Vicarious

By: Rhett C. Bruno

Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, Katherine McNamara

Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Award-winning performers Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory, and Ready Player One audiobook) and Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters, The Stand, CW’s Arrow) bring this mind-bending, deeply imagined sci-fi tale to life.

The real world is only where you breathe....

In High Earth, digital entertainment is everything. Shows. Virtual worlds. Simulations - there’s something for everybody in a city where working for a living has been rendered obsolete by technological advancements. Even a short walk outside to visit with others is no longer necessary. Just load into the network and you can be with anyone, anywhere.

For Asher Reinhart, nothing compares to Ignis; a live reality show that pushes human beings to their very extremes. As a volunteer director, Asher closely monitors the lives of those living on an interstellar ark, believing they're the last of humanity.

But when it's determined that the life of the show’s brightest star, Mission, must be put in danger to boost declining ratings, Asher is forced to choose: the show he loves or the woman whose existence has been the focus of his attention since the day he was born.

From number-one Audible best-selling author and Nebula Award nominee Rhett C. Bruno comes a story about the power of human connection. The Truman Show meets Ready Player One in a novel perfect for fans of Hugh Howey, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Michael Crichton.

©2021 Rhett C. Bruno (P)2021 Podium Audio

Critic reviews

"This perceptive take on the reality-TV-in-the-future premise deserves boffo ratings" (Kirkus Reviews)

"A truly unique sci-fi experience...Mission's story is both heartbreaking and triumphant, and the growth Asher shows from start to finish blew me away." (Nicholas Sansbury Smith, NYT best-selling author of Hell Divers)

“Vicarious is 2001: A Space Odyssey meets The Truman Show. A riveting take on man’s inhumanity to man". (Scott Sigler, number one New York Times best-selling Author of Earthcore)

Bruno continues to amaze

I truly think Rhett C. Bruno is one of the greatest contemporary Science Fiction authors. His stories are always interesting and well thought out. All of his books are good science fiction which causes one to have to step back and examine their own experiences and how they may relate to the story,world, and universe at hand. Vicarious is no exception and really is just another in an ever growing list of exciting and thought provoking stories crafted by Bruno.

Narration was excellent on this story as well. The male character suited Wil Wheaton's style and Kathrine McNamara was outstanding.

Excellent reading and listening experience!

A truly unique sci-fi experience. I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into, but I'm so glad I did. Mission's story is both heartbreaking and triumphant, and the growth Asher shows from start to finish blew me away! The narrators were both fantastic, bringing this story to life in a truly cinematic way. I highly recommend this to scifi readers but also pretty much anyone with an interest in thought-provoking fiction. This is a movie in your mind with two amazing voices to bring it to life.

Like the movie "Truman"...on steroids

A privileged future for the rich...while the poor are so poor they are subjugated to a position in a false world acting as entertainment and the benefit of those who hold power over them. .. The storyline is unique and original SCI-FI at its best. Wheaton and the female narrator serve there rolls well as the layered story is shared with us. The future this story holds offers a view that at first glance may seem shiny to some... but it is one to guard against for sure.

Katherine makes it hard to listen to

I couldn't finish it because Katherine's vocal fry and lack of distinction between characters or tone was too distracting. She really has no business narrating. I wanted to listen, but it was irritating :(

It was enjoyable

Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara did a good job reading. But it leaves you hanging at the end.

Fantastic story, mediocre performance

I really like this story. Very well written! Wil Wheaton gave a less than stellar performance on this one though.

It feels like it was written for Luke Daniels, and this would've been 5 stars across the board (I suspect) if he had narrated it. Instead, it felt more like story time on Blue's Clues. Wil comes across as perpetually reading with a smile and that is super awkward during darker scenes. I haven't heard his version of The Martian, but I can see why it would be popular if the narration was similar to this piece.

Katherine did a fantastic job for the most part.

Again, great story, but I'd recommend reading it in print.

Mixed feelings

I was on the fence if I was going to give it 3 or 4 stars. In the end the production was good enough to give it 4. I loved the world building and the characters were okay. The concept was really good, but the story didn’t quite fully grip me. Mission’s story line felt a bit like an afterthought and the whole plot didn’t quite match. I also felt as if a lot was left unexplored. It felt a bit empty. On the whole I do like this author and I did enjoy listening to this. I love Wil Wheaton as a narrator

started off slow

the book started off slow, but it really picked up speed. great book, just wish they would've dome more with Mission and Asher.

Not a bad book but dull

The book has an interesting premise it is just not what I expected and I find it too slow for my taste.

Seriously good.

I waited a long time to pick this up, but I am so glad I did. Utopian/Dystopian reality VR with some interesting perspectives and masterful performances.