The Metaverse is coming. At some point in the near future, humans WILL live in a virtual reality world. In fact, it’s all but inevitable. So what can you do to prepare yourself for your new life as a cat girl? How can you make sure you’re ready when the digital gates open and the mad rush to experience our new reality begins? Here are 5 Metaverse books we think you HAVE to read to get yourself ready for virtual life.
1. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
Famous for coining the term “Metaverse”, Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash is an imaginative tale that makes the author look prescient in his vision of the future. That’s because he published his book outlining a digital virtual reality world all the way back in 1992. Not only that, but he predicted a lot of the economic issues we are seeing today. Despite the eerie nature of his spot-on predictions of the future, the book is genuinely a lot of fun. While we don’t want to ruin the story, it centers around a badass swordfighting protagonist named, Hiro Protagonist (yeah, really), who works as a high-stakes pizza delivery guy for the mafia. If that sounds crazy, you don’t even know the half of it. As one of the primary inspirations for many of the leaders of modern tech, including those building the REAL Metaverse, this is definitely one you absolutely have to read.
2. Ready Player One, by Earnest Cline
Thanks to the the blockbuster movie released in 2018, you may have already heard of Ready Player One. But did you know that it’s based on a bestselling book of the same name? Published in 2011 by author Earnest Cline, Ready Player One introduced the most epic treasure hunt of all time. Imagine if Elon Musk died and then we found out he left the keys to his fortune on Mars and the first person to get there would get not only his money, but ownership of Tesla, SpaceX, and anything else he created. Except in the book, instead of traveling to Mars, the treasure is hidden in a Metaverse known as “The Oasis,” and it takes an obsession with the founder, a love for the 80s, and bit of luck to unlock the secrets he left behind. If you love the 80s and you love the Metaverse, this one should be at the top of your list!
3. Warcross, By Marie Lu
Published in 2017, Warcross is a young adult science fiction novel, written by Marie Lu. The story centers on an 18-year old bounty hunter, Emika Chen, who hunts down bad dudes in a virtual reality world. Her typical assignments involve gamblers who bet on games in Warcross, which Marie Lu describes as “a cross between “Overwatch, Mario Kart, and Quidditch”. If that isn’t intriguing enough, Emika’s story really ramps up when she is sent to hunt down a hacker named Zero. We’ll stay spoiler free, but this one is an exciting read and is for sure worth a look!
4. Neuromancer, by William Gibson
This next book won the Nebula Award, the Hugo Award, and the Philip K. Dick Award. It’s also often cited as one of the earliest “cyberpunk” novels and was even cited as inspiration for the blockbuster movie “The Matrix.” All of that is to say, it’s a pretty damn good book. Following the exploits of a computer hacker named Henry Case, Neuromancer features a virtual world called “The Matrix”, sentient AI’s, a badass “Razorgirl” named Molly, a secret government military agency, and a whole lot of action. Like, edge of your seat, stay-up-all-night action. If you love cyberpunk, trust us when we say, you’re gonna want to read this one.
5. Otherland, by Tad Williams
Otherland is a four-book science fiction series by award winning American author Tad Williams. Originally published under the title “Otherland”, the first book, “City of Golden Shadow,” takes place in the near-future towards the end of the 21st century. Technology has advanced to the point where Virtual Reality is truly immersive and people have access to a new world known as “The Net.” Users connect to The Net using a surgically implanted bio-port known as a “neurocannula” which creates a hyper-realistic connection that is seamless from reality. The story follow Irene “Renie” Sulaweyo as she investigates a strange new disease that puts her brother in a coma, uncovering dark secrets. This one might just be my favorite on this list. Don’t be scared by the sheer length of the series, it’s well worth the journey!
What Are You Waiting For? Get Reading!
The Metaverse is coming and it’s going to be an exciting place. If science fiction novels are any indication, you might just want to watch your step! The common thread among many of these novels is that, while the Metaverse can be an amazing and wonderful place, it can also be full of assassins, ninjas, evil corporations, hackers, and all kinds of seedy folk. Lucky for you, the 5 books we just recommended will get you in the right mindset and help you prepare for what’s to come. Just remember, in the Metaverse, nothing is ever as it seems!
So what’s your favorite book about the Metaverse? Was it on our list or did we miss it? Be sure to let us know!
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