Is it magic … or is it Siri?

In Michael Redhill’s new novel, The Trial of Katterfelto , the titular Katterfelto is a traveling magician and scientist in the late 1700s. One day, Katterfelto and his partner Roger come across a mysterious horn that emits a woman’s voice … and that voice calls herself Siri. Siri is from the future, and she tells the two of climate disaster, social unrest and AI takeover. As Katterfelto and Roger start using Siri for their magic show, they must learn how to decipher her messages … and figure out what she’s really warning them about. This week, Michael joins Mattea Roach to talk about his interest in magic, anxieties for the future and writing a different kind of ghost story. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: What if your dreams could land you in jail? In a world run by AI, what makes us human? Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

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Is it magic … or is it Siri? is an episode from Writers and Company from CBC Radio by CBC.

This episode is 00:27:34 long.

This episode was published on Apr 15, 2026.

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