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Simulacrum
In Simulnet, no one knows who you the perfect playground for the imagination... or a serial killer. The police ask Shaun to partner with an enigmatic programmer to hunt a murderer in the sex clubs and ramen shops of cyberspace. But as they investigate, Shaun finds himself wanting to know more about his partner. Ultimately the questions Shaun needs to answer are the ones deep in his heart.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2012
2 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Rian Darcy
4 books6 followersRian never quite gave up on developing magic powers, but while she waits for those to surface, she's passing the time by writing about cyborgs and elves. She lives in L.A. and is available for workshops, freelance projects, and speaking engagements. She can be reached by emailing riandarcy@gmail.com, or by calling 424-666-1878.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 27, 2013
Such an intriguing premise... I love how this is a sci-fi mystery with appoggiaturas of eroticism sprinkled here and there -- and when they come they are piquant and satisfying.
This started off slow with some awkward pacing and lady-bits (gasp!) cropping up as it seems that our hero is sexually ambivalent. But hold on... It seems that the compelling mystery is not really the hunt for a serial killer but who and what Lore Reston is and what he means to Shaun. This was a fun read and with some tightening up in the pacing and editing it could have been 5 stars.
This started off slow with some awkward pacing and lady-bits (gasp!) cropping up as it seems that our hero is sexually ambivalent. But hold on... It seems that the compelling mystery is not really the hunt for a serial killer but who and what Lore Reston is and what he means to Shaun. This was a fun read and with some tightening up in the pacing and editing it could have been 5 stars.
December 17, 2020
Murder in the virtual world ... something that would strike terror in the heart of any SIM-playing addict I'm sure. Set in a somewhat advanced future-world, this murder-mystery begins with the intriguing premise that being murdered in a multi-player virtual environment would not send you back to GO but actually kill you in real life!
MC Sean (programming desk jockey) is sent into the virtual world of Simulnet to investigate a serial killer with a rapidly escalating body count. Sean's dilemma and difficulty is that no-one is who they may seem/appear in Simulnet - attractive and fantastical avatars not only hides a plethora of faults/sins but cloak entire identities. Luckily (or not), he's partnered with Rian, whose technological know-how, capacity and reputation (both within Simulnet and outside) hides other deep secrets.
I've not read a whodunnit this interesting since Val Torreth and Keir Warwick's investigation into SimTech's murders in Manna Francis's Mind Fuck. There's much heightened drama and tension (between the MCs but also with the increasingly malevolent reactions of the murderer). There's also quite a bit of 'hawt sex' interspersed between the investigative action - not only of the M-M variety but surprisingly M-F-F in one instance! There is a satisfying HEA ending - but not in the traditional sense .
A great read - 4.5 stars.
MC Sean (programming desk jockey) is sent into the virtual world of Simulnet to investigate a serial killer with a rapidly escalating body count. Sean's dilemma and difficulty is that no-one is who they may seem/appear in Simulnet - attractive and fantastical avatars not only hides a plethora of faults/sins but cloak entire identities. Luckily (or not), he's partnered with Rian, whose technological know-how, capacity and reputation (both within Simulnet and outside) hides other deep secrets.
I've not read a whodunnit this interesting since Val Torreth and Keir Warwick's investigation into SimTech's murders in Manna Francis's Mind Fuck. There's much heightened drama and tension (between the MCs but also with the increasingly malevolent reactions of the murderer). There's also quite a bit of 'hawt sex' interspersed between the investigative action - not only of the M-M variety but surprisingly M-F-F in one instance! There is a satisfying HEA ending - but not in the traditional sense .
A great read - 4.5 stars.
September 12, 2012
The first thing that struck me after finishing this book is that I'd completely forgotten that it is erotica.
Erotic fiction has gotten a bit of a bad name as sales bin literature only read by sexually frustrated housewives in their forties. It is supposed to be poorly written with flimsy plot and one-dimensional characters, and the truth is that, yes, a lot of erotic fiction is like that. But not all of it.
After spending many years in fan communities and reading a lot of fan fiction it is clear to me that there is a lot of solid, good erotic literature out there. A lot of it is written as fan fiction where the writers borrow characters and universes from already established canons. But just because it is fan fiction doesn’t make it bad writing. On the contrary, fan fiction gives budding authors the freedom to experiment with narrative styles, character development, and a lot of other things, because there are a lot of steps they can skip since the readers already know the background for the story. That being said, the transition from fan fiction to original fiction is tough exactly because of this.
Rian Darcy comes from the fan fiction universe, but is one of the few writers who has come out and written her own original story. That, in itself, is a major feat.
Now, back to my original point; I completely forgot this was erotica, and in my eyes, that is a sign of really good erotica. When I read something, I don’t want to be constantly aware of the genre I'm reading. I want to read a good story with a solid plot and interesting characters. Simulacrum has all that. Darcy manages to make the erotic parts of the novel glide effortlessly into the story without distracting the reader. For me, distraction from the story is the worst that can happen, because it makes me lose interest. I want to disappear into a story, and I don’t want to emerge until I choose to do so myself.
Simulacrum takes place in a not-too-distant future where Simulnet offers escapism to anyone who wants it. Simulnet is a virtual reality you can log into and let yourself go crazy. You can be however you want, and you can do pretty much whatever you want. Naturally, this means that there is a dark, sexual underbelly of sex clubs that offer anything and everything you could possibly desire. It is in this underbelly of the Simulnet world that a young L.A. detective finds himself when he embarks on a murder investigation. He teams up with the mysterious Lore to solve the murders of two young women. Along the way, they come across several more than deviant characters, and our main character Shaun that his interest in Lore might be a bit more than professional.
What makes Simulacrum so interesting is its mix of the classic 30s and 40s detective pulp fiction and science fiction. The mood has an almost Chandler-esque feel to it, especially in Darcy’s descriptions of Los Angeles, and you can almost smell the smoke of fire season. At the same time, the story describes seriously advanced technology and computer science that a novice like me knows absolutely nothing about. This brings me on to my next point of praise; language.
The language of Simulacrum is easy to read, but at no point do I feel like Darcy is babying me as a reader. She doesn’t bother explaining every little thing that might not be common knowledge, but at the same time, she makes sure that I don’t feel lost even though I'm not at all a coding buff. The language is both effective and to the point with too much dilly-dallying, and yet, Darcy sneaks in little linguistic curiosities here and there that keeps me on my toes so I don’t grow bored. And of course, the humor deserves some praise, too. The constant banter and bickering between Shaun and Lore had me laughing out loud several times, and it serves as good counterpart to the intense suspense that permeates most of the story.
The best part of Simulacrum is the plot and the characters. When you read the summary, it might sound like something you’ve heard before, but don’t be fooled. The plot is refreshingly new, and it twists and turns in many unexpected directions that even I, an otherwise pretty experienced detective novel reader, couldn’t for the life of me figure out the end. It was a true joy to re-read the story and find all the little hints and clues Darcy has spread out through the story and then eventually ties together with a neat bow at the end. Normally, when I read detective novels, I always find myself go, “But why didn’t they address this or that?” There is none of that in Simulacrum. Everything ties together so beautifully towards the end that it’s almost ridiculous, and the best part about it is that it does this without getting boring. Darcy leaves just enough mystery to make me want a sequel.
Just like the plot, the characters seem, on the surface, to be something you’ve seen before; Shaun, the slightly bright-eyed cop and Lore, the mysterious and genius stranger with the secret past. But once again, Darcy makes it her own. No one is what they seem, and it makes you care deeply for the characters. Especially Lore is a beautifully crafted character. He is, in some ways, a friendly nod to Darcy’s great love of Sherlock Holmes, but he is entirely his own character and lives and breathes on the pages without any help from the British detective. Even the minor characters like Blake, Hudson, and Ruby come out as fully-fledged personalities. They each serve their purpose to the story, but they are so much more than just one-dimensional plot devices. They contribute personality to the story and make it even more vibrant.
I could go on forever about this story, but I won’t, because I want you to go read it for yourselves. All I want to say is that this is a truly great story with something on its mind. It is exciting, scary, sexy, touching, and everything in between. It will leave you wanting more, more of Shaun and Lore, and more of Darcy’s excellent writing and flair for language.
Erotic fiction has gotten a bit of a bad name as sales bin literature only read by sexually frustrated housewives in their forties. It is supposed to be poorly written with flimsy plot and one-dimensional characters, and the truth is that, yes, a lot of erotic fiction is like that. But not all of it.
After spending many years in fan communities and reading a lot of fan fiction it is clear to me that there is a lot of solid, good erotic literature out there. A lot of it is written as fan fiction where the writers borrow characters and universes from already established canons. But just because it is fan fiction doesn’t make it bad writing. On the contrary, fan fiction gives budding authors the freedom to experiment with narrative styles, character development, and a lot of other things, because there are a lot of steps they can skip since the readers already know the background for the story. That being said, the transition from fan fiction to original fiction is tough exactly because of this.
Rian Darcy comes from the fan fiction universe, but is one of the few writers who has come out and written her own original story. That, in itself, is a major feat.
Now, back to my original point; I completely forgot this was erotica, and in my eyes, that is a sign of really good erotica. When I read something, I don’t want to be constantly aware of the genre I'm reading. I want to read a good story with a solid plot and interesting characters. Simulacrum has all that. Darcy manages to make the erotic parts of the novel glide effortlessly into the story without distracting the reader. For me, distraction from the story is the worst that can happen, because it makes me lose interest. I want to disappear into a story, and I don’t want to emerge until I choose to do so myself.
Simulacrum takes place in a not-too-distant future where Simulnet offers escapism to anyone who wants it. Simulnet is a virtual reality you can log into and let yourself go crazy. You can be however you want, and you can do pretty much whatever you want. Naturally, this means that there is a dark, sexual underbelly of sex clubs that offer anything and everything you could possibly desire. It is in this underbelly of the Simulnet world that a young L.A. detective finds himself when he embarks on a murder investigation. He teams up with the mysterious Lore to solve the murders of two young women. Along the way, they come across several more than deviant characters, and our main character Shaun that his interest in Lore might be a bit more than professional.
What makes Simulacrum so interesting is its mix of the classic 30s and 40s detective pulp fiction and science fiction. The mood has an almost Chandler-esque feel to it, especially in Darcy’s descriptions of Los Angeles, and you can almost smell the smoke of fire season. At the same time, the story describes seriously advanced technology and computer science that a novice like me knows absolutely nothing about. This brings me on to my next point of praise; language.
The language of Simulacrum is easy to read, but at no point do I feel like Darcy is babying me as a reader. She doesn’t bother explaining every little thing that might not be common knowledge, but at the same time, she makes sure that I don’t feel lost even though I'm not at all a coding buff. The language is both effective and to the point with too much dilly-dallying, and yet, Darcy sneaks in little linguistic curiosities here and there that keeps me on my toes so I don’t grow bored. And of course, the humor deserves some praise, too. The constant banter and bickering between Shaun and Lore had me laughing out loud several times, and it serves as good counterpart to the intense suspense that permeates most of the story.
The best part of Simulacrum is the plot and the characters. When you read the summary, it might sound like something you’ve heard before, but don’t be fooled. The plot is refreshingly new, and it twists and turns in many unexpected directions that even I, an otherwise pretty experienced detective novel reader, couldn’t for the life of me figure out the end. It was a true joy to re-read the story and find all the little hints and clues Darcy has spread out through the story and then eventually ties together with a neat bow at the end. Normally, when I read detective novels, I always find myself go, “But why didn’t they address this or that?” There is none of that in Simulacrum. Everything ties together so beautifully towards the end that it’s almost ridiculous, and the best part about it is that it does this without getting boring. Darcy leaves just enough mystery to make me want a sequel.
Just like the plot, the characters seem, on the surface, to be something you’ve seen before; Shaun, the slightly bright-eyed cop and Lore, the mysterious and genius stranger with the secret past. But once again, Darcy makes it her own. No one is what they seem, and it makes you care deeply for the characters. Especially Lore is a beautifully crafted character. He is, in some ways, a friendly nod to Darcy’s great love of Sherlock Holmes, but he is entirely his own character and lives and breathes on the pages without any help from the British detective. Even the minor characters like Blake, Hudson, and Ruby come out as fully-fledged personalities. They each serve their purpose to the story, but they are so much more than just one-dimensional plot devices. They contribute personality to the story and make it even more vibrant.
I could go on forever about this story, but I won’t, because I want you to go read it for yourselves. All I want to say is that this is a truly great story with something on its mind. It is exciting, scary, sexy, touching, and everything in between. It will leave you wanting more, more of Shaun and Lore, and more of Darcy’s excellent writing and flair for language.
November 27, 2013
3,5 stars
Great premise, but not a perfect execution.
Like I mentioned, I liked the idea behind this mystery. Well, to be honest, it's not an original idea since it reminded me very much of movie Gamer. I like the idea of hunting someone in this virtual society without knowing who he/she can be in real world. It can be just about anyone...
Simulacrum in short: Sometime in near future people developed virtual reality called SimulNet. On SimuNet people can be whoever they want to be,they can date an alien or an elf, build buildings that defy laws of physics, own a small practice, have sex anywhere and anytime....
Shaun is on a secret undercover operation searching for a serial killer. Someone is killing people while they are hooked on SimulNet, so Shaun needs to focus his quest strictly on virtual reality. But, since he's not very familiar with it, he's paired with mysterious Lore, SimulNet expert with secrets of his own...
One thing you need to know...this is erotica and there is a lot of sex. IMO, this book couldn't decide if it's mystery or is it erotica. Of course,this combo is possible and can be hot , but I had a feeling they clashed in Simulacrum.So,Shaun is on a search for serial killer and this case can be a break for his career, but in SimulNet he is very easy to forget about this and occupy his mind with sex and/or love interest possibilities... I find it ridiculous at times. There was one particular scene where he was sulking instead of sharing very important information with Lore and that's just not professional. Professional in a way that would make me believe he is the right choice for this secret operation...
Overall, ok read with some flaws...
Great premise, but not a perfect execution.
Like I mentioned, I liked the idea behind this mystery. Well, to be honest, it's not an original idea since it reminded me very much of movie Gamer. I like the idea of hunting someone in this virtual society without knowing who he/she can be in real world. It can be just about anyone...
Simulacrum in short: Sometime in near future people developed virtual reality called SimulNet. On SimuNet people can be whoever they want to be,they can date an alien or an elf, build buildings that defy laws of physics, own a small practice, have sex anywhere and anytime....
Shaun is on a secret undercover operation searching for a serial killer. Someone is killing people while they are hooked on SimulNet, so Shaun needs to focus his quest strictly on virtual reality. But, since he's not very familiar with it, he's paired with mysterious Lore, SimulNet expert with secrets of his own...
One thing you need to know...this is erotica and there is a lot of sex. IMO, this book couldn't decide if it's mystery or is it erotica. Of course,this combo is possible and can be hot , but I had a feeling they clashed in Simulacrum.So,Shaun is on a search for serial killer and this case can be a break for his career, but in SimulNet he is very easy to forget about this and occupy his mind with sex and/or love interest possibilities... I find it ridiculous at times. There was one particular scene where he was sulking instead of sharing very important information with Lore and that's just not professional. Professional in a way that would make me believe he is the right choice for this secret operation...
Overall, ok read with some flaws...
October 7, 2012
I am not a big fan of any sic-fi story since I lack of imagination and afraid that I don't understand 'the world'.
But the book blurb hold my attention because I like stories with serial killers. :-)
I am so pleased that I gave this book a try, I enjoyed the story very much. After finished reading it, it took sometimes until I climbed up from the rabbit hole. The world building is good and everything is easily understood. I hope that the author will continue to write this story because I have the feeling that there's more to come! I want to know more about Lore.
But the book blurb hold my attention because I like stories with serial killers. :-)
I am so pleased that I gave this book a try, I enjoyed the story very much. After finished reading it, it took sometimes until I climbed up from the rabbit hole. The world building is good and everything is easily understood. I hope that the author will continue to write this story because I have the feeling that there's more to come! I want to know more about Lore.
January 8, 2019
This was so much fun. The sex scenes were great, the story engaging, and I only figured out the mystery a little before the story did. Highly recommended for the bisexual representation
October 14, 2014
Simulacrum is a wonderful sci-fi/techno-thriller that feels fully realized and actualized in regards to the setting, characters, and the themes within the story. Darcy's descriptions of the real world versus the virtual one also really enhance the setting and tone, allowing the reader to experience the fantasy and facts (and the slight blur that seems to occur between the two).
Hopefully this isn't the last we've heard of our heroes or Darcy's work. She is an author I would like to continue reading.
Hopefully this isn't the last we've heard of our heroes or Darcy's work. She is an author I would like to continue reading.
June 14, 2013
Like reading fanfiction, but original content and in a paperback? My dream finally realized! I liked it a lot but I will tell you, why is the villain's secret always that they're trans*? I'm a little tired of the trope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2018
-5 stars for using the slur "trap"
"Lore" is L from Deathnote
The plot is thin.
The MC, Shaun, fucks/fucks around with 4 other people before fucking Lore.
The blurb says there's romance. There is not.
"Lore" is L from Deathnote
The plot is thin.
The MC, Shaun, fucks/fucks around with 4 other people before fucking Lore.
The blurb says there's romance. There is not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2017
I bought this book on the recommendation of a very good friend. Unaware of the erotic nature of the book I was taken a little by surprise, but the scenes depicted do not detract from the overall story being presented.
The writing is reminiscent (in my opinion) of early Anne Rice crossed with the early writings of J.K. Rowling which I say in the best way possible. It is an easy read and although it took a chapter or so to really be able to immerse myself in the setting once I did I found the story to be captivating and compelling.
The setting that was built is full of mystery and possibility and I feel that if the Author chose to (and with a slow shift away from the more erotic notes in this novel into a more romantic feel) Rian Darcy could easily take this world that she has created and publish a truly amazing teen / young adult series.
The writing is reminiscent (in my opinion) of early Anne Rice crossed with the early writings of J.K. Rowling which I say in the best way possible. It is an easy read and although it took a chapter or so to really be able to immerse myself in the setting once I did I found the story to be captivating and compelling.
The setting that was built is full of mystery and possibility and I feel that if the Author chose to (and with a slow shift away from the more erotic notes in this novel into a more romantic feel) Rian Darcy could easily take this world that she has created and publish a truly amazing teen / young adult series.
Read
November 23, 2012Truth be told, I was not expecting to like this novel so much. I’m not a fan of fantasy, and hard-core urban fantasy even less; I haven’t even seen The Matrix, to give you an idea. But they recommended me this novel, and I did give it a try: already from the first pages, I was reconsidering my position. This wasn't absolutely the heavy novel I was expecting, in a way, sometime, I found this novel to be even "cute".
True, it’s urban fantasy, better, an alternative reality that is developing in parallel with real life; people have avatars, and there is an entire world, Simulnet, where avatars can live a parallel life for their owners. Problem is that people is also dying, and death is not for fake. Shaun is a newbie LAPD detective who wants to “prove” himself; just out of college, good grades and good background, he was not good enough for the more prestigious FBI Agency, and even no, in the LAPD, he is not doing the “cool” job. So when his boss asks him if he wants to go undercover in Simulnet to find out a serial killer targeting young women, an investigation that is not exactly legal, since LAPD has no jurisdiction in Simulnet, Shaun is all for the task. And when he meets Lore, his assigned partner, he delves even more in the lure of Simulnet.
Shaun has never really questioned his sexuality; he experimented in college both with female than male partners, and so he considers himself quite “open” to possibilities, but then he opted for women. True, he is not very lucky in finding the right woman, despite his meddling twin sister. And so when he starts to prove something more than friendly admiration for the very “cool” Lore, he also starts to reconsidering all his life.
But he has only ever met Lore in Simulnet, he doesn’t know anything about him, and by the way, Lore is always advising him on how “fake” that world can be, where everyone can be who they want, not who they really are. What if Lore is not whom he claims to be? What if he is not even a man? What if he is a woman? What if he is not even a he or she?
I liked how the author played with Shaun’s, and the reader’s, mind, questioning everything that seemed simple, even a late coming out of a guy, with the many chances that an alternative/parallel reality can give you. Is Shaun maturing into his real persona, having a late coming out, or is he actually feeling as an avatar, what he should feel in the real world for his right partner?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008AM5GB8/?...
True, it’s urban fantasy, better, an alternative reality that is developing in parallel with real life; people have avatars, and there is an entire world, Simulnet, where avatars can live a parallel life for their owners. Problem is that people is also dying, and death is not for fake. Shaun is a newbie LAPD detective who wants to “prove” himself; just out of college, good grades and good background, he was not good enough for the more prestigious FBI Agency, and even no, in the LAPD, he is not doing the “cool” job. So when his boss asks him if he wants to go undercover in Simulnet to find out a serial killer targeting young women, an investigation that is not exactly legal, since LAPD has no jurisdiction in Simulnet, Shaun is all for the task. And when he meets Lore, his assigned partner, he delves even more in the lure of Simulnet.
Shaun has never really questioned his sexuality; he experimented in college both with female than male partners, and so he considers himself quite “open” to possibilities, but then he opted for women. True, he is not very lucky in finding the right woman, despite his meddling twin sister. And so when he starts to prove something more than friendly admiration for the very “cool” Lore, he also starts to reconsidering all his life.
But he has only ever met Lore in Simulnet, he doesn’t know anything about him, and by the way, Lore is always advising him on how “fake” that world can be, where everyone can be who they want, not who they really are. What if Lore is not whom he claims to be? What if he is not even a man? What if he is a woman? What if he is not even a he or she?
I liked how the author played with Shaun’s, and the reader’s, mind, questioning everything that seemed simple, even a late coming out of a guy, with the many chances that an alternative/parallel reality can give you. Is Shaun maturing into his real persona, having a late coming out, or is he actually feeling as an avatar, what he should feel in the real world for his right partner?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008AM5GB8/?...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews