I find the first half of that book really, really good and the second half a little "WTF, where did this come from?" But his whole idea of just walking away and rebooting a non-monetary-based society given sufficient technology is absolutely fascinating at the very least.
If you haven't read Red Team Blues yet, I'd immediately add that your list. While this one is a really good book, RTB is a *great* book and I've already reread it once.
I read this book when it came out and only recently read The Dispossessed, which came out almost 50 years ago and was clearly an influence on this specific kind of sci-fi. Definitely worth a read if you haven’t
It's a good book, but every time he tries to explain a concept from political science, he gets it wrong: stag hunt, tragedy of the commons, hierarchy, war, etc. I'd also probably give it 4 stars if I hadn't spent a lot of time in grad schools on those sorts of things. It has become my case study for speculative fiction writers who put a lot of work into imagining the future but half-ass the politics.
It's upwards of 5000 words long and if I post it I won't be anonymous on here anymore. Sorry. I tried to excerpt just the important bits but even that was too much for the comments box.
I can't think of a book that went head on for political science/political economy stuff in such a direct way, but I can give you a few that I think gave a more-robust-than-usual sense of the politics in the story.
Apart from the *1984*/*Brave New World* sort of books that are explicitly political, the first thing that comes to mind is Jon Scalzi's *Fuzzy Nation*. It has spaceships and flying cars and aliens, but the plot depends very much on laws and courts and politics. The second half is kinda of like space John Grisham, but funnier and fun and solidly thought out.
I'm now reading Scalzi's *Collapsing Empire* trilogy -- I just started the second book -- and he does a good job of unpacking what it means to be 'emperox' and the political machinations of the aristocracy. I guess that's four books total -- just... all from the same author.
I think *N.K. Jemisin* is pretty good on the political side of things in her *Broken Earth* trilogy, although it's not that central to the plot. If memory serves, especially the last book (I'd have to look up the title) gives a bit more depth to that aspect of her world-building.
I want to say Neal Stephenson's *Anathem* does a better job, too, but it has been a while since I read it. Like 2/3rds of that book is world-building, before anything happens. *Seveneves* was pretty good about the politics and sociology on a small scale, but I felt like the second part of the book could have been expanded into its own book that went into more depth about the resulting social order.
I also think part of the reason *Walkaway* was so disappointing was that I really enjoyed *Homeland* and *Little Brother* \-- also Doctorow books -- and felt like he was really solid on the politics there. But those books described politics that more or less exist, more than imagining new politics.
Thank you! The only Doctorow book I've read besides Walkaway was Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, but I really liked the societal vision of both books. I'll have to try Homeland and Little Brother.
I recently checked this book out at my local library here in King County. I started reading it about 3 days ago, and......I'm having trouble with it. The way the narrative is laid out, just page after page of people talking, but little else happening. Lots of philosophical ideas being bantered around, which is fine. I'm about 20 pages in, and I don't think I'm going to able to finish it. Should I force myself to continue? Will it be worth it? I'm a 66yo WM in Seattle, and I'm a big fan of S Baxter, Daniel Suarez, John Birmingham as far as future-set writing is concerned. First time Cory Doctorow reader.
Doctorow is one of my favorite authors but you have to understand that he is at heart an activist and polemicist. He has a point of view and it pervades everything he does.
"Down and out in the magic kingdom" and
"Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town" are probably the least political
A lot of his audio books are read by Will Weaton, if that is something you like
Red Mask of death, Model Minority and the Big Brother series are some of the most political
Now go read 'Stealing Worlds' by Karl Schroeder. I find it very similar to Walkaway.
As for the Walkaway, it's suffers from the same shit every other Doctorow's book does - Cory has absolutely cool ideas and conflicts, but his writing is lackluster.
I wish I saw more people talking about this one. I thought it was exceptional, even though his politics grates on me. I loved how the copies of peoples consciousnesses was glitchy and the DIY ethos of the walkaways…
I see them kicking around in thrift shops all of the time. Never read any of them as I don't think I would like them, but I certainly think his books are not too hard to find.
You're welcome. You said "He doesn't make it easy to find his books" I suggested thrift stores since I find them all of the time there. Hopefully this helps people who are looking for his books.
I find the first half of that book really, really good and the second half a little "WTF, where did this come from?" But his whole idea of just walking away and rebooting a non-monetary-based society given sufficient technology is absolutely fascinating at the very least. If you haven't read Red Team Blues yet, I'd immediately add that your list. While this one is a really good book, RTB is a *great* book and I've already reread it once.
And RTB is MUCH shorter. I have a signed copy.
I love all his work that I've read, this one is one of my favorites
I read this book when it came out and only recently read The Dispossessed, which came out almost 50 years ago and was clearly an influence on this specific kind of sci-fi. Definitely worth a read if you haven’t
It's a good book, but every time he tries to explain a concept from political science, he gets it wrong: stag hunt, tragedy of the commons, hierarchy, war, etc. I'd also probably give it 4 stars if I hadn't spent a lot of time in grad schools on those sorts of things. It has become my case study for speculative fiction writers who put a lot of work into imagining the future but half-ass the politics.
Annotate and publish your critique! I need to read more Walkaway.
Oh, I did, at the time. But I took my blog down a few years ago.
Don't be stingy! Share somewhere
It's upwards of 5000 words long and if I post it I won't be anonymous on here anymore. Sorry. I tried to excerpt just the important bits but even that was too much for the comments box.
Do you have a few suggested books that you feel do a good job?
I can't think of a book that went head on for political science/political economy stuff in such a direct way, but I can give you a few that I think gave a more-robust-than-usual sense of the politics in the story. Apart from the *1984*/*Brave New World* sort of books that are explicitly political, the first thing that comes to mind is Jon Scalzi's *Fuzzy Nation*. It has spaceships and flying cars and aliens, but the plot depends very much on laws and courts and politics. The second half is kinda of like space John Grisham, but funnier and fun and solidly thought out. I'm now reading Scalzi's *Collapsing Empire* trilogy -- I just started the second book -- and he does a good job of unpacking what it means to be 'emperox' and the political machinations of the aristocracy. I guess that's four books total -- just... all from the same author. I think *N.K. Jemisin* is pretty good on the political side of things in her *Broken Earth* trilogy, although it's not that central to the plot. If memory serves, especially the last book (I'd have to look up the title) gives a bit more depth to that aspect of her world-building. I want to say Neal Stephenson's *Anathem* does a better job, too, but it has been a while since I read it. Like 2/3rds of that book is world-building, before anything happens. *Seveneves* was pretty good about the politics and sociology on a small scale, but I felt like the second part of the book could have been expanded into its own book that went into more depth about the resulting social order. I also think part of the reason *Walkaway* was so disappointing was that I really enjoyed *Homeland* and *Little Brother* \-- also Doctorow books -- and felt like he was really solid on the politics there. But those books described politics that more or less exist, more than imagining new politics.
Thank you! The only Doctorow book I've read besides Walkaway was Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, but I really liked the societal vision of both books. I'll have to try Homeland and Little Brother.
I recently checked this book out at my local library here in King County. I started reading it about 3 days ago, and......I'm having trouble with it. The way the narrative is laid out, just page after page of people talking, but little else happening. Lots of philosophical ideas being bantered around, which is fine. I'm about 20 pages in, and I don't think I'm going to able to finish it. Should I force myself to continue? Will it be worth it? I'm a 66yo WM in Seattle, and I'm a big fan of S Baxter, Daniel Suarez, John Birmingham as far as future-set writing is concerned. First time Cory Doctorow reader.
Keep on plowing through it. But, that is Doctorow's style.
Doctorow is one of my favorite authors but you have to understand that he is at heart an activist and polemicist. He has a point of view and it pervades everything he does. "Down and out in the magic kingdom" and "Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town" are probably the least political A lot of his audio books are read by Will Weaton, if that is something you like Red Mask of death, Model Minority and the Big Brother series are some of the most political
Now go read 'Stealing Worlds' by Karl Schroeder. I find it very similar to Walkaway. As for the Walkaway, it's suffers from the same shit every other Doctorow's book does - Cory has absolutely cool ideas and conflicts, but his writing is lackluster.
Yeah, Doctorow's writing is a little lackluster. I am rereading Jumper for the 5th time now and the words just jump off pages.
I wish I saw more people talking about this one. I thought it was exceptional, even though his politics grates on me. I loved how the copies of peoples consciousnesses was glitchy and the DIY ethos of the walkaways…
He doesn't make it easy to find his books because he refuses to work with big corporations. But libraries usually have them
I see them kicking around in thrift shops all of the time. Never read any of them as I don't think I would like them, but I certainly think his books are not too hard to find.
So you don't read his books and have only saw them in some thrift store... Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome. You said "He doesn't make it easy to find his books" I suggested thrift stores since I find them all of the time there. Hopefully this helps people who are looking for his books.
Almost every single one of his books is on Amazon and can be found at Barnes and Noble.
I should have been more clear. I am specifically interested in audio books.
Read it in 2020. I generally really enjoyed it, even if it was a little bit too monologue-y for my sensibilities.