A review by branch_c
When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory

4.0

This book is a step in an interesting and impressive direction for Gregory - it’s one of the only stories I’ve read that attempts to cover the straightforward implications of the simulation argument, and it’s nicely done.  I find that I probably prefer the more supernatural aspects in most of his other writing, but on the other hand, those often lean a bit too far into horror for me, and have a grim tone to them.  This one, meanwhile, leans in to the absurdity of the situation and the humor of the characters, and it makes for a surprisingly fun and lighthearted read, even amid the climactic violence.  The character interactions are front and center here; the dialogue is great, and the exploration of the connections among the cast is largely fantastic, though personally, I found some of the point of view shifts to be a bit quick and unexpected - this may have been intentional, to emphasize the bizarre nature of the impossible artifacts and the setting in general, and in any case it wasn’t a serious concern.  Fans of Gregory should find as much to enjoy here as new readers, even if it’s a bit of a departure from his usual efforts.