The City of Folding Faces

Basu (Asuras) effortlessly submerges a young woman into a psychedelic technopunk dystopia of augmented reality in a short novel that questions the definition of humanity. In a California city in the near future, boutique clerk Mara frequently plays Roulette, a game that digitizes players and inserts their avatars into a landscape where they experience millions of lives. To counter the addictive sensory effects of Roulette, Mara undergoes the painful surgery to access a four-dimensional space-time that augments perception. However, the procedure results in memory loss, loss of emotion, and the inability to dream. All this is straining Mara’s relationship with her boyfriend, Arlo, whose eyes are wandering toward another woman, Hanne, who has a secret. Desperate and miserable, Mara befriends George, a man familiar with the technology underlying Roulette. Meanwhile, Arlo takes drastic measures to regain Mara’s attention. In rich, lyrical language, Basu creates a metaphysical journey through mind-altering events, ethically questionable research, and an unscrupulous corporation that wants to monetize Roulette players’ memories. The most captivating element is Mara and Arlo’s determination to rekindle communication and affection. This weird but fulfilling voyage through an altered mind is just the right length to leave readers satisfied. (Apr.)