The Distractions

With this thought-provoking work of speculative fiction, Monroy (The Marriage Act) examines social media addiction in an eerily plausible future. Mischa Osborn, creator of the failed project Alovue (an algorithm “capable of actual love”), now works as a ProWatcher for Reel, an immersive social channel that curates highlight reels of its users’ lives. During a ReelCon, Mischa meets and forms an unexpected IRL connection with “ReelStar” (read: influencer) Nicolás Adán “NicAdán” Luchano, who gives Mischa the impression that they will meet up in Mischa’s hometown of Brooklyn in a month. Then NicAdán tosses Mischa over for their rival, Mire D’Innit. Crushed, Mischa falls into a toxic obsession with both NicAdán and Mire, working to get as close to the ReelStar couple as possible by becoming the ProWatcher for Ari Dae Tyler, who curates the gallery that launched NicAdán’s career. Eventually, Mischa convinces Ari to let them do ProWatching sessions in person and heads to Los Angeles, where their jealousy sends them into a criminal spiral. Throughout all this, someone—or something—watches Mischa’s every move, and possibly even influences their actions. Monroy’s worldbuilding is both imaginative and resonant, and the balance of advanced technology to recognizable emotion feels just right. Fans of wry, dystopian near-future sci-fi should check this out. (Jan.)