Continue Online Series by Stephan Morse

ASIN moved from this editionA man broken by despair and depression, Grant Legate finds himself in a once-in-a-lifetime situation after receiving an Ultimate Edition copy of Continue Online. All he wishes for is a distraction from the thoughts plaguing his waking hours. He dives in headfirst, unknowing of the AIs intentions. They offer him the chance to play as one of their own, a NPC deserving of a proper send off. What he discovers during the journey shakes Grant to his very core.

Grant Legate comes out of his time as William Carver with more questions than answers. Still, character creation awaits. After that lies a virtual world where he can learn new skills, make new friends and perhaps beat up a monster or two. Anything to assist with his need to be distracted from an unstable past. There will be no more trials or living as another man. He’s the master of his fate, he’s the captain of his soul... moreGrant Legate comes out of his time as William Carver with more questions than answers. Still, character creation awaits. After that lies a virtual world where he can learn new skills, make new friends and perhaps beat up a monster or two. Anything to assist with his need to be distracted from an unstable past. There will be no more trials or living as another man. He’s the master of his fate, he’s the captain of his soul.Only the Voices want to keep working with Grant and they expand on their prior offer. Their reasons are many, a messenger to move people about the world, eyes and ears at sensitive locations. They offer rewards in exchange for completion of their tasks and all he need do is accept.Forces in the virtual world aren’t the only ones showing an interest in Grant’s recent activities. People outside the box start to ask how his experience went, with none of them knowing of Grant’s status as an Ultimate Edition user. Wheels turn as the AIs running Continue Online poke and prod Grant towards another performance. This time, the consequences end up being more personal than he could have expected. What exactly is their plan, and what does it mean to the rest of humanity? less

ASIN moved to this editionGrant defeated Requiem and overcame the trials placed in front of him. Now the slowly recovering man expects to be reunited with a virtual version of his fiancée; the Voices allowed her to reconstruct inside Continue Online. In there is Grant’s gateway to a fantasy land where he can escape reality.Only his twin sister doesn’t see eye-to-eye on the recent events... moreASIN moved to this editionGrant defeated Requiem and overcame the trials placed in front of him. Now the slowly recovering man expects to be reunited with a virtual version of his fiancée; the Voices allowed her to reconstruct inside Continue Online. In there is Grant’s gateway to a fantasy land where he can escape reality.Only his twin sister doesn’t see eye-to-eye on the recent events. She believes those events might be a sign of Grant backsliding into depression and possibly suicide, or delusion at best. Because of mistakes in his past, Grant is powerless to prevent his sister from halting his next step inside of Continue Online.The Voices have a plan, and if Grant can’t move forward in one virtual reality game, he might find a solution inside another, at least until Grant can overcome Liz’s worries and get back to the fantasy world. He signs up for a brief space adventure universe that mirrors Continue Online in more ways than one. Dusk worms his way across realities to join in the escapades, along with a copy of Hal Pal, who finds its own answers by playing among the stars. less

The need for Advance Online has ended and Grant returns to Continue Online’s fantasy world. Once there, he realizes that events echoed strangely across the two virtual reality games, resulting in the resurrection of King Nero and Grant’s wife, albeit with consequences.King Nero resumes the throne and seeks to punish Grant for killing his sister-in-law... moreThe need for Advance Online has ended and Grant returns to Continue Online’s fantasy world. Once there, he realizes that events echoed strangely across the two virtual reality games, resulting in the resurrection of King Nero and Grant’s wife, albeit with consequences.King Nero resumes the throne and seeks to punish Grant for killing his sister-in-law. Grant is sentenced to join a prison chain gang assigned to work in the worst dungeons around, and to fight against other inmates to ensure his character’s survival.While in reality, Miz Riley worries about the recreation of deceased human personalities and clear meddling of the AI Voices. She too moves toward a decision, one that will put everyone Grant loves and cares about in danger.Grant’s brief reunion with Xin is quickly jeopardized; he desperately tries to stay alive in the virtual world to try to gain enough strength to help those dear to him withstand the upcoming trials as the entire system gradually crashes. less

ASIN moved from this editionThe game is no longer about adventures in a new world or exploring fantasy lands. Grant’s digital wife faces deletion, along with everyone else he cares for. He, and those who know this is more than a game event, search for clues to salvation left behind by the game's creators. Even if he finds them all, the Voices have one last task for their messenger. A sacrifice.