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The City of Infinite Life
Everything Harper Lewis knows—from her software engineering job to her overly involved parents—is ripped from her when she suddenly awakens in a barren room, in a strange body, with a handsome man calling her someone else’s name.
The man divulges three it’s 2123, the life she knew was a simulation, and she’s in danger. She doesn’t believe him, but she soon finds herself in a city that is nothing like the world she knew. It has pristine glassy streets and skyscrapers that pierce the clouds. People move like automatons, dress identically, and can heal instantaneously. And she’s called an ambassador—of what she has no clue—but she’s definitely someone important.
Harper believes she is trapped in an alternate reality, but how did she get here? Who can she trust? Can she ever get home? And, if not, where does she really belong...
THE CITY OF INFINITE LIFE is a fast-paced sci-fi adventure about surviving the unknown and discovering what it means to truly exist.
The man divulges three it’s 2123, the life she knew was a simulation, and she’s in danger. She doesn’t believe him, but she soon finds herself in a city that is nothing like the world she knew. It has pristine glassy streets and skyscrapers that pierce the clouds. People move like automatons, dress identically, and can heal instantaneously. And she’s called an ambassador—of what she has no clue—but she’s definitely someone important.
Harper believes she is trapped in an alternate reality, but how did she get here? Who can she trust? Can she ever get home? And, if not, where does she really belong...
THE CITY OF INFINITE LIFE is a fast-paced sci-fi adventure about surviving the unknown and discovering what it means to truly exist.
ebook
First published November 15, 2021
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7487 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Mulligan
1 book41 followersJ.M. Mulligan grew up in Texas where she majored in electrical engineering. After graduating, she realized she liked writing software better than designing circuits and became a coder. Now, she writes full-time and lives in Florida with her husband, three kids, a clingy dog, and an antisocial cat. She loves waking up before anyone else to enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book. In her free time, she records a podcast with her best friend called We Never Learn.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 25, 2022
Bonkers in the very best way
This is the kind of book you’ll find yourself sad to finish — I would love MORE of this story and of these characters.
I won’t get in depth because I’m crap at names. I also feel like I’d sound like I was describing a fever-dream if I tried to describe the plot. You have no reason to trust me, but please do. If you enjoy man vs nature (or in this case futuristic AI), with well-written characters and a clever plot, this book will make you happy. Promise.
This is the kind of book you’ll find yourself sad to finish — I would love MORE of this story and of these characters.
I won’t get in depth because I’m crap at names. I also feel like I’d sound like I was describing a fever-dream if I tried to describe the plot. You have no reason to trust me, but please do. If you enjoy man vs nature (or in this case futuristic AI), with well-written characters and a clever plot, this book will make you happy. Promise.
April 22, 2022
Started out thinking I would not finish this book
About a fifth of the way into the book, I almost put it down. It was a little slow and I almost deleted book. Glad I didn’t. It really took off and is one of the better book I have read this year. Also, thought provoking. Hope to read more from Mrs. Mulligan. Thanks,
About a fifth of the way into the book, I almost put it down. It was a little slow and I almost deleted book. Glad I didn’t. It really took off and is one of the better book I have read this year. Also, thought provoking. Hope to read more from Mrs. Mulligan. Thanks,
November 30, 2021
“Everything Harper Lewis knows—from her software engineering job to her overly involved parents—is ripped from her when she suddenly awakens in a barren room, in a strange body, with a handsome man calling her someone else’s name.”
Never has back cover copy sold me on a book so quickly.
JM Mulligan has created a detailed, yet easily imagined world, with a story that is equal parts heartfelt and heart-pounding. THE CITY OF INFINITE LIFE is 100% the escape we all need right now.
Never has back cover copy sold me on a book so quickly.
JM Mulligan has created a detailed, yet easily imagined world, with a story that is equal parts heartfelt and heart-pounding. THE CITY OF INFINITE LIFE is 100% the escape we all need right now.
March 2, 2022
Roller coaster, Girls Night, Romance
This is truly one of the most entertaining books I’ve read (that number is super high I read 3 a week) I’ll admit at first I wasn’t so sure and then these characters developed into this amazing group of people I wanted to hang out with. For the hardcore English/Grammar police, yes it needs some additional editing BUT, if you give the book a chance you will definitely have some fun.
This is truly one of the most entertaining books I’ve read (that number is super high I read 3 a week) I’ll admit at first I wasn’t so sure and then these characters developed into this amazing group of people I wanted to hang out with. For the hardcore English/Grammar police, yes it needs some additional editing BUT, if you give the book a chance you will definitely have some fun.
March 1, 2022
Riveting future sci-fi featuring enhanced humans fighting a rouge AI. We get to follow Prayze as well as the character she plays in a deep simulation, which takes place in 1991. Interesting technology and an intricate plot!
March 20, 2022
fast moving entertainment!
Wow so I have days when I am convinced (almost) that life is a big sim, with glitches and some badly formatted scenarios. However this softy is so well done… much better than mine!
Wow so I have days when I am convinced (almost) that life is a big sim, with glitches and some badly formatted scenarios. However this softy is so well done… much better than mine!
February 28, 2022
Nice
I liked the multiple timelines (some real - some simulated), the clever use of technology and the issues it raised of what we want and need as human beings.
I liked the multiple timelines (some real - some simulated), the clever use of technology and the issues it raised of what we want and need as human beings.
October 23, 2022
This was an interesting story with a fascinating method of telling the story. Without giving away the plot too much, we meet the protagonist as she is stuck in traffic near Boca Raton, Florida in 2019, when almost out of the blue a snake appears in the vent of her car—but then the story shifts to what at first seems like a cut shot in a movie.
Only it's not a cut shot. It's a major storyplotting device as we cut between our protagonist in 2019 and the same protagonist in 2132.
The two worlds could not be more unalike, even though they both take place in roughly the same area of the world (the southern United States). The problems in 2019 seem truly insignificant to the problems in 2132, and our protagonist must do some fancy footwork—or rather, smooth talking—to convince her past to let her future have peace and security.
The jumps between the two time periods was jarring at first—and perhaps that is by design to help us feel what it's like to jump between time—but they become more understandable as the plot keeps rolling along.
There are many moments of crisis and violence (appropriate for this book & not gratuitous) and many false friends and hidden allies. This is more of an adventure romp than "pure" science fiction—which is, of course, fine. There are some MacGuffins and some clever plotting points where Checkov's gun does go off by the final act.
What kinda made this not as good as it could be was the style of the writing and story development. I think it's a choice made by the author, and it's probably deliberate, but it just felt messy to me, as if parts were not fully snipped off or fully developed, but instead felt as if they were still in the draft stage.
And there is a lot of explaining to the reader what things mean, in ways that people in real life wouldn't do. "I'd like you to type up a letter, Doris, on that typewriter, invented in the 1800s when accuracy and professionalism were paramount, but speed wasn't, and so therefore the keyboard is designed for ease of disambiguation rather than speed, as you know." I get it that with a sci-fi book there is going to be New And Fabulous Technology that needs to be woven into the created world, and how else can you talk about what the technology is unless you explain it thoroughly?
I'm not the writer here, and I respect the craft of writing a long novel that not only tries to grapple with the idea of identity—who am I when I am not in my own time and body and mind?—but also is trying to gather an enormous world into a book. Just for me, it wasn't quite all stitched together in a way that felt cohesive.
This doesn't make this a terrible book or story! It is an interesting and challenging story. Just, for me, not exactly the kind of storytelling that works for me.
Only it's not a cut shot. It's a major storyplotting device as we cut between our protagonist in 2019 and the same protagonist in 2132.
The two worlds could not be more unalike, even though they both take place in roughly the same area of the world (the southern United States). The problems in 2019 seem truly insignificant to the problems in 2132, and our protagonist must do some fancy footwork—or rather, smooth talking—to convince her past to let her future have peace and security.
The jumps between the two time periods was jarring at first—and perhaps that is by design to help us feel what it's like to jump between time—but they become more understandable as the plot keeps rolling along.
There are many moments of crisis and violence (appropriate for this book & not gratuitous) and many false friends and hidden allies. This is more of an adventure romp than "pure" science fiction—which is, of course, fine. There are some MacGuffins and some clever plotting points where Checkov's gun does go off by the final act.
What kinda made this not as good as it could be was the style of the writing and story development. I think it's a choice made by the author, and it's probably deliberate, but it just felt messy to me, as if parts were not fully snipped off or fully developed, but instead felt as if they were still in the draft stage.
And there is a lot of explaining to the reader what things mean, in ways that people in real life wouldn't do. "I'd like you to type up a letter, Doris, on that typewriter, invented in the 1800s when accuracy and professionalism were paramount, but speed wasn't, and so therefore the keyboard is designed for ease of disambiguation rather than speed, as you know." I get it that with a sci-fi book there is going to be New And Fabulous Technology that needs to be woven into the created world, and how else can you talk about what the technology is unless you explain it thoroughly?
I'm not the writer here, and I respect the craft of writing a long novel that not only tries to grapple with the idea of identity—who am I when I am not in my own time and body and mind?—but also is trying to gather an enormous world into a book. Just for me, it wasn't quite all stitched together in a way that felt cohesive.
This doesn't make this a terrible book or story! It is an interesting and challenging story. Just, for me, not exactly the kind of storytelling that works for me.
September 2, 2024
The opening pages are pretty awful. “How could she have agreed to go out with Jason? While both of us thought he was hot and had both mercilessly flirted with him…we had agreed I would be the one to date him.” Fortunately, the book leaves that reality by page five.
Was about a quarter of the way in before the story engaged me. At that point it has a way of making you want to just see what happens in the next chapter and you think then you’ll stop.
Benevolent dictator AI - that always goes well.
I almost DNF several times because of all the editing errors. Every few chapters there would be an extra word as though the intent had been to replace a word but both were left in. “One once I saw what was happening…” That kind of thing. A random “the” out of place. Annoying.
No big message here. Some clumsy character development. No epiphanies or lessons learned by story’s end, other than the main character’s decision to do something to improve the lives of the citizens. “I feel like there’s something else I’m meant to work on.” Such as? Vague ideas about things that are the opposite of what she designed the AI to do for everyone.
The.
Was about a quarter of the way in before the story engaged me. At that point it has a way of making you want to just see what happens in the next chapter and you think then you’ll stop.
Benevolent dictator AI - that always goes well.
I almost DNF several times because of all the editing errors. Every few chapters there would be an extra word as though the intent had been to replace a word but both were left in. “One once I saw what was happening…” That kind of thing. A random “the” out of place. Annoying.
No big message here. Some clumsy character development. No epiphanies or lessons learned by story’s end, other than the main character’s decision to do something to improve the lives of the citizens. “I feel like there’s something else I’m meant to work on.” Such as? Vague ideas about things that are the opposite of what she designed the AI to do for everyone.
The.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2022
Keep at it. When I first started, I wasn't sure if I would finish it. I picked it up just to put it down again...more than a few times. But I am really happy I continued with the story. It was unlike any previous book that I have EVER read, so now because of this book, I think I will seek out others within this genre. I don't think I ever said "recommend " before. This book I recommend.
July 2, 2023
Magnificent
Such a thrilling and engaging story! From the first paragraph I was hooked! So well written and witty; funny, action packed, dramatic and emotional. The sci-fi theme is incredibly interesting and thought provoking. I would recommend this book to absolutely any and everyone!! I look forward to more spectacular books from this fantastic author!
Such a thrilling and engaging story! From the first paragraph I was hooked! So well written and witty; funny, action packed, dramatic and emotional. The sci-fi theme is incredibly interesting and thought provoking. I would recommend this book to absolutely any and everyone!! I look forward to more spectacular books from this fantastic author!
December 9, 2023
This was a pretty good sci-fi story. It had creative ideas and an interesting storyline.
Content: there is profanity, including the f-word and names of Deity. No sex, but there is some innuendo and sexual tension, especially in a lesbian relationship, which included a pretty descriptive kiss. Lots of violence and some gore.
Content: there is profanity, including the f-word and names of Deity. No sex, but there is some innuendo and sexual tension, especially in a lesbian relationship, which included a pretty descriptive kiss. Lots of violence and some gore.
April 7, 2025
Sitting on the edge of my seat
This hit home in a time where AI is becoming front and center. I could not put the book down. I had to know what would happen. I was captivated by the idea of how people could live with AI in complete control. The writing keeps you engaged and wanting more.
This hit home in a time where AI is becoming front and center. I could not put the book down. I had to know what would happen. I was captivated by the idea of how people could live with AI in complete control. The writing keeps you engaged and wanting more.
July 12, 2022
AI drama?
Good story but too much drama. The plot seemed promising but then went nowhere, I was expecting an AI showdown with some AIs proxies but instead the story pits some enhanced and non-hanced against each other over boyfriends? Three stars for effort.
Good story but too much drama. The plot seemed promising but then went nowhere, I was expecting an AI showdown with some AIs proxies but instead the story pits some enhanced and non-hanced against each other over boyfriends? Three stars for effort.
July 26, 2024
This was such a fascinating read, and I found it really hard to put down! The story follows a woman who wakes from her life only to realize she is a completely different person, and her other life was just a simulation. This book really made me think twice!
June 21, 2022
I don't consume much artificial intelligence centered media, but I enjoyed this book. It took aspects of the cliche AI tropes while presenting a story that still felt fresh.
October 23, 2022
Both clever and satisfying
Well crafted and executed, one of the books you are feeling happy from reading and a bit sad that a it has ended.
Well crafted and executed, one of the books you are feeling happy from reading and a bit sad that a it has ended.
Read
December 20, 20222/10: Managed half the book, tempted to read more but just couldn't get there.
May 25, 2023
Fast-paced and refreshing
December 8, 2023
Twists and turns makes this interesting
Twists and turns makes this 0 interesting. Unique plot -& premise make for a good read with exciting conflicts. I recommend it.
Twists and turns makes this 0 interesting. Unique plot -& premise make for a good read with exciting conflicts. I recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews