THEIR TECH WAS NEVER MEANT FOR HER MEDIEVAL MIND.
Eliza Waite is a difficult daughter. She has her father’s intellect, her mother’s piety, and a desire for something more than marriage. When she is banished on accusations of witchcraft, Eliza chooses a quick death over starvation. Instead of the afterlife, she awakens to the revelation that the suffering of her village is intentional and designed to create… her.
Eliza is one of several girls bred to be an emotional input unit for a VR simulation. Their ancestors lived, suffered, and died in historically accurate conditions to entertain off-world colonists. When another girl from Eliza’s community arrives, their combined wrath is a form of justice, even if only one of them survives.
Key Characters
Eliza Waite is the seventeen-year-old daughter of the Sheriff of Elicot, a Medieval village. She is charged with witchcraft and banished. She believes she is going to die, but instead finds herself as an emotional input unit at the Bellumfort Institute for Historical Reclamation.
Sarah Sixsmith is the wife of the director of Bellumfort. As the only other woman from the middle ages, she helps Eliza acclimate to her new role.
Aulisyn is a mystery.
Martha is the lead software engineer on the Bellumfort VR program. She is responsible for integrating Eliza’s emotional input into the system. When a saint, who happens to be a dog, begins appearing across epochs, Martha realizes something is very wrong.
Themes
- Witchcraft
- Big Tech Doing Bad Things
- Sisterly Love
- Woman Software Engineer
- Virtual Reality Simulations
Questions about The Book
What is Aulisyn about?
Aulisyn is about a young woman banished from her Medieval village on witchcraft charges, who ends up being an emotional input unit for a VR simulation.
Is Aulisyn a standalone novel?
Yes, Aulisyn can be read as a standalone novel.
However, Aulisyn is also a part of the Antigone Effect series of standalone novels featuring strong women, futuristic technology, and a Gothic atmosphere of dread. The series explores the ethics of applied technological advances, with a focus on the social implications for women. Like true crime podcast, Antigone Effect is linked by theme, not characters. The books can be read in any order.
What makes Aulisyn different from other sci-fi?
Aulisyn is different from other sci-fi books because it examines the ethics of Big Tech using women to provide emotional labor to their VR simulation. Unlike other science fiction, Aulisyn is Gothic. The atmosphere of creeping dread, isolation, and shifting sense of self is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s Hangsaman.
Who will enjoy reading Aulisyn?
Aulisyn appeals to readers who…
… want to read sci-fi featuring smart women
… seek novels with a Gothic atmosphere of dread
… are fascinated by Medieval society
… question the ethics of applied technology
… enjoy dual-timeline novels.
Who might not enjoy reading Aulisyn?
Aulisyn is not for readers who…
… are looking for a cozy read
… want a happy story
… want “hard” sci-fi (for that, try Lorikat or Xochi)
Where can I buy Aulisyn?
Aulisyn is available at Gothic Sci-Fi Books. You can find more information and read a sample on the book page. If you’re an international (non-US) buyer, you can get the e-book on Smashwords.
Is there a book club discussion guide for Aulisyn?
Yes! There is a book club discussion guide for Aulisyn. You can find it here: Shop – Gothic Sci-Fi Books. Just scroll to the bottom where you can get the guide, and also download information sheets to share with your book club.
When will the paperback edition of Aulisyn be available?
The paperback will be on sale in August of 2026. Sorry, no international shipping available.
| Publisher | Genre | Audience | Setting |
| Pendletyn & Bromptyn, LLC | Gothic Science Fiction | Adult | Medieval Village Software Campus |
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Erzsebet Carmean 