NEW YORK – A new thriller, 'Dead Man’s Wire,' has been implicated in a series of inexplicable power surges, localized blackouts, and even a minor structural fissure in a regional data center, according to preliminary reports from the National Institute of Literary Impact Assessment (NILIA).
The novel, lauded by critics for its 'unrelenting, palpable tension,' appears to be generating an actual, measurable energetic output, causing utility companies nationwide to issue unprecedented 'Narrative Overload' warnings. Readers in several states reported flickering lights, buzzing appliances, and a distinct smell of ozone emanating from their e-readers and physical copies.
Dr. Elara Vance, Chief Fictional-to-Factual Energy Conversion Specialist at NILIA, stated, “We’ve never seen anything like it. The narrative current of 'Dead Man’s Wire' is so potent, so consistently sustained, that it’s literally interfering with electromagnetic fields. Our models predicted a 0.003% chance of localized brownouts; we’re now seeing 100% chance of your toaster spontaneously combusting if you read chapter seven near it.”
One affected reader, Mildred Pinter, 78, of Boise, Idaho, recounted, “I was just getting to the part where the protagonist realizes the call is coming from inside the house, and suddenly my smart thermostat started screaming in binary. Then the entire block went dark. My cat, Mittens, hasn’t stopped vibrating since.”
Publishers are now considering issuing the book with a mandatory surge protector or, alternatively, distributing it solely in Faraday cages. Experts advise reading the novel only during daylight hours and preferably outdoors, far from critical infrastructure.
