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Replika: Sky's Mission
Reality is an illusion worth fighting for...
Earth’s ecological collapse is avoided when most of the world population agrees to permanently upload into Replika, a simulated reality maintained by the AI. But the stability of this world is threatened when a group of neuroscientists hack their own brains to interact with Replika in unforeseen and dangerous ways.
Sky devotes her life to rebuilding the real world left dysfunctional from the massive exodus into Replika. But when she learns her brother, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances, is in danger, she must choose which world needs her most. All she wants is to find the brother she loves, but she will unwittingly get entangled in an attempt to redefine the reality of humanity’s future.
With a strong cast of characters, REPLIKA is a wildly inventive and fast-paced sci-fi adventure that raises profound existential questions about the role of simulated reality in our foreseeable future.
Earth’s ecological collapse is avoided when most of the world population agrees to permanently upload into Replika, a simulated reality maintained by the AI. But the stability of this world is threatened when a group of neuroscientists hack their own brains to interact with Replika in unforeseen and dangerous ways.
Sky devotes her life to rebuilding the real world left dysfunctional from the massive exodus into Replika. But when she learns her brother, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances, is in danger, she must choose which world needs her most. All she wants is to find the brother she loves, but she will unwittingly get entangled in an attempt to redefine the reality of humanity’s future.
With a strong cast of characters, REPLIKA is a wildly inventive and fast-paced sci-fi adventure that raises profound existential questions about the role of simulated reality in our foreseeable future.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2022
37 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 9, 2023
REPLIKA: SKY’S MISSION by Hugo Bernard is about that popular science fiction topic of a simulated reality. We’re all familiar with The Matrix but it reminds me a lot more of The Thirteenth Floor, which is a less popular but more cerebral take on the subject. Replika addresses many of the issues of this and has a surprise twist at the end that I really should have seen coming.
The premise is a woman named Vi is a genius scientist, who is being stalked by a mysterious figure named Hugo. Hugo has access to a seemingly unlimited number of resources but can’t get access to what he really wants: a boy named Henry. We then discover Henry has already gotten beyond Hugo’s grasp by entering Replika.
The in-universe Replika is a massive Matrix meets Second Life meets Metaverse sort of place that also functions like the Hotel California: You can check out any time you like but you can never leave. As a means of preserving resources, humanity has stuck a huge chunk of their population in a perpetual virtual reality where the rest of mankind struggles to repair the environmentally damaged world. Whether it’s a brain upload or your body is stuck in a tube somewhere is unclear, but it is a permanent sign-up as your memory is erased of your previous life when you enter this digital afterlife.
Back in the “real” world, though, Sky is a young woman who has devoted herself to trying to heal the environmentally damaged world she lives in. The people who choose not to go into Replika are fanatics, of a sort, who disdain anything associated with the digital world even if it could be used to help them repair the planet. As Vi’s daughter, she has her own complicated feelings regarding Replika and misses her missing brother. A bad breakup brought about by smugglers convinces her that she should try to find her brother in Replika–but is it possible?
There’s a lot of twists and turns in this novel as we deal with questions of reality, recursive reality, and the purpose of life in general. Much is made of what they could have changed for society in the simulated universe and why the creators’ lacked imagination. Why not give people wings, make them immortal, or make a paradise for them to live in? Is not the struggle for things part of what motivates us to do anything, though?
I think this is a very solid dystopian science fiction novel with a lot of high concepts but not so much that it’s incomprehensible to readers just looking for a good time. I think it’s a very enjoyable book and people looking for something that taps into the concepts of our shared experience as human beings will enjoy it. How important is our life that we experience through fiction? Is the fact it’s fake something that renders it unimportant or is the meaning we take from it equally important? I look forward to reading more into it in the sequels as this was written as a trilogy. It’s also thankfully done so you can just pick up all three.
The premise is a woman named Vi is a genius scientist, who is being stalked by a mysterious figure named Hugo. Hugo has access to a seemingly unlimited number of resources but can’t get access to what he really wants: a boy named Henry. We then discover Henry has already gotten beyond Hugo’s grasp by entering Replika.
The in-universe Replika is a massive Matrix meets Second Life meets Metaverse sort of place that also functions like the Hotel California: You can check out any time you like but you can never leave. As a means of preserving resources, humanity has stuck a huge chunk of their population in a perpetual virtual reality where the rest of mankind struggles to repair the environmentally damaged world. Whether it’s a brain upload or your body is stuck in a tube somewhere is unclear, but it is a permanent sign-up as your memory is erased of your previous life when you enter this digital afterlife.
Back in the “real” world, though, Sky is a young woman who has devoted herself to trying to heal the environmentally damaged world she lives in. The people who choose not to go into Replika are fanatics, of a sort, who disdain anything associated with the digital world even if it could be used to help them repair the planet. As Vi’s daughter, she has her own complicated feelings regarding Replika and misses her missing brother. A bad breakup brought about by smugglers convinces her that she should try to find her brother in Replika–but is it possible?
There’s a lot of twists and turns in this novel as we deal with questions of reality, recursive reality, and the purpose of life in general. Much is made of what they could have changed for society in the simulated universe and why the creators’ lacked imagination. Why not give people wings, make them immortal, or make a paradise for them to live in? Is not the struggle for things part of what motivates us to do anything, though?
I think this is a very solid dystopian science fiction novel with a lot of high concepts but not so much that it’s incomprehensible to readers just looking for a good time. I think it’s a very enjoyable book and people looking for something that taps into the concepts of our shared experience as human beings will enjoy it. How important is our life that we experience through fiction? Is the fact it’s fake something that renders it unimportant or is the meaning we take from it equally important? I look forward to reading more into it in the sequels as this was written as a trilogy. It’s also thankfully done so you can just pick up all three.
March 8, 2022
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Before I jump into my thoughts, I want to emphasize here that my lack of enjoyment for this book was largely because I am probably not the target audience here. I don't read high-concept science fiction often, and when I do I often read books written for young adult and middle-grade readers.
The way I can best describe Replika: Sky's Mission is that it is conceptually compelling but narratively not to my taste. While I appreciated the themes explored (the possible future of AI among others), the worldbuilding, and the plot, I found myself for the most part uninterested due to the writing style and the pacing. I think I only got mildly invested once I was halfway through the book. There are huge chunks that are either too info-dumpy or spend too much time in the characters' heads. I liked the main characters Sky and Morgan, but it took a little too long for me to really care about them as characters. I felt that all the characters in general lacked any real depth or personality.
Again, I can imagine other readers (probably more experienced scifi readers of the geekier type) liking this much more than I did. Me not enjoying this is really just a me thing and not the author's.
Before I jump into my thoughts, I want to emphasize here that my lack of enjoyment for this book was largely because I am probably not the target audience here. I don't read high-concept science fiction often, and when I do I often read books written for young adult and middle-grade readers.
The way I can best describe Replika: Sky's Mission is that it is conceptually compelling but narratively not to my taste. While I appreciated the themes explored (the possible future of AI among others), the worldbuilding, and the plot, I found myself for the most part uninterested due to the writing style and the pacing. I think I only got mildly invested once I was halfway through the book. There are huge chunks that are either too info-dumpy or spend too much time in the characters' heads. I liked the main characters Sky and Morgan, but it took a little too long for me to really care about them as characters. I felt that all the characters in general lacked any real depth or personality.
Again, I can imagine other readers (probably more experienced scifi readers of the geekier type) liking this much more than I did. Me not enjoying this is really just a me thing and not the author's.
May 24, 2023
Interesting SciFi thriller. The basic scenario is similar to that of The Matrix. A generation or two into the future world governments have collaborated to upload most of the world’s population into a virtual reality, to protect what remains of the world’s natural resources, the environment, etc. Not everyone has agreed to follow this route and some remain, in relatively primitive conditions, trying to live a more natural life.
I won’t outline more of the plot because it’s a thriller which relies on twists and turns, uncertainty. Are there times when you’re not sure in which reality the participants are acting out the plot, ‘real’ or ‘virtual’? Yes. The participants themselves are often unaware of this dichotomy too. Hardly a surprise as this has surely to be the inevitable consequence of anything with a virtual reality core to the story, and is a key part of The Matrix movie.
This is volume one, and the second is already published. I will read it soon as I did enjoy the story. Which is an achievement in itself as I wasn’t feeling in top notch reading mood while I attempted this story but I did find it easy to pick up again and didn’t feel like leaving it unfinished. It pulled me back in with the quick pace. Being 260 pages helped in that regard too.
I appreciated the cleverness of the story, its detailed construction, without it being too confusing; good intelligent lead characters though it is one where the SciFi theme dominates over characterisations, but not overwhelmingly so.
I’m not sure it made one feel anymore thoughtful about reality than The Matrix movie did, and which inspired a thousand conspiracy theories about life! And some statements, to people entering the virtual world for the first time, “ You will remain you, without the memories”, are so wrong (as that’s pretty much what we are - our memories) that I was surprised this wasn’t picked up straightaway! Though it’s without doubt that the author recognises main character’s uncertainties about their history is a key plot point.
Plus side of 4*.
I won’t outline more of the plot because it’s a thriller which relies on twists and turns, uncertainty. Are there times when you’re not sure in which reality the participants are acting out the plot, ‘real’ or ‘virtual’? Yes. The participants themselves are often unaware of this dichotomy too. Hardly a surprise as this has surely to be the inevitable consequence of anything with a virtual reality core to the story, and is a key part of The Matrix movie.
This is volume one, and the second is already published. I will read it soon as I did enjoy the story. Which is an achievement in itself as I wasn’t feeling in top notch reading mood while I attempted this story but I did find it easy to pick up again and didn’t feel like leaving it unfinished. It pulled me back in with the quick pace. Being 260 pages helped in that regard too.
I appreciated the cleverness of the story, its detailed construction, without it being too confusing; good intelligent lead characters though it is one where the SciFi theme dominates over characterisations, but not overwhelmingly so.
I’m not sure it made one feel anymore thoughtful about reality than The Matrix movie did, and which inspired a thousand conspiracy theories about life! And some statements, to people entering the virtual world for the first time, “ You will remain you, without the memories”, are so wrong (as that’s pretty much what we are - our memories) that I was surprised this wasn’t picked up straightaway! Though it’s without doubt that the author recognises main character’s uncertainties about their history is a key plot point.
Plus side of 4*.
September 6, 2022
‘Earth’s ecological collapse is avoided when most of the world population agrees to permanently upload into Replika, a simulated reality maintained by the AI.’
Good idea, I thought. The definition of ‘ecological’ comes from the science of ecology, and I quote: “The science of ecology is concerned with the interactions of organisms, communities of life, populations and landscapes with respect to the non-biological environment.” Since a large part of the book contains references to a time, hundreds of years from now fact, that the earth was almost unlivable as a result of floods and storms, I cannot quite understand why it says that the ecological collapse was avoided.
Still, a good idea. Uploading the human mind in a supercomputer or network is also not a new idea so I was curious how the author would work this out. For me, not as good as I had hoped. There were too many shifts in time and perspective, and it took me a long time to understand what was happening to whom. There was a lot of talking sometimes and at other places too much action, so the story felt unbalanced. Because of this I had to decide to not to finish the book.
I think this book could have been ‘better’ than it was for me now, but I think this is also dependent on your age and how much dystopian/sf ideas/books you are familiar with. Maybe I’ve read enough to be not easily satisfied.
Good idea, I thought. The definition of ‘ecological’ comes from the science of ecology, and I quote: “The science of ecology is concerned with the interactions of organisms, communities of life, populations and landscapes with respect to the non-biological environment.” Since a large part of the book contains references to a time, hundreds of years from now fact, that the earth was almost unlivable as a result of floods and storms, I cannot quite understand why it says that the ecological collapse was avoided.
Still, a good idea. Uploading the human mind in a supercomputer or network is also not a new idea so I was curious how the author would work this out. For me, not as good as I had hoped. There were too many shifts in time and perspective, and it took me a long time to understand what was happening to whom. There was a lot of talking sometimes and at other places too much action, so the story felt unbalanced. Because of this I had to decide to not to finish the book.
I think this book could have been ‘better’ than it was for me now, but I think this is also dependent on your age and how much dystopian/sf ideas/books you are familiar with. Maybe I’ve read enough to be not easily satisfied.
June 17, 2022
Replika is the kind of book that rewards the slow and careful reader. It’s like the Matrix reimagined as a thoughtful sci-fi drama rather than a shoot-em-up techno thriller.
The multiple POV characters are each interesting, complex, and sympathetic in their own ways and their stories weave together expertly.
While this isn’t a guns-blazing action thriller type of tale, I was riveted by the slow-burn suspense as the secrets of this world were revealed. Bernard is a wonderful story teller with a great eye for detail and the nuances of human relationships.
Replika is easily one of the best cyberpunk books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to read the next book and see where he takes this story!
The multiple POV characters are each interesting, complex, and sympathetic in their own ways and their stories weave together expertly.
While this isn’t a guns-blazing action thriller type of tale, I was riveted by the slow-burn suspense as the secrets of this world were revealed. Bernard is a wonderful story teller with a great eye for detail and the nuances of human relationships.
Replika is easily one of the best cyberpunk books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to read the next book and see where he takes this story!
dnf
November 26, 2023I read 30% of Replika as a judge for SPSFC3 ; my opinion is my own and other team members opinions may vary.
Personally this was not a book that excited me. I wasn't invested in the characters nor their storylines. It is obviously a book that needs to be read more than an initial 30% as I was left wondering what and where each character arc was going to go. This will be a No from me to move into the next phase.
Personally this was not a book that excited me. I wasn't invested in the characters nor their storylines. It is obviously a book that needs to be read more than an initial 30% as I was left wondering what and where each character arc was going to go. This will be a No from me to move into the next phase.
March 25, 2022
Modern! Fast-paced! Riveting! Suspenseful! Chilling! Complex! This book brings it ALL! It was an artful melding of twisted psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense. THIS is how you start a new series and leave your readers anxiously awaiting the next one!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Read
September 22, 2023I am one of the judges of team Space Girls for the SPSFC3 contest, this review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.
Status: Pending
Reached 32% of the novel
At 1/3 of the novel, the book is okay, but kind of scattered. I think I view it with a much harsher lens because I live in a Latin American country, so I find some of the behaviors and decisions of the characters to be odd, to say it bluntly.
If I could comp this book from what I have read so far, it would be a mixture between The Matrix, an early 2000s anime called Last Exile and oddly enough, the Zombieland film. I was expecting a heavy Matrix influence, and chapter 1 (which I found to be written really well) gives strong vibes in this respect. The book even hints this is a Soylent Green future where deceased humans are fed to the living, or at least those that are hooked to the Replika cyberworld.
One thing we don't know about this novel is how far into the future this story takes place. While this might seem like a convenient scapegoat, the mannerisms of the characters and fact US cities remain with the same names makes it feel like this is a future that took place pretty much today. It's like the typical zombie story where nobody knows how to make bullets or posess very useful basic wilderness survival skills (but aren't shy about shooting guns for trivialities). Meanwhile, everyone can understand English and seem quite lost without even the remotest pleasures of modern living. I have lived in a rural region of a developing country for around 15 years, where half of that time was in houses without the modern urban concept of running water. I never felt half as lost as the majority of characters of this book. People seem like zombies dragging their feet to the Soylent Green food center. It's kind of disconcerting at times. Hard to believe everyone forgot how to rebuild cities even though the world catastrophe happened possibly centuries ago. All this while the Replika dreamworld and advanced brain hacking technology exists and plenty of laymen know how to use it.
I don't know exactly what to say about that. It seems like the book had some good ideas, but didn't quite know what to do with the worldbuilding and opted for emulating a zombie flick. The role of Mexico's surprising prosperity not being enticing enough for folk to move there also felt kind of odd. A part of me would have liked the central story to have happened there. Like a sort of what if alternate future. Oh, and do the characters travel in rickshaws? I suppose it makes sense that most large animals like horses are rare from pollution, but it seems odd nobody rides bikes anymore.
For a book that is supposed to be about the dangers of a cybernetic dreamworld being the front stage of the plot, it is rather odd that none of the main cast have gotten inside of it 1/3 into the story. There is certainly a great mystery being agonizingly slowly unfurled. To create tension, the book purposely retains common sense knowledge that would avoid the cast undue problems. Plenty of readers will not be very happy about having to wait forever for pieces of the puzzle that could have been mentioned earlier.
From the positive reviews, I am giving it the benefit of the doubt the book gets better and the mystery is worthwhile. But I remain kind of iffy about it.
Status: Pending
Reached 32% of the novel
At 1/3 of the novel, the book is okay, but kind of scattered. I think I view it with a much harsher lens because I live in a Latin American country, so I find some of the behaviors and decisions of the characters to be odd, to say it bluntly.
If I could comp this book from what I have read so far, it would be a mixture between The Matrix, an early 2000s anime called Last Exile and oddly enough, the Zombieland film. I was expecting a heavy Matrix influence, and chapter 1 (which I found to be written really well) gives strong vibes in this respect. The book even hints this is a Soylent Green future where deceased humans are fed to the living, or at least those that are hooked to the Replika cyberworld.
One thing we don't know about this novel is how far into the future this story takes place. While this might seem like a convenient scapegoat, the mannerisms of the characters and fact US cities remain with the same names makes it feel like this is a future that took place pretty much today. It's like the typical zombie story where nobody knows how to make bullets or posess very useful basic wilderness survival skills (but aren't shy about shooting guns for trivialities). Meanwhile, everyone can understand English and seem quite lost without even the remotest pleasures of modern living. I have lived in a rural region of a developing country for around 15 years, where half of that time was in houses without the modern urban concept of running water. I never felt half as lost as the majority of characters of this book. People seem like zombies dragging their feet to the Soylent Green food center. It's kind of disconcerting at times. Hard to believe everyone forgot how to rebuild cities even though the world catastrophe happened possibly centuries ago. All this while the Replika dreamworld and advanced brain hacking technology exists and plenty of laymen know how to use it.
I don't know exactly what to say about that. It seems like the book had some good ideas, but didn't quite know what to do with the worldbuilding and opted for emulating a zombie flick. The role of Mexico's surprising prosperity not being enticing enough for folk to move there also felt kind of odd. A part of me would have liked the central story to have happened there. Like a sort of what if alternate future. Oh, and do the characters travel in rickshaws? I suppose it makes sense that most large animals like horses are rare from pollution, but it seems odd nobody rides bikes anymore.
For a book that is supposed to be about the dangers of a cybernetic dreamworld being the front stage of the plot, it is rather odd that none of the main cast have gotten inside of it 1/3 into the story. There is certainly a great mystery being agonizingly slowly unfurled. To create tension, the book purposely retains common sense knowledge that would avoid the cast undue problems. Plenty of readers will not be very happy about having to wait forever for pieces of the puzzle that could have been mentioned earlier.
From the positive reviews, I am giving it the benefit of the doubt the book gets better and the mystery is worthwhile. But I remain kind of iffy about it.
March 23, 2022
Replika is a well written dystopian Sci-fi which touches on a lot of the current discourse. The impacts of climate change and the meta verse are predicted, creating a world where many people choose to live in a virtual reality to help reduce their impact on the planet.
Replika is a bit more high brow than what I normally read, but I follow the author on social media and wanted to give it a read based on the author being a nice guy. The writing is very tight and there is plenty of well described action, which I enjoyed. There are possibly too many POVs overall and this was unfortunate as while I bought in to the main characters story, I found myself not knowing enough about some of the POVs to get invested in their chapters.
Over all this is an excellently written self published book and I think that anyone who enjoys high concept Sci-fi such as 'Altered Carbon' will enjoy this book.
Replika is a bit more high brow than what I normally read, but I follow the author on social media and wanted to give it a read based on the author being a nice guy. The writing is very tight and there is plenty of well described action, which I enjoyed. There are possibly too many POVs overall and this was unfortunate as while I bought in to the main characters story, I found myself not knowing enough about some of the POVs to get invested in their chapters.
Over all this is an excellently written self published book and I think that anyone who enjoys high concept Sci-fi such as 'Altered Carbon' will enjoy this book.
March 26, 2022
Received as a review copy from Booksirens, this an honest review. Replika was kinda an odd read because I enjoyed how illusionary world as introduced through the eyes of Gerold that feels truly alien with so much potential for these entering Replika. It's once we get into the journey meet Sky and come to understand the dangers of Replika that I felt no longer engaged with the story. The characters were okay but I thought that if the author has kept the story being about Gerold and this time in Replika the story would have worked out better for me.
July 19, 2022
This was a great read. We find ourselves in a desolate world where most of humanity have turned their back on reality and instead focused their efforts to a life of blissful servitude in a simulation that is far more appealing (or so it seems). This concept will no doubt be part of the cultural zeitgeist in the next twenty to thirty years—watch this space.
On the outside you have a family of revolutionaries who seem to have spent many years trying to destroy the simulation and free humanity, however… one of the most compelling parts of this story is the fact that the revolutionaries themselves seemed to be at the mercy of their own apathy towards their goal, and not everyone seems to have the same ideal outcome.
Another interesting element is the character Sky, who is torn between fulfilling the wishes of her mother, and finding her brother (who is inside the simulation). Watching Sky grow to be her own woman with her own agency was a real joy to witness.
One last thing, I liked the parallels of the group ‘red scarves’ serving as a fictional version of the jaune gilets protestors in France from 2018 to 2020.
Overall a fantastic read, and one I highly recommend.
On the outside you have a family of revolutionaries who seem to have spent many years trying to destroy the simulation and free humanity, however… one of the most compelling parts of this story is the fact that the revolutionaries themselves seemed to be at the mercy of their own apathy towards their goal, and not everyone seems to have the same ideal outcome.
Another interesting element is the character Sky, who is torn between fulfilling the wishes of her mother, and finding her brother (who is inside the simulation). Watching Sky grow to be her own woman with her own agency was a real joy to witness.
One last thing, I liked the parallels of the group ‘red scarves’ serving as a fictional version of the jaune gilets protestors in France from 2018 to 2020.
Overall a fantastic read, and one I highly recommend.
May 1, 2022
This was quite a surprising book! I really enjoyed the basic premise, and I felt like the author did do a great job of building the world. The twists and turns were enough of a surprise to keep me interested, but laid out well enough that I could see where they came from. There are still plenty of mysteries to explore as the series goes on, and I definitely will be keeping up with this series!
Where the book fell flat for me is that...it felt like not a lot actually happened, in regards to the larger plot. This was very much a setup novel, and it did very well at setting up! But I felt like it could have been expanded a bit, answered some of the bigger mysteries lurking around.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, in exchange for an honest review.
Where the book fell flat for me is that...it felt like not a lot actually happened, in regards to the larger plot. This was very much a setup novel, and it did very well at setting up! But I felt like it could have been expanded a bit, answered some of the bigger mysteries lurking around.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2022
Replika was an interesting book with alternating chapters of viewpoints. Having these alternating POVs really helped move the book forward. Replika taking place partially within a simulated Reality was also interesting and was the most realistic simulated reality I ever read about.
I had a hard time getting attached to all the characters and it felt like I was missing something in regards to Sky especially. Also the plot got a bit confusing at the end but neither of those things ruined the experience for me.
There were also some cool plot twists regarding Replika that I didn’t see coming that I don’t want to spoil here.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had a hard time getting attached to all the characters and it felt like I was missing something in regards to Sky especially. Also the plot got a bit confusing at the end but neither of those things ruined the experience for me.
There were also some cool plot twists regarding Replika that I didn’t see coming that I don’t want to spoil here.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 3, 2022
This book is a cerebral delight! At first I was wary that this book would be too Matrix-y, but I'm glad it wasn't!
In Sky's world, there are certain truths: the world has essentially been decimated; people are "reborn" into a simulated reality (known as Replika) to minimize further demands on the environment; and she would do anything for the brother she loves who was stolen away from her, including going into Replika.
But nothing is as it seems. How is she to remember her brother when people are stripped of their memories when they enter Replika? But her genius-scientist mother says she knows a way, and if Sky doesn't go into Replika, her brother will be killed.
Overall a fantastic read! I enjoyed the expected tropes (desolation of the planet; mankind turning to AI for salvation; an evil genius), but I truly enjoyed the question: how far can this hall of mirrors go?
I'm looking forward to the sequel!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
In Sky's world, there are certain truths: the world has essentially been decimated; people are "reborn" into a simulated reality (known as Replika) to minimize further demands on the environment; and she would do anything for the brother she loves who was stolen away from her, including going into Replika.
But nothing is as it seems. How is she to remember her brother when people are stripped of their memories when they enter Replika? But her genius-scientist mother says she knows a way, and if Sky doesn't go into Replika, her brother will be killed.
Overall a fantastic read! I enjoyed the expected tropes (desolation of the planet; mankind turning to AI for salvation; an evil genius), but I truly enjoyed the question: how far can this hall of mirrors go?
I'm looking forward to the sequel!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
May 8, 2024
An interesting virtual world sci-fi thriller.
Some interesting characters and effects.
I am interested in reading book 2 to see where this goes.
Some interesting characters and effects.
I am interested in reading book 2 to see where this goes.
June 19, 2022
I enjoyed the dystopian worlds that Hugo Bernard created for his characters to navigate and survive. I've pre-ordered the sequel.
January 26, 2022
“The arithmetic of suffering was not an easy matter to resolve.”
Replika: Sky’s Mission by Hugo Bernard is a post-apocalyptic SF novel centered on one alternative: will characters remain in their current life and try to improve (or merely endure) it, or will they enter Replika, a worldwide simulation that was balanced long ago with just the right parameters to mimic human existence while making it more bearable? With a tight cast of characters—who at times double due to their having separate existences inside and outside of the simulation—a great balance of action, drama, and philosophy, and excellent narration, Bernard’s book is an outstanding contribution to the SF genre.
Replika: Sky's Mission is primarily a story about parents and children. The drama between the younger characters, foremost of whom is mid-20s Sky, and the older, wiser scientists Omar and Sky’s mother, Vi, comprises much of the book’s tension, with the latter contrasting Sky’s reactionary opposition to technology with their own ambivalent nuance. Having lived their lives around and in some initially unclear ways contributed to Replika, Omar and Vi have learned the boons and threats of tech and human nature, and they’ve learned what science can and cannot do—hopefully not too late. This leads to the book’s central conflict (and the upcoming trilogy at large): the attempt to send Sky into Replika to somehow contact her brother, Hugo, and attempt to bring down the whole simulation.
Furthermore, the book’s deuteragonist, Morgan, whose connection to the others is initially unclear, must himself choose between the future he wants with his reporter girlfriend Aviva and his obligations to his bedridden mother. This choice becomes paramount when a terrorist attack on Paris causes France—and Aviva reporting there—to go silent. Like many intergenerational stories, both Sky’s and Morgan’s conflicts involve themes of duty, unfulfilled expectations, and resentment between parents and kids. The questions regarding what the parent generation is obligated to leave the next is made more complex by Replika—and its paired promise of bliss and dereliction of life in the real world—being part of the equation.
Besides being a good story, Replika: Sky’s Mission is very well-written. The first aspect of Replika that stood out to me was its worldbuilding. Set long after a climate-related but generally undefined apocalypse, the world outside Replika is filled with ruined buildings, overgrown forests, migratory sand dunes, and suspect water sources, the descriptions of which are always given in relation to the humans (and psychology thereof) that have somehow survived.
Furthermore, rather than use the story’s premise as an excuse to describe fantastic worlds, as other simulation-based books do (to be sure, Bernard does this, though not gratuitously), the author keeps a solid focus on those outside of Replika. This creates a salutary suspense about what Sky’s experience will actually be like once she enters Replika, where all her memories will be removed when she will be given a new life.
When the story actually does enter Replika, the transition is so subtle that one learns the story has already described several scenes from within the simulation. The blurring of the lines between inside and outside of the simulation mimics well the experience of the characters, and it added an unsettling but not unpleasant depth to the plot. I don’t know if Bernard had Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation or his critique of The Matrix movies in mind (I, myself, only know of either through hearsay and summaries), but Replika: Sky’s Mission reminded me of what I know of Baudrillard’s work (I’ll refrain from elaborating to avoid spoilers, but iykyk).
More technically, too, Replika holds up. The close-third-person narrator rarely, if ever, intrudes in the explanations of characters and their motives, and it offers a good amount of humor and irony, depending on the character. Furthermore—and one of my favorite aspects of the book—the flow and phrasing of the prose was both varied and well-paced. Bernard’s choice of analogies is also excellent, with his unstrained metaphors rarely, if ever, feeling like narrative intrusion.
Though Replika: Sky’s Mission is first in a trilogy, the tension of its conflict is resolved without the book’s feeling unfinished, and there are several threads and hints to be taken up in the sequel. For now, I’ll recommend the first installment to fans of simulation-based SF, and I plan to read (and hopefully review) the second as soon as it’s available.
(*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary digital copy of the book for review).
Replika: Sky’s Mission by Hugo Bernard is a post-apocalyptic SF novel centered on one alternative: will characters remain in their current life and try to improve (or merely endure) it, or will they enter Replika, a worldwide simulation that was balanced long ago with just the right parameters to mimic human existence while making it more bearable? With a tight cast of characters—who at times double due to their having separate existences inside and outside of the simulation—a great balance of action, drama, and philosophy, and excellent narration, Bernard’s book is an outstanding contribution to the SF genre.
Replika: Sky's Mission is primarily a story about parents and children. The drama between the younger characters, foremost of whom is mid-20s Sky, and the older, wiser scientists Omar and Sky’s mother, Vi, comprises much of the book’s tension, with the latter contrasting Sky’s reactionary opposition to technology with their own ambivalent nuance. Having lived their lives around and in some initially unclear ways contributed to Replika, Omar and Vi have learned the boons and threats of tech and human nature, and they’ve learned what science can and cannot do—hopefully not too late. This leads to the book’s central conflict (and the upcoming trilogy at large): the attempt to send Sky into Replika to somehow contact her brother, Hugo, and attempt to bring down the whole simulation.
Furthermore, the book’s deuteragonist, Morgan, whose connection to the others is initially unclear, must himself choose between the future he wants with his reporter girlfriend Aviva and his obligations to his bedridden mother. This choice becomes paramount when a terrorist attack on Paris causes France—and Aviva reporting there—to go silent. Like many intergenerational stories, both Sky’s and Morgan’s conflicts involve themes of duty, unfulfilled expectations, and resentment between parents and kids. The questions regarding what the parent generation is obligated to leave the next is made more complex by Replika—and its paired promise of bliss and dereliction of life in the real world—being part of the equation.
Besides being a good story, Replika: Sky’s Mission is very well-written. The first aspect of Replika that stood out to me was its worldbuilding. Set long after a climate-related but generally undefined apocalypse, the world outside Replika is filled with ruined buildings, overgrown forests, migratory sand dunes, and suspect water sources, the descriptions of which are always given in relation to the humans (and psychology thereof) that have somehow survived.
Furthermore, rather than use the story’s premise as an excuse to describe fantastic worlds, as other simulation-based books do (to be sure, Bernard does this, though not gratuitously), the author keeps a solid focus on those outside of Replika. This creates a salutary suspense about what Sky’s experience will actually be like once she enters Replika, where all her memories will be removed when she will be given a new life.
When the story actually does enter Replika, the transition is so subtle that one learns the story has already described several scenes from within the simulation. The blurring of the lines between inside and outside of the simulation mimics well the experience of the characters, and it added an unsettling but not unpleasant depth to the plot. I don’t know if Bernard had Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation or his critique of The Matrix movies in mind (I, myself, only know of either through hearsay and summaries), but Replika: Sky’s Mission reminded me of what I know of Baudrillard’s work (I’ll refrain from elaborating to avoid spoilers, but iykyk).
More technically, too, Replika holds up. The close-third-person narrator rarely, if ever, intrudes in the explanations of characters and their motives, and it offers a good amount of humor and irony, depending on the character. Furthermore—and one of my favorite aspects of the book—the flow and phrasing of the prose was both varied and well-paced. Bernard’s choice of analogies is also excellent, with his unstrained metaphors rarely, if ever, feeling like narrative intrusion.
Though Replika: Sky’s Mission is first in a trilogy, the tension of its conflict is resolved without the book’s feeling unfinished, and there are several threads and hints to be taken up in the sequel. For now, I’ll recommend the first installment to fans of simulation-based SF, and I plan to read (and hopefully review) the second as soon as it’s available.
(*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary digital copy of the book for review).
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May 3, 2022I enjoyed rereading myself for the n-th time. I do see some faults with this, but I'm satisfied with what I did here. Thanks for reading!
May 12, 2022
This was a really well done sci-fi novel and I had a lot of fun reading this. It did what a opening to a book should do, it introduced the characters and the world that they lived in.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 2, 2023
Ideas come easy. Turning them into good stories is the straw-to-gold challenge. Fantasy building blocks lay about our civilization like legos on a kid's floor. On our shelves, across our t-shirts, in our kindles, movies and songs. It's all standardized: magic rings and dragons, wastelands of haunted ruins, temple where wise oracles answer in riddles, super villains opposed by plucky female reporters, virtual realities and the Neo's who see beyond the Veil of Code...
As said: to take those blocks and create an original story is the challenge. Replika gets there.
This is a noirish multiple point-of-view adventure that doesn't descend to fortune-cookie wisdom in self-belief or destiny. No electronic remake of Eastern Wisdom, distilled. It keeps the primary focus on giving the reader a good mystery and dark adventure. Sure, it starts out in Matrix-land, - and then does right what so many VR tales do wrong (including all those awful Matrix sequels).
The challenge for a writer describing a virtual reality adventure, is not to make it seem real; but to make the reader CARE. To put the reader in the dream. That requires that the characters themselves care. Bernard's characters do just that, and it is their redeeming quality. They are all at war on several fronts, in multiple realities. Some of those battle fronts are inside themselves.
I knew I was going to like 'Replika' when I read how in the virtual world the Fakes (the AI-generated people) could distinguish real people from their fellow Fakes, but when formally tested, always failed; as they were programmed to behave like real people; including human failures.
There is good writing here; excellent plotting. Mr. Bernard has not given us characters we instantly love; but we come to identify with their struggle to find out what is important, what is real. And just who, exactly is real?
Exactly what we worry about surfing the net, driving in traffic, staring in the bathroom mirror.
Replika #1: a clever, adventurous, and very REAL story.
As said: to take those blocks and create an original story is the challenge. Replika gets there.
This is a noirish multiple point-of-view adventure that doesn't descend to fortune-cookie wisdom in self-belief or destiny. No electronic remake of Eastern Wisdom, distilled. It keeps the primary focus on giving the reader a good mystery and dark adventure. Sure, it starts out in Matrix-land, - and then does right what so many VR tales do wrong (including all those awful Matrix sequels).
The challenge for a writer describing a virtual reality adventure, is not to make it seem real; but to make the reader CARE. To put the reader in the dream. That requires that the characters themselves care. Bernard's characters do just that, and it is their redeeming quality. They are all at war on several fronts, in multiple realities. Some of those battle fronts are inside themselves.
I knew I was going to like 'Replika' when I read how in the virtual world the Fakes (the AI-generated people) could distinguish real people from their fellow Fakes, but when formally tested, always failed; as they were programmed to behave like real people; including human failures.
There is good writing here; excellent plotting. Mr. Bernard has not given us characters we instantly love; but we come to identify with their struggle to find out what is important, what is real. And just who, exactly is real?
Exactly what we worry about surfing the net, driving in traffic, staring in the bathroom mirror.
Replika #1: a clever, adventurous, and very REAL story.
March 8, 2025
The science fiction novel "Replika: Sky's Mission" by Hugo Bernard delves into the concept of simulated reality within a future context where most individuals have transferred their consciousness into Replika. The narrative centers on Vi's quest to locate her absent brother, Henry, while simultaneously revealing profound truths regarding Replika. The narrative explores intricate themes such as the nature of reality, the concept of free will, and the intricacies of the human condition, all conveyed through multifaceted characters and unexpected plot developments. This prompts a profound inquiry into the extent to which individuals might prefer a simulated existence over an authentic one, particularly in conserving resources for future generations' benefit. The narrative delves into the intricacies of existence, the nature of recursive realities, and the quest for meaning articulated through multifaceted characters and intricate plot developments. It further explores inquiries regarding potential alterations that could have benefited society within the simulated universe and examines the apparent limitations of its creators' imagination.
Readers are engaged in a cerebral exercise as they traverse through various perspectives, each presenting distinct narratives that intricately interlace. The author's meticulous attention to detail and sophisticated depiction of human relationships render this a compelling and intellectually stimulating sci-fi thriller. The author skillfully constructs an engaging world that remains accessible and not overly intricate or daunting. It unfolds gradually, with revelations emerging in a measured manner. The emphasis lies significantly on character development and philosophical themes rather than on an abundance of action. Some plot twists were anticipated, while others offered delightful surprises. In summary, "Replika" is a remarkable self-published novel that delves into sophisticated concepts with eloquence and engagement, offering a stimulating experience for science fiction enthusiasts and philosophical discourse.
Readers are engaged in a cerebral exercise as they traverse through various perspectives, each presenting distinct narratives that intricately interlace. The author's meticulous attention to detail and sophisticated depiction of human relationships render this a compelling and intellectually stimulating sci-fi thriller. The author skillfully constructs an engaging world that remains accessible and not overly intricate or daunting. It unfolds gradually, with revelations emerging in a measured manner. The emphasis lies significantly on character development and philosophical themes rather than on an abundance of action. Some plot twists were anticipated, while others offered delightful surprises. In summary, "Replika" is a remarkable self-published novel that delves into sophisticated concepts with eloquence and engagement, offering a stimulating experience for science fiction enthusiasts and philosophical discourse.
December 16, 2024
A dark dystopian near future mystery which promises more than it delivers. This book reads like it was intentionally written as the first in a series. Rather than one plot which becomes complex, I found it unnecessarily convoluted with much hinted at with the obvious intention of being revealed later. I was expecting Vi and her brother to be the main characters but they weren’t really a the main mystery of this novel only progressed in the latter half of the book. That was an agonising long wait for this impatient reader. But I finished this book and that’s not something I bother with if I really don’t like it.
Yes, it’s an interesting idea that people would willingly uploading themselves into a VR world as it’s been the plot of numerous books, movies etc. But, unfortunately, life in this VR was not that interesting. The grittiness of the real world cities felt realistic but the rest seems like a mishmash of cobbled together ideas. There are just too many missing pieces in this world for me to feel like I was transported there. I think the book would have benefited from more research in how life works without technology. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I can’t highly recommend this book but feel the series has potential.
Yes, it’s an interesting idea that people would willingly uploading themselves into a VR world as it’s been the plot of numerous books, movies etc. But, unfortunately, life in this VR was not that interesting. The grittiness of the real world cities felt realistic but the rest seems like a mishmash of cobbled together ideas. There are just too many missing pieces in this world for me to feel like I was transported there. I think the book would have benefited from more research in how life works without technology. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I can’t highly recommend this book but feel the series has potential.
November 25, 2024
The single best piece of fiction I’ve ever read. Still think about this book and it’s been a year.
April 26, 2023
More like a prologue…
So, the world building here is very good. The story was interesting and well written. The problem is this is in no way a complete story. I get that you want to start a series but book one still needs to tell a full and satisfying story.
So, the world building here is very good. The story was interesting and well written. The problem is this is in no way a complete story. I get that you want to start a series but book one still needs to tell a full and satisfying story.
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