Alexey Polyarionov’s novel resembles a complex system of lakes. It contains cyberpunk, and the majestic constructions of David Mitchell, and Borges, and David Foster Wallace… But its heroes—young journalists, a hacker, and an artist—live in Moscow and, as best they can, resist the coming of this brave new world. And they protect the center of gravity—of themselves, their families, and their homeland—how they can.