WAYNE'S 2024 BOOKS: BOOKS 17 to 20
(all by Cory Doctorow, aka @pluralistic )
Because I got some last minute work on New Year's Eve and missed out on writing proper reviews and have to take the kid to fireworks in a half hour, you get... speed reviews! Huzzah!
17) For the Win
by Cory Doctorow
Loved it. MMORPG teenage gold farmers unionise and fight back against the stinky adults abusing their labour for profit without sharing the wealth. Great detail, fantastic characters; I was engrossed and even gasped a few times! Technically a YA book but the only thing YA about it is that there was no sexytime. If you can get a YA to read this, don't be surprised that they fight back against their capitalist oppressors before long. Yay!
18) Little Brother
by Cory Doctorow
Another technically YA book, about late teens getting entangled in a terrorist attack on the Bay Bridge in LA... but the real enemy turns out to be the Department of Homeland Security. This book is the first in a series where I read the third book first, then had an abortive start on the second, before finally working out this was the first. Duh. The main character is super smart but still has stuff to learn about life, as do we all.
19) Homeland
by Cory Doctorow
More about Marcus, the protagonist of Little Brother, as a false flag attack at Burning Man brings his DHS nemesis back into his life. Another enjoyable YA-ish romp!
20) Lawful Interception / The Canadian Miracle / Vigilant / Spill
Cory Doctorow
4 novellas by Cory Doctorow that I'm packaging as one book, some featuring Marcus Yallow from For the Win and Homeland. Each had a great central idea, and was a perfect nugget of edutainment. Highly recommended and mostly available free online!
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