The Mark (Merking) by Fríða Ísberg (2021)

The novel is a story set in a slightly futuristic, dystopian version of Reykjavík, where customer service is predominantly handled by holograms, and a comprehensive virtual assistant named Zoé has replaced the likes of Siri and Alexa. The core of this society is the Empathy Test, which determines an individual’s status as either a “marked one” or an “unmarked,” essentially defining their place within society. Those who fail this test are ostracized and marginalized until they can pass it. The narrative unfolds in the third person, offering the perspectives of four central characters: Vetur, a thirty-two-year-old secondary school teacher grappling with severe PTSD due to her past experiences with a stalker ex-boyfriend; Eyja, a fifty-one-year-old woman who loses her job at Iceland’s largest investment firm after failing the Empathy Test; Ólafur Tandri, an influential member of the Icelandic Psychological Association and a political figure, leading a campaign to make the Empathy Test compulsory for all, even though his own marriage suffers as a result; and Tristan, a twenty-one-year-old who refuses to take the same test that led to his older brother’s incarceration.

At first, these characters appear unrelated, but as the story progresses, their lives become increasingly intertwined. In the opening chapter, we are introduced to Vetur, who exhibits severe symptoms of PTSD. She struggles to connect with her students and is haunted by her traumatic past, making her unable to pursue a romantic interest in a colleague. She has relocated to a “marked” neighbourhood, where only those who have passed the Empathy Test can reside. The school’s parents demand that all children take the test, reflecting the larger societal divide on whether passing the test should be a prerequisite for access to services, basic rights, and commodities. Eyja is profoundly affected by the test, particularly after it becomes mandatory for employees at major companies. Losing her job and her husband, Eyja’s life takes a downward spiral as she seeks to fill the void left by her husband through a failed, emotionless affair.

On the other end of the spectrum, Ólafur Tandri pushes for universal adoption of the Empathy Test, even though this initiative strains his own marriage. Not everyone supports his radical stance, as some believe the test is inherently flawed and divisive, focusing solely on emotional empathy and not intellectual empathy.