A PLACE TO STAY FOREVER
by Mark L Lloyd
In this sci-fi novel, several space travelers in deep sleep awaken inside avatars in a simulated world.
Miranda Sage, along with others aboard the spaceship The Misfit, is in stasis, living a full life inside a simulation. When something knocks the ship off course, a power surge wakes everyone from the Stasis Deep Sleep System. Back in the Real Realm, in 3272, crewmate Adayln realizes the surge also unlocked the reputedly unhackable system. Though the town of Penticton is the only accessible place in the SDS, Adayln finds existing code for other areas—files just as large as Penticton’s. She and Miranda concoct a plan: Adayln alters the code so, during the next simulation, their conscious minds will awaken inside avatars and the two can then explore. They set a 24-hour limit on the awakened consciousness, as continuing any longer, based on rumored incidents, may drive them mad. Unfortunately, things go wrong: They aren’t the only awakened people, and the time restriction inexplicably fails. Miranda and her cohorts need a way to end the simulation without harming their bodies in stasis. Answers may lie with a well-known author in the Real Realm who stayed perfectly sane while supposedly enjoying awakened lives in the SDS. Lloyd (Journey to the West Valley Wall, 2018, etc.) packs this novel with intriguing ideas, including characters transferring from biological bodies to husks and an ongoing, centurieslong war that affects the SDS creator, LaPorte Industries. There’s plenty of engrossing material for additional books: Miranda, for example, with combined time in the SDS and various husk bodies, has existed for 1,296 years. Despite the dense sci-fi backdrop, the author maintains a simple plot that clearly and aptly details intricate concepts, like the dichotomy between Miranda’s life and that of her avatar, Josie. Narrative obstacles are likewise easy to follow: Mere romance may dampen Miranda’s desire to leave the SDS. While the story ends with an impressive shock, lingering questions regarding the simulation as well as certain characters remain.
A straightforward, absorbing tale that unfolds inside a beefy futuristic setting.