Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde

"This book is dedicated with affection for
but no patience with
those who would protect our children through
humorless moralizing and paranoia about fantasy"

Hmmm... An intriguing dedication to kick-start a highly entertaining read. The story kicks off with Giannine Bellisario, who is grumpily on her way to redeem her gift certificate given by her dad for her birthday. You'd think that any teenager would be thrilled by a gift certificate to a virtual reality gaming center of the future where total immersion games exist.

Not so, first her indirectly asks her about what she wants for her birthday, via his secretary. Next there's a disturbance by members of Citizenz to Protect our Children (CPOC) outside the gaming center she's headed to AND the bus's artificial intelligence isn't letting her get down because she's under-aged. What else could go wrong?

Plenty, as Giannine finds herself trapped in the total immersion game Heir Apparent - thanks to equipment damage by a CPOC rampage. As if things couldn't get any worse, Giannine's life is at stake. The only way to get out of total immersion - with the equipment damaged - is to win the game. Easy right? Of course... not, Heir Apparent has multiple permutations that lead to its successful completion.

Will she get out in the end? What do you think?

This book is reccomended for readers who like good strategy and understand the world of role playing games. It's quite fascinating how fantasy can be woven into a technologically advanced setting. Readers will notice clashes in olden (fantasy) and modern day culture; especially where parent-child relationships are concerned.