“Fans of stories centered on the conflict between the virtual and the real will find plenty to enjoy.” — Publishers Weekly
No one goes out anymore.
Society is sheltered indoors. The economy is in ruins. People spend their lives addicted to a breakthrough virtual reality technology, desperate for escapism in a troubled world. The Nirvana Effect has taken over.
Aaron and Clarissa are members of a subculture of realists who resist the lure of a fake utopia. They watch in horror as the technology spreads across the country with willing participants who easily forgo their freedoms for false pleasures. When the young couple discovers a plot to enforce compliance for mind control, the battle for free will begins. What started as a playful diversion turns deadly. The future of the human race is at stake.
Flame Tree Press / Simon & Schuster (2021)
Available in Paperback, Hardcover, and Ebook
Also available from: Simon & Schuster, Flame Tree Press, Books-a-Million, Waterstones, Indigo, Apple Books, Google, Kobo
Praise
“Millions tune into a virtual reality program while society collapses around them in this thoughtful cyberpunk novel from Pinkerton… he does a good job drawing readers into the characters’ anguish and fear, and builds to a clever, desperate climax. Fans of stories centered on the conflict between the virtual and the real will find plenty to enjoy.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Incredible… easily one of the best dystopian novels I have read this year… the author beautifully maintained the momentum until the very end, which led to an explosive climax.”
— Rajiv’s Reviews
“Wow, this had me gripped from the start.”
— Tales Before Bedtime
Extras
The New York Public Library recommends The Nirvana Effect!
Q&A: The Nirvana Effect interview
Interview with Third Coast Review
Interview with Frugalmatic
Are we all doomed? Fearing The Nirvana Effect
Up Close: Brian Pinkerton
Jannelies Reviews: “This book is worth a big audience.”
Charts
The Nirvana Effect reached #2 technothriller book on Amazon in February 2023.
The Nirvana Effect was named one of the best books of the year by The Strawberry Post blog on culture, writing and lifestyle.
Video
