Social Media Gone Wild: The Affinities

The Affinities - Robert Charles Wilson

I've heard sociologists bemoan the phenomenon of the internet in general and of social media in specific. Many are concerned that society, rather than being enhanced by this alleged interconnection, is actually harmed as society devolves into self-identified fractions and factions. One need only consider the conservative and liberal “echo chambers” to know that many people now choose to – at least online – associate only with others who share their beliefs and values. As speculative fiction writers so often do, Robert Charles Wilson has decided to comment on such fractionation; the result is The Affinities.

Adam Fisk never fit particularly well with his kin. As soon as he was old enough, he left the somewhat well-to-do merchant family in upstate New York to pursue art. When his grandmother, the only supportive member of the Fisk family, passed away, he thought his fling was over. That was before he tested as a Tau…