Customer Reviews

Everyone in Silico

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's always interesting to read someone's work after you've met them and spent some time talking about other topics. Jim's novel is very much a reflection and projection of his personality and interests. The anarchist former managing editor of Adbusters crams a lot of political, cultural, and scientific concepts into this novel, which is a good companion read to the work of Cory Doctorow. Everyone in Silico isn't hard sf -- but that doesn't mean that it's soft or easy. Jim's ideas of homegrown genetic engineering, subcultural self-organization, street-level marketing, and the economics and experience of a digital afterlife are fascinating and forward thinking. Down to details such as the tattoo that, when scanned, dials an encrypted phone number, Everyone in Silico's dystopian future is deftly and effectively outlined as the multilayered plot unfolds.

(This review originally appeared in Heath Row's Media Diet, ...)

I discovered Jim Munroe randomly, because I had read all the James Morrow books in the science fiction section of my local bookstore, and he was literally the next author over. But I'm glad I did. I started with Angry Young Spaceman, worked my way through Flyboy Action Figure Comes with Gasmask, and finally read Everyone in Silico. I thoroughly enjoyed all of them.

In some ways, the novels lack polish, but they're refreshing, and interesting in that way. They're not finally crafted masterpieces... they're accessible works of joy and inspiration.

That was years ago, and if I'm going to be honest, I don't really remember much about the characters in Everyone in Silico. What stuck with me were the ideas. The virtual world that people are moving into is only one small part of it. The more insidious part is the way that everyday people have become shills for corporations.

In particular, I remember a scene where one of the main characters is in an elevator, and the person he's sharing the elevator with is trying to sell him something through casual conversation, because she'll get points or money or something if she does. What she's doing slowly dawns on the main character as she keeps steering the conversation towards whatever she's trying to sell.

I remember at the time thinking how insidious that was. But now it happens all the time... maybe not in person, but on Facebook and Twitter. DropBox offers you 5 more gigs of storage if you refer your friends on Facebook to their service. You get a chance to win an Ipod if you tweet about something.

Whenever I see a friend doing something like this, or I'm tempted to do something like that myself, I think back to Everyone in Silico. It seems so harmless to tweet or update your status to get something for free, but the more people do it, the more authentic conversation dies, and the less we can trust each other.

What pushed me over the edge was a former high school friend posting a Facebook status update today about how "smart people know they can save more money by switching to Ambit Electricity". And the links were all clearly going to give her credit/money.

So yeah, this book gets a 5 star review because its ideas were powerful enough to have a lasting impact on my life, and how I think about the world. And that kind of trumps everything.

If you are afraid of virtual reality which will take over our world, you may get some food for thought in this novel. Munroe presents a world in 2036 when everyone wants to get transferred to virtual reality Frisco (ex San Francisco sadly destroyed by an earthquake) leaving their bodies behind. Munroe has some interesting ideas but he apparently likes them so much that instead of moving the plot forward dwells on them for far too long. In effect they don't really come together to make a real novel.

I read this book years ago and kinda forgot about it, but from time to time I find myself thinking about it for no apparant reason and wanted to come here and give it a huge thumbs up.

... take it from me, this is his finest book to date. Everyone in Silico explores -- with surprising delicacy -- themes ranging from the surreal to the quotidian and emerges triumphant and satisfying. ...

I plan to write a more detailed review later, but take it from me, this is his finest book to date. Everyone in Silico explores -- with surprising delicacy -- themes ranging from the surreal to the quotidian and emerges triumphant and satisfying. Buy Canuck and support this struggling independent author!

This is a horrible book. I have never felt so negatively about a book. NEVER! You can't follow the story, who is who? Who is real and who is in "Frisco" and has their body stored. What's up with the freaky make your own pets???? And the air??? The debt collectors vans that snatch you....What happened??? Confusion....ick.....what a waste of a tree.....