{"product_id":"zero-sum-conclusion-paperback","title":"Zero Sum Conclusion - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eThomas Lopinski\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eZero Sum Conclusion\u003c\/em\u003e delivers a chilling vision of America's future, rooted in the political fractures and digital dependencies of today. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e ​​​​​​​Set in 2068, after a brief but catastrophic Second Civil War, the nation has been rebuilt-not through reconciliation, but through social scoring, forced civility, and algorithmic control. The government, now in partnership with tech conglomerate MAGMA, enforces peace through Demeanor Scores, a system that monitors behavior, language, and even tone, rewarding compliance and punishing dissent. In a stark reflection of our increasingly polarized and surveilled society, every citizen must choose at age eighteen: take a million-dollar payout and live with limited protections (Front-Loader), or work three decades in a state-approved job for delayed security (Back-Ender).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Edgar Gorman, a longtime FBI agent and Back-Ender, represents those who have conformed, complied, and trusted the system. But when his wife-a Front-Loader-is denied care and dies under the guise of cost efficiency, Edgar's loyalty begins to unravel. What follows is a descent into state-mandated therapy, flagged records, and a shrinking Demeanor Score that threatens to exile him. As Edgar uncovers evidence of memory manipulation and psychological profiling, he becomes a threat not because of his actions, but because of his grief-now considered subversive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Thomas Lopinski's novel is less science fiction than a prophetic examination of where unchecked technological governance and political polarization may lead us. With sharp parallels to today's debates over AI surveillance, healthcare inequality, digital censorship, and the weaponization of patriotism, \u003cem\u003eZero Sum Conclusion\u003c\/em\u003e is a dire warning wrapped in a character-driven thriller. It asks: what happens when \"keeping the peace\" becomes indistinguishable from state control-and when emotional authenticity becomes a punishable act?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eZero Sum Conclusion\u003c\/em\u003e is a compelling, dystopian mystery for readers of \u003cem\u003eThe Circle\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e The Black Mirror, 1984\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Giver\u003c\/em\u003e, or \u003cem\u003eFahrenheit 451\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 362\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.81 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 15, 2024\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52555821744435,"sku":"9798989253685","price":28.53,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/nqC5T4C18p9798989253685.webp?v=1782928386","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/en-ca\/products\/zero-sum-conclusion-paperback","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}