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Who's in Control? #4
Future Shop
What if you were offered an easier, cheaper and quicker way to do the family shop? Rosa Bodran is in a rush as usual.
The ferocious weather is doing everything it can to prevent her getting on with her day.
Then she's made an offer she can't refuse. A virtual reality shopping experience.
The man promises it will be quicker.
He assures her it will be cheaper.
He tells her it will be more convenient.
It seems the perfect solution to picking her kids up on time, despite the freezing hail and wind.
But all is not as it seems.
The weather is a portent of something more terrible to come. Virtual reality becomes the least of Rosa's challenges.
It could put everything she cares for at risk.
Would you take the virtual reality shop?
Or is it best to just say no? Dive into this futuristic thriller, and face some of the deepest questions about what you want your future to look like.
From the award winning author of Portico and The Illustrator's Daughter , comes a short book that shows this challenging writer at the cutting edge of what he does.
For Portico
“Portico is a thought-provoking thriller. I’m already casting the film version in my mind.” ★★★★★ Goodreads
“Pacy, thrilling, suspenseful and complex to keep your attention… this is a must-read for anyone who likes intelligently-written thrillers – political, techno, or otherwise.” ★★★★★ Amazon
“The best of this genre I have read for a long time.” ★★★★★ Amazon For The Illustrator's Daughter
“I finished this book and then went to give my children a big kiss and hug.” ★★★★★ Amazon
“A brilliant book. Couldn’t put it down.” ★★★★★ Amazon
"This book took my breath away. Absolutely couldn’t put it down. Beautifully written, it explores some hugely emotional issues with honesty and grace. Can absolutely recommend.” ★★★★★ Amazon
“Honest, heartbreaking and unputdownable.”★★★★★ Amazon For The Spiral
“Creepy and claustrophobic.” Andy MacDonald
"Recommended to all who love a bit of creeping dread in their lives." ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Amazon
"Another superb story from an emerging author." ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Amazon
The ferocious weather is doing everything it can to prevent her getting on with her day.
Then she's made an offer she can't refuse. A virtual reality shopping experience.
The man promises it will be quicker.
He assures her it will be cheaper.
He tells her it will be more convenient.
It seems the perfect solution to picking her kids up on time, despite the freezing hail and wind.
But all is not as it seems.
The weather is a portent of something more terrible to come. Virtual reality becomes the least of Rosa's challenges.
It could put everything she cares for at risk.
Would you take the virtual reality shop?
Or is it best to just say no? Dive into this futuristic thriller, and face some of the deepest questions about what you want your future to look like.
From the award winning author of Portico and The Illustrator's Daughter , comes a short book that shows this challenging writer at the cutting edge of what he does.
For Portico
“Portico is a thought-provoking thriller. I’m already casting the film version in my mind.” ★★★★★ Goodreads
“Pacy, thrilling, suspenseful and complex to keep your attention… this is a must-read for anyone who likes intelligently-written thrillers – political, techno, or otherwise.” ★★★★★ Amazon
“The best of this genre I have read for a long time.” ★★★★★ Amazon For The Illustrator's Daughter
“I finished this book and then went to give my children a big kiss and hug.” ★★★★★ Amazon
“A brilliant book. Couldn’t put it down.” ★★★★★ Amazon
"This book took my breath away. Absolutely couldn’t put it down. Beautifully written, it explores some hugely emotional issues with honesty and grace. Can absolutely recommend.” ★★★★★ Amazon
“Honest, heartbreaking and unputdownable.”★★★★★ Amazon For The Spiral
“Creepy and claustrophobic.” Andy MacDonald
"Recommended to all who love a bit of creeping dread in their lives." ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Amazon
"Another superb story from an emerging author." ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Amazon
104 pages, Paperback
Published September 19, 2021
4 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Gideon Burrows
33 books24 followersGideon Burrows is an award winning author of novels and non-fiction books that aim to make you uncomfortable, allow you recover, and then make you feel completely refreshed.
Or else guilty. Or exhilarated. Or maybe a combination of these things.
Like taking a cold shower.
His near future novels, including Future Shop and Portico, tackle the challenging world of the near future: how social media, the metaverse, virtual reality, multi-player games and more may be sending us to hell. You'll never let your kids on the internet again.
His contemporary novels, including The Illustrator's Daughter and The Spiral, are about families and individuals in difficult situations: whether facing brake-ups, illness, prejudice, mental health breakdown or domestic violence. Through challenging our fundamental believes and values, he aims to make every reader think about their own comfortable lives.
As G D Burrows, he writes action fiction about ninjas. Awesome ninjas, who wear cool ninja gowns, have high tech ninja weapons, and take on the bad guys with their super martial arts skills and techniques. Think James Bond or Jack Reacher – but in full ninja garb, and based in London's East End. That kind of thing.
Gideon is really interested in the future and new technology, as well as science and rationalism. He's written two non-fiction books on the metaverse, and three books on cancer, including This Book Won't Cure Your Cancer, challenging society's assumptions when it comes to the disease.
He trained as a journalist and spent 10 years writing for major UK newspapers and magazines, and then running a copywriting agency.
Gideon is married, lives in east London with three children, and hundreds of worms. He's a keen cyclist, a qualified cycle mechanic and his home office is Pret a Manger.
He loves travelling on trains, eating Indian and Chinese food, and might actually be a ninja at night.
Like everyone else in the world, he drinks lots of coffee and loves the smell of new, unsullied stationery.
Gideon loves giving stuff away.
You'll always find something free at his website, www.gideon-burrows.com, where you can also join his Reader's Club.
Or else guilty. Or exhilarated. Or maybe a combination of these things.
Like taking a cold shower.
His near future novels, including Future Shop and Portico, tackle the challenging world of the near future: how social media, the metaverse, virtual reality, multi-player games and more may be sending us to hell. You'll never let your kids on the internet again.
His contemporary novels, including The Illustrator's Daughter and The Spiral, are about families and individuals in difficult situations: whether facing brake-ups, illness, prejudice, mental health breakdown or domestic violence. Through challenging our fundamental believes and values, he aims to make every reader think about their own comfortable lives.
As G D Burrows, he writes action fiction about ninjas. Awesome ninjas, who wear cool ninja gowns, have high tech ninja weapons, and take on the bad guys with their super martial arts skills and techniques. Think James Bond or Jack Reacher – but in full ninja garb, and based in London's East End. That kind of thing.
Gideon is really interested in the future and new technology, as well as science and rationalism. He's written two non-fiction books on the metaverse, and three books on cancer, including This Book Won't Cure Your Cancer, challenging society's assumptions when it comes to the disease.
He trained as a journalist and spent 10 years writing for major UK newspapers and magazines, and then running a copywriting agency.
Gideon is married, lives in east London with three children, and hundreds of worms. He's a keen cyclist, a qualified cycle mechanic and his home office is Pret a Manger.
He loves travelling on trains, eating Indian and Chinese food, and might actually be a ninja at night.
Like everyone else in the world, he drinks lots of coffee and loves the smell of new, unsullied stationery.
Gideon loves giving stuff away.
You'll always find something free at his website, www.gideon-burrows.com, where you can also join his Reader's Club.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 21, 2022
Having read and enjoyed The Illustrator's Daughter by this author I was flattered to receive an email from him asking if I'd be interested in reading and reviewing Future Shop. I couldn't turn down a free book even though I probably wasn't the only one he contacted. So thank you Mr. Burrows!
This is the story of Rosa Bodran who agrees to test drive an automobile for two hours to do her grocery shopping and run some errands. Although I don't think it's mentioned at the beginning, the reader has to assume this takes place sometime in the future. I'm not a fan of science fiction but the events in this story could very possibly be par for the course in the not-so-distant future. Following Rosa's test drive she is interviewed about her experience not only with the futuristic vehicle but also with her virtual shopping trip. Without giving too much away, this story really makes you think about what's happening on our planet and what the future might entail.
This was a quick read, a little over 100 pages in length, and well written. I'm definitely interested in reading more from Gideon Burrows.
This is the story of Rosa Bodran who agrees to test drive an automobile for two hours to do her grocery shopping and run some errands. Although I don't think it's mentioned at the beginning, the reader has to assume this takes place sometime in the future. I'm not a fan of science fiction but the events in this story could very possibly be par for the course in the not-so-distant future. Following Rosa's test drive she is interviewed about her experience not only with the futuristic vehicle but also with her virtual shopping trip. Without giving too much away, this story really makes you think about what's happening on our planet and what the future might entail.
This was a quick read, a little over 100 pages in length, and well written. I'm definitely interested in reading more from Gideon Burrows.
June 3, 2022
After reading Locked In the author presented me with a copy of Future Shop for review. It turned out to be a completely different kind of book; in Locked In Burrows tackles a serious problem that affects a lot of people (hatred among different religious groups) and in Future Shop he tackles an even more serious subject: that of how humanity cannot survive much longer if we don't start taking care of Mother Earth.
In the first part of the book we read how a typical harried housewife (husband, three children) very kindly is allowed to take a wonderful new care for a trial run. The car has everything she wants and more. The weather is horrible and therefore she tries to save time to visit a supermarket she never saw before. It turns out that this is a virtual shopping experience, and your purchases will be delivered to your home pronto.
And so it begins... it looks wonderful but there are many things that just don't feel right.
In the second part of the book we read what really happened and why. And this is where the author very eloquently explains what happened with our world as a result of the climate changes. And it is not fun!
Luckily the author used a very engaging writing style instead of preaching fire and brimstone, so to say. It's all very clear and the explanation of what happened in the first part of the book is very believable.
This book would make a great subject for group reading and discussions!
In the first part of the book we read how a typical harried housewife (husband, three children) very kindly is allowed to take a wonderful new care for a trial run. The car has everything she wants and more. The weather is horrible and therefore she tries to save time to visit a supermarket she never saw before. It turns out that this is a virtual shopping experience, and your purchases will be delivered to your home pronto.
And so it begins... it looks wonderful but there are many things that just don't feel right.
In the second part of the book we read what really happened and why. And this is where the author very eloquently explains what happened with our world as a result of the climate changes. And it is not fun!
Luckily the author used a very engaging writing style instead of preaching fire and brimstone, so to say. It's all very clear and the explanation of what happened in the first part of the book is very believable.
This book would make a great subject for group reading and discussions!
September 12, 2022
I received a review copy for free from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Have you ever wondered how retailers snag you into purchases, to buy more than you intended or items you hadn't planned on purchasing?
This is a story of Rosa Bodran who volunteers to test drive an automobile for several hours - to do her daily errands. What happens during those several hours are several unexpected surprises.
Great short story - read it one afternoon at the lake - with a lesson on our shopping habits and how they can be influenced by retailers. Entertaining. Eye opening.
Have you ever wondered how retailers snag you into purchases, to buy more than you intended or items you hadn't planned on purchasing?
This is a story of Rosa Bodran who volunteers to test drive an automobile for several hours - to do her daily errands. What happens during those several hours are several unexpected surprises.
Great short story - read it one afternoon at the lake - with a lesson on our shopping habits and how they can be influenced by retailers. Entertaining. Eye opening.
November 12, 2022
Ah, online shopping. So convenient.
In this novella, cyberspace now allows shoppers to walk through a virtual supermarket, even to taste new offers.
After buying a self-driving car, housewife of two, Rosa, is delighted to be able to sample this new way of shopping. But there is a catch. Rosa is absolutely inundated with information, advice about products, and warnings. Buy this new wine, she is urged to do. Buy three bottles, there is a discount.
Or: don't buy that, Rosa is then told. Maybe she is becoming an alcoholic and needs help?
Don't buy that, workers are exploited in the country where these are produced.
These are experiences readers may be all-too familiar with, and egins to read a little too much like some kind of a satire.
There is a larger view of all this, as the telling reveals, and Rosa still has decisions to make.
Nice bit of Science Fiction for the Twenty-first Century.
In this novella, cyberspace now allows shoppers to walk through a virtual supermarket, even to taste new offers.
After buying a self-driving car, housewife of two, Rosa, is delighted to be able to sample this new way of shopping. But there is a catch. Rosa is absolutely inundated with information, advice about products, and warnings. Buy this new wine, she is urged to do. Buy three bottles, there is a discount.
Or: don't buy that, Rosa is then told. Maybe she is becoming an alcoholic and needs help?
Don't buy that, workers are exploited in the country where these are produced.
These are experiences readers may be all-too familiar with, and egins to read a little too much like some kind of a satire.
There is a larger view of all this, as the telling reveals, and Rosa still has decisions to make.
Nice bit of Science Fiction for the Twenty-first Century.
February 24, 2024
In science fiction, where the boundary between the conceivable and the fantastical blurs, Gideon Burrows' "Future Shop" emerges as a thought-provoking exploration of technology's impact on our lives. This innovative novella centred around Rosa Bodran's encounter with a seemingly miraculous virtual reality shopping experience offers a quick yet deeply engaging dive into the potential future of consumerism.
"Future Shop" is commendably concise, a feature that lends well to the modern reader's bustling lifestyle. I managed to devour the book in a single day, captivated by its brisk pace and the technological intrigue at its core. As a tech enthusiast, I found Burrows' depiction of virtual reality compelling and grounded in a reality that feels ominously within reach. The narrative cleverly uses VR as a lens through which to examine broader societal issues, making it particularly resonant for those of us intrigued by the intersection of technology and daily life.
The novella shines in its ability to provoke thought, culminating in an 'aha moment' that brilliantly ties together its thematic concerns. This moment of revelation serves as a testament to Burrows' storytelling prowess and invites readers to ponder the future they wish to inhabit. It's a rare gem that combines entertainment with meaningful commentary, challenging us to consider the consequences of our technological pursuits.
While "Future Shop" is a work I found little to critique, leading to a rating of 3.5 rounded down to a 3, this score reflects more on the subjective nature of ratings rather than any significant flaws within the book itself. The absence of drawbacks in my reading experience speaks volumes about Burrows' skill in crafting an engaging and seamless narrative.
"Future Shop" is not just a story about virtual reality shopping; it's a mirror held up to our society, reflecting our hopes, fears, and the potential dark side of our technological advancements. This book is a must-read for those who thrive on short, impactful reads that combine technology and suspense. It's a reminder of the power of speculative fiction to entertain and illuminate our path and the futures we might dare to imagine.
Overall, Gideon Burrows' "Future Shop" is a compelling narrative that marries technological intrigue with a fast-paced, thought-provoking plot. It's a vivid reminder of the double-edged sword technology represents, wrapped in a story that stays with you long after the final page. Whether you're a techie at heart or simply a lover of futuristic thrillers, "Future Shop" offers a glimpse into a world that might be around the corner, prompting us to question how we shop and how we live.
"Future Shop" is commendably concise, a feature that lends well to the modern reader's bustling lifestyle. I managed to devour the book in a single day, captivated by its brisk pace and the technological intrigue at its core. As a tech enthusiast, I found Burrows' depiction of virtual reality compelling and grounded in a reality that feels ominously within reach. The narrative cleverly uses VR as a lens through which to examine broader societal issues, making it particularly resonant for those of us intrigued by the intersection of technology and daily life.
The novella shines in its ability to provoke thought, culminating in an 'aha moment' that brilliantly ties together its thematic concerns. This moment of revelation serves as a testament to Burrows' storytelling prowess and invites readers to ponder the future they wish to inhabit. It's a rare gem that combines entertainment with meaningful commentary, challenging us to consider the consequences of our technological pursuits.
While "Future Shop" is a work I found little to critique, leading to a rating of 3.5 rounded down to a 3, this score reflects more on the subjective nature of ratings rather than any significant flaws within the book itself. The absence of drawbacks in my reading experience speaks volumes about Burrows' skill in crafting an engaging and seamless narrative.
"Future Shop" is not just a story about virtual reality shopping; it's a mirror held up to our society, reflecting our hopes, fears, and the potential dark side of our technological advancements. This book is a must-read for those who thrive on short, impactful reads that combine technology and suspense. It's a reminder of the power of speculative fiction to entertain and illuminate our path and the futures we might dare to imagine.
Overall, Gideon Burrows' "Future Shop" is a compelling narrative that marries technological intrigue with a fast-paced, thought-provoking plot. It's a vivid reminder of the double-edged sword technology represents, wrapped in a story that stays with you long after the final page. Whether you're a techie at heart or simply a lover of futuristic thrillers, "Future Shop" offers a glimpse into a world that might be around the corner, prompting us to question how we shop and how we live.
October 28, 2022
Interesting take on human nature and the choices we make. I couldn’t sleep last night so I thought I’d read this short story. Good story, but a bad idea for a nighttime read. It left me with a feeling of doom and gloom and wide awake. I recommend this book as I’d recommend the movie Don’t Look Up. It’s not comfortable, but maybe worth thinking about.
April 17, 2022
Rosa Bodran is in a hurry on a rainy day but is offered a great deal on a car and then a great shopping experience at a virtual grocery store. It turns out she is on a spaceship and is being shown how shoppers were manipulated on Earth.
January 28, 2024
3.5 rounded up. Overall I enjoyed the message and was surprised by the twist but the last couple pages felt preachy to me. Nice quick read if you’re in a rut and want something that’ll make you think!
May 30, 2024
I honestly didn't know what to expect but I was enthralled from start to finish! I also like the message and questions it raises.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews