“You have such an odd relationship to your environment," mused the man. "Such a paranoid relationship. You seem intent on existing in smaller and smaller spaces, filled with more and more gadgets, with the mistaken impression that this will give you more control over your lives. There's something a little impious about it."

"Nothing wrong with gadgets," muttered Alif.

"No, except that they're not magic," said the man, "and a lot of you seem to believe they should be.”