The Game Within

by Clyde Wonder

The idea has always been to escape. That opportunity to be somebody we’re not is strong in humans. We like to pretend. Sure, as we age we get more sophisticated about hiding it, but make no mistake, we never tire of make believe. The World Within is make believe elevated to its highest imagining. A different place where you can be a different person.

- Marcus Helkar
December 2026


Brilliant game designer Marcus Helkar created something spectacular. A place so enticing, so consuming, players forgot about real life. It wasn't playing a game. It was living in a different world.

Until the locks were removed. Until the game changed the rules.

Now Marcus must stop the game he created before it becomes too real. And he can only do it from within the game itself. If he can't correct the problem soon enough he'll never be able to get out and neither will anybody else.

474 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2017

Reviews

[Lawrence E. Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be a TV production or a movie

This is an exciting story that holds the readers interest from start to finish. The story is unique, and it would be a natural for a SyFy television production or a movie. My hope is that Clyde Wonder will take this story to as large an audience as possible. Current CGI techniques could bring this amazing story to life. Please create more of this World Within fantasy. My mind is slipping away to a distant time and place now. Hopefully, I will see you later.

[Ethan Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book which excellent character development! The concept of immersive gaming gone wrong is definitely interesting and very real given gaming in the modern day and where we’re going in society. I especially appreciated the attention to detail around the physical concerns of people as their gaming such as hydration. I always question that when the idea of immersive gaming is talked about.

I also liked the description of the game as the plot developed, I truly felt like I was there and experiencing it. Continuing with that idea, I really felt the fear when characters faced threats, especially opponents that were way more powerful than they should have been.

Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who appreciates gaming and may have dabbled with VR or immersive games.

[David Lotz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprising considering it was the result of the freshman writer's first effort. While it was formulaic (as are the vast majority of books in the genre), there were definitely new ideas developed within the old framework. It absolutely kept my interest from start to finish, and I found myself staying awake past my bedtime to keep reading. I look forward to Mr. Wonder's next book with great anticipation!