Stigmaplay by Andrew Verlaine

“A wild, satirical and confrontational ride, where trauma and tech form a new and foreboding machine.” Carson Winter, author of The Psychographist

In a future that’s closer than we might like to think, a groundbreaking virtual reality promises to redefine our understanding of mental health—but at what cost?

June has been stuck in a rut both personally and professionally, but she now has a rare opportunity: testing the world’s most advanced VR simulations. The immersive technology claims to reduce stigma by letting users experience life through the minds of people with psychological disorders—from suicidality to eating disorders to psychopathy. Their experiences range across extremes, from prejudice to the worst kinds of abuse. The VR narrative centers on Dr. Virgil Birmingham, a psychiatrist whose clients and community struggle in the wake of a shooting spree.

As June delves deeper into the lives of Dr. Birmingham and his patients, the virtual experiences grow darker, the lines between simulation and reality blur, and the behaviors of the committee behind the project start to raise red flags. The farther June goes, the clearer it becomes that the committee are hiding something.

Prepare yourself for a disturbing journey into a world where empathy comes with a price, and virtual reality may be closer to home than we ever imagined.

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Pub date: 25-Feb-2025

Page count: 288

ISBN: 978-3-98832-133-6