Review: The Capsule by Olga Loukianova

As our world continues to be increasingly reliant on technology, the fear of losing one’s individuality is similarly growing. Author Olga Loukianova presses hard on that slow-burning wound with her dystopian novel, The Capsule, a chilling take on the fate our species.

During the so-called “Age of Perfection,” life has been simplified and streamlined. People exist within perfect capsules, where all their physiological needs are met and managed by Systema, the technological savior of humanity. Interaction with reality outside the capsules is discouraged, and in most cases, unnecessary, as you can instead exist in Net City, which offers all the emotional support of friends, family members and partners, as well as all the entertainment and distraction one could ever desire.

For Liza, life is easy and effortless, until a tiny crack in her dystopian illusion begins to spread, shaking the very foundations of her reality – and society itself. After leaving her capsule and attempting to interact in real life with her partner, the shimmering facade of Net City becomes tarnished, but when that same boyfriend ends up dead, Liza becomes determined to uncover the truth.

The government, under the guiding genius of the Wise Ruler, has sold the idea of paradise to the occupants of the United State of Earth, but as is always the case, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. As Liza begins stepping further into reality, rather than the digital prison of Net City, she encounters others seeking answers, and a fellowship begins to form. The question, of course, is whether it’s too late for the human race: if the powers that be have found a way to control billions, what can a handful of rebellious minds really achieve?

As can be imagined by the premise alone, The Capsule is prescient, plausible, and unsettling. People’s dependence on technology has grown inexorably in recent years, with no sign of stopping, and Loukianova brilliantly straddles the line between far-flung science fiction and present-day fears. Living in self-sustaining pods, separated from the rest of the world, may feel far off when taken literally, but there is no denying that people already exist in their own tiny worlds when they’re buried in their phones and the artificial reality of social media. Philosophical questions related to power, control, governmental oversight, artificial intelligence, and individual will are explored in artful detail, leaving readers with a host of hard questions after they pass the final, brutal twist in this tale.

While the plot development is excellent, there are a few weak points, including the flow of syntax and dialogue in certain scenes. The translation from Russian is generally very good, but the occasional slips in normal patterns of speech can be distracting, and another thorough editing sweep would make the book truly shine for an English audience. Additionally, the story does seem slightly derivative of other dystopian novels and cinematic productions in recent years, from “The Matrix” to Ready Player One. Paying homage to a classic story or honoring a familiar set piece is one thing, but the author should be careful not to pull too strongly from other storytellers within the genre.

That being said, The Capsule is a disturbing and timely work of dystopian science fiction that can even be read as an alarming reflection of the world today.