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Rate Me Red
Gordy has a problem. His girlfriend, Poppy Nicole, wants to meet him in REALITY.
It’s the year 2043 and Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, reality television and Ebay have all merged into the VidNet. Everyone and anyone can have a VidNet show, but it’s the people who are rated, not the shows, on a scale from Purple to Red.
Poppy just knows that if she and Gordy meet in REALITY , and better yet, have sex in REALITY, on her vid show, it’s sure to boost her rating from Yellow to Orange and maybe even Red. But the prospect of REALITY sex makes Gordy so nervous he fails to heed the warning signs of a worldwide economic collapse (caused by a bubble in imaginary toothpaste sales). Will Gordy be able to save VidNet Society? More importantly, will he and Poppy have sex in REALITY? The answers lie in Rate Me Red.
It’s the year 2043 and Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, reality television and Ebay have all merged into the VidNet. Everyone and anyone can have a VidNet show, but it’s the people who are rated, not the shows, on a scale from Purple to Red.
Poppy just knows that if she and Gordy meet in REALITY , and better yet, have sex in REALITY, on her vid show, it’s sure to boost her rating from Yellow to Orange and maybe even Red. But the prospect of REALITY sex makes Gordy so nervous he fails to heed the warning signs of a worldwide economic collapse (caused by a bubble in imaginary toothpaste sales). Will Gordy be able to save VidNet Society? More importantly, will he and Poppy have sex in REALITY? The answers lie in Rate Me Red.
- GenresHumor
385 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Richie Chevat
32 books5 followersI've been a writer since the age of nine, around the same time I became a compulsive reader. Some ideas appear in the shape of prose, others as plays, musicals, screenplays, songs or even blog posts. But most of the time I'm just trying to write something I'd like to read or see.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 23, 2011
Just reread it for the second time. And its getting even better now. Wanted to rate it red! And it worked! The stars I am giving are orange, but the ones you see are RED! So I had to change my review...
Very funny story, well written, visionary, silly and for us tweediots and other social media addicts a must read.
Thanks for the tip @colinferg. And yes, if it is ever made into a movie, I would LOVE to see him as Gordy in it! Any plans?
Very funny story, well written, visionary, silly and for us tweediots and other social media addicts a must read.
Thanks for the tip @colinferg. And yes, if it is ever made into a movie, I would LOVE to see him as Gordy in it! Any plans?
December 11, 2014
Here are parts of a review by Clare Demming from the blog Science Fiction and Other ODDyseeys: http://sciencefictionmusings.blogspot...
On one level, this book is a light-hearted story of Gordy's misadventures in a strange world. Yet it is also a satire of our cultural obsession with reality television, consumerism and image. It made for a surprisingly effective novel on both levels
This is a tough book to categorize and may not initially appeal to regular readers of science fiction and fantasy. However, I found it just as action-packed as a traditional space opera or sword and sorcery novel. The concept, characters, plot and writing all worked to make it a riveting experience. I'm not sure what else to even compare it to, except to say that I'm glad I read it, and I think it would appeal to pop culture's fans and critics alike.
On one level, this book is a light-hearted story of Gordy's misadventures in a strange world. Yet it is also a satire of our cultural obsession with reality television, consumerism and image. It made for a surprisingly effective novel on both levels
This is a tough book to categorize and may not initially appeal to regular readers of science fiction and fantasy. However, I found it just as action-packed as a traditional space opera or sword and sorcery novel. The concept, characters, plot and writing all worked to make it a riveting experience. I'm not sure what else to even compare it to, except to say that I'm glad I read it, and I think it would appeal to pop culture's fans and critics alike.
January 15, 2012
I found out about this book from a website which gives details of free ebooks. I thought the blurb sounded really interesting, especially as the idea of Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, reality television and Ebay all merging into one thing doesn’t seem that unlikely or that far off! Neither does the idea of rating people, online popularity seems to be getting more and more important these days with the option to like or +1 things outside of Facebook/Google+ et al.
It took me a while to get into the book, although that probably wasn’t helped by reading it on my phone and I kept forgetting it was there. The plot starts off a little slow, which is down to a lot of scene-setting it has to do to explain the workings of the year 2043. Once I’d got past the first dozen chapters or so - they’re only short - I found it quite engrossing. It’s nicely paced and the ending is very satisfactory; it’s a bit clichéd but I really didn’t mind because it was the ending I hoped for. It’s certainly an entertaining and amusing read. It’s written in a very light and casual style that’s quick and easy to read; it doesn’t take an awful lot of brain power and is just the thing for unwinding with.
Some aspects reminded me of Douglas Adams, particularly the sections about the gadgets and computers talking to each other. They were quite well done and I liked the additional backstory that was going on there. It started off not seeming to be important at all but of course it ended up being a main factor in the outcome which I think is always a nice way of doing it. The different characters were entertaining, and it can’t be easy putting a character to a toothbrush or toilet!
The human characters in comparision were possibly a little flat but that could be down to the whole online aspect. As people who spend a decent amount of time online will know, a lot of people present a totally different character online than they do in Reality. The book is written from Gordy’s point of view so he is the one that the reader gets to know most about and although he seems very 2 dimensional at first, his character really develops and grows throughout the book.
Technology is a huge aspect of the book but I think it’s handled quite well, although I did have some trouble picturing how the vids worked especially when people were walking around. There’s a lot of amusement in there, such as the ideas of cars that are solely status symbols and never driven because people pod to work. The idea of a mandatory time at work to make sure that people leave their homes is also comical. And of course, those who refuse to take on board any of this new technology are also included, to the point where it’s almost a religion, and who are as baffling to the rest of society as they are today.
All in all, it’s a really good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it, especially to anyone who has an active online life.
It took me a while to get into the book, although that probably wasn’t helped by reading it on my phone and I kept forgetting it was there. The plot starts off a little slow, which is down to a lot of scene-setting it has to do to explain the workings of the year 2043. Once I’d got past the first dozen chapters or so - they’re only short - I found it quite engrossing. It’s nicely paced and the ending is very satisfactory; it’s a bit clichéd but I really didn’t mind because it was the ending I hoped for. It’s certainly an entertaining and amusing read. It’s written in a very light and casual style that’s quick and easy to read; it doesn’t take an awful lot of brain power and is just the thing for unwinding with.
Some aspects reminded me of Douglas Adams, particularly the sections about the gadgets and computers talking to each other. They were quite well done and I liked the additional backstory that was going on there. It started off not seeming to be important at all but of course it ended up being a main factor in the outcome which I think is always a nice way of doing it. The different characters were entertaining, and it can’t be easy putting a character to a toothbrush or toilet!
The human characters in comparision were possibly a little flat but that could be down to the whole online aspect. As people who spend a decent amount of time online will know, a lot of people present a totally different character online than they do in Reality. The book is written from Gordy’s point of view so he is the one that the reader gets to know most about and although he seems very 2 dimensional at first, his character really develops and grows throughout the book.
Technology is a huge aspect of the book but I think it’s handled quite well, although I did have some trouble picturing how the vids worked especially when people were walking around. There’s a lot of amusement in there, such as the ideas of cars that are solely status symbols and never driven because people pod to work. The idea of a mandatory time at work to make sure that people leave their homes is also comical. And of course, those who refuse to take on board any of this new technology are also included, to the point where it’s almost a religion, and who are as baffling to the rest of society as they are today.
All in all, it’s a really good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it, especially to anyone who has an active online life.
August 29, 2011
Great read! I am still trying to figure out the est word to describe it Frosty? Pimptastic? Arctic?
Goofy Gordy experiences the highs and lows of popularity in this scarily not-too-futuristic novel where everything is computerized and life is one big reality tv show where people vid themselves Sim stlye.
Not my usually genre, but lots of fun.
Goofy Gordy experiences the highs and lows of popularity in this scarily not-too-futuristic novel where everything is computerized and life is one big reality tv show where people vid themselves Sim stlye.
Not my usually genre, but lots of fun.
September 26, 2017
I frigging LOVE, LOVE, L. O. V. E., LOVE this story!
Richie is easily the successor to Cory Doctorow's current crown.
Now this story, it gave me great visuals and the whole time I was reading it I thought "This would make a really great TV short." (Please sell this to TV Richie?)
I'm definately going to re-read this many times in the future as I feel it will not only hold up well to re-reads but will actually give more on each new read. I certainly want to find more by Richie and am now counting myself as a fan. You appealed to me as both a writer and a reader.
And that sir, is not an easy task as I am a fussy bastard! - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Richie is easily the successor to Cory Doctorow's current crown.
Now this story, it gave me great visuals and the whole time I was reading it I thought "This would make a really great TV short." (Please sell this to TV Richie?)
I'm definately going to re-read this many times in the future as I feel it will not only hold up well to re-reads but will actually give more on each new read. I certainly want to find more by Richie and am now counting myself as a fan. You appealed to me as both a writer and a reader.
And that sir, is not an easy task as I am a fussy bastard! - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
February 28, 2012
In Rate Me Red, by Richie Chevat, it is 2043, and reality television, social media, and online shopping have united into the VidNet. Anyone can host a VidNet show, and the popularity of the show is one factor that determines each individual's rating. In this exaggerated social future, your rating on the VidNet determines where you can live, who your friends are, and which modes of transportation are available. The scale ranges from Blue to Red, with the Blues living as near-outcasts, and everyone in-between aspiring to become Red. This is all sorted out by the VidNet computer system, which displays your color rating on a button, worn at all times.
Amid this setting, Gordy is an average-Joe Yellow who works at VidNet headquarters. His girlfriend, Poppy, is also Yellow, and has a moderately popular VidNet show. Gordy and Poppy love each other, but have never met in REALITY(TM). Aspiring to ascend the color rating ladder, Poppy proposes something daring.
See the rest of my review at:
http://sciencefictionmusings.blogspot...
Amid this setting, Gordy is an average-Joe Yellow who works at VidNet headquarters. His girlfriend, Poppy, is also Yellow, and has a moderately popular VidNet show. Gordy and Poppy love each other, but have never met in REALITY(TM). Aspiring to ascend the color rating ladder, Poppy proposes something daring.
See the rest of my review at:
http://sciencefictionmusings.blogspot...
January 2, 2015
Fun stuff. Most books that start with characters in a different state from the norm are about how bad that state is and how they need to leave it.
By state I mean situation in which one exists, not like Oklahoma. {But people do exist in Oklahoma. I've been there.)
Rate Me Red was published in 2009, before our culture became even more digital than it was then. The book foretells a world where everyone is online, and the misadventures of the romantic variety therein.
Every made-up brand name is always in bold or italicized or has a trademark, just like any product's brand guidelines will specify. It's not even ironic. That's just how they talk in Rate Me Red.
The product names are little nuggets of comedy, from Yun-Fat McGill Basket Pimptastic Sneakers to the movie Trapped in A Coal Mine With 12 Strangers and a Bear.
I will add their new words to my vocabulary, so I can be more hip and vidacious.
By state I mean situation in which one exists, not like Oklahoma. {But people do exist in Oklahoma. I've been there.)
Rate Me Red was published in 2009, before our culture became even more digital than it was then. The book foretells a world where everyone is online, and the misadventures of the romantic variety therein.
Every made-up brand name is always in bold or italicized or has a trademark, just like any product's brand guidelines will specify. It's not even ironic. That's just how they talk in Rate Me Red.
The product names are little nuggets of comedy, from Yun-Fat McGill Basket Pimptastic Sneakers to the movie Trapped in A Coal Mine With 12 Strangers and a Bear.
I will add their new words to my vocabulary, so I can be more hip and vidacious.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews