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If you're seeing this message, you're not a subscriber to this website. That means you won't be able to access all the exclusive content—like character files, deleted scenes, in-universe documents, and the more elaborate marketing traps I've set for curious readers.
Some posts (mostly rambling blog entries) are public, but to unlock the full experience—and get a free copy of Bartering Nola—you’ll need to subscribe.
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Choose a book below to begin exploring the archives.
Each title unlocks a different corner of the Vinestead Universe—backstories, bonus content, and files not available anywhere else.
Not sure where to begin?
- Start with Vise Manor if you like murder mysteries and artificially intelligent synthetics indistinguishable from humans.
- Try Brigham Plaza if you’re into hackers, digital ghosts, and old-school reunions.
- Go to Por Vida if you want a love story wrapped in synthetic flesh.
Vinestead Anthology Primer
The Vinestead Universe is a shared world where synthetic humans, rogue AIs, and corporate overlords all fight for control of the future—sometimes through code, sometimes through bullets, and occasionally through emotional dysfunction.
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Hey! I'm working on shifting this site from a blog focus to an exclusive content for readers focus. This landing page describes a website that doesn't quite exist yet, but I'm working as fast as I can to organize all the content. I'll start with Vise Manor and work backwards. Enjoy!
After a shooting leaves Kenneth Barnes comatose, his mind retreats into the House of Nepenthe—a virtual sanctuary built from his memories. But with his Guardian Angel chip damaged, the House twists into a nightmare he can't escape. As his friends and enemies close in, Ken must confront the one thing more dangerous than death: his own past.
Recommended for fans of Inception, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, and Ubik by PKD.
Old iPods. Broken dishwashers. Daleon thought he left scavenging behind for good. But when a man named Rajink offers a DNA scan that opens a gateway to darkness, Daleon must make an impossible choice: follow Nola into the dark, or let her disappear forever.
Recommended for fans of The Giver, The Road, and Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer.
Eccentric tech billionaire Winston Vise invites eight guests to his secluded manor to demonstrate his AI synthetic humans. But when a murder unfolds during the event, guests must navigate a night of terror to uncover the killer—who may not be entirely human.
Recommended for fans of And Then There Were None, Westworld, and Ex Machina.
When Johnny San Vito’s final hack leaves a trail in cyberspace, it draws in Danny “Guns” Montreal and cipher den suit Megan “Tanzy” Riley. Following Johnny’s digital breadcrumbs, they find themselves on a dangerous journey to Brigham Plaza, a virtual construct that holds game-changing secrets about humanity's future.
Recommended for fans of Neuromancer, Snow Crash, and Mr. Robot.
Armando Carrillo awakens from a simulation in a bunker, realizing his life in Austin was a manufactured illusion. Determined to uncover who created him and why, Armando must escape while rescuing three other synthetic captives designed to learn human behavior.
Recommended for fans of Dark City, Westworld, and Upgrade.
In 2035, rising Hollywood star Sepideh Ahmadi undergoes a synthetic body transition to stay with her terminally ill girlfriend, Natasha. As the boundaries of identity and love blur, a machine war threatens, forcing Sepideh to confront what it means to be truly human—and whether she’s still that person.
Recommended for fans of Altered Carbon, Ex Machina, and Never Let Me Go.
As a massive beta test introduces synthetic humans to Perion City, publicist Sava Kessler must protect Perion Synthetics’ legacy while managing the media and concealing dangerous truths. With a competing corporation eager to expose them, Sava faces a moral battle to keep Perion’s secrets buried.
Recommended for fans of Devs, Gattaca, and The Circle by Dave Eggers.
In the 22nd century, augmented reality has transformed society. Deron Bishop, who struggles to control the Veneer, faces a stark choice when his ability to access the virtual world is disrupted. As he grapples with a reality he barely recognizes, he must choose whether to abandon or reclaim the life he once knew.
Recommended for fans of Ready Player One, The Matrix, and eXistenZ.
When a bomb threat shuts down the Vinestead West building in Sacramento, senior developer Rick Diaz' first thought is to head back home, but his new friend Bonnie has other ideas. From a fancy breakfast on the rich side of town to a sim parlor in the tech mecca of Umbra, Bonnie shows Rick that there's more to life than writing code for a ruthless conglomerate.
Recommended for fans of Black Mirror, Upgrade, and The Peripheral by William Gibson.
To preserve his relationship with his girlfriend, C, X uploads her consciousness into a virtual avatar, triggering unforeseen consequences. As C becomes an unstoppable presence in the virtual Net, X’s friends Natalie and G must embark on a rescue mission through a digital realm filled with deadly threats and insidious corporate forces.
Recommended for fans of Ghost in the Shell, Tron, and Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds.
About the Author
Daniel Verastiqui writes thrilling cyberpunk with a gooey love story center. Since 2007, he’s been building the Vinestead Universe—a sprawling future of synthetic humans, rogue AIs, collapsing systems, and characters who just want to be seen (or left alone). He lives in Austin, Texas, where he balances writing, coding, and surviving late-stage capitalism.
When he’s not plotting dystopian conspiracies, he’s probably building websites, dodging social media, or wondering if it’s too early to reformat his PC again.
Still unsure where to start?
Read Vise Manor for free with Kindle Unlimited, or join the resistance to get a free copy of Bartering Nola. Your dystopian post-apocalyptic cyber thrillers await.
