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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN num: 9781560259817
ISBN number: 1560259817
Label: Running Press
Manufacturer: Running Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 304
Printing Date: January 31, 2007
Publishing house: Running Press
Sale Popularity Level: 86570
Studio: Running Press
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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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Rated by buyers 
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I own and have read all of Cory's novels and short story collections but one. Little Brother is actually on its way from Amazon as I type this. I hope to start reading it this weekend.
Cory writes excellent fiction. His short stories are smart and engaging. His novels are a lot quirky and innovative, but still pay homage to the classics of the genre. I can't compare him to Gibson or Sterling or Card or Asimov. He is closest in my mind to Neal Stephenson, because Cory, like Neal, is a techy that knows his stuff. But still Cory doesn't go that route. Cory is his own dude, he doesn't try to copy or be like anybody but himself, and it shows.
Rated by buyers 
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I bought this book while on a buying binge. Usually, on these binges, I buy books only if they are by Canadians. Homesickness, I guess, here take two novels and go to bed.
I loved this book, not because at some point in his life Doctorow was/is Canadian (if anything, I hold my compatriots to higher standards), but because the stories were fast, funny, and deep. Freaking amazing.
I loved having I, Robot subsequent to I, Row-Boat. It reminds me of dropping a single drop of some bizarre chemical into a series of solutions and then documenting what happens. I think I did that once in high school.
Happily, I can re-read the book, a rare treat for me. Each story struck a high note for me:
Printcrime was a tad odd, but the punch line was worth the overdramatic scene leading up to it.
When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth had me laughing and crying. The tech-talk would have gotten to me, except the love and admiration for a simple cpu brought it all home. An interesting conjunction with or simile for what else was going on.
I loved Anda's Game. I could probably exceed my 300 words on Anda's game alone.
After the Seige was a disturbing addition, but one that I'm glad was included. The insight and the gentle touch mark how important this story is.
I have to go now and get my copy back from my wife who is taking too long reading it.
Rated by buyers 
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Cory Doctorow reminds me of the kid in class who always thought he was just a little bit smarter, hipper and cooler than everyone else. Yes, he was a geek, but a cool geek. The stories contained in this collection range from good to ridiculous and I'll opine on each separately. NOTE: Like many a Canadian who has settled in the US, he likes to make us the bad guys in his stories while sucking up the good old US$.
When Sysadmins Ruled the World: there is way too much geek-speak in this one for anyone but a geek. The story itself ends a little to sweetly to make a good story -- some people lived happily ever after, but everyone turned out ok.
Anda's Game: This would be an interesting story to expand. It is very anti-NAFTA and is about as subtle as a brick through a glass window. The use of a girl pre-teen character makes Cory a very 'liberated' man, but doesn't make the story any stronger. Gee girls can be Geeks too. Wow!
I, Robot: as a respectful reader of Isaac Asimov I resent the use of his works for this badly conceived and executed story. US bad people, they try to turn country into "Orwellian 1984". Don't like it go back to Canada, not one invited you here in the very first place. China is going to be the bastion of freedom and independence? Is that before or after they poison all of our food, and destroy our children with lead paint and put drugs as coatings on their toys?
I, Row-boat: for get this. Dadaism prided itself in the rejection of logic and reason. Well that seems to fit this story. It's a long way from Theater of the Absurd, to just plain unintelligible. Reminds me of the poems that 'beatniks' read in the sixties...heavy.
After the Siege: once again the hero(ine) of the plot revolves around a teenage girl (who gets her very first period and bra during the story, for what reason???) who is out to correct the "System". It's about the best of a sad bunch, and could have been a really good story if not for all the useless polemics snuck-in. Once again we have a "The Sun 'ill Come Out Tomorrow" sugary sweet ending, that totally messed up my diabetes for the subsequent two days after I read it. Once again the US comes off as bad.
ASIDE: I find it interesting that so many of our suburban relatives (read Canadians) resent the US but seem to be unable to refrain from coming to live here. If the US is so bad...go live in the EU or China or Australia.
Rated by buyers -
Not a bad collection, but sometimes Doctorow's desire to use his fiction to promote his socio-political beliefs gets in the way of his genuine story-telling talent.
This collection included some good material: "After the Siege," the final story in the book, particularly impressed me. But "I, Robot," for example, seemed kind of clunky to me, a kind of "copyright opera."
I think these stories are available for free download under Creative Commons licensing. If you haven't liked some of Doctorow's work in the past, check out the free versions first.
If you are just starting to read Doctorow's work, try "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" or "Eastern Standard Tribe" or "Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town" first.
Rated by buyers -
While Doctorow has written some decent novels, it would seem his superior skills lie in the short story arena, as this really is an outstanding collection with the quality of the work he has put together here.
He also keeps writing more, which these days all seem to be high quality compared to some of the efforts in his early collected work.
Great stuff to be found here, as he riffs on old SF stories and the near future.
Overclocked : Printcrime - Cory Doctorow
Overclocked : When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth - Cory Doctorow
Overclocked : Anda's Game - Cory Doctorow
Overclocked : I Robot - Cory Doctorow
Overclocked : I Row-Boat - Cory Doctorow
Overclocked : After the Siege - Cory Doctorow
A chilling tale of the future when Z-Printers abound, and it becomes a crime for the common man to have one, for the typical fas*ist reasons. Then one of the protagonist's family, has an epiphany at the end of the story.
3.5 out of 5
Biowar makes geekfu and gruntwork a necessary combination afterwards.
5 out of 5
Liza, Lisa, Anda's clan jam game grunt gold grab gunplay showdown.
4.5 out of 5
Baby arrival brings brainy Big Brother bot researcher's defection and later reunion desires in multiple.
4.5 out of 5
Asimovian reef revival survival.
4.5 out of 5
Royalties of infowar.
4 out of 5
5 out of 5
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