The Fourth World

In his New York Times Notable Book Circuit of Heaven and its sequel, End of Days, Dennis Danvers explored the mental, emotional, and ethical aspects of living in virtual reality. Now, in a powerful and passionate near-future novel, The Fourth World, Mr. Danvers expands these considerations to include the political and socioeconomic costs of virtual existence.

When NewsReal cyberreporter Santee St. John witnesses a brutal massacre in war-torn Mexico, the WebNet suppresses his report. But beautiful American expatriate Margaret Mayfield might be able to help him deliver his news to the world and smuggle in a secret new technology that could turn the farmer-rebels' failing struggle to victory. Then Santee disappears, and Margaret must dare the desperate dangers of the Third World to find her lover, her only ally a young "webkicker" who rejects virtual reality but is woefully inexperienced in physical existence. Even if they can find Santee and activate the smuggled technology, it may be too late to stop a worlds-spanning conspiracy with plans so well-entrenched and corrupt that the war may be nothing but a diversion. --Cynthia Ward