The Word Exchange

Alena Graedon’s brilliantly witty dystopian novel “The Word Exchange” is set in a not-too-distant future. The predicted “death of print” has arrived on this planet. Books, libraries, newspapers, and magazines have been superseded by Memes, which are portable electronic devices. In addition to facilitating continuous communication, these memes produce and distribute language on a platform known as the Word Exchange.

Anana Johnson sets out on a quest to locate her father, Doug, when he vanishes and leaves behind a mysterious hint. She encounters the “word flu,” an epidemic of collapsing language, as she works to solve the riddle. The book is a technological thriller as well as a reflection on the cultural consequences of digital technology.