Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present - Softcover

Doctorow, Cory

3.8

2,495 ratings by Goodreads

9781560259817: Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1560259817 ISBN 13: 9781560259817

Publisher: Running Press, 2007

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Have you ever wondered what it's like to get bitten by a zombie? To live through a bioweapon attack? To have every aspect of your life governed by invisible ants? In Cory Doctorow's collection of novellas, he wields his formidable experience in technology and computing to give us mindbending sci-fi tales that explore the possibilities of information technology — and its various uses — run amok. "Anda's Game" is a spin on the bizarre new phenomenon of "cyber sweatshops," in which people are paid very low wages to play online games all day in order to generate in-game wealth, which can be converted into actual money. Another tale tells of the heroic exploits of "sysadmins" — systems administrators — as they defend the cyber-world, and hence the world at large, from worms and bioweapons. And yes, there is a story about zombies, too.

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About the Author:

Cory Doctorow is the author of three science fiction novels, DOWN AND OUT IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM, EASTERN STANDARD TRIBE, and SOMEONE COMES TO TOWN, SOMEONE LEAVES TOWN, and the short story collection A PLACE SO FOREIGN AND EIGHT MORE. He is the co-founder of boingboing.com. "Anda's Game," from this collection, was chosen by Michael Chabon for BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2005.

Review:

''Cory Doctorow straps on his miner's helmet and takes you deep into the caverns and underground rivers of pop culture, here filtered through SF-colored glasses. Enjoy.'' --Neil Gaiman

''He sparkles! He fizzes! He does backflips and breaks the furniture! Science fiction needs Cory Doctorow.'' --Bruce Sterling, award-winning author and one of the founders of the cyberpunk genre

''Cory Doctorow is just far enough ahead of the game to give you the authentic chill of the future . . . Funny as hell and sharp as steel.'' --Warren Ellis, author of Transmetropolitan

''Doctorow is rapidly emerging as the William Gibson of his generation.'' --Entertainment Weekly

''Doctorow's intimate knowledge of the techno-cyberculture gives his stories more credibility than a casual reader might think: it doesn't take a hardcore SF fan to believe that zombies, invisible ants, a 3D-printer world, video-game sweatshops, and global catastrophe may be lurking just around the corner . . . All of the tales contain provocative scenarios and believable, nonconformist protagonists. Smart, entertaining, and at the vanguard of the genre.'' --Bookmarks magazine

''This collection shows a stunning talent coming into his own, balancing good storytelling and contemporary technology near perfectly. . . These stories reflect a wicked sense of humor, clear knowledge of contemporary problems, and an understanding of the way good SF works.'' --Booklist (starred review)

''An unabashed promulgator of the Internet and its democratic potential, Doctorow explores the benefits and consequences of online systems in this provocative collection . . . Most 'meat'-minded readers will find much to savor.'' --Publishers Weekly

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