Exit to Reality

by Edith Forbes

When Euclid (real name Lydian) ventures onto the Random Queries and Idle Speculation bulletin board she meets Proteus (real name Merle), a self-described misfit who admits to unemployment. Lydian is wary of this impossibility. After all, it is the 29th century and such oddities have been eliminated. But curiosity and a desire to jettison her culturally induced techno-stupor lead Lydian to rendezvous with Merle, igniting an unlikely meeting of the minds - and bodies. Lydian and Merle's careening love affair takes them from Paris to Jamaica, from the wrong side of the law to the far side of late-millennium family values, and ultimately, to a face-off between technology and civilization that spurs Lydian to question - and then dismantle - the very essence of human existence.

Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fiction, Cyberpunk, Romance, Science Fiction Fantasy, Gender

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was beautiful and somewhat bonkers. It raises as many questions and theories about identity and love for me as it's antagonist asks about the tableau of her existence. I am glad I found this story.

[Cupcakencorset · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was the best part. The characters were engaging, and the technology of the future was intriguing, as Forbes envisioned adaptations to allow for a huge population of peaceful, productive, physically perfected people who will never die or even age. In the second half, however, the dialogue becomes almost Heinlein-esque, with all of the characters becoming the author's mouthpieces, asking exactly the right questions to allow the author to share the secret behind the universe she has created. It's all a little too pat and ultimately felt hollow. Overall, I liked the book, but would have liked more emphasis on the characters as individuals with their own struggles and failing and desires, and less focus on the plot and the "clever" end the author had planned. This probably says more about me than about the book, specifically that I prefer stories that are character-driven over those that are plot-driven, no matter how imaginative the plot.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was different, quite intriguing and unpredictable. worth the read. unique.


romance, scifi, comedy and drama. :D
really recommend to read it. :D



it gave me a new 'topic' in my life. a new world has been added.

[Sue Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simulation; at first, idea that the mind can shape reality then the realization that there was no reality, just brains connected to a computer program.