Characters and Character Development
The novel has two main characters and several supporting characters. The main characters are:
- Samson Mazer: He is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. He is a genius game developer who has a limp due to his injured foot. He is obsessed with creating the ultimate game that can transcend reality and offer infinite possibilities. He is also in love with Sadie, but he often hurts her with his words or actions. He undergoes a character development from being insecure, arrogant, and selfish to being confident, humble, and selfless.
- Sadie Green: She is the deuteragonist and love interest of the novel. She is a brilliant game developer who has a sister named Sophie who has cystic fibrosis. She is more interested in creating games that can connect people and offer meaningful experiences. She is also in love with Sam, but she often lies to him or betrays him. She undergoes a character development from being loyal, pragmatic, and realistic to being disloyal, idealistic, and unrealistic.
The supporting characters are:
- Sophie Green: She is Sadie’s sister who has cystic fibrosis. She is a sweet and cheerful girl who loves playing video games with her sister. She dies from complications of her disease before the game EmilyBlaster is finished.
- Alex Lee: He is a game developer who works with Sadie on EmilyBlaster. He is also Sadie’s lover who cheats on her with another woman. He is a charismatic and ambitious man who wants to make his own name in the game industry.
- Max Cohen: He is a game developer who sues Sam and Sadie for plagiarism over EmilyBlaster. He claims that he has created a similar game called TimeBomb before them. He is a paranoid and bitter man who believes that everyone is out to get him.
- Anna Jones: She is a journalist who interviews Sam and Sadie about their games. She is also a player of TomorrowX3 who becomes Sam’s friend and lover in the virtual world. She is a curious and adventurous woman who wants to discover new things.
- Ryan Smith: He is a hacker who infiltrates TomorrowX3 and causes havoc in the virtual world. He is also a player of TomorrowX3 who becomes Sadie’s enemy and killer in the virtual world. He is a ruthless and sadistic man who enjoys causing pain and suffering.
Theme and Message
The novel has several themes and messages that are related to video games, such as:
- Identity: The novel explores how video games can affect our sense of identity, both positively and negatively. Video games can allow us to express ourselves, explore ourselves, or reinvent ourselves in different ways. Video games can also confuse us, deceive us, or alienate us from ourselves or others.
- Connection: The novel explores how video games can affect our relationships with other people, both positively and negatively. Video games can connect us with other people, whether they are friends, collaborators, or strangers. Video games can also disconnect us from other people, whether they are lovers, family members, or enemies.
- Reality: The novel explores how video games can affect our perception of reality, both positively and negatively. Video games can enhance our reality, expand our reality, or create new realities for us to experience. Video games can also distort our reality, escape our reality, or replace our reality with something else.
The main message of the novel is that video games are powerful and potential tools that can shape our lives and our world in various ways, depending on how we use them and what we make of them.
Writing Style
The novel has a writing style that reflects the genre, tone, and mood of the story.
Genre
The genre of the novel is literary fiction with elements of science fiction. The novel uses realistic settings, characters, and events that are mixed with speculative elements that are based on technology, science, or imagination.
The tone
The tone of the novel is creative and informative. The novel uses descriptive language, metaphors, and symbolism to create vivid images and convey complex ideas. The novel also uses factual information, references, and citations to support or illustrate the arguments or opinions of the characters or the narrator.
The mood
The mood of the novel is varied and dynamic. The novel uses different emotions, such as humor, sadness, anger, or fear, to create different atmospheres and effects. The novel also uses different pacing, such as fast, slow, or steady, to create different tensions and rhythms.
Pros and Cons
The novel has several pros and cons that may affect the enjoyment or appreciation of the readers.
Some of the pros are:
- The novel is original and innovative. The novel offers a fresh and unique perspective on video games and their impact on our lives and our world. The novel also introduces new and interesting concepts and scenarios that are related to video games.
- The novel is engaging and immersive. The novel captures the attention and interest of the readers with its compelling plot, characters, and themes. The novel also transports the readers into the world of the story with its vivid descriptions and details.
- The novel is insightful and meaningful. The novel provides valuable insights and messages about video games and their role in our society and culture. The novel also raises important questions and issues that are relevant to our current situation and future.
Some of the cons are:
- The novel is complex and dense. The novel contains a lot of information, references, and citations that may be difficult or confusing to follow or understand. The novel also requires a lot of background knowledge or familiarity with video games and their history or development.
- The novel is violent and explicit. The novel depicts graphic scenes of violence, sexuality, drug use, and death that may be disturbing or offensive to some readers. The novel also uses profanity and slang that may be inappropriate or vulgar to some readers.
- The novel is depressing and tragic. The novel portrays a bleak and pessimistic view of video games and their consequences on our lives and our world. The novel also ends with a sad and shocking outcome that may leave the readers feeling hopeless or dissatisfied.
