72549
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Book Review-Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
Down and Out in the magic kingdom
by Cory Doctorow
Category: Fiction / Science Fiction
208 pages; ISBN: 0765304368
Who *wouldn't* want to live in walt Disney World's magic Kingdom, with no other responsibilities than to mind operations at the haunted mansion (Best. ride. Ever.)? As it happens, our hero Jules is afforded this opportunity in near (?) future as part of the Bitchun Society, where death has been rendered obsolete, replaced by a memory storage process which requires everybody to be "online." live forever, download into a new body when necessary or whenever the mood strikes - imagine the Fountain of Youth as an FTP site.
Money is no object in the Bitchun Society, literally, as one's wealth is determined by one's ability to endear themselves to everybody else. By collecting points (known here as "Whuffie"), one is raised higher in the Bitchun Society's caste system. As Down and Out in the magic Kingdom opens, Jules's Whuffie is modest enough to enjoy life tooling around Liberty Square. However, even in the land of the Mouse one has to watch out for rats.
Territorial wars are a-brewing, instigated when a faction of resident Mouseketeers decides to give the Hall of Presidents a cyber facelift. Jules, convinced that their leader was behind his most recent "death," recruits girlfriend Lil and buddy Dan into rejuvenating the mansion before control-freak Debra and her Hall "ad-hocracy" can get their hands on it. What begins as a proactive campaign to preserve the ride's original charm, however, soon becomes a matter of pride for Jules which quickly threatens to destroy his relationships and his life. Soon there just doesn't seem to be enough Whuffie to ease damage control.
With Down and Out in the magic kingdom, author Doctorow creates a unique premise enhanced by a playful setting and witty dialogue. This is science fiction for the non sci-fi reader as well as for hardcore fans of the genre - think Carl Hiassen crossed with Phillip K. Dick...with just a dash of disney magic.
Kathryn Lively is the publisher of Phaze, romance novels in eBook and paperback. She offers book promotion advice for authors.
Yoga Zone Dvd
Archives
Oct 31, 2007 Nov 1, 2007 Nov 2, 2007 Nov 3, 2007 Nov 4, 2007 Nov 5, 2007 Nov 6, 2007 Nov 7, 2007 Nov 8, 2007 Nov 9, 2007 Nov 10, 2007 Nov 11, 2007 Nov 12, 2007 Nov 15, 2007 Nov 18, 2007 Nov 20, 2007 Nov 21, 2007 Nov 22, 2007 Nov 23, 2007 Nov 24, 2007 Nov 25, 2007 Nov 26, 2007 Nov 27, 2007 Nov 28, 2007 Nov 29, 2007 Nov 30, 2007 Dec 1, 2007 Dec 2, 2007 Dec 3, 2007 Dec 4, 2007 Dec 5, 2007 Dec 6, 2007 Dec 7, 2007 Dec 8, 2007 Jan 14, 2008 Jan 15, 2008 Jan 16, 2008 Jan 17, 2008 Jan 18, 2008 Jan 20, 2008 Jan 21, 2008 Jan 22, 2008 Jan 23, 2008 Jan 24, 2008 Jan 25, 2008 Jan 27, 2008 Jan 28, 2008 Jan 29, 2008 Jan 30, 2008 Jan 31, 2008 Feb 1, 2008 Feb 4, 2008 Feb 7, 2008 Feb 8, 2008 Feb 9, 2008 Feb 10, 2008 Feb 11, 2008 Feb 12, 2008 Feb 13, 2008 Feb 14, 2008 Feb 15, 2008 Feb 16, 2008 Feb 17, 2008 Feb 18, 2008 Feb 19, 2008 Feb 20, 2008 Feb 21, 2008 Feb 22, 2008 Feb 23, 2008 Feb 25, 2008 Feb 26, 2008 Feb 27, 2008 Feb 28, 2008 Feb 29, 2008 Mar 1, 2008 Mar 2, 2008 Mar 3, 2008 Mar 4, 2008 Mar 5, 2008 Mar 6, 2008 Mar 7, 2008 Mar 8, 2008 Mar 9, 2008 Mar 10, 2008 Mar 11, 2008 Mar 12, 2008 Mar 13, 2008 Mar 14, 2008 Mar 15, 2008 Mar 16, 2008 Mar 17, 2008 Mar 18, 2008 Mar 19, 2008 Mar 20, 2008 Mar 21, 2008 Mar 22, 2008 Mar 23, 2008 Mar 27, 2008 Mar 28, 2008 Mar 29, 2008 Mar 30, 2008 Apr 1, 2008 Apr 2, 2008 Apr 3, 2008 Apr 4, 2008 Apr 5, 2008 Apr 6, 2008 Apr 7, 2008 Apr 9, 2008 Apr 10, 2008 Apr 11, 2008 Apr 12, 2008 Apr 13, 2008 Apr 14, 2008 Apr 15, 2008 Apr 16, 2008 Apr 17, 2008 Apr 18, 2008 Apr 19, 2008 Apr 20, 2008 Apr 21, 2008 Apr 22, 2008 Apr 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008 Apr 25, 2008 Apr 26, 2008 Apr 27, 2008 Apr 28, 2008 Apr 29, 2008 Apr 30, 2008 May 1, 2008 May 2, 2008 May 5, 2008 May 6, 2008 May 8, 2008 May 9, 2008 May 10, 2008 May 11, 2008 May 14, 2008 May 15, 2008 May 16, 2008 May 17, 2008 May 24, 2008 May 25, 2008 May 28, 2008 May 29, 2008 May 31, 2008 Jun 1, 2008 Jun 2, 2008 Jun 4, 2008 Jun 6, 2008 Jun 7, 2008 Jun 8, 2008 Jun 11, 2008 Jun 14, 2008 Jun 15, 2008 Jun 16, 2008 Jun 18, 2008 Jun 20, 2008 Jun 21, 2008 Jun 24, 2008 Jun 28, 2008 Jun 30, 2008 Jul 3, 2008 Jul 7, 2008 Jul 9, 2008 Jul 10, 2008 Jul 11, 2008 Jul 12, 2008 Jul 16, 2008 Jul 18, 2008 Jul 19, 2008 Jul 20, 2008 Jul 22, 2008 Jul 23, 2008 Aug 3, 2008 Aug 5, 2008 Aug 7, 2008 Aug 8, 2008 Aug 9, 2008 Aug 11, 2008 Aug 14, 2008 Aug 15, 2008 Aug 22, 2008
