This book rocks. There's probably so much more about it that I haven't picked up on yet, but it was still one of the best reads I've come across so far.
This novel seems like several novels, since it's not only ‘one of those ones that weaves storylines together' but it also is an amalgamation of styles.
Unfortunately the styles range from quite great to quite lame. I found the peak to be at halfway through, with the pseudo-interview, and then the ‘PowerPoint' section was surprisingly well-executed. However, the ending is unbearably lame to an extreme - not only silly future-thinking but it falls flat stylistically.
That said, it's a quick read and the variety makes it a good quick read - since the shifts in style can serve as anchors for the plots. Recommended for that purpose, but don't come expecting too much depth or dexterity in this one.
A great idea, some decent history. Beyond that it's just annoying business-book patterns (three subheadings per page), no fewer than six mismatched fonts used in the typesetting, and lots of advice for managers of big companies. Deserves the BusinessWeek recommendation.
It's YA fiction in the ‘kid hacker' genre. Since this is one of my few adventures into YA novels, I can't judge it with good relative accuracy, but it does fall into many tropes - tortured revolutionary political boy with female love interest and SF setting. The plot has few major hooks. But all-in-all, it's a nice read and, even if it laboriously explains every tech concept, it does so accurately and has a tasteful selection of references.
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