Great collection of short stories. I like the last one (Masque of the Red Death) best, it was the most pointed and vicious and felt like it was a bit of catharsis on Doctorow's part. The main character in the first (Unauthorized Bread) was a little too much of an author proxy to be believable but I appreciated the world building. It's a solid dystopian read with left wing leanings, and there's nothing wrong with that.
I was ready to love this book b/c 'Little Brother' and 'For the Win' were amazing novels that both reflected the times we're in, and taught me a lot (about computers, networks, unions, economics and much more). Plus I truly admire his principles in action where copyright is concerned. But maybe I've grown-up, and he hasn't? This set of short stories is classified as fiction (his other novels are under YA) but the jargon and pat-phrases were so contemporary as to be meaningless. I mean, saying a character doesn't have any f*ucks to give only locates the story firmly in 2019/2020; it doesn't actually contribute to character insight - is it frustration? bravado? a signal they're 'cool'? I now question my own admiration for Doctorow's stories - I read Little Brother in 2010 and For the Win in 2012 when I was firmly in the culture's hegemony - I now …
I was ready to love this book b/c 'Little Brother' and 'For the Win' were amazing novels that both reflected the times we're in, and taught me a lot (about computers, networks, unions, economics and much more). Plus I truly admire his principles in action where copyright is concerned. But maybe I've grown-up, and he hasn't? This set of short stories is classified as fiction (his other novels are under YA) but the jargon and pat-phrases were so contemporary as to be meaningless. I mean, saying a character doesn't have any f*ucks to give only locates the story firmly in 2019/2020; it doesn't actually contribute to character insight - is it frustration? bravado? a signal they're 'cool'? I now question my own admiration for Doctorow's stories - I read Little Brother in 2010 and For the Win in 2012 when I was firmly in the culture's hegemony - I now read more critically and more deeply into subjects. there is no neat line between the good guys and the bad. Now for the specifics: I thought the underpinnings of 'Unauthorized Bread' was genius: licensing and jail-breaking of appliances, and the monetization of refugee programs are right in the Doctorow wheelhouse and were fleshed out well. The ending was juvenile but the bones were good. 'Model Minority' was too reminiscent of 'The Boys' and didn't really do anything other than stew in white guilt. 'Radicalized' made me wonder, in surprise, why no one has tried domestic terrorism wrt health care (Doctorow explains that himself when he reveals local police are now informed when an insurance claim is refused). He then cheats with an ending that is supposed to be 'happy' when it is entirely chilling that the message is: violence works. 'The Masque of the Red Death' was the weakest piece with an almost glee at designating a bad guy and watching him fail.
This was very nearly 5 stars. 4 novellas that are not so much science fiction as commentary on our time. An important commentary is held within these stories, to be sure. They are quick and entertaining reads. I did each one in a comfortable pre-bed reading session. The first tale is about refugees and technology. About how freedom is actually free. The second tale skewers the mythos of superheroes and about how there are just some problems you can't punch your way through. The third tale is a rage inducing indictment of American healthcare and posits a situation that I am surprised we have not seen already. The final tale takes on doomsday preppers and how, in a crisis, selfishness is not the way to go. This one is particulary apt right now. I got this as a signed hardback (because they were going cheap) and it was well worth …
This was very nearly 5 stars. 4 novellas that are not so much science fiction as commentary on our time. An important commentary is held within these stories, to be sure. They are quick and entertaining reads. I did each one in a comfortable pre-bed reading session. The first tale is about refugees and technology. About how freedom is actually free. The second tale skewers the mythos of superheroes and about how there are just some problems you can't punch your way through. The third tale is a rage inducing indictment of American healthcare and posits a situation that I am surprised we have not seen already. The final tale takes on doomsday preppers and how, in a crisis, selfishness is not the way to go. This one is particulary apt right now. I got this as a signed hardback (because they were going cheap) and it was well worth it. Definitely recommended.
