Echoland: A Comprehensive Guide to a Nonexistent Place

by Nathan Robinson

Echoland is a stunning illustrated tour through the World of Tomorrow, a delightful look at what a world transformed by artificial intelligence might look like. In the tradition of speculative utopian fiction, Current Affairs editor in chief Nathan J. Robinson imagines a fully automated socialist society where deprivation, militarism, and inequality have disappeared. Like a modern version of Edward Bellamy’s hugely popular 19th century utopian novel Looking Backward, Echoland explores how human society could radically change for the better—if we make it.

Echoland is not just a discussion of the possible changes that generative artificial intelligence could contribute to, but it is a radical and novel demonstration of AI’s capacities. The book is illustrated with nearly 1000 AI-generated images; to speculate on the world of the future, Robinson has used cutting-edge AI image-making programs to show everything from imaginary train tickets and movie posters to stuffed animals and coffee shops. The result is a spellbinding look at the radical possibilities that these new technologies hold. This beautiful, mesmerizing book makes a major contribution to the discussion about the risks and promises of technology, and the various paths human society could take. Echoland is not “techno-utopian”; instead it offers a stark warning that, uncoupled from humane social values, we are just as likely to destroy ourselves as to bring about a world of abundance for all.

This one-of-a-kind, enthralling book is essential for anyone interested in big questions about the human future.

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2023

About the author

Nathan Robinson started writing fiction at an early age, however it took untill he was 26 to finally submit something.
His first acceptence was for THE CHICKEN IN BLACK which won first prize on www.spinetinglers.co.uk, If you ever meet a girl named Maisie Mae came next, quickly followed by Hatch, Banana Boxes, Brian of the Night and The Spare. Maisie Mae was included in Panic Press's Soup of Souls anthology. His Mexican Gangster thriller Top of the Heap was released as a podcast in April 2011 from www.pseudopod.org and is due for release by The Dark Fiction Spotlight in their best of Anthology


So far he’s had numerous short stories published bywww.spinetinglers.co.uk, Rainstorm Press, Knight Watch Press, Pseudopod, The Horror Zine, The Sinister Horror Company, Static Movement, Splatterpunk Zine and many more.
He writes best in the dead of night or travelling at 77mph.
He is a regular reviewer for www.snakebitehorror.co.uk and Splatterpunk Zine, which he loves because he gets free books. He likes free books.
His first novel “Starers” was released by Severed Press to rave reviews. This was followed by his short story collection “Devil Let Me Go”, and the novellas “Ketchup with Everything” and “Midway” and the novel, “Caldera.”
He is currently working on his next novels, “Death-Con 4” and a sequel to “Starers.”
Follow news, reviews and the author blues at www.facebook.com/NathanRobinsonWrites or twitter @natthewriter