Stealing Worlds
{5/5} “Rivet Couture‘s an alternate reality game where colonialism wasn’t as successful as in the real world. In Rivet Couture, the American Revolution never happened, and the lands west of the Adirondacks were never annexed by European settlers… There are Indian and Chinese empires, free African nations, and places like Dreamtime, which is unexplored Australia. Players are diplomats, explorers and spies, traders and smugglers.”
Stealing Worlds by Karl Schroeder, published in 2019
Sura finds out that her dad died and that whoever killed him is now after her. She breaks into the house that they used to live in, and retrieves a package from behind a wall. Then she slips into a new identity, Britt. But a bounty hunter named Jay finds her and takes her in. While at the place where he was supposed to take her, he changes his mind — and allows her to escape instead.
It’s about virtual worlds where a lot goes on, AI used in a way you’ve never thought of, and a new deal for the world.
You won’t be able to put this novel down — it contains astonishing ideas and thrilling characters.
I’ve read 7 books by Schroeder. I previously reviewed The Million. I also reviewed the anthology Hieroglyph, in which he had a story.