Anticipation Day

by Jeff Michelson

2025 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in Science Fiction

“…Michelson crafts a narrative that spans continents, emotional landscapes, and big philosophical questions about memory, identity, and the power of longing. Great for fans of Black Mirror and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.” — Literary Titan Silver Book Award Recipient

“…a fantastic, deeply immersive read. Very highly recommended.” —Readers’ Favorite

“A musing science fiction novel about the future of AI, Anticipation Day follows a group of friends as they try to improve their lives through government-sanctioned fantasies." — Foreword Clarion Reviews

“A boundary-pushing plunge into a vividly imagined future, Anticipation Day poses powerful questions about identity, the human experience, and our digital destiny as a species, resulting in a provocative mixture of Black Mirror and The Surge .” — The Independent Review of Books

In the summer of 2026, amidst the sights and sounds of one of the oldest pubs in London, Dr. Joshua Lee receives a call that will alter his life for the foreseeable future—he’s asked to work on a clandestine project that will transform every American’s way of life.

Six years later, amidst the steel and glass canyons of the Denver suburbs, a group of friends assemble for dinner the night before their first escape into Anticipation Day, an immersive simulated experience that is promised to be an annual respite from the daily grind.

Amongst this group of friends are Alexandra, Eric, Patrick, Mike and MaryAnne, each at inflection points in their lives and each with their own life scars and unrealized dreams. As they prepare to plug into the simulation, they are forced to confront their own fears and desires, all while interfacing with their chosen simulated experience, blurring the lines between reality and the artificial dreamscape.

These experiences force the group to confront their deepest fears, chase exclusive happiness, and unlock truths buried within their souls. As they delve deeper into the algorithmic labyrinth, more truths about their existence are fully revealed.

However, the question Will their journey lead to salvation, or will it unravel the very fabric of their existence?

Join this eclectic band of suburbanites as they look for meaning amidst the chaos of the digital age. Anticipation Day beckons, but not everything is as is seems in this electrifying tale of urban futurism.

Genres: Science Fiction

544 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2024

Reviews

[Dave Milbrandt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review of its merits.

When I am watching TV or film and there is a particularly bizarre scene, our family has a humorous tradition of saying, "This would make a lot more sense if we were high." I have never applied it to a boot before, but I might in this case. Rest assured, this is not me placing my own issues on top of something I am reading. In the front material, the author thanks cannabis for helping him to tell this story. While learning about the potency of edible gummies was a minor way this played out in the story, the biggest concern I had was that the "Write drunk. Edit sober," advice of Hemmingway was applied without enough emphasis on the latter. The dialogue as exposition is relied on too heavily in this story and the author gives you (in my opinion) too much details when a summary would do. For example, when a main character could have summarized a key report, he instead read the entirety of it out loud into the record, as it were. All these extra detail caused us to spend 30% of the story wading through backstory to get to the time when the characters would enter the simulation of the past Talk about "anticipation".

And when they did travel, each chapter was like a short story in and of itself, with all the research and background needed almost for a novella. You smelled, tasted, heard, felt and saw everything (this is where, I imagine, the cannabis came in). And, in case you're wondering, when living in a simulation of the past, everyone gets busy and there''s plenty of detail there to (quite a bit too much for my taste). I also wrested with the conclusion, but the author did suggest a sequel.

In short, I was fascinated by the premise of this book, but it felt like it could have been cut by at least a third and been a good tale.

[Ben AF · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t just science fiction, it’s a sharp, unsettling reflection of the choices we may soon face as a society. Jeff Michelson dives straight into the emotional core of his characters and the seductive promise of simulated experience. As I read, I couldn’t help but ask myself: if given the chance to relive a day or escape into a perfectly tailored world, would I take it? And would that choice be freeing, or terrifying?
The characters are relatable, each of them carries personal wounds, grief, regret, broken relationships, and the simulations become a kind of reckoning. Their decisions are deeply emotional, and even in the most surreal moments, their pain and longing felt incredibly real.
What I appreciated most is how the novel doesn’t just speculate about technology, it asks what it means to be human when technology gives us the power to rewrite our own stories. The tension between real-life disappointments and the pull of digital perfection made me reflect on the ways we hide from discomfort, especially when a convenient escape is right in front of us.
“Anticipation Day” isn’t just a thought experiment, it’s a challenge. It asks hard questions, it stirs personal reflection, and it lingers. For anyone curious about where we might be headed, or how far we’d go to avoid our own pain, this book is a powerful and timely read.

[Abigail Carrizales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plays With Your Senses

As said in the title, this book has a LOT of imagery. It also has a but of rated-R content, so not for the faint of heart or younger readers. The attention to detail and the way it is described are really well written. It seems a bit slow in the beginning, but it picks up. The point of this book is to have someone experience every and any emotion a human can experience through a simulated world. However, it isn't a typical simulation as it feels more like a dream. The creator goes through trial and error with a colleague and a team of associates to help create a chip that gets embedded into someone's brain in order to project a smiluated world in a trance-like state, or sleeping, to get that person to feel the anticipation of a great feeling. It's quite obvious the author put in a lot of research to write this book because he gives every single character a background, a purpose and you learn about their whole life experience in just a few chapters. Although you don't actually see the characters grow, you encounter them in their "lowest points" of their lives and watch a change after experiencing this program. It allows the person to go into the simulated world for as little as one day to a full year, all while sitting down in a chair for a total of 6-7 hours. You can feel, hear, smell, taste, and touch everything in this dream. They can be in any kind of world that you choose so long as you're physically fit and mentally stable. Once allowed to join the program, the user chooses between a memory, an event that happened in the past, in the future where you can change it or even just be in the same year but in a different location. It allows them to experience the real world in a simulated world that is drawn up an AI after having input so much data. The data is stored in a supercomputer that is ridiculously fast and safe for the public's privacy and safety of their information. Each person goes into the facility where they anticipate what they will experience. Patrick's, one of the characters, the simulated world is to experience first-hand a tornado and everything that comes with it for 2 weeks. Alexandra travels from one beach to another in Brazil for 2 months. Eric goes to the past for about 8 months with the Lewis and Clark expedition. Mike attempts an NHL game 7 for the trophy for just one day. MaryAnne relives a past memory with her family by celebrating her parents' 50th anniversary on a cruise ship. It even walks us through how the program was created before with Dr. Claudine. As well as while it was being created by Dr. Joshua (Lead engineer) and Dr. Nielsen (Co-Lead engineer), and yes, we also go through their background. All in all, this is definitely a recommended book if you like science fiction. If you're a stickler for detail, this will also satisfy your curiosity as each scene is written with great accuracy.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anticipation Day follows Dr. Joshua Lee, an Australian computer scientist who becomes the unlikely leader of a groundbreaking U.S. government initiative to allow citizens to experience fully immersive simulations of past historical eras or even specific days in their own lives. At the heart of the novel is the concept of “Anticipation Day,” an annual event during which eligible citizens can experience a vivid alternate reality. Through political maneuvering, technical innovation, ethical debates, and deeply personal moments, Michelson crafts a narrative that spans continents, emotional landscapes, and big philosophical questions about memory, identity, and the power of longing.

What struck me first was how real the characters felt. Joshua isn’t a stereotypical genius or a cold bureaucrat. He’s a loving father, a tired husband, and a man caught between ambition and regret. The writing is informal but polished, with a strong conversational voice. Michelson uses humor with a deft hand, not too much, but enough to ground the high-concept tech in everyday moments. This book is packed with big ideas about simulated realities, but it never forgets to be relatable.

Some parts felt like a detailed journal, more than a novel, especially in the first third. The world-building around the simulations is dense, but I appreciated the scientific depth. That said, once Part 2 hits, when we experience individual simulation stories from different characters, it absolutely soars. These sections gave the concept heart, showing not just the tech, but what it means to people: closure, adventure, peace, sometimes even sorrow. The vignettes felt like short stories inside a larger novel, and I enjoyed that structure. It gave the book emotional highs that made me reflect on my own life and what day I might choose to relive.

By the end, I felt something rare: hope. That’s not to say the book is rosy, it deals with trauma, loss, politics, and the ethics of tech, but it never loses sight of the value of memory and imagination. Michelson writes with warmth and sincerity. I’d recommend Anticipation Day to fans of thoughtful science fiction, especially those who enjoy character-driven stories with a speculative edge. If you liked Black Mirror episodes that tug at the heart or enjoyed the moral dilemmas of The Midnight Library, this book might be for you.

[Mia C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Michelson builds a future that feels eerily plausible, a United States where the government has approved an annual immersive simulation, allowing citizens to relive historical eras or even a single day from their past. The premise struck me as both fascinating and deeply unsettling, especially given how much of our lives are already shaped by digital reality.
What really drew me in, though, was how human the story feels. The novel begins with Dr. Joshua Lee, the scientist behind the technology, and follows his journey alongside a diverse group of individuals preparing for their first Anticipation Day. These characters are more than narrative devices, they’re people with real trauma, unresolved grief, and complicated relationships. Their choices inside the simulations are deeply personal, and the emotional stakes feel high because Michelson takes the time to make us care.
The shifts in setting, from government hearings in Washington, D.C., to personal moments in Sydney, Denver, and beyond, provide a compelling contrast between the ordinary and the extraordinary. The simulated experiences aren’t flashy escapism; they reflect the characters’ deepest desires and regrets, challenging them to confront truths they often avoid in real life. That tension, between acceptance and reinvention, is at the heart of the novel.
To me, this story feels like a blend of Black Mirror and The Matrix, but with a more emotional, character-driven core. There’s a philosophical undercurrent running throughout, but the narrative remains grounded and accessible. It doesn’t feel abstract, it feels intimate.
The ending left me reflective rather than resolved, which I appreciated. “Anticipation Day” doesn’t tie everything up neatly because it isn’t about easy answers. It’s about what we choose to face—and what we choose to escape. It made me think about my own memories and whether I’d relive them, change them, or let them be.
If you’re into speculative fiction that balances futuristic ideas with emotional depth, this is one to read. It’s timely, imaginative, and lingers long after the final page.

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s summer, 2026, and Dr. Joshua Lee is about to get a phone call with an invitation to work on a mysterious project. Fast forward six years and several friends in Denver are about to take part in a simulated experience called Anticipation Day. This collection of suburb dwellers, MaryAnne, Alexandra, Mike, Eric, and Patrick, want escapism, but they also want to learn something about themselves. The virtual world created by this new form of technology will test them in ways they didn’t expect. It will reveal truths, and it could be cathartic, but if they’re not careful, it could very well tear each one of them apart.

Anticipation Day, by Jeff Michelson, is a sci-fi novel that thematically is somewhat akin to the movies Inception or Tron. However, while there are echoes of various movies, shows, and novels to be found here, the author has managed to come up with a concept all his own.

Michelson proves adept at introducing the technology at the core of the Anticipation Day experience without being overly wordy about it. The idea behind what is taking place is certainly interesting, but it’s almost beside the point. What’s far more vital about what’s happening is the internal journey each of the characters we are introduced to is taking.

Like many sci-fi stories dealing with simulated technology-induced experiences, it seems to be virtually impossible for the individuals undertaking the process to emerge from it unchanged. What quickly becomes evident, though, is that several of them, if not all five, are yearning for some kind of metamorphosis. In various ways, they are each dissatisfied with their lives or elements of their day-to-day existence. What they learn about themselves during their Anticipation Day sessions could remedy this, but there’s just as much danger that it could destroy them utterly.

There is undeniable conflict within this novel that continually heightens the tension. What’s unusual is that the protagonists themselves and their psyches are the cause of the danger. It’s a novel concept, and one that works exceedingly well. The high-concept sci-fi conceit that Michelson posits is a compelling one and executed to perfection.

[Katherine Benfante · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thought-provoking sci-fi novel. The concept of reliving a moment in the past, whether an event from time such as a famous event or battle or a moment in your own life, is really compelling. The characters in this novel have a chance to relive a few hours, a day, or up to a year while in a simulation in a sort of giant, government-run facility that compresses that time into only a few hours in real time. The simulation is a hyper-simulated environment that feels more real than a dream. So, the set-up is something I think all of us would be fascinated to try. So, if you like reading unique sci-fi takes, this book is for you.

The book is set up differently from a lot of novels; the first section is kind of background about how this program was dreamed up and passed in Congress, and the characters there don't reappear in the novel. I didn't totally buy it that the government would sponsor a program where people could do this simulation once a year - not only on the government's dime but also be paid for it! - but I suspended my disbelief for the rest of the novel. The second section is really six short stories; it's six characters going through their simulations. They are all friends, but their simulations aren't intertwined or really related to each other, so in that way it's truly six different short stories. Some are more interesting than others, and they all ended happily except one. This one simulation short changed the character, and at the end the rest of the characters come together and come to grips with the aftermath. This is the strongest part of the story, and I wish it had had more of a central plot that tied it together with why this government simulation program was run to begin with.

The sense of humor and language didn't hit well with me; the juvenile humor and promotion of drug use (cannabis) weren't for me, so note that if you pick it up. Maybe it would be better if one were high while reading!

[CarlitasFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating novel
“Anticipation Day” is a thought-provoking novel that explores the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on society. What drew me in was how the book imagines AI not as a distant, sci-fi fantasy, but as something just around the corner. The simulation technology is eerily believable, and the way it intertwines with human emotion and memory is fascinating, and at times, chilling. The novel doesn't just explore what AI can do, but how it can expose our desires, regrets, and emotional vulnerabilities.
I found the characters especially compelling. As anticipation day nears, a group of friends, each carrying emotional baggage and unresolved conflicts, comes together to face their chosen simulations. Their journeys are emotionally charged, revealing parts of themselves that even they didn’t fully understand. The novel doesn’t offer easy answers, but instead leaves you reflecting on identity, technology, and what it means to truly live.
Jeff Michelson’s writing is vivid and cinematic. The settings, whether real or simulated, are described in a way that lets you clearly picture the scenes. Despite the novel’s length, the pacing worked for me because the world was so immersive. I appreciated how the story balanced intimate, personal struggles with large-scale technological themes.
“Anticipation Day” is a timely and engaging read. It’s original, emotionally resonant, and a little unsettling, in all the right ways. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the future of AI, and how that future might reflect the deepest parts of who we are.

[Colleen Bratley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A SciFi novel set in 2030 about a simulation of any kind being available to citizens to live a different scenario from their present life, or relive a time from their memories as if they are really there, back in time. There are several characters, and the story is long, and even though it is interesting, the pace is slowed in many areas, which waned my attention. The characters starting out in the novel are not revealed again once the simulation stories begin, which I was disappointed with because I had unanswered questions.
The simulation stories were interesting, and some were very detailed, and others, not so much. I got the emotions and thoughts of each character, but never reached the solid connection to them that I want to happen and do see in most books. Each simulation was different and explained to understand why they chose that anticipation, but the context was raw, so I couldn’t immerse myself in the story with the character. I just didn’t feel it like I wanted to.
I wondered how the story would end because I wasn’t tying it all together, and I was disappointed. It felt like the whole thing didn’t come together as a storyline from start to finish, but rather short stories of people and what happened in their lives. I get what I believe it was supposed to do, but the common thread through it all was just too wide and thin with too many characters to keep it together.

[Ivan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapter, I was immersed in a world that feels both futuristic and alarmingly possible. Jeff Michelson  paints a vision of the near future that’s driven by rapidly advancing technology, and it feels close enough to touch.

The storyline is layered and deliberate, unfolding through a cast of characters whose personal histories and emotional struggles add real depth. Their experiences inside a digital simulation blur the lines between fantasy and reality, and the consequences feel startlingly real. The slow-burn pace evolves into a gripping thriller, and I found the suspense gradually tightening until I was hooked.

This isn’t a light read. With over 500 pages, it demands attention. Details matter, and missing them means missing the bigger picture. But that’s part of what made it rewarding for me. The themes Michelson explores—technological evolution, ethics, and the human psyche—are handled with care and complexity. I appreciated how he balanced the thrill of innovation with its dangers.

The book is richly layered, and while I took my time with it, each return drew me in. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys smart speculative fiction, especially if you’re interested in where our tech-driven world might be heading. “Anticipation Day” doesn’t just feel like fiction. It feels like a glimpse of what’s coming.

[Muskaan Awasthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anticipation Day by Jeff Michelson is a speculative science fiction novel set in 2030, and its warning feels both urgent and eerily plausible. It blends political drama, personal reflection, and technological ambition into a narrative that’s equal parts thrilling and sobering.

This book is packed with speculative detail that feels just close enough to reality to be unsettling, especially now when AI is becoming more prominent every day. Neuromorphic computing, time dilation, AI-generated sensory environments, full-brain memory downloads: it’s all terrifyingly plausible. That’s what makes the book so powerful for me. It’s not a dystopia, it’s a world in which the line between reality and simulation has blurred, and no one is quite sure what that means for the soul.

My favorite part about the story was how intimately the sci-fi was written. It wasn’t about shiny tech for its own sake; it was about how people use it to fill the gaps in their lives. Above all, it was about memory, regret, and the dangerous appeal of escapism when reality hurts too much. It forces the reader to ask: If you could relive your best day, would you want to come back?

If you enjoy science fiction that digs into ethics, human psychology, and political consequences, like Black Mirror, Anticipation Day is a smart, immersive read that will stick with you.

[Santiago Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth your time

“Anticipation Day” is one of those rare sci-fi novels that feels really eerily plausible and emotionally grounded. Jeff Michelson creates a future that mirrors our own anxieties about technology, purpose, and escapism, but instead of overwhelming us with tech jargon, he focuses on the human heart at the center of it all. I found myself especially drawn to the emotional complexity of the characters because each of them is flawed, lost, or longing for something more. The simulation concept isn’t just clever; it becomes a mirror for the characters’ buried pain and desires. Watching them navigate the blurred boundaries of reality and fantasy kept me hooked.
What surprised me most was how philosophical the novel became by the end. Beneath the high-concept premise lies a quiet, haunting reflection on how we cope with disappointment, trauma, and unrealized dreams. Michelson's prose is lyrical without being heavy-handed, and the pacing keeps you turning pages while thinking deeply. If you're a fan of novels that combine science fiction with emotional introspection, this book is definitely worth your time.

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anticipation Day is a thoughtful, unsettling, and deeply immersive work of science fiction that explores memory, identity, and the quiet ache of unfulfilled lives in a near-future shaped by algorithmic escape. Jeff Michelson blends philosophical inquiry with emotional realism, following a group of friends drawn into a government-sanctioned simulation that promises relief but delivers reckoning.
What stands out most is the novel’s restraint. Rather than relying on spectacle, Michelson allows tension to build through character introspection and moral ambiguity. The shifting boundary between authentic experience and curated fantasy feels eerily plausible, echoing the existential unease of Black Mirror while retaining the warmth and humanity found in The Midnight Library.
Provocative, emotionally resonant, and quietly devastating at times, Anticipation Day is science fiction at its most reflective asking not just where technology might take us, but what we are willing to surrender along the way.

[Peter Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like a good yarn, a story that really captivates.
While the concept was certainly intriguing, many elements fell short.

For one, I would suggest the author use the 'find' feature in Word, or the equivalent for their writing program, because the word 'as' was used so much that it was distracting. It had to be in the thousands.

Frankly, a lot of kind of basic English grammar mistakes were also pretty glaring.

Those aside, the characters failed to resonate with me. In fact, a couple of them were just irritating. That may be my own bias, so take it with a grain of salt.

Tad Williams has a wonderful series 'Otherworld,' a bit longwinded, but delves into the concept of a virtual world with much more focus and brevity.

Overall, the tempo of Anticipation Day was uneven, often plodding, and the characters felt somewhat wooden.

[Katie Dirne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book through a Goodreads raffle.

The premise of this book is SO COOL. I was really excited for it... but the execution needs a lot of work. It needs a ton of editing. There were typo and inconsistencies left and right, glaring issues that really should have been caught before publication. The author spends a lot of time following two characters in the first two chapters who are never again relevant or revisited. Some plot lines are never followed through. The book also includes a lot of "potty humor", not just as a personality trait of a particularly juvenile character, but across practically all characters. It got old after a while.

Again, the idea was fantastic, and the simulation were really cool to explore. It just needs major editing to be readable.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept is AWESOME… the execution? Meh. I sincerely think getting a great editor would make all the difference. The explanation in the beginning was FAR too long & in-depth for the way the rest of the book went. The telling of the simulation stories were also way too drawn out. This book should have been half as long. Lots of in consistencies & just repetition that need to be fixed. I still don’t understand why the government would pay people to do the simulations. If someone else understood please enlighten me!

I’m bummed, this could have been so great but just really fell flat.

[Gina Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laid out really well, if great little surprises throughout the book that kept you turning the page.

From a scientific point of view the science weaved into the story seems reasonable - though I did not exhaustively validate it - but I never encountered a passage, where I had to say, this is simply impossible.

If you look for entertainment with optimistic sci-fi, I believe that Jeff Michelson got you covered with this book. Very interesting book; kept me engaged the entire time.

[Jakata Shortt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real-life

I liked that the author didn't go "over-the-top" with the futuristic settings. The characters all faced real-life problems that we currently live with. The author didn't create a utopia for the characters. Instead, the choice was given to relive past experiences or experience something new.

[Samantha Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the enthralling science fiction and fantasy novel, Anticipation Day, readers are transported to another time and place in such a vivid way.

I really enjoyed the descriptive writing, fascinating character insights into their motivations, and enough backstory to keep me in the plot line to leave us wanting more.

Action, suspense and drama all combine to make a wonderful escape.

[Julie]

The premise of this book sounds cool, but I can't take the writing. The story is very much being told by a narrator, and this level of telling and not showing is too much for me. It feels very amateurish.

[April Herbert]

I won this book in a giveaway on kindle but haven't had a chance to read it yet. I'm looking forward to this interesting adventure.

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling adventure ride! I'm thoroughly enjoying Jeff Michelson's exciting and refreshingly unique read. The characters are multifaceted and have lots of issues to overcome.