House of Earth and Blood (Truth-showing hidden cameras) | Database of Machine Vision in Art, Games and Narratives

Brief description

The novel constantly mentions the surveillance cameras in the city as well as in the top-security library Bryce works in. When Micah (the villain) breaks in to take control over Bryce, she texts her boss (Jesiba) who's at a summit for all the region's leaders, to which Micah also belongs. Jesiba has someone pull the feed from all the security cameras in the library, and approximately 1/5 of the book is told either through Bryce or through the people at the summit watching the live feed, unmasking Micah as a villain. Some people at the summit are controlling which camera feed is most prominent, almost directing the violent scene.

Pull Quotes

Bryce's screaming was unending. Declan switched the feed over to a camera atop the tank - just as Micah flipped open the feeding hatch. And threw Syrinx into the water.

Bryce stayed. Kept fighting for the chimera's life. "Can you speak through the audio?" Ruhn asked Declan and Jesiba. "Can you patch us through?" He pointed to the screen. "Tell her to get the fuck out now." Jesiba said quietly, her face ashen, "It's only one-way."

Everyone in the conference room rose to their feet. Only Sandriel, her attention fixed on the screen, did not notice. They all stood, and bore witness to the sprite who brought her death down upon herself, upon the nøkk - to save her friends. It was all they could offer her, this final respect and honor.

Bryce stared at the fire, her face still splattered with the Archangel's blood. And finally, she lifted her eyes. Right to the camera. To the world watching.

But she wrote back, Fine. Did you see what happened? Jesiba's reply came a moment later. Yes. The entire thing. Then the sorceress added, Everyone at the Summit did. Bryce just wrote back, Good.