Heimska

In addition to social media prominent at the time of the novel's composition (Facebook, Instagram and Skype are all mentioned, for example), it is usual for people to install webcams throughout their homes, enabling others to watch them at will.

The main characters are Áki and Leníta Talbot, a narcissistic, sex-obsessed couple around their late thirties, who are also among Iceland's pre-eminent novelists, and whose fractious relationship has for most of their careers generated the artistic inspiration that each needs.

(Chapter XLVI, apparently a review of the books, partly reproduced on the cover of Heimska, provides explicit commentary on the pomposity of two white authors largely ignorant of Islam writing this story.)

Both enter a period of profound creative block and devote their energies to trying to hurt each other emotionally, principally by sending each other video footage of themselves having sex with other people.

The power-cut is followed by an email sent to most of the country's citizens claiming that one Birta Sóllilja has cut the power in order to promote calmer lifestyles and a more viable future.

The team successfully applies for a grant to hire the Finnish computer hacker Sirpa Hietala, whose politics are inspired by the controversial deep ecologist Pentti Linkola, and move to Ísafjörður to undertake their artistic project, working in the same disused factory as Áki.