Daniel Wisser's Smart City exposes a dystopian future too close for comfort

A journalist's flight into a surveillance state reveals chilling truths. Could NEUDA's dystopia be our future if extremism goes unchecked?

, and Administrator

2026 March 27 . 10:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a city street with a bus driving down it, surrounded by buildings with windows,... — The image shows a city street with a bus driving down it, surrounded by buildings with windows, electric poles with wires, light poles, a fence, grass, trees, and a sky with clouds in the background.

Daniel Wisser's Smart City exposes a dystopian future too close for comfort

Daniel Wisser's Smart City paints a chilling picture of a near-future dystopia. The novel follows NEUDA, a high-tech city east of Vienna, where surveillance and control replace freedom. Despite its futuristic promises, the city hides a darker reality beneath its polished surface. NEUDA operates under the tight grip of Tucana, a powerful tech conglomerate. The company enforces order through constant monitoring, leaving little room for privacy. Security is handled by a private firm—another branch of Tucana—ensuring no challenge goes unchecked.

A protester's death at a rally exposes the city's brutal side. Yet, elections still take place, offering a fragile hope against full authoritarian rule. The story also follows Morag Oliphant, a journalist who flees to NEUDA after her family is murdered in Vienna. Unlike real smart cities in Europe, which focus on sustainability and convenience, NEUDA bans cars, fossil fuels, and migration. Wisser's novel serves as a warning, showing how neoconservative extremists could reshape society. The book urges readers to recognise the risks before such a world becomes reality.

Wisser's Smart City blends fiction with a stark caution. NEUDA's blend of surveillance, repression, and false democracy mirrors real-world threats. The novel leaves readers questioning how close society might be to such a future—and what can still be done to stop it.