SHATTER

Abstract

This thesis features the first fifty pages of my fantasy/speculative-fiction novel, titled SHATTER. SHATTER takes place in 2050 and follows seventeen-year-old Ryder, who assumes the identity of Amicus in the virtual fantasy world of Destonia. On the release day of the Dream Catcher, the latest and greatest Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) console, he finds himself in a cyber-terror plot that has resulted in him and thousands of his fellow players being held hostage. However, the technical mastermind behind the plot gives the players a chance to fight for their survival. If they can beat the game’s final boss, then they’ll be set free. But, should their virtual characters perish in the attempt, it’s not just game over; they die in real life. SHATTER is meant to be an entertaining medium to explore themes that are relevant to both future and modern society such as artificial intelligence, individual freedom versus security, income inequality, and more. By exploring these issues, I hope to provoke the reader to contemplate these topics through the lens of empathetic characters, swift-paced story, and high-stakes conflict.