BTW: This short story from 1955 (The Tunnel Under the World) has some thought-provoking parallels to socially-created "synthetic people" (corporations), and perhaps the way corporations (and the 10% of the population who own them) control our perspectives (and our place in society).
It's about 25 pages. 30 minutes to read. You won't regret it.
That novella was a great read. Thanks for the recommendation. -- "I love mankind. It's people I can't stand."