt that the Bay Area is whirlwind...