The novel “Circadian Algorithms” by Tom B. Night was published for the first time in 2022.
Madeline is the CEO of a startup that is in a crucial period for its success. Time never seems to be enough, so she undergoes a procedure that significantly reduces her need for sleep. She does so in secret, not even telling her husband, Darwin, because she knows he has his own reasons for doubting the procedure.
Initially, everything seems to be going well for Madeline, but an encounter with a stranger seems to mark the beginning of her problems in telling reality from dreams. When she confesses to her husband what she has done, Darwin reacts badly, and Madeline decides to divorce him. Darwin thinks something strange is going on, and soon it affects his life as well.
“Circadian Algorithms” is based on neuroscientific concepts connected to circadian rhythms, which, among other things, regulate sleep-wake cycles. Tom B. Night develops some ideas exploring fictional intersections between reality and dreams. The movie “Inception” is also referenced in the novel, and there are certainly some thematic similarities, but the author develops the dream-related themes in his own way. This also includes some philosophical discussions regarding the nature of sentience.
The chapters alternate between Madeline and Darwin’s points of view, developing a thriller in which science fiction elements become increasingly prominent. The reader quickly understands the motivations behind their actions and what starts going wrong.
For Madeline, the problem is finding the time to make her company successful, and to do so, she’s willing to secretly undergo a procedure that is legal in certain countries only. She finds the risk worth taking, but she couldn’t have foreseen the consequences.
Darwin believes he was cheated of the glory, and perhaps even a Nobel Prize, for having conceived the procedure because the neuroscientist who supervised him while he was pursuing his doctorate took all the credit. He has never overcome his bitterness over what happened and believes he knows all the risks associated with the procedure. However, he ends up being manipulated in various ways because he hasn’t seen beyond the purely medical issues for too long.
The plot gradually erodes the boundaries between the world we know while we’re awake and the dream world. This makes the story increasingly dreamlike, blurring the concept of reality, to say the least. This makes it even more difficult for the protagonists to understand who is behind the manipulations in events that unfold at an accelerating pace, with much action and twists.
Tom B. Night also shows the various ethical and moral implications, initially surrounding the medical procedure and its legality, and later surrounding the events involving the protagonists. The development of any major technology has seen ruthless individuals attempt to exploit each of them to gain power and wealth, so it’s easy to imagine that the various “tech bros” who have risen to prominence in recent years could very well be the villains of this novel.
Overall, “Circadian Algorithms” seems to me a well-crafted novel that blends action, scientific speculation, and even a bit of philosophy. For these reasons, it requires attention while reading it, especially considering the blurring of the boundaries with the world of dreams. If these themes interest you, I recommend reading it. You can find it on Amazon USA, UK, and Canada.
