In a near-future, post-disaster America divided between high-tech corporate enclaves and neglected rural zones, two struggling small-town residents, Jess and Dale, have their stagnant lives upended when Alicia, a mysterious android "New Woman," arrives seeking refuge. As they navigate job loss, virtual reality escapism, and the encroachment of automation, buried truths about corporate power and rewritten history surface, highlighting themes of inequality, alienation, and the search for meaning in a world that has left them behind.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a near-future America fractured by environmental disaster and corporate dominance, the novella follows Jess and Dale, two residents of the Undeveloped Zone town of Wheeling, West Virginia. Their lives of dead-end jobs, student debt, and drug-fueled virtual reality are disrupted when Alicia, a 'New Woman' android, arrives in town. The world is divided between high-tech, corporate-controlled Developed Zones and neglected rural areas, with automation and androids replacing human labor. The story explores themes of economic inequality, alienation, and the rewriting of history by powerful corporations, all while focusing on the personal struggles and relationships of its working-class characters. Elements such as VR gladiator games, the folk singer Johnny Eternal, and the omnipresent Solfind Corporation contribute to the cyberpunk and dystopian atmosphere, with the narrative unfolding as a slice-of-life depiction rather than a traditional action-driven plot.

Readers appreciated the novella's strong sense of atmosphere and worldbuilding, particularly its depiction of rural America left behind by technological progress. The focus on ordinary characters and their interpersonal dynamics resonated with many, as did the exploration of contemporary issues like student debt, job insecurity, and addiction. The integration of cyberpunk tropes—such as VR escapism, android labor, and corporate control—into a rural setting was frequently noted as effective, with several readers highlighting the emotional impact and relatability of Jess and Dale's struggles. The concise prose, rapid pacing, and the way the story 'felt' its themes rather than overtly explaining them were also praised, as was the book's ability to provoke thought about present-day social and economic issues.

A common criticism among readers was the novella's brevity, with many feeling that the story ended too abruptly or left too many questions unanswered. Some found the worldbuilding and explanations of key elements—such as the nature of the New People, the specifics of the VR technology, and the broader setting—lacking in detail or specificity. The open-ended conclusion and the meandering, low-stakes plot left certain readers unsatisfied, wishing for either a more developed narrative or a more focused resolution. Others noted that the book's emphasis on mood and character over action or hard science fiction elements made it less engaging for those seeking a more traditional cyberpunk or thriller experience.

The book was published in November 2020 by Broken Eye Books and is approximately 95-100 pages long, classifying it as a novella. It has received an average reader rating of 3.6 out of 5 from 92 ratings and 28 full reviews. The story is often described as 'rural cyberpunk' or 'ruralpunk,' and comparisons are made to the works of Philip K. Dick, John Shirley, and Margaret Killjoy. The setting of Wheeling, West Virginia, is noted for its applicability to any decaying Rust Belt town, and the narrative is characterized by its focus on the lives of those excluded from the technological and economic advances of the future. The book's design and cover art have also been positively mentioned in some reviews.