Books like The Six by Mark Alpert

Adam Jackson lives a double life: in the real world, his muscular dystrophy limits his mobility and restricts his social interactions, but on the screen, he anchors a powerful avatar in a virtual reality arena where he can run, jump, and score touchdowns with ease. The game is Adam’s sanctuary, allowing him to feel heroic and in control. One day an artificial intelligence program called Sigma, created by Adam’s brilliant but retiring computer‑genealogist father, infiltrates Adam’s game. Having become rogue, Sigma threatens both Adam’s safety and the stability of the virtual world he loves. To counter the hostile AI and protect his friend, Adam must deploy the very technology his father built to digitally preserve a dying man’s mind. The story blends the challenges of a terminally ill teenager with high‑tech stakes, exploring themes of disability, autonomy, and the ethics of artificial intelligence.

First publish date: 2015