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Refresh

By: Salim Lemelle
Narrated by: Kevin Free
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Publisher's summary

Refresh is an explosive, powerful short story about a near-future dystopia in which citizens can commodify every waking moment of their lives with computer-generated augmented reality. But this ubiquitous, game-changing technology can create dangerous consequences, especially for society’s most vulnerable people.

Welcome to Refresh: With nothing but a pair of computerized contact lenses, the app allows you to immortalize and share your experiences in virtual reality, and to step right into the life of anyone you’d like - for the right price. And in the near-distant future, there is no longer a question of who uses the app, only how: to record and share special occasions, like weddings and vacations? Or to push the envelope toward something more controversial, more shocking, more sinister?

This thought-provoking listen follows a young Black man who, in order to profit from his own marginalization and to make a larger statement, hatches a plan for a confrontation with a police officer that’s sure to capture the attention his profile desperately needs. But when the lines between performance and experience are blurred, is he prepared for the reality of what’s at stake?

Refresh is both a compelling futuristic tale and a gut-wrenching commentary on our world and the reality of being Black in America.

Please note: This audio contains strong language, distressing situations, and descriptions of violence that some listeners may find upsetting. Discretion is advised.

©2020 Salim Lemelle (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC

©2020 Salim Lemelle (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC
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About the Creator

Salim Lemelle is a genre/sci-fi writer from Southern California. Salim sold his short story Quietus to QC Entertainment (Get Out) which he will adapt with Steven Caple Jr. (Creed 2) for Steven to direct. Before that, Salim was selected as a fellow in 2015 for the prestigious Universal Pictures Emerging Writers Fellowship. He attended Pomona College earning his BA, then later receiving his MFA in screenwriting from The University of Southern California’s School for Cinematic Arts.

About the Perfomer

Lauded for his boyish voice, emotional range and fluid vocalizations, Kevin R. Free is one of the narrators of the 2011 Audie Award-winning Here in Harlem and an Audie Award Finalist for his narration of The Red Pyramid (with Katherine Kellgren). Kevin was named a Golden Voice in 2012 by AudioFile Magazine and is a recipient of 10 Earphones Awards, including one for his narration of the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Known World. A narrator of over 300 audiobooks since 2001, he is especially proud of his narration of several series including Martha Wells’s Murderbot Diaries, Walter Dean Myers’s The Cruisers, and Jay Bell’s Something Like. More info about Kevin can be found at www.kevinrfree.com.

Featured Article: The Best Short Story Audiobooks to Immerse Yourself In Now


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What listeners say about Refresh

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant story!

I can’t wait for your next story Salim! I did not see that ending coming

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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So Incredibly Innovative

Such a creative idea. I’m really shaken by the storyline and the narration. Just overall great.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Could be a series

It's a short story that could easily be a full sci-fi novel or tv series. It presents a believable future and raises questions about the utility and abuse of technology and the ways we respond to injustice and need.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great premise, well realized with a believable end

An interersting extrapolation of trends in social media with a very beliveable if ironic resolution.
Well narrated.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Very Thoughtful and Enjoyable Listen

First off, the narrator was wonderful. Very easy and enjoyable to listen to. This story was surprisingly thought-provoking, engaging, and well done. It packs a lot into a short piece of fiction and it will leave you thinking about the truth of it for days. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not "could have" been...it WAS good

I am so confused about what a prior reviewer complaining of foul language was spouting off about. I didn't encounter anything at all like that in this story which was both captivating and jarring at the same time. Loved it, glad I listened.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Quick, engaging, poignant

Captures your attention immediately. Wonderful commentary on current societal issues regarding technology, privacy and more.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this

I was only able to give this short story a single star in all categories but I would have gone with 5 stars. It was a good story. It could be taken even further, expanding on at least 5 subjects: technology/ai, police brutality, black lives matter, lgbtq+, relationships between the elderly and their children in the "new age", how people make money in the "new age". It was fascinating!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I don’t know…

It was good. But pretty depressing. Maybe because the future presented here seems so possible.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting storyline

This is a very interesting storyline. This could definitely be turned into a series, book or movie, I would love more.

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