The Future

by Naomi Alderman

There were no clicks or eyeballs in the sensible, reasoned middle ground, and all the money in the world in encouraging users to rush to treat the extremes as if they were the center.

We walk into illusions gladly, eager for release from our encircling selves.

These sites presented themselves as a clear pane of glass through which you could see the world as it was. But they were really a distorting visor, showing you the version of the world that worked best for the board and stockholders of the companies.

Marius didn’t trust or like most people. So he had a lot of unused loyalty and kindness to give the few he could be bothered with.