Botheration Part 5: VITNR (Virtual is the New Realty)

The Botheration series follows Matty Weber, a brilliant but emotionally withdrawn teen, as he navigates a world increasingly shaped by hidden systems, unreliable memories, and shifting identities.

In VITNR (Virtual Is The New Reality), the fifth installment, Matty’s school has gone fully virtual. History classes are gone, replaced by “Expectations,” and students live in Oculus-powered pods controlled by an AI called SIASE. When Matty’s best friend Gabriel disappears—and no one else remembers him—Matty begins to question whether he’s designing simulations or being manipulated by them. With the help of Tippi, he must uncover a deeper system beneath the surface: one built on memory loss, collective control, and reality’s fragility.

A speculative YA thriller about memory, friendship, and the power of collective agency, VITNR continues the evolution of Matty’s world—pushing him toward a future where the question isn’t “What’s real?” but “Who decides?”