EPIC

by Conor Kostick

For a thousand years or more, the video game Epic has been an important part of society. At first it was just used for recreation, but gradually the game became central to the world's culture and began to determine the wealth, possessions, and social standing of every person on the planet. Beyond the game, the Central Allocations committee, made up of the richest and most successful players, controls allocation of all resourses. Unfortunately most of the world's people are living in poverty and are required to perform hard physical labor. In their spare time most people have to connect to Epic, to try to gain just enough to survive, while the privileged few control everything. Erik and his friends decide to play the game in a more dangerous and aggressive manner in an attempt to win a fortune and power. When the team succeeds in killing a dragon for the first time in a hundred years, and gains unbelievable wealth, the CA gets worried and begins scheming to get rid of these creative and smart kids threatening to upset the balance of power. With both sides gathering forces, the world is on the brink of a virtual war of epic proportions. Epic is a title on this year's Texas Lone Star list.

---reviewed by Dail Sams