Shards of Self
About the Story
A data‑driven world where memories become currency. Mira enters a virtual economy to find her missing brother and discovers that progress is purchased with pieces of identity. She risks herself to rupture the system, pulling fragments into a fragile sanctuary while tech and corporations fight back.
Chapters
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Frequently Asked Questions about Shards of Self
What is the central premise of Shards of Self and its virtual economy of memories ?
Shards of Self imagines a LitRPG world where Axiom's Mnemonic Exchange trades players' memory fragments for in‑game power. Mira enters this economy to find her missing brother, discovering identity cost and corporate exploitation.
How does the Mnemonic Exchange mechanic work in Shards of Self and affect characters' identities ?
Mnemonic Exchange lets players sacrifice memory shards for skills or access. Each trade lowers a measurable Identity Integrity score, reshaping personality and creating ethical stakes as memories become productized by Axiom.
Who are the main characters in Shards of Self and what motivates Mira to enter Axiom Gate ?
Mira Kest, a Data‑Knife class engineer, enters Axiom Gate to locate her brother Theo. Allies include Dax, NORA, Hald, Hesh and Lumia. Her drive is personal rescue, complicated by discoveries about memory commodification.
Is Shards of Self a standalone LitRPG or does it leave plotlines for sequels and expansion ?
The six‑chapter arc resolves the core rescue and exposes Axiom, but it leaves worldbuilding, ethical fallout and unresolved threads around digital personhood ripe for sequels or serialized expansion.
What major themes and ethical questions about memory and technology does Shards of Self explore ?
The story explores identity, consent, corporate power, and the ethics of using memories as currency. It asks who owns experience, whether lost fragments can be reclaimed, and what makes someone 'whole.'
Are there content warnings for Shards of Self and what age group is it best suited for ?
Expect mature themes: memory loss, corporate exploitation, betrayal, and scenes of psychological tension. Recommended for adult readers and older teens comfortable with ethical and emotional complexity.