Intensely contemplative dialogue will give readers plenty to think about, while the threat of escalating violence will keep the pages turning.
The dawn of the twenty-first century saw a shift in journalism, moving away from paper copies, filtered narratives, and investigative powerhouses. These days, headlines are less about credentials and more about volume and virality. And none of that is good news for Adam Arrowman, a journalist with Technogasm News. A master media marketer, Adam’s most recent assignment finds him struggling to bag a decent story at a San Francisco expo. The hegemonic master of surveillance capitalism, Kelvin Clipper, parades his latest brainchildren at yet another ego-fueled PanoptiCon, and the annual event isn’t filling Adam with confidence. Increasingly outraged protesters and enthusiastic acolytes no longer drive clicks, but when a bomb detonates and Adam captures the moment in HD, his reputation gets a boost. That’s great for his paycheck, but what about finding a motive? Who tried to kill Kelvin Clipper? Why? An ominous warning and a blood-covered flash drive send Adam down a digital rabbit hole, eschewing ethics for enlightenment, chasing clarity through collusion, and analyzing authenticity in a world that no longer values it. While Adam tests his deductive mettle, many suspects and motives emerge, but even if he finds the culprit, will it stop the biggest crimes of all?
Are the machines becoming more human-like, or are we trading humanity for convenience? Is technological advancement sabotaging the future, or is it the only way to fix the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into? Should these choices be left in the hands of a single man, a single corporation, a single government? Or a singularity? These questions are just a glimpse into the philosophical funhouse mirror that is The Gestalt in the Machine. At first innocent glance, Dornan’s novel feels exaggerated with humankind’s total reliance on ubiquitous social media, indulgent entertainment apps, and bare-all health devices. But beneath the hyperbole lies a sobering truth: the contemporary world either cannot, or will not, exist without its digital obsession. Andy Dornan is an author who makes every word count. Scene setting and character descriptions lean more on the negative space, allowing matters of ethics and societal reckoning to shine. Each snappy turn of phrase, pithy chapter title, or clever brand cue adds to the depth of this disturbingly believable dystopian reality. Intensely contemplative dialogue will give readers plenty to think about, while the threat of escalating violence will keep the pages turning. The pace is chaotic as Adam pursues leads, makes connections, chases ideologies, and struggles to remain relevant. A cerebral science-fiction extravaganza, The Gestalt in the Machine mesmerizes with technical depth and fearful implications.
