The story
Richard Powers's novel, The Echo Maker (2006), tells the
story of
Mark Schluter, a young man of 27 who is nearly killed in an accident
with his truck. He recovers but seems to be suffering from Capgras, a
condition in which the patient believes that some of his loved ones have
been replaced by doubles. Mark thinks his sister Karin has been
replaced by someone who looks exactly like Karin, but he is certain she
is only a robot or a stand-in. He calls her Kopy Karin and Karbon Karin.
The evolution of the syndrome is far from positive. The condition seems
to spread. Mark begins to believe it is not just Karin who has been
replaced. His dog, his house, his old town and some of his best friends
all seem to be replaced by stand ins.