Before AidSat I had no self, no soul. I was a billing address. A credit score. I had a TV, a computer, a phone, a car, an apartment, some furnit...
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reviews
Aug 25, 2008
Sheila
rated it: 
I vacillate between two and three stars on this one.
I found this story of super-high technology and psychosis interplay(with a heavy dose of paranoia mixed in) rather compelling, although it ultimately left me feeling stranded and confused (maybe not an inappropriate reaction at all, given the subject matter).
The whole thing had me thinking "well, this is what you get when you put modern technology in the hands of the wrong individuals". Unfortunately, it al More...
I found this story of super-high technology and psychosis interplay(with a heavy dose of paranoia mixed in) rather compelling, although it ultimately left me feeling stranded and confused (maybe not an inappropriate reaction at all, given the subject matter).
The whole thing had me thinking "well, this is what you get when you put modern technology in the hands of the wrong individuals". Unfortunately, it al More...
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Nov 27, 2011
Nick
rated it:
Really disconcerting book. The main character is fairly sociopathic, yet is strangely sympathetic (?) (probably lending to the disconcertion). It takes place in a near future where everything is monitored electronically. The main character's job as one of these monitors dominates the book. I've heard this described as "Orwellian" but thats really wrong. Its too corporate-friendly, or suspicious-internet-person-friendly to be Orwellian. The story is told through internet posts, emails,
More...
Jan 04, 2008
Vicki
rated it: 
I'm still technically reading this book. (As in, I haven't finished it yet, not that I'm actively reading it.) But I don't like it. I'm going to finish it, for two reasons: 1) I will not be bested by a book; and 2) it's like 35 pages long. Seriously, if I ever just pick it back up, I'll finish it and then I can hate it, qualm-free.
Here's the thing: it's a book that was initially published online, in installments. If you read it when it came out, you followed all of these link More...
Here's the thing: it's a book that was initially published online, in installments. If you read it when it came out, you followed all of these link More...
Aug 04, 2009
Jessica
rated it: 
"But that's my impression whenever I ask my colleagues for helpful tidbits on clients I'd like to bang."
"'Forget the White House. Forget the Capitol. If somebody wants to kick us in the balls, he should attack the Library of Congress."'
"Her smile was like the flap on a white envelope: that clean, that even, and that wide."
"When you finally let someone in, completely, wholly, it's nice to know that he has insides, too." More...
"'Forget the White House. Forget the Capitol. If somebody wants to kick us in the balls, he should attack the Library of Congress."'
"Her smile was like the flap on a white envelope: that clean, that even, and that wide."
"When you finally let someone in, completely, wholly, it's nice to know that he has insides, too." More...
Feb 13, 2008
shawn
rated it:
This novella was okay. I like the structure and "flow" of each chapter. Originally for the web (I think Slate), the author of Thumbsucker delves into a not-too-distant future scenario of a society well entrenched in the information age, where background checks replace rumors and speculation, surveillance is more a formality than a sign of mistrust, and the term "blind date" loses all meaning.
When originally published online, it was chock-full of links for further More...
When originally published online, it was chock-full of links for further More...
Jul 21, 2009
Kevin
rated it:
There's no story here. Or rather, what there is storywise amounts to an argument over the internet. Not precisely the stuff that stirs the soul.
Kirn has some worthwhile insights and satirical points. Not worthwhile enough to read this short book to glean, but, you know, theoretically worthwhile
Kirn has some worthwhile insights and satirical points. Not worthwhile enough to read this short book to glean, but, you know, theoretically worthwhile
Dec 27, 2008
Mike
rated it:
This book was crazy. It made very little sense. It was mostly confusing.
On the good side it was short and some parts were interesting. I liked the spy aspect to it but that was also a confusing part too.
On the good side it was short and some parts were interesting. I liked the spy aspect to it but that was also a confusing part too.
Jul 26, 2009
Joe
rated it:
There are so tremendous cultural insights that show up as nuggets. The style reminds me of Bret Easton Ellis' Lunar Park part Douglas Coupland circa Girlfriend in a Coma.
Oct 03, 2009
Joslyn
rated it:
was originally a serial on salon, lending interesting of-the-moment elements, and enjoyable for folks of a sci-fi bent. not the best bit of literature ever, but i had fun with it.
Dec 17, 2009
Alex
rated it:
This novel was compiled from an online serial about an operator at AidSat – a ubiquitous company (like medicalert) whose powers to offer emergency aid and assistance are abused by the obsessive love-struck protagonist. A paranoid romp; through consistency this novel manages to achieve in some small part, the successful paranoia of DeDillo. This writer was at his best writing scathing rants about the everyday lives of the middle and upper middle class.
Jul 14, 2008
Stephanie
rated it:
ok i've only read 4 pages of this book and i'm already hooked...
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too bad the above review did not last...got very confusing towards the end, lost some of the plot and too many random references...but still interesting as a concept
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too bad the above review did not last...got very confusing towards the end, lost some of the plot and too many random references...but still interesting as a concept
Jan 17, 2010
Tim
rated it:
Kirn's a nice guy. No joke. And it's a nice little story.
Beefs:
Purports to be post-medium. (I hate that.)
Appropriates mythemes, years before Levi-Strauss died.
Beefs:
Purports to be post-medium. (I hate that.)
Appropriates mythemes, years before Levi-Strauss died.
Jan 15, 2008
Lesa
rated it:
OK so I didn't read it all... it bored me. Don't bother, life is to short to waste time on insignificant literature.
Jan 16, 2012
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