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Refresh
Refresh is an explosive, powerful short story about a near-future dystopia in which citizens can commodify every waking moment of their lives with computer-generated augmented reality. But this ubiquitous, game-changing technology can create dangerous consequences, especially for society’s most vulnerable people.
Welcome to Refresh: with nothing but a pair of computerized contact lenses, the app allows you to immortalize and share your experiences in virtual reality, and to step right into the life of anyone you’d like—for the right price. And in the near-distant future, there is no longer a question of who uses the app, only how: to record and share special occasions, like weddings and vacations? Or to push the envelope towards something more controversial, more shocking, more sinister?
This thought-provoking listen follows a young Black man who, in order to profit from his own marginalization and to make a larger statement, hatches a plan for a confrontation with a police officer that’s sure to capture the attention his profile desperately needs. But when the lines between performance and experience are blurred, is he prepared for the reality of what’s at stake?
Refresh is both a compelling, futuristic tale and a gut-wrenching commentary on our world and the reality of being Black in America.
Welcome to Refresh: with nothing but a pair of computerized contact lenses, the app allows you to immortalize and share your experiences in virtual reality, and to step right into the life of anyone you’d like—for the right price. And in the near-distant future, there is no longer a question of who uses the app, only how: to record and share special occasions, like weddings and vacations? Or to push the envelope towards something more controversial, more shocking, more sinister?
This thought-provoking listen follows a young Black man who, in order to profit from his own marginalization and to make a larger statement, hatches a plan for a confrontation with a police officer that’s sure to capture the attention his profile desperately needs. But when the lines between performance and experience are blurred, is he prepared for the reality of what’s at stake?
Refresh is both a compelling, futuristic tale and a gut-wrenching commentary on our world and the reality of being Black in America.
Audible Audio
Published January 7, 2021
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Salim Lemelle
1 book3 followersSalim Lemelle is a genre/sci-fi writer from Southern California. Salim sold his short story Quietus to QC Entertainment (Get Out) which he will adapt with Steven Caple Jr. (Creed 2) for Steven to direct.
Before that, Salim was selected as a fellow in 2015 for the prestigious Universal Pictures Emerging Writers Fellowship.
He attended Pomona College earning his BA, then later receiving his MFA in screenwriting from The University of Southern California’s School for Cinematic Arts.
Before that, Salim was selected as a fellow in 2015 for the prestigious Universal Pictures Emerging Writers Fellowship.
He attended Pomona College earning his BA, then later receiving his MFA in screenwriting from The University of Southern California’s School for Cinematic Arts.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 27, 2023
Story 3 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Kevin Free
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Kevin Free
January 12, 2021
Police brutality but the victim lives. This is an interesting take on the unjustified shootings some police embark on and brings awareness to some of the reactions on both sides. Wow 😳
July 21, 2022
A futuristic tale based around social media and augmented reality.
Nothing groundbreaking here but entertaining enough to keep you occupied for half an hour.
Nothing groundbreaking here but entertaining enough to keep you occupied for half an hour.
June 8, 2023
June 2023
Audiobook edition
36m (1.3x speed)
Picked from the audible plus library for a quick listen. I've seen movies like this. The anonymity makes people do crazy things, more so for money. Everything can be sold, including memory milestones, that others can view and re-live through technology contact lenses. It's sad how far it goes. The guy's mother goes from arts and crafts teacher to a hoarder. People walk around with vests and get shot on purpose for likes. The MC incites a shooting by a cop. I'm not sure what to think about the ending. He gets likes and views from being shot, but the one that gets more attention is the cop doing the shooting. Its interesting but a scary thought.
Audiobook edition
36m (1.3x speed)
Picked from the audible plus library for a quick listen. I've seen movies like this. The anonymity makes people do crazy things, more so for money. Everything can be sold, including memory milestones, that others can view and re-live through technology contact lenses. It's sad how far it goes. The guy's mother goes from arts and crafts teacher to a hoarder. People walk around with vests and get shot on purpose for likes. The MC incites a shooting by a cop. I'm not sure what to think about the ending. He gets likes and views from being shot, but the one that gets more attention is the cop doing the shooting. Its interesting but a scary thought.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2021
That was a short, sharp, shock of a story, with one of my favourite styles of spec-fic: our world (more or less) just skip ahead to the end of a thread that easily attaches to the now. The foundation of the story (an only-fans-like application which records through contact lenses) against the realities of the US? A great set-up. Then the one-two crack of the final moments really drove it home. I'm going to be hunting down more of Lemelle's work.
June 8, 2022
In a world where people can gain subscribers, kind of like on YouTube, there solely to witness recorded milestones, people craft their lives and experiences around giving people what they want. Put your life in danger, create toxic habits, give in to extremes of emotion, and you'll see your subscriber count ticking up, along with your bank account. What could go wrong?
This is a pretty compelling short story that I wouldn't mind reading with my high school class.
This is a pretty compelling short story that I wouldn't mind reading with my high school class.
February 10, 2021
What if you could make money by letting others see what you see? What experiences would have the greatest value?
April 5, 2022
OMG !!! I really enjoyed this short story. It kept me cativated the entire time !!! A must listen and/or read.
April 1, 2025
THIS is how you do a short story, fantastic!
February 28, 2025
Story that tells the unfortunate truth, that even though we continually evolve in technological advancement as a society, humans never change.☹️
February 26, 2021
The other day my son José Luis was telling me about a new virtual world that is being built where you can buy properties and seek to have virtual experiences if you cannot travel or pay for them.
Imagine that in the future people lived like this, and that everyone lived through the reality of others, virtually.
Salim Lemelle's book "Refresh" addresses this issue. The protagonist tries to get likes filming through his virtual reality glasses when he is arrested for being black and is shot by a policeman and ends up hospitalized (he wears a bulletproof vest). He gets thousands of likes and comments but ...
He did not imagine that the policeman who did that also filmed the incident and got ten times more likes.
Will this ever happen? The other day my son José Luis was telling me about a new virtual world that is being built where you can buy properties and seek to have virtual experiences if you cannot travel or pay for them.
Imagine that in the future people lived like this, and that everyone lived through the reality of others, virtually.
Salim Lemelle's book "Refresh" addresses this issue. The protagonist tries to get likes filming through his virtual reality glasses when he is arrested for being black and is shot by a policeman and ends up hospitalized (he wears a bulletproof vest). He gets thousands of likes and comments but ...
He did not imagine that the policeman who did that also filmed the incident and got ten times more likes.
Will this ever happen?
Imagine that in the future people lived like this, and that everyone lived through the reality of others, virtually.
Salim Lemelle's book "Refresh" addresses this issue. The protagonist tries to get likes filming through his virtual reality glasses when he is arrested for being black and is shot by a policeman and ends up hospitalized (he wears a bulletproof vest). He gets thousands of likes and comments but ...
He did not imagine that the policeman who did that also filmed the incident and got ten times more likes.
Will this ever happen? The other day my son José Luis was telling me about a new virtual world that is being built where you can buy properties and seek to have virtual experiences if you cannot travel or pay for them.
Imagine that in the future people lived like this, and that everyone lived through the reality of others, virtually.
Salim Lemelle's book "Refresh" addresses this issue. The protagonist tries to get likes filming through his virtual reality glasses when he is arrested for being black and is shot by a policeman and ends up hospitalized (he wears a bulletproof vest). He gets thousands of likes and comments but ...
He did not imagine that the policeman who did that also filmed the incident and got ten times more likes.
Will this ever happen?
July 27, 2021
This is a short story with a quick and dirty ending. (I think most short stories have a quick and dirty ending.) I needed something more. I'm not sure what.
The story: A black man sets up a confrontation with a out of control police officer in order to boost his subscriptions to his own life. With "Refresh" your contact lenses capture everything you do, and people can subscribe to your channel to experience (and re-experience) critical events in your life... such as a wedding, or getting shot by the police. If he can make it happen, he is on his way to getting rich.
I have to cut this review short because I am tired. I'll say this, the idea was a good one for the story, but I really wanted a longer, more developed one.
I might listen to this audiobook again. Maybe a second read will help.
The story: A black man sets up a confrontation with a out of control police officer in order to boost his subscriptions to his own life. With "Refresh" your contact lenses capture everything you do, and people can subscribe to your channel to experience (and re-experience) critical events in your life... such as a wedding, or getting shot by the police. If he can make it happen, he is on his way to getting rich.
I have to cut this review short because I am tired. I'll say this, the idea was a good one for the story, but I really wanted a longer, more developed one.
I might listen to this audiobook again. Maybe a second read will help.
January 12, 2021
This was not what I expected. A new tech device that adds images to contact lenses, allowing the user to tune into other people's experiences results in people going to great lengths to get likes in order to make money. Facebook taken to a new level. For people of color, extreme events garner more likes and one young man goes to great lengths to score a big payday. Even his mother is addicted. The tables are turned on him as someone else has the last laugh. Good thing this was free, it was disappointing. I prefer more hopeful visions of the future.
September 25, 2023
Incredible Premise. Competent Execution.
CW: Police Brutality, Racism, Addiction, PTSD
There is a really interesting kernal to this story that I would love to see fleshed out end explored further. Unfortunately, everything else, while decent enough, doesn't distinguish itself or march the potential of the premise.
We've seen all manner of 'in the future everything is monetised' stories, taking the 'if a service is free, you are the product' we see most obviously with social media to it's inevitable sci-fi extreme. But something I have yet to see is a Black character using the racist and murderous thugs that are the police (ACAB) and their horrifying operating procedure to raise awareness and their following. This could be easily be used in a crass, disrespectful manner, but Lemelle handles it with enough care and intention, as far as I can tell. Particularly, with the protagonist, while going out with the intention of getting police violence on film, not being shown as provoking the police, aside from existing while Black. The sad part is that the structural racism and the white supremacist capitalist authority that the cops serve is discussed. The discrepancy in how the majority of people respond to the sanctioned killers and their victims is an impactful moment, but without a greater grounding and context I think the story loses some impact.
The worldbuilding is fine and overall it's a decently crafted story, but this could easily have been greater than a mid Black Mirror episode in quality -- I know people throw around Black Mirror as an insult, but I genuinely think the writing and commentary in some of the episodes are great, and allegorical sci-fi should be aiming to at least match the best that show has to offer, and should really be surpassing it.
The Kevin 'Murderbot' Free narration was great, and truly would have sang if the story had a little more going on.
CW: Police Brutality, Racism, Addiction, PTSD
There is a really interesting kernal to this story that I would love to see fleshed out end explored further. Unfortunately, everything else, while decent enough, doesn't distinguish itself or march the potential of the premise.
We've seen all manner of 'in the future everything is monetised' stories, taking the 'if a service is free, you are the product' we see most obviously with social media to it's inevitable sci-fi extreme. But something I have yet to see is a Black character using the racist and murderous thugs that are the police (ACAB) and their horrifying operating procedure to raise awareness and their following. This could be easily be used in a crass, disrespectful manner, but Lemelle handles it with enough care and intention, as far as I can tell. Particularly, with the protagonist, while going out with the intention of getting police violence on film, not being shown as provoking the police, aside from existing while Black. The sad part is that the structural racism and the white supremacist capitalist authority that the cops serve is discussed. The discrepancy in how the majority of people respond to the sanctioned killers and their victims is an impactful moment, but without a greater grounding and context I think the story loses some impact.
The worldbuilding is fine and overall it's a decently crafted story, but this could easily have been greater than a mid Black Mirror episode in quality -- I know people throw around Black Mirror as an insult, but I genuinely think the writing and commentary in some of the episodes are great, and allegorical sci-fi should be aiming to at least match the best that show has to offer, and should really be surpassing it.
The Kevin 'Murderbot' Free narration was great, and truly would have sang if the story had a little more going on.
March 30, 2023
I recently read "Refresh" by Salim Ismail and I have to say, it was a really refreshing read! The author presents a compelling case for how exponential technologies are transforming the world around us and how we can harness these technologies to create abundance for all. The book is well-written and easy to understand, even for someone who doesn't have a technical background. Ismail does a great job of breaking down complex concepts and making them accessible to the average reader.
One thing I particularly appreciated about this book is that Ismail doesn't just talk about the potential benefits of exponential technologies - he also addresses the challenges and risks that come with them. He encourages readers to think critically about how these technologies will impact society and to take an active role in shaping their development. While I don't agree with every point the author makes, I found the book to be thought-provoking and engaging, and I came away with a greater appreciation for the incredible potential of exponential technologies.
One thing I particularly appreciated about this book is that Ismail doesn't just talk about the potential benefits of exponential technologies - he also addresses the challenges and risks that come with them. He encourages readers to think critically about how these technologies will impact society and to take an active role in shaping their development. While I don't agree with every point the author makes, I found the book to be thought-provoking and engaging, and I came away with a greater appreciation for the incredible potential of exponential technologies.
February 21, 2022
I think we all love stories which are far enough away from our current lives that they don’t frighten us, but have enough potential to become our current lives that we have this macabre compulsion to keep reading and see what chaos is coming for us. This is that book.
In a world not too far removed from our own, technology has taken the next step and now allows us to interact with our followers on social media, on a sort of only-fans application, by using contact lenses which record everything we do. It’s similar to the concept used in a Black Mirror episode, but applied differently.
The story follows a young black man, considers police brutality and racial abuse in a context which sadly isn’t far removed at all from what we know and challenges what evidence can really do to change the narrative.
I really liked it. I especially liked the audiobook version - the narrator was great. I’ll be looking into this authors work much further.
In a world not too far removed from our own, technology has taken the next step and now allows us to interact with our followers on social media, on a sort of only-fans application, by using contact lenses which record everything we do. It’s similar to the concept used in a Black Mirror episode, but applied differently.
The story follows a young black man, considers police brutality and racial abuse in a context which sadly isn’t far removed at all from what we know and challenges what evidence can really do to change the narrative.
I really liked it. I especially liked the audiobook version - the narrator was great. I’ll be looking into this authors work much further.
February 8, 2021
I got this work of Science Fiction for free. It’s just a short story – but I sure wish it had been a book. … It’s 40 or 50 years info the future; a time beyond smart phones and Facebook. Mini-COMPUTERS are now able to be placed as lens in the eyes. Subscribers can replay another’s actions/senses/feeling; being part of, virtually, another life. You may now ‘live’ your own life in the lives of others i.e., a ‘fake’ reality. (And we think drugs can take over lives. Wow!) I hope Salim Lemelle writes a book – and the sooner the better.
December 16, 2025
3.8 stars. This was a very engaging short Audible Original available free to subscribers. Not my typical genre AT ALL. So for me, it was all fresh and new, though some criticized it as "Nothing new to see here." In short, it's a story set in the future that explores how both social media and AR have advanced to the point of having very significant impact on society. I thought it was creative and entertaining; and also it explored some important social issues. Give it a listen; at under an hour, it's not a huge investment.
April 12, 2021
I enjoyed the world that the book established and had a great time listening to the audiobook, but the story feels like it ends prematurely. I wondered how the author would successfully wrap it up in so little time, and arguably ... he was unsuccessful. It feels like someone shut off the TV halfway through a Black Mirror episode. A good listen, but the lack of follow-through precludes a higher rating. I wish there were more.
February 20, 2021
In this near-future, not only can the public see other people's lives on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, they can now actively see through their eyes, live offered moments of their lives. This dystopic future has pushed the online media "likes and followers for social relevance" reality to disturbing, but completely believable heights.
January 16, 2021
Kevin Free is one of the best narrators and his portrayal here is amazing.
The book is a bit of a rehash of Ready Player Two idea with a twist on BLM themes being portrayed.
Enjoyable short listen.
The book is a bit of a rehash of Ready Player Two idea with a twist on BLM themes being portrayed.
Enjoyable short listen.
January 31, 2021
Umm... I think it’s well written and it’s cool concept but I didn’t like it. Police brutality is not something the victim purposely initiates in my opinion. This will give some the wrong idea. I don’t know. I should have given this 5 stars I guess because I’ll never forget this one...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2021
If you are an Audible user, you need to listen to "Refresh" by Salim Lemelle. Short story. It's sci fi on the surface and asks obvious questions about people profiting from social media, but it's commentary on black deaths by police officers, and the lack of justice, is very moving.
April 19, 2022
It was pretty well written and narrated. Though it didn't have much of a conclusion. It's obviously meant to be a futuristic take on racist white cops. I would have liked another half an hour for a more satisfying conclusion. But overall I enjoyed it.
June 25, 2022
Best sort story I’ve read in a long time. I almost skipped it over because the premise didn’t sound enticing, but I am very glad I stuck to it. I listened to the audio version which made the story especially quick and easy. Much recommend!
April 28, 2023
An interesting insight into the human mind and how far some of us are willing to go for a place in the spotlight. If you enjoy Black Mirror, listen to this.
(It’s free if you have an Audible membership or during the free trial).
(It’s free if you have an Audible membership or during the free trial).
June 24, 2025
I think this one was just wasted on me. I didn’t like the protagonist and maybe I just didn’t like the things about him that make him a product of his world. It felt awkward and fake. I kind of get the message, but maybe I’m actually missing it. Like I said, I think it’s lost on me.
January 13, 2021
Very good, very quick short story about the lengths people will go for social media likes/followers and the money that comes with it. Free with audible plus.
January 19, 2021
Loved it. The concept was really intriguing.
I wish it was a full book that I can explore more.
I wish it was a full book that I can explore more.
January 20, 2021
Love this short story! Very original and much like things may be going in our lives if we don’t get off our darn phones. Excellent book. Loved the ending too!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews