This story has been the source of many discussions between my girlfriend and I, and I heartily recommend it. While it can be a bit disturbing, I think that helps drive home the point (it is kuro5hin, after all.)

It also led to a number of very amusing jokes targeted at the author (localroger). My favorite being here:

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2008/8/20/84039/4943

This [alarm clock] will be useful to me. I sometimes forget to feed the small girl chained in my basement. Serious writers need muses.

My favorite singularity treatment. It explores some original, and very scary implications of such a world...

I strongly recommend Roger's Passages series to those who enjoy his style and work here.

http://localroger.nfshost.com/revelation-passage/

If you like this, you would like Three Worlds Collide.

http://lesswrong.com/lw/y4/three_worlds_collide_08/

I remember the plot striking me as a bit cheesy and having some holes, but it's all well compensated for the awesome view of how a virtual world can turn out.

If you haven't yet, read it.

I loved this back in 1994. Definitely worth a read, although I think the whole S&M thing comes through a little strongly.

The first chapter of this really reminds me of Alejandro Jodorowsky's and Mobius's The Incal graphic novels.

hate stories like these.

SPOILERS!!!! (ROT13)

Nz V fhccbfrq gb flzcnguvmr jvgu n znfbpuvfg jub qrcevirf jung V nffhzr gb or OVYYVBAF bs crbcyr bs jbegujuvyr yvirf orpnhfr furf OBERQ? shpx ure va gur snpr. "cnenqvfr vf fb obevat" vf n ynzr traer gung eribyirf nebhaq n anvir ivrj bs vqrny frafbel rkcrevraprf.

Gur fgbel jnf ragregnvavat, ohg abg qrrcyl. Naq dhvgr naablvat va cnegf, rfcrpvnyyl va gur gerngzrag bs gur fgbel'f zbfg vagrerfgvat punenpgre. Cevzr Vagryyrpg.

Naq nz V pbeerpg va nffhzvat "Cevzr Vagryyrpg" vf n cynl ba "Cevzr Zbire"? Ynjerapr'f pbasbhaqrq crefban qbrf abg nyvta jvgu uvf anzvat fpurzn.

Gur ceboyrz vfa'g cnenqvfr, gur ceboyrz vf gur ybff bs pbageby. Jura jr ybfr gur cbjre gb pubbfr bhe bja yvirf, naq rira jura gb raq gurz, vf vg ab ybatre cnenqvfr? Znal unir fhttrfgrq gur fnzr ceboyrz jvgu gur gurbergvpny urnira: ng jung cbvag qbrf rirelbar whfg trg oberq?

It had been in the back of my mind to reread this, thanks for bringing it up.