Virtual Death

by Shale Aaron

Giving up her career as a near-death experience performer, celebrity Lydia Melmoth is unwilling to subject herself to another brush with death, until her mother's pressing need for money pushes Lydia into a comeback. Original.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

293 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

About the author

Pen name of Robert Boswell.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up liking this novel despite itself. Set in a quirky cyberpunkish near-future, Aaron explores the meaning of death when death has become a mass-produced entertainment - that is, dying and returning to life for an audience. I can't recall having read an SF novel about this before, so the author gets props for originality. He does NOT get props for plotting, but his characterisation is decent (for the protagonist, at least). An interesting little one-off, if you can find it.

[Snakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m working my way through PKD Award winners and nominees. This book was nominated in 1995 by Richard Boswell writing under a pseudonym. Definitely contained a fairly unique idea and was riddled with cyberpunk ideas and tropes. The middle part got a bit convoluted and confusing but did involve underground groups and known organizations so perhaps that was intended. Many of the political ideas are currently becoming a reality (whether that’s a good thing or not is up for debate) but Aaron definitely predicted a good chunk of that stuff.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining noir satire - think "Serial Mom".
PK Dick award nominee, 1996.

"Virtual Death" starts slow, and it has some first-novel rough spots, but
Aaron hits the mark more often than not. She/he kept me smiling.

My 1998 review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1GCTB2P...

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly poignant and well written cyberpunk novel. Virtual Death seems to be a mostly forgotten footnote in the history of the genre (it was nominated for a PKD award though) which is a shame because this novel is truly a hidden gem. The quirkiness of the world Aaron built here is just so intriguing and it really grabbed me from the first page. The main character is very sympathetic and I really connected with her in a way I rarely do with SF. The rest of the characters are interesting but are mostly just there for window dressing (aside from maybe her midget buddy). There is a lot of introspection which you would think would drag the novel down but it's woven into the plot in such a way that it doesn't. The main plot also moves at a pretty good pace and I never felt myself bored with it. There is some wonkiness in the writing and the middle of the book did meander quite a bit but overall I found this really enjoyable. Highly recommended if you enjoy cyberpunk in any way shape or form. 4.5 stars rounded up.

[Larry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seems to be sort of a comic cyberpunkish novel. Not my cup of tea. Didn't finish it.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used own this and regret donating it to a little library.

[Elegant Elbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my very favorite books, and I've read it many times.

The world is a distopic future not so far from where we are now, where murderers might consider themselves to be mathematically innocent, and sex organs can be moved to any part of your body.

Lydia Melmoth was a dying artist -- that is, she died as an art form, just to be revived over and over again. She, her brother and her friend have been driven into the underground, and dying again may be the only way to save their lives.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast-paced and creative. It's set in an interesting future, but definitely not one I'd want to live in! The only thing that bothered me about this book was the liberties the author took with use of capitalized letters in the middle of some "slang" words as well as the use of "1" instead of "one." That got a bit annoying after a while. Otherwise, it was fun enough to keep my interest, and the characters were likable.

[Thomas Wagner | SFF180 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perfectly dreadful cyberpunk. My full-length review of this title is here.

Please note that my site SFReviews.net, in operation since July 2001, is where I post my SFF reviews, and I only use Goodreads to help direct interested fellow readers who are more likely to spend time here than following the site itself. Thank you. (If I review a non-SFF title, I will do so here.)

[Meran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strangely, this volume is not numbered. However, the book, tho odd to begin reading, picked up and became very interesting and readable. The moral is a very spiritual message, about living while dying and dying while still living. Recommended.

[Tim Poston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird in all its dimensions, like an anti-NRA organisation that assassinates gun dealers, cannibalism legal in some states -- and the GoodReads plot summary "near-death experience performer" doesn't come close.

With total conviction, not satirical.

One of a kind.

[Tena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorites and I try to reread it every year. If you want a unique read... "Virtual Death" is the one for you!

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an oddly philosophical read. A cyberpunk novel that’s more than just that. A meditation on death, love and being alive wrapped in a weirdly comedic package.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Science Fiction

[J Tellez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book grabs your attention at the very beginning. I loved this book all the way until the end. Literally. The end did not live up to the entirety of the book. I would give this a lesser rating but the book is an attention grabber and I loved it all the way up until the end.