When We Were Real is an unusual book. It begins as a mashup of The Matrix and the 14th century Canterbury Tales. Seriously. But in ends as a meta look at something completely different. So even if I usually begin my reviews with a plot summary, I won’t do it this time. It is much better to read this wonderful and thought provoking book without any clue what it is about.
I do however want to mention how fully fleshed out the characters were by the end of the book. In the beginning, they were just presented with labels as names: the engineer, the nurse, the influencer, etc. But soon they felt like friends just telling you of their adventures. Like the Canterbury Tales, each chapter tells the story of one of the characters from their point-of -view.
Overall, I loved When We Were Real even more after I had some time after reading to appreciate its premise and mastery of characterization. It is definitely science fiction. But it should also appeal to mystery readers as the characters struggle to figure out the impact of being stuck in a simulation (and what are the simulators’ true goals). The answers will surprise you. 5 stars and a favorite.
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for providing me with an advanced review copy.