SOLVED: future earth where vitual reality is really advanced, but then the power for almost the whole world goes out [s]

[Carolyn]

I read this book a number of years ago. the cover had a dragon and an elf, even though there wasn't a dragon in the story and the elf was a minor character.

I think the virtual reality/power/everything electronic is called "The Grid"

In the story it follows a few different characters. one is quadriplegic (or close enough) and spends most of his time hooked into virtual reality and depends on machines to live. another is a teenaged boy who has a crush on a girl and whose father was into reenacting the 1800s (or close enough)-super embarrassing.

then there was some political struggle and the leaders are using all the energy to fight each other, meaning no one else has power for their fridge or oven or virtual reality or life sustaining equipment. So people panic and people try to survive, many die. the reenacting father is suddenly super useful and builds an old fashioned community with farming.

I don't remember how the elf fits in but I think she is a nymphomaniac

There is also a story arc taking place in a harem.

i remember enjoying the story (even if it is one of the most misleading book covers ever) and want to continue the series. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Ok, NO idea what this is Carolyn, but I plan on checking it out when it's IDed

[Justanotherbiblophile]

I believe you're looking for the series Council Wars by John Ringo, it's not all VR, but changing up the humans. The quad was actually disabled (withering? perhaps) but confined to a chair, except when playing his VR, but got his body rebuilt - luckily just before the power all got siphoned away.

Elves were humans that were limited by the AI which runs the planet. Super-fighters.

AI disables everything like gunpowder and explosives, and so without power funneled by the AI to people, they have to fall back on old skills - thus re-enactor guy is very useful.

But, in the review sense, I'm a tad annoyed with the last book out (why didn't people go for the key, and the win, instead of dragging it on?) - and like all (AFAIK) of Ringo's series it remains unfinished. Which is why I've sworn him off until he's finished a series I'm already reading, or starts and finishes a series that I can start reading. I don't know if the dude can write a conclusion to a damn story. :P

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Just--I agree--Ringo does seem to have an inability to finish off a series before starting another. I too have sworn him off til he finishes my Posleen War series. (Ok, and I have to admit, that part of why I LOVED that series is--the Last Battle of Fredericksburg--that's Fredericksburg, VA, which was fought over and fairly smashed during the Civil War aka the War of Northern Aggression. Yes, I DO live in Fredericksburg, and Ringo was given honourary citizenship in Fredericksburg when he blew up that very ugly Federal Building in downtown.)

[Justanotherbiblophile]

OFF-TOPIC
I'm much more thrilled by another future-history book that has America getting their ass handed to them by French world-occupation government armed with orbital laser cannons and cyborgs, who tell them that the every last American under arms will fry under their goddam cannon before one American will surrender in Yorktown, and that the Frogs will have to pull out if they want the Americans to surrender.

Then there's that scene in _1632_...

Heh, we should start a best-scenes thread in just to talk.

Done:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

[Carolyn]

thanks for the help, this is it!

(sorry I didn't stay in the loop, I thought it would tell me when someone commented)