Nerve
NOVEL
NERVE
Description
Nerve is a novel by Jeanne Ryan that offers a disturbing reflection on privacy and the dangers of overexposure in the digital world. The story follows Vee, a teenager who becomes involved in an online game that challenges her to complete dares in exchange for rewards. As she progresses through the game, the tasks become increasingly risky, and her privacy is exposed to an anonymous audience of “watchers” who seem to know every detail of her life.
The novel reveals how personal data can be used without control when users accept terms and conditions without reading or understanding the consequences. The game gains access to sensitive information from the participants, including their social networks, habits, and relationships, highlighting the risks of sharing data on digital platforms without considering its implications.
Furthermore, the novel illustrates the dangers of online anonymity and the manipulation of individual will through reward and social pressure. Nerve warns about the perils of viral culture and extreme exposure on social media, where the pursuit of digital validation can lead to dangerous decisions. Its message emphasizes the importance of education in the responsible use of technology to prevent the exploitation of personal data and the risks of the digital age.
Synopsis
Vee is a reserved girl who has always lived in the shadow of her best friend, Syd. Wanting to prove that she can be daring, she signs up for Nerve, a popular online game of live-streamed challenges. As the game progresses, Vee is paired with Ian, a mysterious and attractive boy who is also a participant.
What begins as a series of seemingly harmless dares—designed to attract public attention and win exclusive prizes—soon turns into a terrifying experience when Vee discovers that the game’s organizers know more about her than she ever imagined and begin to control every aspect of her life.
Nerve uses personal information extracted from her social networks and digital history to manipulate her and push her into increasingly extreme situations. The game employs fear, coercion, and public exposure as tools of control, demonstrating that there are no rules or limits to the entertainment of the thousands of anonymous spectators who watch and demand more spectacle.
When Vee realizes that she has surrendered control over her privacy and safety, she tries to find a way to escape Nerve, hoping it is not too late to avoid crossing a line from which there is no return.
Jeanne Ryan’s novel offers a chilling reflection on the dangers of online exposure, manipulation through social networks, and the cost of seeking validation in a world where the audience always wants more.
Best lines
“Here it says that all the recordings are their property. When you registered for the game, you gave up your rights to the video”
“Remember, there are thousands of videos out there, and most of them are probably much worse than yours. People do all kinds of crazy things just to get picked for the live rounds”
“Do you realize they would post it for the whole world to see, and since you don’t have to pay to watch the preliminary dares, that would be a huge audience?”
“Delete the video! —I can’t, it was uploading live— Why didn’t you stop when you realized everything was showing?”
“I upload a picture of myself and fill in my height, five foot four, and weight, umm, I don’t know how many kilos!”
Link to an excerpt from the novel for free distribution
© 2012, Jeanne Ryan
© 2016, Julio Hermoso Oliveras, por la traducción
Licencia editorial otorgada por Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, S.A.U.
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