Little Brother
Ratings136
Average rating3.9
My first Cory Doctorow book. It reads like a technoparanoiac's fanfic about a slightly-counterfactual near-history, mashing up Anonymous and Occupy. This is one of those YA novels that is hard for adults to appreciate. I did not find it enriching to read a 17-year-old's rants about LARPing, city planning or basic crypto principles. It's also sort of distracting how the story seems to take place around 2008 (when the book was first published) so the technology described in it sounds just slightly obsolete. However, overall, the story moves fast and is fairly entertaining. I imagine it'd make a pretty good movie.
There's a lot to like in this story about a teen trapped in 1984ish hell courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security. Accurate descriptions of technology. A believable telling of our near future. Revolting against ‘The Man.' LARPing. Vampire LARPing. Vampire LARPing in San Francisco. I could go on.
The main character, Marcus, is written a little too perfect to be believable. Still, would recommend to geeky teens or teens looking for a good book written from a male POV.
A great place to start for those who are interested in how security systems and government policies affects normal people.
Addressed as a fairly young novel a subject of great and current concern.
Very good and real information. Looking forward to the next one. Homeland.
Could do without the “how the internet and cryptography works” infodumps... I'd give it 2,5 stars, but having to chose 2 or 3 I say 3.
Doctorow's first YA novel is a post 9/11 story looking at the effects of the “war on terror” and the increased surveillance North Americans have been under since then. It's a good, fun story with a punky, “stick it to the man” kind of attitude that teaches its youthful audience to be healthily cautious of authority.
Of course, this being a Cory Doctorow novel, you at times get the feeling that you'‘re reading an essay on internet privacy issues as much as you are a sci-fi story, but that's simply the man's style - either you accept it or you don't. It seems to stick out a little more because the protagonist, Marcus, is only 17, and he seems to be one of the smartest, more well-informed 17 year olds you'll ever meet, but I think that's because he's meant to be seen as a heroic figure for the primary audience.
An extremely interesting dystopia that is modeled after the current times and addresses the computer age that we have found ourselves in. I loved this main character and the rebellion he inadvertantly started. I love when a book inspires you to do better.
Agree with msdaisylaurel's review. I had heard such great things about Cory, but the transphobia completely turned me off. No nuance either. Maybe his newer stuff is better.
Oh my God. I was not thrilled when this book was assigned for my YA lit class because I did not think some book about teenage hackers was going to be my cup of tea. But actually it was an incredible read. I read it all in one day because I could not put it down. (Okay and also I had a 6-hour flight that day.) Super intense and very believable.
Oh and it made me way paranoid about, like, everything. READ THIS, even if you don't like computers, or if you don't like YA lit, or like, whatever. Read it.
Fascinating and thought-provoking concept, but the tell-don't-show style of writing gets tedious.
I guess perspective makes a huge difference to the books you read. Being from the populous part of the world, the premise of this book itself does not raise any connect with me and once this happens you can't really understand what the big deal is about. What does Marcus so protective about? What is the issue if people know you surf porn/hacking sites/search random stuff. What is the deal about people using data to track you? The rest of the book thus seems like a mix of theories from the web put together to explain the future and current technologies. Cory does a good job of blurring what is currently available and what will happen in the future and that's about all I give this book points for.
Short review: good fictional look at issues of privacy, government over-reach, cyber-security, civil liberties, all wrapped up in a young adult book. Mostly very good, but can veer into the propaganda feel occasionally.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/little-brother/
Marcus on nuori mies, joka sattuu väärään paikkaan väärään aikaan. Marcus on kavereidensa kanssa livistänyt koulusta pelaamaan ARG-peli Harajuku Fun Madnessia, kun San Franciscossa tapahtuu massiivinen terrori-isku. Marcuksen kaveri loukkaantuu, mutta kun kaverit yrittävät pyytää apua, Department of Homeland Security nappaa heidät talteen epäiltyinä terrori-iskuista ja kuljettaa jonnekin aggressiivisiin kuulusteluihin, joissa ei tavallisista pidätettyjen oikeuksista ole tietoa.
Marcus ei katoa järjestelmän pyörteisiin, vaan pääsee vapaaksi. DHS lupaa kuitenkin pitää Marcuksen tekemisiä silmällä. Marcus ei lannistu, vaan aloittaa vastarintaliikkeen. DHS on tehnyt San Franciscosta poliisivaltion ja piinaa terrorismin vastaisen sodan nimissä viattomia kaupunkilaisia. DHS on muun muassa laittanut Marcuksen läppärin tarkkailuun. Marcus ei hätkähdä, vaan rakentaa Xboxista ja vahvasti salatusta Linuxista Xnet-verkon, jota DHS ei pysty vakoilemaan. Pikkuhiljaa Marcuksesta tulee jonkinlainen vallankumousjohtaja, joka organisoi vastarintaa DHS:ää kohtaan.
Little Brother on nuortenkirjaksi tuhti paketti. Se on vallankumouksellinen ja opettavainen. Se kannustaa vastustamaan mielivaltaa ja yksityisyyden loukkaamista epämääräisen yleisen hyvän nimissä. Kirjaan mahtuu paljon luennointia tarpeellisista asioista, kuten kansalaisoikeuksista ja kryptografiasta. Se on julma kuva kylmästä tulevaisuudesta – tai nykypäivästä, kyllä maailmaan näin hullua menoa terrorismin (ja piratismin ja lapsipornon) vastaisen taistelun nimissä mahtuu. Little Brother on moderni version Vuonna 1984:stä ja sellaisena sekä pelottava että tarpeellinen.
Kirjan saa ekirjana ilmaiseksi Doctorow'n nettisivuilta. (7.3.2012)