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The Lenz
In a near future, tsunamis and rising seas force an islander tribe to take up residence by the sea wall of the Japanese coastal city of Shibido.
To un-see such reminders of the world's uncertain future, Shibido's citizens have immersed themselves in the Maya Lenz —an advanced mixed reality contact lens that filters out what they don’t want to see. Unable to afford a Lenz, unemployed actor Yoshi Goto fears becoming just as invisible as the forgotten tribe. So when metaverse corporation Maya offer him a Lenz and a role in their next mixed reality project, he’s all in.
With the flaws of his goals exposed by a magnetic stranger named Kai, his career threatened by doppelgänger androids, and his vision haunted by a homeless boy who may or may not be real, Yoshi struggles to keep his grip on his new opportunity...and on reality.
But something even more magical than the Lenz , and more profound than love, is demanding he rise to his most challenging role—to be someone real in a world of increasing uncertainty. Blending the technological, spiritual and supernatural, this tale of regained hope, in a fantastically imagined dystopian metaverse, will touch you deeply. Immerse yourself in the mind-bending mixed reality of The Lenz, and order a copy today.
To un-see such reminders of the world's uncertain future, Shibido's citizens have immersed themselves in the Maya Lenz —an advanced mixed reality contact lens that filters out what they don’t want to see. Unable to afford a Lenz, unemployed actor Yoshi Goto fears becoming just as invisible as the forgotten tribe. So when metaverse corporation Maya offer him a Lenz and a role in their next mixed reality project, he’s all in.
With the flaws of his goals exposed by a magnetic stranger named Kai, his career threatened by doppelgänger androids, and his vision haunted by a homeless boy who may or may not be real, Yoshi struggles to keep his grip on his new opportunity...and on reality.
But something even more magical than the Lenz , and more profound than love, is demanding he rise to his most challenging role—to be someone real in a world of increasing uncertainty. Blending the technological, spiritual and supernatural, this tale of regained hope, in a fantastically imagined dystopian metaverse, will touch you deeply. Immerse yourself in the mind-bending mixed reality of The Lenz, and order a copy today.
466 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2019
5 people want to read
About the author
Damien Lutz
14 books14 followersDamien Lutz is a Sydney-based UX designer, researcher, teacher and writer. He is the author of the speculative design guide Future Scouting, The Life-centred Design Guide, and two science fiction novels, The Lenz and Amanojaku. He also writes about emerging and experimental design on Medium and runs workshops and guest lectures.
Damien has made it his personal purpose to scout the fringes of design to empower the community with more awareness of what can be done with design to create a kinder and more regenerative world, for today and tomorrow.
Damien has made it his personal purpose to scout the fringes of design to empower the community with more awareness of what can be done with design to create a kinder and more regenerative world, for today and tomorrow.
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January 20, 2020
This book is a great read – a rich and multi-layered tale of the near future where society squanders the wonders of technology on entertainment, rather than applying it to the world’s troubles which have already brought about global disaster. The people of the coastal city of Shibido choose to block their grim view of the rising sea threatening them with augmented reality fantasies. That this keeps them from seeing the islander refugees living homeless in Shibido is a welcome bonus.
Into this metropolis of daydreamers, we follow Yoshi Goto as he attempts to revive his trashed acting career and regain the brief flash of fame he had known. Along the way, he finds unexpected love, doppelganger androids meant to replace all actors, and a devil’s deal for his identity in exchange for a lifetime of comfort.
Amid all this, Yoshi keeps seeing a silent, small boy who appears and vanishes at odd moments. Is the boy a fantasy of Yoshi’s Lenz, a ghost, or a hallucination as he loses grip on reality and sanity? He fears it may be the latter.
This book’s blending of the technological and the spiritual is beautiful and timely. It touched me deeply. I give this novel my highest recommendation. Mr. Lutz is a talented author, well worth your investment.
Into this metropolis of daydreamers, we follow Yoshi Goto as he attempts to revive his trashed acting career and regain the brief flash of fame he had known. Along the way, he finds unexpected love, doppelganger androids meant to replace all actors, and a devil’s deal for his identity in exchange for a lifetime of comfort.
Amid all this, Yoshi keeps seeing a silent, small boy who appears and vanishes at odd moments. Is the boy a fantasy of Yoshi’s Lenz, a ghost, or a hallucination as he loses grip on reality and sanity? He fears it may be the latter.
This book’s blending of the technological and the spiritual is beautiful and timely. It touched me deeply. I give this novel my highest recommendation. Mr. Lutz is a talented author, well worth your investment.
Displaying 1 of 1 review