Algorithmic Reality

by David Sánchez

Your phone reminds you all day long that you were interested in buying those shoes. Your device knows the places where you go, the books you like, and your friends' faces. The world's most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data. The more they know about you, the better you can be targeted, and then, monetized. The British businessman Damian Bradfield, co-founder of WeTransfer, and the Spanish comics author David SÁnchez build an ironic dystopic world, disturbingly similar to ours, to explore the addictive effects of social media, the stealthy invasion of privacy, and the dangers of data misuse. With a wry acidic sense of humor, they blur the boundaries between the online and offline worlds and spin disturbingly recognizable tales about our overconnected society.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[Hannah]

A startling reminder that even though I don't know how to use my phone, it definitely knows how to use me. 3.5 stars

[Miguel Jiménez]

"Los años de internet" es una obra gráfica que sale de mezclar la distopía de Black Mirror + los personajes solitarios de Adrian Tomine y Daniel Clowes. Y no tiene pierde alguno.

Con historias independientes, critica, se burla y predice hasta dónde nos puede llevar nuestra relación con la tecnología. O bien, cómo los multimillonarios dominarán y echarán a perder el mundo (si no es que ya lo hicieron, vía Musk y Bezos).

Sorprende un poco que detrás de estas historias esté el fundador de WeTransfer, con un discurso muy crítico a la tecnología e internet. Aún así logra historias desafiantes, inquietantes y que se disfrutan en los trazos del gran David Sánchez, del que recomiendo muchísimo sus joyas lyncheanas "Tú me has matado" y "No cambies nunca".

[Lily]

Dark and clever, these illustrations depict a tech dystopia a bit like Black Mirror. I was amused, entertained, scared. One example being a salesperson appearing in other places trying to sell someone a pair of shoes, just as targeted surveillance advertising does, but in-person

[José Pascual]

Algo de demoníaco ha de tener la modernidad líquida cuando los iniciadores de la sociedad digital, aquellos que hoy consideramos pioneros por haber creado las redes sociales que controlan el mundo, desaconsejan de forma vehemente su utilización. Es fácil —y cobarde, dirían algunos— huir cuando has contribuido de manera decisiva a la generación de un monstruo incapaz de saciarse. Es fácil esconderse de tu propia criatura cuando esta ya es un gigante que, tarde o temprano, parece destinado a devorarnos a todos. Pero, al menos, un puñado de estos grandes “popes” tecnológicos parecen estar cambiando de bando para, esta vez sí, tratar de cambiar las cosas a mejor. El problema, quizá, es que todos intuimos que ya es demasiado tarde.

Los años de internet es un esfuerzo narrativo por denunciar la tiranía que las nuevas tecnologías —conviene recordar que ya no son tan nuevas— ejercen de manera decisiva. Damian Bradfield, fundador de la plataforma WeTransfer, se une aquí al español David Sánchez para empujarnos a una reflexión interna que nos lleve a alejarnos de pantallas, dispositivos y redes wifi. El modo en que internet controla nuestras vidas está en el punto de mira de todo el cómic, especialmente dirigido a las megacorporaciones que están sacando provecho de todo ello para “mejorar nuestras vidas”. Google, Apple y Amazon son las que más presencia tienen en las páginas de esta obra, y no quedan demasiado bien paradas.

Reseña completa en «Dentro del Monolito»: https://dentrodelmonolito.com/2022/01...

[Alasondro Alegré]

★★★½

[Ags]

I didn't always follow this, but when I did it was equal parts hilarious and unnerving.

[Jenna]

Surprisingly disturbing.

[Aftab]

Fun little graphic novel exploring the impact of social media on society.

[JoeMax]

L'idée est bonne, soit "Amazin" qui domine le monde, voire jusqu'à conquérir Mars, mais les dialogues sont mauvais.

Et ne parlons pas de la traduction...

[Fresca]

A dark cynical look into our current online reality

[Mikey]

I happened to pick this up based on the interesting name. Unfortunately the book didn't live up to the expectations I hoped for, but it wasn't terrible either. It's basically a topical, droll version of black mirror that flirts with the terrifying lengths corporations and governments might go to given increased technological capabilities without ever really getting seriously dark. There's already a lot of other stories that have taken these ideas and done more with them. Nonetheless, it's mildly entertaining and quirky with an art style that is equally middling. It's just okay, which is almost worse to me than being bad.

[Ayanna]

I wasn't expecting a graphic novel when I saw and requested this book online. It was a surprise and I'm not disappointed. I gotta say it was hilarious trying to spot the hidden ad at the apartment complex, wondering if I'd already gotten so used to seeing her I no longer could - much like real life.

I'm very "anti-branding" in my own personal space, I have even gone so far as to remove labels off of things (not food, medicine or cleaning supplies, but everything else) or cover them with stickers. I get overstimulated I suppose, but mostly I don't like being advertised to in my own home. It's nice to know that it isn't just me wondering how the outside world got in so uninvited.

[Sarah]

I enjoyed this, but it's not for every GN reader. This is a small collection of a couple of satirical scenarios, in a very-near-future setting. The stories require the reader to make a few leaps, to put a couple of details together on their own, so it's less appropriate for readers new to books with near-future sci-fi or technological and social commentary. Readers could use as a jumping-off point one of the new Futurama episodes, "Related to Items You've Viewed."

Colorful but unobtrusive illustrations. I really enjoyed the small details like the tiny but clear text on a form being held by one character, or store fronts and product packaging.

[Siena Magner]

*I received this graphic novel for free in a Goodreads giveaway*

Makes some great points about how terrifying the modernization of our world has become, and how technology is taking over. However, I can’t say I really enjoying the book. The illustrations were mediocre and it was surprisingly short for a graphic novel retailing at $17.99. The story wasn’t much better than the pictures either, I’m sorry to say.

[Brian]

2.5 stars, rounded down.

These little vignettes were entertaining enough, as far as they went, and they certainly make valid points. But they're not points that haven't been made before elsewhere ad nauseam, and I didn't really find anything especially compelling about the book.

[Lesli]

This was a fun book to read, and outside of my normal genre - a speculative/satirical look at online technology in a graphic novel format that was scarily close to reality.

[Lauren]

A tongue-in-cheek look at the absurdities of life in the age where companies cyberstalking you is considered smart marketing.

[M Aghazarian]

I wish there was an afterword. But I guess they figured everyone has enough context already

[C]

A clever collection of short stories about the technological dystopia in which we live, where owning physical media such as this is frowned upon.

[Isabel Bryan [the Bookmark Hoarder]]

A brief series of comics (or flash graphic novels, since they're so short) about how much apps or other technology actually knows about us, as well as a commentary on modern society.

[Montse]

Un black mirror un poco bizarre y espeluznante con unas imágenes limpias, colores agradables y ordenadas. Una combinación muy digerible que te provocará ciertos ardores.

[Caroline Harbour]

This is so deeply unsettling.

[Denisse]

Me dio risa y me asustó. Piola.

[Natalie]

Brilliant comment on our current digital world. It's a quick read. Local friends, it's available in hard copy at TPL

[Tom Hopkin]

Baffled by the positive ratings. Incredibly on-the-nose, lowest common denominator 'dystopia' tropes with below average art.

[Breña]

Kurze Comics in der Tradition von Black Mirror.
(Im Gegensatz zur Serie wird dieses Werk vermutlich nicht besonders lange nachwirken.)

[Sabrina]

Excellent social commentary about our current trajectory into AI and technological induced apocalypse/societal collapse. Highly recommend this quick little brain tickling read.

[Mary]

Shockingly accurate.

[Lora Radoycheva]

What a way to finish revising for exams … came across this randomly while studying material so relevant to this and it ties it all up just perfectly. Had I not been studying this for the last semester I wasn’t going to think much of it but when you know more about what’s going on in the digital realm it’s bitter-sweet.

[Bloom]

Molta mandra, i una mica de por també.