Two kids meet in a hospital game room and build worlds together — and apart.
Who drives the story
A boy rendered mute by his mother's death and his crushed foot, who learns to speak through games and grows into a brilliant, guarded designer. He hides love inside systems — and the biggest thing he ever builds in secret nearly costs him his oldest friend.
A ferociously talented programmer who keeps getting talked out of her own credit — by journalists, by Dov, by Sam. She wants her work to speak for itself, and the book keeps asking whether the world will let it.
Sam's roommate, an amateur Shakespearean actor who becomes Unfair's producer and the brother Sam never had. He finds love late, dreams Mapleworld into existence, and dies for a game feature Sam shipped.
Sadie's professor, lover, and mentor — a married, successful game programmer who teaches her the craft and takes as much as he gives. His verdict at a 2008 dinner is what finally unlocks her forgiveness of Sam.
Sadie's older sister, treated for leukemia as a child, whose jealous revelation about the tally sheet ends Sam and Sadie's first friendship.
How they are connected
A ferociously talented programmer who keeps getting talked out of her own credit — by journalists, by Dov, by Sam.
A ferociously talented programmer who keeps getting talked out of her own credit — by journalists, by Dov, by Sam.
Sam's roommate, an amateur Shakespearean actor who becomes Unfair's producer and the brother Sam never had.
His verdict at a 2008 dinner is what finally unlocks her forgiveness of Sam.
Sadie's older sister, treated for leukemia as a child, whose jealous revelation about the tally sheet ends Sam and Sadie's first friendship.
Sadie's older sister, treated for leukemia as a child, whose jealous revelation about the tally sheet ends Sam and Sadie's first friendship.
Go deeper
Play as a language for the unspeakable · Credit, authorship, and who gets believed · Love that isn't romance · Games as moral machines
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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