The Metareverse

by A. S. G.

Maybe reality has always been there, but you've forgot about it.

George is a young American, who spends his days online sharing memes and hoping to make it big online. One day, he wakes up and realizes that an unimaginable and crippling transformation has happened to him.

Maybe you’ve spent so long in the metaverse that it has become your reality.

George’s new condition helps him to see the real world as never before, but at the same time it drags him deeper into what appears to be a nightmare, from which he might never be back.

Maybe there’s a chance to come back to reality, or maybe it’s just too late.

139 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 5, 2024

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and damn is it bad. I can't prove it, but the entire book feels like it was written by AI. The wording is strange, the characters are flat, and the entire way George experiences harassment online is completely off from how it works in reality. The author never states what George posted that turned him into a horrible villain in the eyes of verified twitter users (the book appears to take place pre-sale to Musk so I don't know why like, John Cena is harassing a random right wing meme account).

The book is trying to do The Metamorphosis but modern while failing to understand what made The Metamorphosis compelling.

The thing is, I think it could have been interesting to use AI to write a book with this concept, starting with nearly no AI use and slowly adding more and more as the story goes on to symbolize the protagonist's disappearing humanity. But that would require the author to want to make art, and this didn't feel like the author wanted to make art. It felt like a money grab.

[Pete · Rating 1 out of 5]

A modern Metamorphosis and an interesting premise but it is lacking. It also wasn’t proofread or written that well. It felt AI generated.

The only thing it has going for it is that it offers a few contemplations on the social media issue for both the young and the old.

[Christian Buckman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absurdity in the21st Century

A very poignant commentary regarding our ways of communication in the modern age. An extremely smart absurdist look at a close knit family that all but loses that closeness by the metamorphosis of a family member. Brilliant in how the story changes pic to convey how quickly we let go of our loved ones in the snap shoot era where memories can be quickly captured then disposed at the touch of a button. Very sharp insight.

[Alicia Marsland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Satire on being eaten by your devices

It was a very dark satire, because there was no way once the premise of a boy turning into a cell phone began, there was no path to anything other than tragedy.

However, because of its dark portrayal of the United States culture in general, and its savage and far from accurate mockery of the alternative news media, not to mention extremely weird grammar , I suspect this was written by a Chinese communist, seeking to degrade our society even further with sad and hopeless stories. That’s my conspiracy theory and I’m sticking to it.

[Santiago Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really thought provoking

Through the protagonist George, a quintessential digital native, the novel delves into the blurring lines between the online world and reality. As George's life spirals into a nightmarish reality due to his immersion in the metaverse, I found myself pondering my own digital habits and their impact on my perception of reality.

The story's blend of psychological depth and dystopian elements creates a gripping narrative that's both a cautionary tale and a compelling read. Perhaps its greatest strength is its ability to make the reader question what is truly real. At times, the book felt a bit overwrought, but its poignant message about the potential dangers of losing oneself in virtual worlds resonated deeply with me, making "The Metareverse" a memorable and thought-provoking read.

[Almiria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Metaverse by A.S.G. is a novel and entertaining sci-fi story about George, a typical meme-sharing internet user. Everything changes for him one day when an unbelievable transformation takes place – he discovers that he has morphed into a smartphone. What follows is a series of relatable, laugh-out-loud funny, and sometimes concerning experiences and challenges that will resonate with modern readers in a unique way.

I was utterly intrigued by the story concept, which is refreshing and unique. However, another round of editing would be ideal to transform this book from good to outstanding. I am giving this four stars out of five and I hope the author invests in some more polishing and editing to help this story live up to its full potential.

[Mia C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this gripping tale, George, a young American immersed in online culture, undergoes a surreal transformation that blurs the lines between reality and the digital realm. As George grapples with his newfound condition, he embarks on a journey that challenges his perceptions of what is real and what is virtual. A haunting exploration of identity and existence unfolds, drawing readers into a narrative that is both thought-provoking and deeply immersive.
I think that through George's eyes, we are forced to confront our own relationship with technology and the ever-expanding digital landscape. With each twist and turn, this book keeps readers on the edge of their seats, questioning the nature of reality itself.

[Marina Lujan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is truly an exciting and captivating science fiction novel. The story follows George, an ordinary internet user who finds himself suddenly transformed into a smartphone, triggering a series of extraordinary and fascinating events.

I really enjoyed the author's fresh and original narrative style. He managed to craft a story that also addresses relevant issues of modern society, such as dependence on technology and the search for identity in a digitalized world. It personally made me question my relationship with technology and virtual reality. In short, THE METAREVERSE has been a unique and memorable reading experience. A science fiction novel that lovers of the genre will devour in one sitting.

[Chico's Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine waking up one day and seeing that you have been turned into the device you spend 101% of your time on every day: your smartphone. This book is quite interesting as it has much potential for improvement. It is like a Pixar movie for me, the ones where the feelings have feelings, toys come to life, cars come to life, and all that stuff. It is a very imaginative plot, but the author needs to work on editing, making the characters more compelling, and strategizing the parts where the readers should imagine being in the character's shoes or, in this case, screen protector rather than explaining the turn of events. These changes will improve the reader's enjoyment of the book.

[susan donohue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a tongue in cheek and sad look at our Internet driven, non inclusive, materialistic,and hateful society. The bad spelling, bad grammar, and run on sentences show the symptomatic dumbing down of our culture. The fact that this boy disappears into the Internet and is reviled and hounded for posting what some consider hateful. Along with his virtual and essentially physical life vanishing ( the only one who makes contact is his grandpa, who dies) is a terrifying aspect of our lives today. Please read with care, and go hug and talk to your family and friends

[Marriquitta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought the book because of the intriguing name and I didn’t regret it. Next evenings were spent with the fascinating story of George and his family. Every chapter makes you think and reflect on life itself. There is no happy ending, but after finishing reading I had the feeling, that I need to wake up and pay more attention to what is really meaningful.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is freakishly inglorious to be a modern human. This is millennial Kafkaesque with a Vonnegut like tone. The premise.. tech dependency as a latent stage projection on domestication piloting mankind into inanimate existence. A well built story that fails to crown. A poignant utterance of angry mob mentality vs. subliminal gratification germane to thrill.

[Tom D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Premise

The underlying premise of someone becoming a smartphone makes sense as a modern metaphor. As a middle aged man I found George's Dad relatable along with their family difficulties. I think that it might have benefited from a stronger plot and backstory.

[Stephanie Blaschko · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept was interesting but it was a bit difficult to get into and stay invested in. It highlights some problems with social media and not being present with anything and how it impacts others. However, I think it could have been done in a more engaging way and it could have had a better flow.

[Leslie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool concept. Felt like it needed to be more fleshed out.

[Alyssa C · Rating 1 out of 5]

Modern Metamorphosis - the idea of this story was encouraging, had Kafka tackled his famous allegory of the human condition today, what would it look like. Rather than waking as a bug, would one wake as a device that reflects the all-consuming nature of our world? Sure. But I needed a little more than just transforming into a phone. The novella didn’t have a strong enough structure to keep the story moving, what should have been read in a day kept me feeling as though I was dredging through for ages. The idea is good, the execution requires more editing, more exploration on the why - that isn’t just pulling from Kafka and forcing it into 2024.