Life Plug is a philosophical science fiction novel that uses the premise of a computer simulation to explore complex themes of free will, purpose, trauma, and the ethics of digital existence. It heavily incorporates elements of the dystopian and body horror genres.
The novel’s core is a high concept exploration of existence within a programmed, artificial reality, dealing directly with questions of consciousness and digital control.
The Simulation Trope Subverted: The concept of a computer run world is central, but it is used not to explore AI or technology, but to critique human nature and control. The realization that Franco’s “gifts” were merely programming sensitivities shatters the illusion of uniqueness and power.
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic Futurism: The external world is revealed to be a post nuclear desert, controlled by a powerful, abusive group of “controllers.” The existence of the simulation, called “Eden,” acts as a deceptive, controlled dystopia masking a broken world, a key tenet of the genre.
The style and plot are punctuated by devastating psychological and physical trauma, elevating the stakes far beyond a standard philosophical escape story.
Psychological Trauma of Purpose: Characters like Page and Franco suffer profound psychological crises upon exiting. Page’s earlier feeling of purposelessness is confirmed, while Franco’s entire self identity as a “gifted” person is erased.
Digital Body Horror: The most extreme stylistic element is the sexual assault of Page, which occurs simultaneously to her consciousness waking up. This horrific plot point introduces a form of digital body horror, explicitly linking the characters’ incapacitated physical bodies in the real world to the emotional consciousness that was trapped in the simulation. The abuse by the “controllers” is not just mental manipulation, but direct physical violation.
The novel’s style is marked by sharp contrasts between the characters’ perception and the reality they discover.
Contrast of Realities: The prose contrasts the mundane, illusionary normalcy of the simulation with the visceral reality of the outside world.
Focus on Power Corruption: The style emphasizes the corrupting influence of power, demonstrated through Franco’s casual use of his programming “gifts” for hedonistic pleasure, which serves as a moral failing that foreshadows the ultimate abuse by the controlling figures.
Cynical Dialogue: Characters often use dialogue that reflects their philosophical stance, such as Page’s pessimism about her life feeling “silly,” which gives her character a resigned, almost prophetic tone that the discovered truth confirms.
