Cover Image: Otherworld

Otherworld

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Member Reviews

A fast-paced and wish-fulfilment Ready Player One for people who don't fetishise 1980's.

Simon Eaton is kind of a bum. Born to rich, apathetic parents, he takes nothing seriously. Until his best friend becomes comatose after an accident he witnesses, and he learns she's trapped inside a computer simulation. Simon vows to go in after her, and in the process uncovers a conspiracy that puts him, Kat, and a host of other characters in grave danger.

The concept behind Otherworld isn't original, but it doesn't quite stray into the self-indulgent fantasies of Ready Player One. However, it does maintain a lot of problematic tropes: there is a definitive damsel in distress, an older woman and a PoC are sacrificed to help the hero complete his journey, oversexualised female characaters exist. If you're a reader who can put aside these issues, then you're in for a gruesome, clever, and deftly-plotted ride. But sadly for me, I couldn't enjoy it quite as much because of it.

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Excellent book. Great main characters and a real page turner. I loved the plot and would recommend this book.

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This is a clever book. For many people a virtual reality is pure escapism. Who doesn't love to be whoever they want to be in another awesome world for just a few hours. And imagine if you could use that virtual reality for more than just escape. The potential is endless, and the same is true for the creative world building of this story.

This is fast paced, always progressing and had some creepy (scarily believable) dark twists which will make you think twice about the true appeal of leaving your reality behind for those few hours. The characters take a bit of a back seat compared to the amazing world building, but you absolutely will want to know how it can be possible for one boy to free a girl from locked in syndrome (effectively an aware coma).

Whilst some of the themes have been seen before, this book is still a fun read - Virtual reality doesn't seem quite so virtual anymore!

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