Daniel Verastiqui is a science fiction author from Austin, Texas. He's written a dystopian cyber-thriller for every interest:

# Virtual Reality

Xronixle

# Mysterious Women

Guardian Angels

# Augmented Reality

Veneer

# Synthetic Humans

Perion Synthetics

# Synthetic Transcendence

Por Vida

# Simulated Reality

Hybrid Mechanics

# Hackers

Brigham Plaza

# Murder Mystery

Vise Manor

#

House of Nepenthe

The Vinestead Anthology

Imagine an alternate reality similar to ours except they had full-on immersive virtual reality in the 90s instead of just CompuServe and Bulletin Board Systems. Now throw in seemingly bulletproof hackers, synthetic humans indistinguishable from the real thing, and an evil corporation hell-bent on world domination, and you've just described the Vinestead Universe. The books below all take place there and reuse some of the same characters, places, and technology. I hope you like callbacks and cameos.

Recommended Reading

You can read these books in any order, but I think Perion Synthetics is the best starting point. The most popular entry is Veneer, which takes augmented reality to its inevitable conclusion. If you like a little mind-bending in your science fiction, Vise Manor is pure dinner party murder mystery, while Por Vida has a twist so shocking I'll give you $20 if you guess it ahead of time. I will always have a special place in my heart for Xronixle, since it was my first book, but at the same time, it was my first book.

Chronologically Speaking

I jump back and forth in the universe a lot. If you'd rather read the books in chronological order for max no-spoilers, here's how:

1997

Nepenthe

The inventor of the Guardian Angel biochip runs his last program.

 
1998

Xronixle

A hacker copies his girlfriend into the Net; it doesn't go well.

2004

Guardian Angels

The Guardian Angel Bill is passed; Calle Cinco strikes back.

 
2015

Perion Synthetics

The Synthetic Revolution begins with the death of James Perion.

2019

Brigham Plaza

Someone murdered a hacker; now they're going to pay.

 
2021

Vise Manor

The secrets of Brigham Plaza return for a night of dinner, drinks, and murder.

2035

Por Vida

At the end of the world, the synthetic killing machines will be the least of our problems.

 
2080

Hybrid Mechanics

Your world is a simulation; the truth is much worse.

2149

Veneer

Seeing is believing when augmented reality covers every surface.