The walls

"The Walls" by Keith Laumer is a speculative story set in a future where technology dominates human life. The plot is driven by a couple, Harry and Flora, and their contrasting reactions to "Full-walls," advanced tech that creates immersive environments in their home. Harry embraces the artificial reality of Full-walls, seeing them as enhancements to their lives, while Flora feels increasingly trapped and yearns for genuine experiences outside their high-tech prison. As Harry adds more Full-walls, Flora's sense of reality crumbles, leading her to a haunting realization that she's become isolated, a mere reflection in a screen-mediated existence; their life is a digital reflection of what was originally life outside of the walls.