Simulation 1988 – Mind-Bending Psychological Sci-Fi About Looped Reality
Title: Simulation 1988
Author: R. Morello
Series: Simulation Series (Book 1)
Publisher: Cathedral Rocks Publishing
ISBN: 9798883101150
Format: Ebook and Paperback
Pages: 164
Word Count: 41,800
Genre: Science Fiction, Simulation Theory
Release Date: March 1, 2024
Trapped in a daily recurring simulation of 1988, two lovers fight to find each other in new bodies while an unexpected villain and a secret insider threaten their fight for ultimate freedom.
In Simulation – 1988, people knowingly exist inside a vast simulation trapped in a recurring loop, thrown from their lives in 2057 back to 1988 every day. As Keith turns into an unexpected villain, ending lives in the bodies he inhabits, Ben and Ella fight to find each other in new forms, while John, secretly linked to the controllers, works from inside the system to solve the glitch. The story explores love, identity, and the fight for freedom inside a manufactured reality.
In the futuristic world, people knowingly exist within an elaborate simulation that has trapped them in a recurring loop. The glitch, which has thrown them from their lives in the year 2057 back to the year 1988 every day for the past two decades, has become a disorienting reality for the inhabitants. Each day, the individuals wake up in a different body, disconnected from their former lives. Keith, a man haunted by the loss of his family, becomes an unexpected villain in this simulated existence. Desperate to escape the perpetual torment, he takes drastic measures, ending the lives of the bodies he possesses just before the daily transition. His actions sow fear and chaos among the inhabitants as they grapple with the uncertainty of their unpredictable existence.
Amidst the turmoil, Ben and Ella stand out as a beacon of unwavering love. Married and determined to be together, they strive to find each other every day, transcending the ever-changing bodies they inhabit. From Southern California to favorite roadside attractions like the Corn Palace or Ben’s hometown of Rockport, Massachusetts, they have assigned places to meet and have another day together when they are transported to random locations in random bodies. Their commitment remains steadfast, blind to the physical forms that separate them, as they navigate the challenges of this trapped simulation. Their lives take an intriguing turn when they discover John, an outsider secretly working for the enigmatic controllers of the simulation. Patched into the system, John attempts to resolve the mystery of the glitch. Driven by a desire to help those trapped and fix the anomaly from within, John becomes a reluctant ally in their quest for freedom. “Simulation – 1988” explores the resilience of human connection, the strength of love, and the pursuit of freedom within the constraints of a simulated reality.
As they confront Keith’s malevolence, Ben and Ella’s enduring love, and John’s clandestine efforts, “Simulation – 1988” unfolds into a gripping tale of survival, unraveling the layers of the simulated world they inhabit. Will they discover the truth behind the glitch and find a way to break free from the endless cycle?
Simulation Theory: A deep dive into the philosophical concept that our reality is an artificial construction, perfect for discussions on consciousness and existence.
Identity and Consciousness: Explores the question of what defines a person when their consciousness is constantly moving between different bodies.
The Nature of Reality: Discussion around the boundaries between the real and the manufactured, and the ethical implications of a controlled world.
Time Loops and Repeating Days: A fresh take on the time loop trope where characters are fully aware of their repeating reality.
The Power of Love in a Controlled World: A central theme is the enduring connection between Ben and Ella, who must overcome physical and existential barriers to find each other.
A high concept Science Fiction thriller in the vein of The Matrix meets Groundhog Day.
Explores timely philosophical and ethical questions about living in a manufactured reality and the dangers of digital existentialism.
Features a compelling plot with high stakes, focusing on the human elements of identity and enduring love amidst a technological crisis.
The first book in the exciting Simulation Series, introducing a detailed and captivating new world.
Fans of hard science fiction and speculative thrillers.
Readers who enjoy media that explores high concept science fiction themes like Dark Matter, The Fifth Element, and The Matrix.
Anyone interested in philosophy, consciousness, and simulation theory.
R. Morello writes psychological and surreal science fiction that explores grief, identity, memory, and the hidden emotional worlds people carry inside them. Shaped by New England roots, his work blends speculative concepts with deeply human storytelling.
R. Morello is a speculative fiction author whose work blends psychological tension, cinematic surrealism, and deeply human emotional arcs. His novels and novellas, including Upside Down, Fractured Echoes, and the Simulation trilogy, explore grief, identity, and the unseen internal worlds we rarely reveal.
His stories often feature “dual selves,” mirrored identities, looping realities, and emotional architectures made literal.
He writes for readers who want more than escapism stories that feel uncomfortably true, beautifully painful, and haunting long after the final page.
ISBN: 979-8883101150
Author photos (on request)
R. Morello
Cathedral Rocks Publishing
