Marvin Bergauer: Dystopian debut novel about trauma and chips in the head

Marvin Bergauer: Dystopian debut novel about trauma and chips in the head

In a Vienna that is increasingly characterized by technological progress and dystopian visions, the reporter and author Marvin Bergauer publishes his debut work “The Endless Will”. In his novel he processes his personal experiences with heart surgery, even though the book is not an autobiography. The plot unfolds in a future Austria where crime has skyrocketed to alarming levels. To counterbalance this, the government plans to implant chips into citizens' brains to reconstruct crimes and thus reduce crime rates. Bergauer combines his personal insights with a captivating, fictional plot that makes the reader think. [My district reports that...]

The focus of the book is not the technological intervention or the government, but rather the deep emotions and conflicts of four characters. Phil and Ben Hildmann fight against the disintegration of their family, while Chloe joins a resistance movement that fights against the implanted chips. Levin, who also had to undergo heart surgery, is taking a completely different path than Bergauer. The fates of the characters initially live side by side, but become linked in a moving way as the story progresses.

Of cyborgs and human identity

The novel also casts shadows on the changing human identity in the age of technology. Professor Christof Niemeyer from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology defines cyborgs as living beings with technical implants that improve their functions. This of course raises the question: Where does man end and machine begin? The idea that technologies such as pacemakers or even signal processing implants will become part of our biological existence is no longer far-fetched, but a real possibility. Cyborg research, previously often anchored in the world of science fiction or the military, is beginning to enter the public discourse. Deutschlandfunk explains that...

The latest technical developments, such as brain-computer interfaces (BCI), make it possible to transform thoughts into physical actions. The example of a woman who can control a robot using an electrode array in her brain illustrates how close we are to a fusion of humans and technology. The ethical concerns that arise here cannot be ignored, especially when considering possible abuses and the freedom of morphological self-expression. Neil Harbisson, who defines himself as a cyborg, is already demanding rights for people who live with technical implants.

Fortech visions and human challenges

The discussion surrounding cyborgs and technological implants is also reflected in Bergauer's novel. The theory of “endless will” that Bergauer develops in his book could be understood as a philosophical examination of the inner conflicts of the characters and the changing identity of the individual in a technological world. The company Gregor Demblin, who can walk again with an exoskeleton, shows how far the technology has already come and how it can significantly improve the quality of life for people with paralysis. These developments could not only expand our medical options, but also fundamentally change the way we think about human physical and psychological existence. DerPragmaticus reports that…

“The Endless Will” costs 21.90 euros and is available online. With the first part of his trilogy, Marvin Bergauer not only demonstrates his literary skills, but also brings to the table the important social questions about the connection between people and technology.