What is the title of this Science Fiction book I read many years ago?
November 22, 2010 5:26 PM Subscribe
I'm trying to find the title of a specific Science Fiction book with a pre-Matrix "everyone is living in a computer simulation" plot.
I think I read this more than 15 years ago, although I could be wrong about that. What I remember about it:
1) A woman learns that she can teleport and do all kinds of other strange stuff. Eventually she meets a man who can do the same thing.
2) They eventually learn that everyone now lives in a computer simulation, and that some other people also know this and have taken on the role of programmers. The programmers find them, ask them to stop using up so much processing power, and invite them to join.
3) One of the programmers is working on recreating food. He is currently working on cheese, and will claim to have cloned a cow if he succeeds, at which point he expects to get the Medal of Honor from the French.
4) Sainte-Chapelle is an important place for the characters.
5) Towards the end of the book, the woman finds out that some green scuzz is growing on the solar panels in the real world (all the plants were supposed to be dead), and has to operate a Waldo to clean them off. They realize that the world is probably doomed, and may have been a bad idea even if it isn't.
Sound familiar to anyone?
I think I read this more than 15 years ago, although I could be wrong about that. What I remember about it:
1) A woman learns that she can teleport and do all kinds of other strange stuff. Eventually she meets a man who can do the same thing.
2) They eventually learn that everyone now lives in a computer simulation, and that some other people also know this and have taken on the role of programmers. The programmers find them, ask them to stop using up so much processing power, and invite them to join.
3) One of the programmers is working on recreating food. He is currently working on cheese, and will claim to have cloned a cow if he succeeds, at which point he expects to get the Medal of Honor from the French.
4) Sainte-Chapelle is an important place for the characters.
5) Towards the end of the book, the woman finds out that some green scuzz is growing on the solar panels in the real world (all the plants were supposed to be dead), and has to operate a Waldo to clean them off. They realize that the world is probably doomed, and may have been a bad idea even if it isn't.
Sound familiar to anyone?
More:
"Lydian and Merle rendezvous in Paris, where they fall in love (some things don't change). Then it's back to the Bay Area and on to other locales. Travel is easy in the 29th century, especially if you're Merle and have the ability to transport yourself instantly wherever you like. He also possesses the unique power to change shape at will, as well as to summon physical objects out of nowhere. But even as she is learning to do these things herself, Lydian points out that none of it makes sense. Shape-shifting doesn't correspond to the laws of physics, and you can't summon chocolate doughnuts (which they do) out of nowhere. And Merle has no explanation. But the author does, and it's chilling, seamless and intelligent. To explain it, though, would destroy the suspense of the novel, and the revelation is worth the wait."
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:43 PM on November 22, 2010
"Lydian and Merle rendezvous in Paris, where they fall in love (some things don't change). Then it's back to the Bay Area and on to other locales. Travel is easy in the 29th century, especially if you're Merle and have the ability to transport yourself instantly wherever you like. He also possesses the unique power to change shape at will, as well as to summon physical objects out of nowhere. But even as she is learning to do these things herself, Lydian points out that none of it makes sense. Shape-shifting doesn't correspond to the laws of physics, and you can't summon chocolate doughnuts (which they do) out of nowhere. And Merle has no explanation. But the author does, and it's chilling, seamless and intelligent. To explain it, though, would destroy the suspense of the novel, and the revelation is worth the wait."
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:43 PM on November 22, 2010
Response by poster: That sure sounds like the one, MonkeyToes. Thanks -- that was fast!
posted by kyrademon at 5:55 PM on November 22, 2010
posted by kyrademon at 5:55 PM on November 22, 2010
Interesting! I never heard of this until just now, and was surprised to have missed it.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:03 PM on November 22, 2010
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:03 PM on November 22, 2010
« Older Patience-filter: Buy a new bed now or later? | Looking for fuses in all the wrong places Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:41 PM on November 22, 2010 [1 favorite]