The 100 Must-Read Books of 2025 Filter All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu In a thriller centering on the search for a missing oneirofex—an artist and guide who orchestrates collective dreaming experiences using AI—it feels additionally appropriate that the near future depicted is essentially a hazy, half-asleep squint away from our own. Ken Liu’s perceptive new sci-fi novel, All That We See or Seem, follows Julia Z, a hacker using all the tools at her disposal to stay under the radar in a world reshaped by surveillance, social media, and helpful personal AIs. When Elli, a famous oneirofex, disappears, her husband seeks out Julia Z’s counsel, inadvertently pulling her into a high-stakes effort to save Elli and avoid capture. The Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author’s significant short-story chops are seen throughout in thoughtful contemplations about art, identity, and the American dream in the age of AI. There’s more action-packed commentary to come: All That We See or Seem is just the first installment of a series. Julia Z’s next adventure has already been written. —Cate Matthews These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser. Buy Now: All That We See or Seem on Bookshop | Amazon Advertisement Source: https://time.com/collections/the-100-must-read-books-of-2025/7329472/all-that-we-see-or-seem/