'What's scary is the blurring of the boundary between real and virtual'
While in the VirtNet, you can feel, think, eat, drink and even die in an extraordinarily real-seeming virtual environment; your body lies safely in its Coffin, ready for you to return to the Wake - except, if your Core is destroyed while still in the VirtNet, that's it, you're stuck in the Sleep - forever.
Michael is a hacker - one of the best and his skills are very valuable. He, together with friends Bryson and Sarah, are recruited by VNS, Virtnet's regulators, as a rogue gamer (Kaine) has been removing gamers' Cores and entrapping them. Their mission to track down and defeat Kaine takes the friends along the Path to his lair - the Hallowed Ravine. Danger waits in the shadows at every turn and they must use every bit of their hacking knowledge to survive.
This book is exactly what it says on the tin. It's an excellent dystopian thriller with a great plot featuring loads of cool technology, surprises and adventure. And nothing else. What's missing is that little 'something extra' to set it apart from the crowd and make it unique. Dashner certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat and describes some intriguing new technology - some of which actually seems, rather worryingly, not too far from today's reality. What's scary is the blurring of the boundary between real and virtual. Who's to say something virtual can't still be 'real'?
There is a planned follow up, The Rule of Thoughts, which I'll look out for. I'd recommend this book if you want a fast-paced read that won't require too much thought. Sit back in a comfy chair and enjoy the ride - just remember, it's not real!
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