PJ Caldas, a.k.a PJ Pereira, the author of multiple best-selling novels in Brazil, was named one of the most important writers of the 21st century by the Dictionary of Brazilian Literature. He published four books inspired by the mythology carried to the country by the African diaspora and reached the top five best-selling titles multiple times. PJ is also a martial artist with 40 years of experience in combat sports, including kempo, karate, tai chi, and Brazilian jiu jitsu. In 2023 he was named Jury President of the Artificial Intelligence Awards at the Art Director’s Club and curated a Global immersive exhibit of designers collaborating with AI, called ADC101+1, as a way to explore the use of this emerging technology as a creative tool. His new book “The Girl from Wudang” is a story about immortality, martial arts, and AI that will change the way you look at life, science, and the crazy times we are living in.

“The Girl from Wudang” – My Name is Tigress and I am immortal. This is my story. Embark on a mind-bending journey with Tigress as she navigates the confusing jumps of conscience that throw her between tender moments of her childhood practicing Tai Chi in China, the most violent cage fights in California, and a secret lab where scientists experiment with her brain. She was raised in a traditional Chinese setting, immersed in Tai Chi and the Dao, but life soon takes her to California where she gets involved in professional fighting, which she loves. The story begins with an internet Blackout and Tigress is watching it unfold on television in her Oakland home and then decides to go for a jog around the neighborhood. Trouble always seems to find her, or she goes looking for it, but either way, she gets involved in a brutal street fight. Then there is a flash and she is transported to another location. This is Tigress’ life, and she shares her experiences as well as the journey that completely changes her life.

In “The Girl from Wudang,” PJ Caldas gives readers a look into the life of a confident, strong, and self-reliant fighter who evolves from a street fighter to a selfless immortal being. She is a trained fighter, and at first she is smug, but her intent is to teach women to fight: “When it comes to fighting, here’s the difference between a guy and a girl: we know they underestimate us. And I love to make them regret that.” Searching for a way to alleviate her chronic headaches, she allows herself to be part of an experiment and that is where cutting edge technology steps in. Tigress is telling her story, so it is in the first person point of view and the narration, especially the fight scenes, are highly descriptive: “My heels smash his sternum, making a crack and a puffing sound, though momentum and idiocy keep pushing his hips forward.” At first, the footnotes seem out of place, but they become useful when explaining Chinese culture and the author’s thought processes and other background information. The action is fast paced but the sudden jumps in location can seem confusing and some of the fight action is bloody and violent. Regardless, this speculative science fiction novel expertly combines ancient traditions, modern day technology/science, spirituality, and martial arts. It is a must read for fans of cyberpunk and science fiction thrillers by William Gibson and Stieg Larsson.

“This strange dimension where I live, this place nerds call ‘the cloud’ isn’t the Dao of my ancestors. Though, from where I stand, I can hear everything.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.