Phase Shift: The Future is a Fading Memory

by Vincent Peou

In the rain-slicked, gritty streets of 2025 Phnom Penh, Pheap and Vannak are linked by a loss so profound it has come to define them. Their powerful bond is the only thing that keeps the darkness at bay. But when they are shown a glimpse of the future—a sleek, utopian 2045 where their pain has been erased—what begins as a shared dream of healing soon splinters into a dangerous obsession.

The promise of a perfect tomorrow demands a terrible price today. As one clings to hope and the other is consumed by a thirst for vengeance, their relationship becomes the engine for a reality-bending journey through time and destiny.

Set against the unique cultural and historical backdrop of Cambodia, Phase Shift is a high-concept science fiction epic driven by the raw power of human emotion. It is a masterful, imaginative story about the cost of changing your fate and the lines we cross for the people we love.

170 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2025

About the author

I am a Cambodian-American author. Born in Cambodia and raised in the vibrant communities of Orange County, California, my unique perspective is shaped by a life lived as a bridge between two distinct cultures.

I use the imaginative realms of Science Fiction, the sharp wit of Comedy, and the chilling suspense of Horror as powerful lenses to explore the human condition. At the heart of my work is a profound celebration of my heritage, and I aim to showcase the beauty, resilience, and enduring kindness of the Cambodian people.

My narratives delve deep into complex questions of identity and the shared human experience. While my stories are set in Cambodia, I write with the hope that my characters resonate to readers from all backgrounds by touching on the common threads that connect us all.