Re:union

by Eric Liu

I was born twice, but the first time wasn’t my choice. In fact I don’t remember anything about it. The second time is a different story. It began with a game.

is a previously unreleased science fiction short story by Eric Liu, author of the science fiction novel the hidden valley. Part disaster story and part romance, is a thrilling and touching exploration into the very meaning of humanity.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Ebooks, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Novella

Nook

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-De sentimientos que no se olvidan.-

Género. Relato.

Lo que nos cuenta. Troy juega el partido de su vida, pero más importante que ese momento es la visión en la banda de Michelle, entre la multitud. La descomposición de los boxels le trae de vuelta a la realidad, a un mundo que no está en sus mejores momentos y del que Troy solo aprovecha las simulaciones informáticas para estar más cerca de Michelle, a la que lleva quince años echando de menos profundamente.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Tiffany PSquared · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I am writing this review waaaaaay after the fact (I read this on my first Kindle - I'm now on my 3rd), I do remember that I liked it; I just wanted it to be longer. The story seemed to stop just as it was getting good.

[Carolyn F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story

The world has gone to hell and the survivors use sims for enjoyment while they try to not starve to death. But there's a way for them to live a full "life" if they want. Different. I thought it was too sentimental for my tastes.

[Alexa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost gave this 3 stars because, although there are some editing issues and some clunky exposition, I liked this story. It's not a brand-new premise, but the development of the dystopic elements of this particular world are effective--not too much explanation, but broad strokes that let the reader imagine the rest. I think we've all wondered what would happen if the world's food supply suddenly dwindled, and this story taps into that fear nicely.

That said, the love story is flat. Michelle as a teenager is a like-able, if somewhat flat, character, but it's a tough sell to suggest that they've both been waiting for each other for 15 years and are ready to commit themselves forever after a five minute conversation, most of which is argument.

The story ends on too happy a note for the complications raised throughout, and I can't get over the idea that the main character sold out.

Liu writes an afterword in which he says that he writes to make a better world. A lofty goal, but unfortunately some of his writing does read as a lecture rather than a story. I think this is the major pitfall of writing for a "purpose."

Overall, it feels like the early work of a writer who has a lot of potential.

[Metaphorosis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read David Brin's "Reality Check" right before Eric Liu's "Re: union ". They both deal in ways with human transcendence to a virtual reality, a topic that even in 2000, when Brin's story was published, was not really innovative. Liu, in a longer story, does much the better job of humanizing the topic and the personal choices it raises. Brin's story, by contrast, is a more intellectual exercise that ends up being mildly interesting, but not exactly gripping.

I got them both for free, and they're a decent read at that price, if you're a fan of the author. If not, neither of these stories will convert you, though Liu's story might tempt you to more.

[Timothy McNeil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another free Kindle read

Liu seems to cut out most of what would make this a more engaging story. The technical aspects of his Sum Space are almost wholly ignored, as is how the power and information grids survived the famines and (presumably) wars that should have been part of his 4H scenario. There is little effective descriptive text, which is a shame when it comes to world-building.
The story is fine if a little too simple. There really needs to be more examination (rather than just statement) of the protagonist's relationship with his father. There also should be some explanation as to why the Sym eyes matter.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The description is accurate, this is definitely a very short story (although I read it on Kindle). I liked the premise of the story a lot and really wish this had been a longer story. A full length version of this would definitely be a book I'd add to my to-read list.

The one thing I noted was that this is apparently classified as "part romance" but it really isn't. There's a guy who has a thing for a girl but that is about it.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free short story I found on www.amazon.co.uk.

Decent premise giving new meaning to 'alternate reality'. World-building and characterisation was a bit flat though, I would like to know more about the 'FourH' and the effects this had. I would also like to know more about this SymSpace and 'conversion'.
With a bit more buffing out, this could be an excellent story but for now it is lacking that essential ingredient.

[Joe Kenogbon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book showed a good view into human relationships in the virtual world. It was a little confusing in the beginning but as I read on it got better. The author has put a good thought into the writing. It is a short story and I consider it to be worth reading.

[Jessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short this story has a lot of potential and should keep on going...

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising and thought-provoking

Didn't realize it was a story, not a novel, when I bought it some months ago. By the time I got to the end, I really wanted more. I would love an expansion of the premise Dash how the diseases came about and what people did in the aftermath, but the author just a good job drawing a succinct picture of this. Definitely something to think about. What would happen to humanity if we were forced to go full-time into a virtual world that could sustain our minds when the real world could not sustain our bodies.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a (very) short story, but an enjoyable one. There isn't usually enough time to truly develop a character in such a short story, and this one is no exception, but the lack of character development doesn't detract much from the story. It's an interesting premise, and it would make a great longer story or novel.

[michelle jeggo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick and easy to read

Simple language . Interesting characters with an easy to follow story. Just easy to read and complete on a bus journey

[Mrs Sharon Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern thinking

Really thought provoking and unusual story. I really enjoyed it. Makes you think it is possible for the world to work in a partial virtual existence one day!

[Audrey Larsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Half the book was missing

More than half the book was missing. I got the general gist of the story, but I would have liked to have read the whole thing.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very short story. I feel like it could be a fun book if it was fully fleshed out. I couldn't get into it that quickly though.

[Sergio Cerda · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I was born twice, but the first time wasn’t my choice." Así comienza esta historia breve que entrelaza ciencia ficción, romance y reflexión existencial.
Eric Liu nos sumerge en un escenario post-catástrofe que cuestiona los límites de la conciencia, el amor y la humanidad. Su prosa mezcla tensión con ternura, explorando la segunda oportunidad de vivir más allá de lo físico.
Aunque la premisa es potente, la brevedad limita el desarrollo de personajes e ideas. El equilibrio entre romance y sci-fi se siente desigual hacia el final.

[Aimeekay · Rating 3 out of 5]

First let me start by saying this is a short story, a very short story. At least it felt extremely short to me.
I enjoyed the author's writing style and I liked the whole idea behind the story. I just wish there had been more to it. It just felt that right as I was starting to really understand what was going on in Liu's world and starting to connect with the main character, that the story ended.
I would love to read more about the futuristic word he has created. I would definitely like to find out how Symspace operates. I would also like to find out more about Troy and how he assimilates into the new world he is being given the opportunity to join.
Overall it's a nice little bite of the authors writing. Again the only issue I had with it was the fact that it felt like it ended just when the story was really beginning. I would read more work done by the author just based on this example. It's currently free on Amazon so picking it up wasn't like it killed my wallet or anything. I definitely recommend picking it up and giving it a go.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, but insightful tale about a possible future cyberspace and the decisions that humanity will have to make. I wanted to give this one five stars, because I enjoyed the story so much, but I think that it would have been a little better, had there been more substance to the storyline. While I would love to have read a novel with the same story, I wouldn't go so far as to say that it needed to be that long. Just another twenty-five pages or so of quality filler would do this story wonders!

[Stephanie Mutone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good short story with a somewhat complex storyline. Conventional living for most of the population had been converted to virtual living after catastrophic event wipes out most the worlds food. For those who did not convert, there is cyber living as avatars. (Reminded me Matrix a little). A cyber high school reunion brings two people together that where high school sweethearts before the event but now they have a big difference between them and a decision will have to be made if they can be together again.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story and just as I was starting to get in to it... it ended. I kept scrolling the pages in disbelief that there wasn't more. Despite leaving me with a strange desire to read more about this story, it was well written with only one or two grammatical (or spelling) errors. I think it was way too short (even for the price) but I'd definitely be interested in reading a follow up if there ever is one. (Which, for some reason, I don't think there will be.) That being said, it's still worth checking out if you want something super quick to read.

[Jason Maurer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another of the short stories I've recently read, this one is about apocalyptic events that have ravished the world's food supply, and people are choosing to live in a virtual reality world called SymSpace, rather than dying. An interesting concept that I would like to have seen explored more thoroughly in a longer version. The story is good, but it ends too abruptly for my liking. Overall, though, a good read.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd story this.
The premise is not new - humankind creating a computer world in which people live instead of on a ruined planet.

This story combines a bit of a love story with the fantasy of existing in cyber space instead of in the 'real world'.

I was really quite enjoying this story when it came to an end. i hoped it was a sample i had sent myself from Amazon but alas it was a short story.

Worth reading

[Muhammad Fayez · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The world is changing, and our society must be willing to move forward with it. How can we prepare for a future that we cannot imagine? How can we sacrifice and overcome without hope? Our greatest tool is imagination, and its greatest vehicle is the story."

These words will never find the way out of my mind.

The greatness of this short story is far beyond comprehension , Simply It's beautiful.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked what the story is about, interesting concept. I didn't like the lack of details and explanations as to how situations lead up to what they did. I also wish the ending would have given more insight as to what happened next. But I don't regret reading it. The story really does get you thinking.

[Keely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well... Lets start by saying this was a very short story. It had potential to be very good and needed much more clarification on what was actually happening/happened. It greatly lacked that element and left me confused and it also just seemed to end abruptly. If the story was clarified better and longer it would have been amazing... however, it was not.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a short story that did have potential. I gave it only two stars because it just felt like so much was left out of the story. The basic premise of the story was people jacking in to an alternate reality. A guy who lost his love finds her in this Matrix type of place. The story seemed to end before it even got very far.

[Anita]

Gives new meaning to 'alternate reality' when the apocalypse strikes and the only mode of survival is to have one's consciousness 'scanned' into a simulated environment, while the physical body succumbs. Quite a good read, actually.

[Ginger · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never been able to get into reading Science Fiction. Downloaded this one for my Kindle a couple of years ago, thinking I would try the genre again. I just didn't care for the story or writing style.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty good short story. It gave just enough detail to make me want to read more and more, but I wish that it was more than just a short story. It seemed very superficial and has potential to work out more of the plot.