Publication Date: August 13, 2024
Aim for Neutrality. We Need Better Sources. Anonymity is Fundamental. Keep Developing.
The editors know these principles. The editors follow them—or subvert them—every day. The editors aren’t recognized on the street, but they craft the information that is seen on nearly every internet search. Through Infopendium, the ubiquitous, crowd-sourced internet encyclopedia, the editors influence the world.
Freelance journalist Morgan Wentworth, recently laid off from PopFeed News, attends the Global Infopendium Conference in New York expecting a straightforward story to help pay the rent. But the so-called “‘pendium people” are full of surprises. PhDs rub shoulders with high school students, all quoting the project’s rules and regulations like a second language. Sure, millions of people see the facts curated by these editors, but who really cares about the free encyclopedia?
When a hacker attacks the conference and posts a cryptic message, it becomes clear that somebody does. And Morgan decides to find out who. But the path through an online information war is far from clear. Foreign governments, billionaires, and a global virus threaten to sway the truth on Infopendium.
And far from Morgan’s sight, in places as different as Beijing and Kansas, some of the editors have plans of their own . . .
The Editors by Stephen Harrison is a suspense novel detailing the behind-the-scenes battles of the digital world. Infopendium is an online source for all information. While most editors and publishers on Infopendium strive for neutrality, some use it to push their own agendas.
Morgan Wentworth, a struggling journalist barely able to sustain her NYC lifestyle, stumbles upon an Infopendium forum where she meets Alex, a young, driven Infopendium editor who is constantly pushing for editors on Infopendium to “Aim for Neutrality.” The more Morgan learns about Infopendium and its editors, the more she uncovers about the underbelly and inner workings of the site.
When a worldwide pandemic strikes, Infopendium is shut down by a hacker and former disgruntled Infopendium user. With the help of Alex, Hildegard, and a few other Infopendium users, Morgan races to expose the true nature of Infopendium, the hacker, a famous billionaire, and the man who started it all.
Will Morgan and her friends expose the truth before it’s too late? Readers follow along as the story unfolds, secrets are uncovered, and characters narrowly escape with their lives.
The Editors is an interesting take on the modern world. To me, the Infopendium felt like a representation of Wikipedia or Reddit. With several people on the Internet trying to either share accurate information or advance their own agendas. So, why did I take away 1.5 stars? Find out below.
For me, this book gave me significant PTSD from living through the pandemic. Personally, I always feel that any show, book, or movie covering COVID-19 or a similar pandemic is far too soon. I already lived it, I don’t want to be reminded of it. The book’s articles, edits, and online chats made me feel like I was reading something online rather than a book.
I also felt the story wasn’t as suspenseful as it could have been. Most of the secrets were unveiled early, so while some of the characters were still in the dark, the readers already knew what was happening, which made the book feel like it dragged on.
However, while I didn’t particularly like the style and all-too-modern take on the book, it was very well done. It’s very representative of the digital world and how people manipulate stories and events to shine a different light on events and individuals. It’s a great lesson to people that when using the Internet, it’s vital to fact-check and ensure you are reading information from valuable sources.
The Editors is a must-read for lovers of digital media, reporting, suspense, and inner workings of the digital world.
Stephen Harrison (stephenharrison.com) is an accomplished writer and tech lawyer. His fiction and nonfiction pieces have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, and Slate magazine. For the past five years, he has penned the column “Source Notes” about Wikipedia and the world of facts on the internet. He is based in Dallas, Texas.
