Memory Market
In the neon-soaked streets of New Shanghai, 2157, memories have replaced money as the ultimate currency. The wealthy feed themselves on stolen experiences of first love, childhood wonder, and artistic genius, while the desperate poor auction off their most treasured moments to survive another day. Maya Cho navigates this morally bankrupt world as a licensed Memory Technician, legally aiding the transfer of human experiences through neural interface technology, all while secretly developing revolutionary memory synthesis that could topple the entire economic order. When the notorious memory collector Marcus Webb, heir to the Webb Memory Syndicate empire, discovers that Maya's younger sister Lin possesses an impossibly rare "pure memory"—an untouched childhood recollection of their deceased mother—he will stop at nothing to claim it. But Maya's desperate attempt to protect Lin thrusts her into a labyrinthine conspiracy that reaches the highest echelons of corporate power.
As Maya delves deeper into the underground memory markets, she uncovers a horrifying truth: synthetic memories aren't just being created—they're being weaponized to rewrite human consciousness itself. The Webb Syndicate, along with other memory cartels, has been systematically harvesting, editing, and implanting false memories to control populations, eliminate dissidents, and maintain their stranglehold on society.
But Maya's greatest shock comes when she discovers that Marcus's younger brother, Adrian Webb—the enigmatic rebel who claims to love her—may be the architect of the most audacious memory heist in history. Their passionate romance becomes a deadly game of deception as Maya realizes she can't trust her own memories, her heart, or even her sense of identity.
Racing against time before Lin's precious memory is harvested forever, Maya must navigate a world where nothing is real, everyone has ulterior motives, and the line between authentic human experience and manufactured fiction has been obliterated. In a society built on the commodification of the human soul, Maya will discover that the most dangerous memory of all might be the one she's forgotten about herself.
