Showing results for "Reality" in Science Fiction

A barely employed tech worker has never felt they belonged. Not in society, not even in their own family. Their days are filled with loneliness, a struggle to survive and a desperate search for connection—even if that connection is merely virtual. Now, a black-market hacker promises to open a new world for them, and it works—in ways no human has ever experienced. They find a world of wonder, of possibilities and of danger—where their new virtual reality could mean the end of their physical reality. And what they discover could change the fate of humankind—forever.

Refresh is an explosive, powerful short story about a near-future dystopia in which citizens can commodify every waking moment of their lives with computer-generated augmented reality. But this ubiquitous, game-changing technology can create dangerous consequences, especially for society’s most vulnerable people.

When Lynn Raven set out to win the championship for groundbreaking augmented reality game TransDimensional Hunter, the worst she thought she’d face was sunburn, mosquito bites, and annoying spectators. The more she plays, though, the higher the stakes become—and the stranger the obstacles she has to face.

Daniel Suarez’s New York Times bestselling debut high-tech thriller is “so frightening even the government has taken note” (Entertainment Weekly). Daemons: computer programs that silently run in the background, waiting for a specific event or time to execute. They power almost every...

We'll never see floating skyscrapers, bright orange grandmothers, humans born fully grown, or film strips growing like grass. Still, we can't speak for all of the other realities out there. Let's open a window in space-time and see how different human life can get from what we know. What I can't promise is that our own reality is any less weird than the ones in these six stories. New episodes every Sunday at 8 am from November 30th, 2025, through January 4, 2026. Get in touch with John at: john.lawson81798@gmail.com

Neal Stephenson, "the hottest science fiction writer in America", takes science fiction to dazzling new levels. The Diamond Age is a stunning tale; set in 21st-century Shanghai, it is the story of what happens what a state-of-the-art interactive device falls into the hands of a street urchin named Nell. Her life, and the entire future of humanity, is about to be decoded and reprogrammed.

The end of Earth's immunity period draws ever closer. The game board of grand space politics is set; pieces are down, lines are drawn. Native Earth factions now stand to defend their shared homeworld, and with them shoulder to shoulder are Humans from other worlds, the Miyelonians, the Geckho, the Jarg, the Cleopians, the Cyanids, the Esthetes, and the Crystallids—all those Kung Gnat was able to persuade. But the enemy is also extremely powerful.

The propulsive, shockingly plausible sequel to New York Times bestseller Daemon. In one of the most buzzed-about debuts, Daniel Suarez introduced a terrifying vision of a new world order, controlled by the Daemon, an insidious computer program unleashed by a hi-tech wunderkind, Daemon captured...

“Bad Monkeys has wit and imagination by the bucketload. . . . Buy it, read it, memorize then destroy it. There are eyes everywhere.”—Chris Moore, bestselling author of A Dirty Job and Lamb Jane Charlotte has been arrested for murder. She tells police that she is a member of a secret...

Contains books 5-8 of the sci-fi survival horror series Reality Bleed, written by best-selling authors J.Z. Foster and Justin M. Woodward.

Something went wrong in the Mars Felicity Station. A gate to another reality was opened, and a mysterious alien plague threatens humanity. When communications with the station are cut, the Perihelion crew is sent to find out what happened. Outmatched and unprepared, they’re forced to make war on this new enemy and rescue what remains of the survivors.

Log-in or die. Those are the only choices left for Clay Hopewell. Infected with the ZERO virus, he has less than 24 hours before he bites the dust. With no cure available, there's only one option left: digitally reincarnate himself in the most advanced virtual reality game ever, the mysterious and newly released Arcane Kingdom Online. But cheating death and gaining immortality isn't that easy. If Clay survives the risky cognitive upload process, he'll still have to contend with a fantasy world teetering on the brink of crisis.

Gnat the Devourer is becoming a more prominent figure in grand space politics. Sure, he may not be totally independent yet, but he has enough leeway to be able to differentiate Earth's interests from those of its Geckho suzerains and act exclusively for the good of his own kind. Gnat must balance obligations to his almighty suzerains against a desire to advance humanity's position in space, and his home planet's search for ever more allies.

Observer, by Robert Lanza and Nancy Kress is a slick modern, hard sf, standalone, medical thriller combining classic Robin Cook with the hard edge of Black Mirror and Altered Carbon. After neurosurgeon Caro Soames-Watkins’ career has gone down in flames, she receives a strange job offer from...

Space is a dangerous place. Here, you're either a predator or soon to fall prey to a ruthless neighbor. And if you aren't tough enough to make it on your own, you'll need the backing of a formidable power to keep you safe from bigger fish. Earth used to have such protection—the great Geckho race. But unfortunately, the Geckho fell to an enemy onslaught, leaving planet Earth to fend for itself. And now, Earth humanity has precious little time to prove to their galactic neighbors that they are not to be trifled with.

Are we alone? Where is humanity headed? And is the blueprint for our doom already written? Join us as we explore the chilling intersection of extraterrestrial contact, bleeding-edge technology, and ancient prophecy. From secret government UAP files and AI's inevitable rise, to the signs of the Biblical end times, we connect the dots others dare not touch. If you believe the truth is stranger than fiction, this is your new obsession. (New episodes every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays!)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-simulation-reality--5444006/support.

Matt Callaghan is alive—barely. Having escaped the destruction of the home he shared with Jane Walker after an attack by political assassins, he's back with the young superheroes of Morningstar Academy—and back in the center of a conspiracy that's unraveling the world around him. A cult still pursues him; governments still want his powerless human blood. Any hopes he once held of living a normal life seem dead and buried, and it's all Matt and Jane can do to try and ensure he doesn't end up the same way. But there's no time to rest or recover.

Deutschland in naher Zukunft: Der Rechtsruck ist unaufhaltsam, das Geld ungerecht verteilt und die Demokratie erschüttert. Wer hat wirklich die Macht im Land? Es ist Heiligabend. Bewaffnete und vermummte Gestalten dringen in die Häuser der einflussreichsten Menschen Deutschlands ein - und ihre Geiselnahmen werden live übertragen, auf allen Kanälen. Das ist die Reality Show. Der Showmaster erklärt die Spielregeln: "Zwar wählen die Menschen ihre Regierung, die Macht liegt jedoch längst nicht mehr beim Volk.

Explore an Earth being devoured by entropy, in the ultimate runaway environmental crisis. Dive the depths of the sea to prevent the mother of all oil spills. Rocket into space as a tourist. Mine the asteroids with your enhanced border collie, in the can-do spirit of classic science fiction. These stories appeared in publications as varied as Science Fiction Age, F&SF, and the Boston Sunday Herald.

Earth remains the volatile prize of aeons of war and domination by two panterrestrial races. Returning the fight to these inhuman overlords, the Cerberus rebels are the champions of the planet's postapocalyptic dark ages. They spark a uniquely human resilience and courage to stand down the forces of infinitely powerful, perhaps unstoppable entities in the ongoing war to retake Earth for humanity.