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robotech_masterSo, I read Cory Doctorow's Little Brother today (made available for free on-line by Doctorow himself). Interesting piece of writing, with young adult characters who are reasonably believable in the choices and mistakes they make. There's some interesting technological gimmickery in it, too, much of which is not too far from reality. Also, an interesting history lesson about the Yippie counterculture of the '60s and '70s.
Its one big flaw is the flaw common to much libertarian political SF: the bad guys (Homeland Security) are painted as universally, almost cartoonishly eeevil ratbastards rather than the ordinary folks with feet of clay they (probably) are in real life. It feels like the book is knocking down straw men in the service of its political thesis, especially since the DHS villains take some measures in the book that they have not (yet) done in real life. But I suppose you could say Doctorow is advising people on what to do when and if they do take those measures.
Anyway, I read it for free and don't feel like I got short-changed. So I guess that's something.
Its one big flaw is the flaw common to much libertarian political SF: the bad guys (Homeland Security) are painted as universally, almost cartoonishly eeevil ratbastards rather than the ordinary folks with feet of clay they (probably) are in real life. It feels like the book is knocking down straw men in the service of its political thesis, especially since the DHS villains take some measures in the book that they have not (yet) done in real life. But I suppose you could say Doctorow is advising people on what to do when and if they do take those measures.
Anyway, I read it for free and don't feel like I got short-changed. So I guess that's something.
