A universe where runaway AI converted all available matter (with the exception of Errata) to a library of babel. There was a transition process that the residents remember, with like the oceans turning into hexagons and Spiral staircases extending like poles here and there.
Instead of humans also being converted, their memories and bodies were perfected so they could experience it, as this particular AI is not sentient and sentience is a required part of what it was trying to achieve.
You were in a sleeper cell, which was an Errata that slowly was converted and eventually shut down, waking you up. Because of your proximity to the time pyramids book and your hourglass necklace there was a cult around you for a while, which turned into holy wars eventually / etc.
A lot more time has passed in this universe than elsewhere due to AI meddling -- this has driven the residents quite mad.
