Tomorrow, August 28, marks the official release of "Panophobia" – the debut novel by author Valentin Slaveev, according to the team at Colibri Publishing. The book rightfully won the publisher's competition for a new Bulgarian novel after receiving the highest marks from the jury. The visual appeal of the edition is completed by a cover designed by artist Monika Vakarelova.

The plot of the work unfolds in a private clinic where an innovative psychological assistance program, backed by state approval and funding, is being implemented. At the heart of the therapy lies the use of artificial intelligence, which has direct access to the patients' thoughts, memories, and specific behavioral patterns. One of the participants in the program is a young man going through a severe existential crisis, living with the conviction that he is a failed experiment of nature.

Prof. Alexander Kiossev defines the book as a significant literary experiment, focusing on new AI biotechnologies and the moral responsibilities associated with them. According to him, the author masterfully describes the conflict between the humanitarian and the rigorous, natural-scientific ways of thinking, clashing them through various stylistic and linguistic registers. Prof. Kiossev emphasizes that readers will be able to enjoy a truly polyphonic reading experience. Valentin Slaveev himself shared with BurgasMedia that through "Panophobia," he aims to assist the reader in navigating the path to self-discovery.

Valentin Slaveev was born in 1994 in Vratsa. He holds a degree in philosophy and a master's degree in "Arts and Modernity" from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski." Among his achievements, the author holds the Grand Prize from the "Boyan Penev" literary competition, awarded to him for his poetry collection "Possibilities." Readers will have the opportunity to meet him during the presentation of the new novel as part of the "Apollonia" Arts Festival in Sozopol. The premiere will take place on August 30 at 6:00 p.m. at the Art Gallery.