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A review by vickycbooks
The City Inside by Samit Basu
I went into this knowing that a lot of people didn't actually enjoy it (3.2 is a depressingly low rating), but I was still intrigued by the premise and wanted to read it anyways.
And, after finishing the story, I can see why it hasn't appealed to the general audience -- the worldbuilding feels clunky, overburdened with loads of near-future dystopian references (I'm making these up, but think of things like AI cheer-up chatbots and neural-linked auto-responsive sex toys and nanotech fat reducing implants and whatever mashup of tech, science, and other jargon you can think of) that are mentioned off-hand and rarely delved into. While on the other hand, the relevant near-future technology (the concept of Flow being essentially social media, with Flowers (pronounced Flow-ers, not like flowers) being influencers) is, in my opinion, woefully underdiscussed.
The reader is essentially thrust into this world of Joey's where she's a "Reality Controller" -- which is essentially some near-future amalgamation of manager, social media consultant, video editor, script writer, and producer for Flow influencers. In the beginning, it can be hard to pick through all the worldbuilding and understand what is relevant and meaningful, and what's essentially atmospheric fluff.
But, even still, I did actually think the underlying concepts of the story were interesting. Basu essentially builds up this story of Joey, who wants to make meaningful change, but lives in a surveillance state where even your toothbrush spies on you and sends your data to outside parties, where hired cleaning services will bug your house, where everyone has smartatts that monitor your well being. She struggles with her parents -- who didn't grow up in a surveillance state and remembers times where rebellion could happen in outspoken ways, or at least could be discussed within the privacy of one's own home. She struggles with her own privilege of having a job managing an influencer who is her ex, the danger that her family's domestic helper is in when she goes to protests but doesn't let Joey come, and the inequalities around her. But the message is somewhat shrouded -- both because Joey herself isn't able to express these views in the surveillance state she lives in, and also because of Basu's chaotic worldbuilding.
Still, I felt like I was able to pick up on Joey's subtle thread of rebellion, so the direction the novella goes wasn't unsurprising. I liked how Rudra's story ties in as well, although he is more minor of a protagonist than Joey.
The heart of THE CITY INSIDE is something interesting and thought-provoking -- leading readers to question the nature of rebellion, data privacy, and where our world might go. But the execution will turn off many readers who will struggle with the overwhelming nature of this near-future dystopian world, its complex geopolitical landscape, and its plethora of ungrounded references.
And, after finishing the story, I can see why it hasn't appealed to the general audience -- the worldbuilding feels clunky, overburdened with loads of near-future dystopian references (I'm making these up, but think of things like AI cheer-up chatbots and neural-linked auto-responsive sex toys and nanotech fat reducing implants and whatever mashup of tech, science, and other jargon you can think of) that are mentioned off-hand and rarely delved into. While on the other hand, the relevant near-future technology (the concept of Flow being essentially social media, with Flowers (pronounced Flow-ers, not like flowers) being influencers) is, in my opinion, woefully underdiscussed.
The reader is essentially thrust into this world of Joey's where she's a "Reality Controller" -- which is essentially some near-future amalgamation of manager, social media consultant, video editor, script writer, and producer for Flow influencers. In the beginning, it can be hard to pick through all the worldbuilding and understand what is relevant and meaningful, and what's essentially atmospheric fluff.
But, even still, I did actually think the underlying concepts of the story were interesting. Basu essentially builds up this story of Joey, who wants to make meaningful change, but lives in a surveillance state where even your toothbrush spies on you and sends your data to outside parties, where hired cleaning services will bug your house, where everyone has smartatts that monitor your well being. She struggles with her parents -- who didn't grow up in a surveillance state and remembers times where rebellion could happen in outspoken ways, or at least could be discussed within the privacy of one's own home. She struggles with her own privilege of having a job managing an influencer who is her ex, the danger that her family's domestic helper is in when she goes to protests but doesn't let Joey come, and the inequalities around her. But the message is somewhat shrouded -- both because Joey herself isn't able to express these views in the surveillance state she lives in, and also because of Basu's chaotic worldbuilding.
Still, I felt like I was able to pick up on Joey's subtle thread of rebellion, so the direction the novella goes wasn't unsurprising. I liked how Rudra's story ties in as well, although he is more minor of a protagonist than Joey.
The heart of THE CITY INSIDE is something interesting and thought-provoking -- leading readers to question the nature of rebellion, data privacy, and where our world might go. But the execution will turn off many readers who will struggle with the overwhelming nature of this near-future dystopian world, its complex geopolitical landscape, and its plethora of ungrounded references.
Content Warnings
Content Warnings: rape, body modifications, genocide, surveillance state, trafficking, mentions of slavery, racism, classism, homophobia