Cloud 9

The year is 2109. Michael is one of San Francisco's most notorious VR gamers in a world of uninhibited debauchery. Now at the turn of the 22nd century, the effects of cultural collapse compel the gaming aficionado to leave his sedated existence and venture on a quest for virtual utopia. But first, he must traverse nine levels inside a computer-brain interface or pay the ultimate price. The promise of living the rest of one's days in a computer-simulated paradise may be too enticing to resist, but for Michael Tillman and his girlfriend Valerie reality is hardly what it seems. Meet Real Games Enterprise – RGE – the underground cartel pandering the Cloud software that requires players to complete nine levels within the game or suffer elimination. With only three lives to win, failure results in death when their data is terminated. Outside threats from those determined to undermine the Cloud software finally puts RGE in jeopardy when they're attacked by infiltrators who don't like secrets.

N. Matthias Moore is a writer and multimedia artist. Moore was born in Long Beach, California, and raised in the diverse downtown district before attending university. Science-fiction is a favorite category so far as literature goes, allowing him to weave urban tropes into new narratives. Moore's fiction is written to conform our views of extraordinary science in a way that mimics everyday life. That along with adventuring protagonists make for enjoyable reading. Moore is a fan of classic science fiction writers such as L. Ron Hubbard, Henry Kuttner, Philip K. Dick, and Arthur C. Clarke. Their influence on his style is readily apparent. You can follow his latest moves on social media with the handle @nmatthiasmoore. This is his debut science-fiction novel.AUTHOR HOME: Long Beach, CA