In this chapter, co-authored by Andrea Rosales and Sara Suárez-Gonzalo at CNSC_IN3, UOCinfocom, delves into the imaginaries of automated futures as depicted in Marc-Uwe Kling‘s science fiction novel QualityLand. Focusing on the protagonist, Peter Jobless, the analysis explores themes such as loss of freedom, forced digitalization, techno-optimism, hyper-datafication of daily life, and the threats that data-driven systems pose to democracy. By examining these narratives, the study highlights societal fears and concerns regarding current digital technologies and their potential impact on future technological developments.
Rosales, Andrea and Suárez-Gonzalo, Sara. “Chapter 3 Peter’s Problem. An Analysis of the Imaginaries about Automated Futures Portrayed in QualityLand”. The De Gruyter Handbook of Automated Futures: Imaginaries, Interactions and Impact, edited by Vaike Fors, Martin Berg and Meike Brodersen, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2024, pp. 37-54. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110792256-003