“The Hero’s Surrogate” is a two-volume novel in the genre of action fantasy. The story takes place in a world very similar to ours, except that it’s based on legends and myths of Ancient Greece. The main character, Utis Irzhech, is admitted to a prestigious university—not so much for his abilities in the sciences, but because of his successes in virtual games. He’s a strong player, and the university needs e-sports athletes.
However, an unexpected hand injury puts his studies in jeopardy. He takes an academic leave and gets a job at a restaurant as a technician who configures sensory equipment. Here Utis meets the legendary player Rick Descartes—someone he once accidentally defeated. Trying to get closer fails: the celebrity talks to him through a lip interface.
But Utis is determined to prove he’s not some simple fool. He’s going to challenge Rick again, and also “go through the arch,” the way Descartes and his friends did. What does this procedure mean, and how does the story end? Not everything at once. For now, this is only the first part…