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Book Review - Infomocracy

This Cyberpunk Political Thriller will leave you reeling and thinking!


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Infomocracy by Malka Older, published June 2016 by Tor.com Books


Picture a world where a Google-like corporation has grown so large it IS the entire internet. A world where global video surveillance is pervasive, and many consider innocuous. A world that in order to seek peace most nations have disappeared and micro-democracy has taken hold: the entire globe is fractured into pockets of population who can vote for any ideology that they choose. The lines of division visible only in your feed. Cities still exist but every few blocks the laws and attitudes may change. 

This massive corporation is called Information. Information controls not just the Internet but is the arbiter of global politics, sovereign nations have mostly been abandoned for groups of 100k citizens voting for a plethora of global political parties. Each party employs secret agents who “campaign” for voters. There’s deceptions, public misinformation, terror strikes, lethal pop-up adverts, disastrous earthquakes and global upheaval! 

It's such an amazing and brilliant concept! There are layers upon layers of twisted facts, and the plots of political power-players are launched though video clips. It makes a fascinating lens to look at the lies and truths of our "fake news" era today. I was reeling and in awe of the story and the massive implications it draws.

Sure it's an unabashed cyber adventure, but underpinnig the story, the author takes aim at many dangers of today's polarized world. Absolutely loved it.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 galaxies

 

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