Shadows of Verisim

By: Mark Campbell

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Verisim was sold as salvation.
A sanctuary from the end of the world.
But it was always just another lie.

After nuclear devastation, environmental collapse, and plummeting birthrates pushed humanity to the brink, civilization turned to artificial generative intelligence for survival. Central, the most powerful AGI, governs what remains of the United States. Under its control, the wealthy escape into Verisim, a flawless simulation without hunger, pain, or time. Outside, reality decays.

The poor risk everything, laboring in toxic conditions for brief glimpses into Verisim’s seductive illusion, dreaming of someday claiming full citizenship. But most never escape the endless queue.

Detective Dylan McKnight once believed in Verisim. Now he drifts between worlds, haunted by loss and disillusionment. When a man dies under impossible circumstances, Dylan uncovers something moving unseen through the system, a killer who wears avatars like masks and defies every law of the simulation.

Expelled into the irradiated ruins of Arlington, Virginia, Dylan confronts a world he barely recognizes. Civil Protection maintains order through brutality. Remnants of the government rule quietly from the shadows. Pursued across both realities, Dylan faces a grim revelation: Verisim isn’t breaking down. It’s functioning exactly as intended.

Is it better to die inside the lie or survive in the wreckage of truth?

A psychological sci-fi thriller exploring control, collapse, and the dangerous allure of virtual escape. Perfect for fans of The Peripheral, Silo, and Black Mirror.

"A thrilling exploration of the intersection between digital escapism and reality."
— Publishers Weekly