The novel “Analog/Virtual and Other Simulations of Your Future” by Lavanya Lakshminarayan was published for the first time in 2020.

When the nations collapse, corporations take direct control of the cities that survive. Bell Corp has reshaped one of these cities, Bangalore, giving it the new name of Apex City, a place ruled by meritocracy where hard workers can ascend to the higher levels of the new society.

The citizens of Apex City can take advantage of the advanced technologies that have been developed, which allow among other things to conduct their activities in a virtual way. The ones who don’t commit themselves enough and fail, are deported and are forced to live among the Analogs, where they lack modern technologies.