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5.0 out of 5 stars
Cory Doctorow is right: Charles Stross IS better than drugs, Jan 19 2004
"Toast" is, bar none, the best short story collection I've ever read.Nearly every story gave me a whole-body physical thrill - goose bumps, tingling scalp, and other reactions I omit for fear of Amazon's censors. (Come to think of it, Amazon's censors will severely limit this entire review - you'll have to interpolate as best you can.) The only comparably exciting book I've read lately is Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep." "Lobsters" is my favorite short story, and gives a fair taste of the rest of this collection. In the not-too-distant future, Manfred Macx is busy implementing the principles of open source in the world of intellectual property. His ex-dominatrix/girlfriend is hunting him down; she works for the IRS and is pissed off because Manfred's system of high-tech altruistic barter is robbing the U.S. government of tax revenue needed to pay Social Security, the biggest pyramid scheme of all time. In between, Manfrend fends off a charmingly quirky Russian AI, hit-and-run rubberizations, and a slashdotting, among many other things. Sex, drugs, and patent law - all the ingredients of a fantastic short story, plus Stross's completely unique gritty/gonzo writing style. You can read it on the web - google "charles stross lobsters" and click on "I'm Feeling Lucky." If you are, like me, a computer geek, I have some urgent advice: You want this book. Now. Don't think, just buy it. You'll thank me. If you aren't a computer geek, you'll enjoy this collection anyway.
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