1 to 5 of 5
Review Date: 5/7/2011
I didn't know what to expect when I started this book; especially with the opening chapters about France, I almost didn't become fully immersed. But I stuck in, and was tremendously rewarded for my patience. Even though I am ten years younger than the author, most of the same experiences reminded me of why I was a computer nerd through middle and high school and why the computing world used to be a much more interesting space, at least for the geeks rather than the consumers.
This is the story of David's computing life up until the mid to late 90's. From discovering electronic gizmos in his father's office (what would have been $1000 then would sell in a dollar store now) to interviewing with Microsoft just before they reclaimed their dominance in their industry a few years later.
You can see how one generation is connected to the next. Page 67, as the author lays out the "commandants" followed subconsciously by his fellow peers, echo loudly those in Steven Levy's essential book, "Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution", followed by the PDP hackers of the 60's.
If the book has any flaws, it is that a lot of side stories didn't feel wrapped up to me; the author would mention things going on with his sister, for example, from time to time in the book, and then would leave the subject alone for a half-dozen chapters. Some of the information written about the secondary players in the Epilogue, and how their time was spent between high school and the book writing, might have been better placed within the chapters.
It is a shame, however, that this book wasn't written ten years later, as it would be very likely that the author would have been able to find and reconnect with all the players in the story, thanks to social networking. I imagine he has tried to find Misha since writing the book?
This is the story of David's computing life up until the mid to late 90's. From discovering electronic gizmos in his father's office (what would have been $1000 then would sell in a dollar store now) to interviewing with Microsoft just before they reclaimed their dominance in their industry a few years later.
You can see how one generation is connected to the next. Page 67, as the author lays out the "commandants" followed subconsciously by his fellow peers, echo loudly those in Steven Levy's essential book, "Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution", followed by the PDP hackers of the 60's.
If the book has any flaws, it is that a lot of side stories didn't feel wrapped up to me; the author would mention things going on with his sister, for example, from time to time in the book, and then would leave the subject alone for a half-dozen chapters. Some of the information written about the secondary players in the Epilogue, and how their time was spent between high school and the book writing, might have been better placed within the chapters.
It is a shame, however, that this book wasn't written ten years later, as it would be very likely that the author would have been able to find and reconnect with all the players in the story, thanks to social networking. I imagine he has tried to find Misha since writing the book?
Review Date: 7/10/2010
I opened this book as a fan of Coupland's previous works, and was not disappointed. I could identify very much with Roger, even though I rarely drink and don't have an ex-wife or former bar flings. I wanted so much for his life to improve over the course of the book, and for Bethany as well.
And yet, their lives barely improved. Sure, he reconnected with someone from his past, at least by written letter, and Bethany stopped acting out through her wardrobe, but all she did was act out in other ways instead. At the end, the only character who seems to have benefited from the few hundred pages of reading was Roger, but that's speculative at best.
I finished the book eager to find out what happened to the characters next, not just because I grew attached to the characters, but because there was no sense of closure. Did Dee Dee and Roger continue to be friends? Hook up? Rekindle their past? Did Bethany make any changes to become "normal" without harming herself this time? Do they still write? Did Roger get a job, or stop drinking? Too many unanswered questions, and it is not usual for Coupland to write a book that begs for a sequel. A review on another site alluded that he ran out of ideas and finished on autopilot, and I suppose there's a lot of truth in that.
Still, it's worth the read. Just don't get your hopes up for a satisfying ending.
And yet, their lives barely improved. Sure, he reconnected with someone from his past, at least by written letter, and Bethany stopped acting out through her wardrobe, but all she did was act out in other ways instead. At the end, the only character who seems to have benefited from the few hundred pages of reading was Roger, but that's speculative at best.
I finished the book eager to find out what happened to the characters next, not just because I grew attached to the characters, but because there was no sense of closure. Did Dee Dee and Roger continue to be friends? Hook up? Rekindle their past? Did Bethany make any changes to become "normal" without harming herself this time? Do they still write? Did Roger get a job, or stop drinking? Too many unanswered questions, and it is not usual for Coupland to write a book that begs for a sequel. A review on another site alluded that he ran out of ideas and finished on autopilot, and I suppose there's a lot of truth in that.
Still, it's worth the read. Just don't get your hopes up for a satisfying ending.
Review Date: 5/1/2010
The introduction to the book sets the tone, when the author laments how most of the other computer histories in books and movies get it wrong, giving too much credit to other companies like Apple for the success of the personal computing revolution. That's a valid point. But As I've started to read the first hundred pages or so, a pattern emerged. The following occurs so many times, we can call the book formulaic:
"Book xxx says that the following thing happened. But it's wrong, and here's a quote from Chuck Peddle as proof."
"Here's a quote by an industry insider xxx, who says that the following thing happened. But it's wrong, and here's a quote from Chuck Peddle as proof."
The book reads more as an autobiography of Chuck than anything else. I can't get past the first 150 pages without having read a few hundred quotes from him, with only about a dozen quotes from other sources mixed in.
Also, the book takes the opportunity to bad-mouth Apple at every opportunity. The author really has some anger issues to work out.
Well, that, and the poor grammar and lack of editing. The wrong usage of the word "you're/your" and incorrect use of an apostrophe ("the two Steve's" used in a non-possessive context) within the first 60 pages detract from what might be valid points.
I wanted to like this book, to read something that offered a look at a company that wasn't Microsoft or Apple during those years. But the angry tone and bias of this book weaken what could have been an effective rewrite of history.
"Book xxx says that the following thing happened. But it's wrong, and here's a quote from Chuck Peddle as proof."
"Here's a quote by an industry insider xxx, who says that the following thing happened. But it's wrong, and here's a quote from Chuck Peddle as proof."
The book reads more as an autobiography of Chuck than anything else. I can't get past the first 150 pages without having read a few hundred quotes from him, with only about a dozen quotes from other sources mixed in.
Also, the book takes the opportunity to bad-mouth Apple at every opportunity. The author really has some anger issues to work out.
Well, that, and the poor grammar and lack of editing. The wrong usage of the word "you're/your" and incorrect use of an apostrophe ("the two Steve's" used in a non-possessive context) within the first 60 pages detract from what might be valid points.
I wanted to like this book, to read something that offered a look at a company that wasn't Microsoft or Apple during those years. But the angry tone and bias of this book weaken what could have been an effective rewrite of history.
Review Date: 7/10/2010
The premise of this book seemed so attractive to me, as I grew up during the golden age of adventure games from LucasArts and Sierra and a few other talented companies. But if you're looking forward to a book that celebrates the history of their games, you'll be in for a shock.
First, and I feel this is most important, over half the book is dedicated to Star Wars titles. This is not an exaggeration -- pages 122 through 251 do not mention any classic titles, in fact, concentrate mainly on 2000 and later.
The classic gaming system, SCUMM, is such an interesting topic in real life and so well loved that there are fan sites dedicated to programming for it, emulators to run the classic games on it, and other trivia. In this book, it receives a handful of paragraphs here, and a few sentences scattered throughout the book.
The book also seems to avoid conflict. In the 2 pages covering Maniac Mansion (one of which is artwork), there is no mention, for example, of the battles the company had when marketing the title on the Nintendo, for example. Stories that have been reported for over a decade on fan sites and magazines.
I use those few examples as just the tip of the iceberg. The book has some pretty artwork and interesting photos. But just like LucasArts the company in the new millennium, it lacks any teeth and does not cater to the curiosity of the true LucasArts fan base -- the adventure gamers.
First, and I feel this is most important, over half the book is dedicated to Star Wars titles. This is not an exaggeration -- pages 122 through 251 do not mention any classic titles, in fact, concentrate mainly on 2000 and later.
The classic gaming system, SCUMM, is such an interesting topic in real life and so well loved that there are fan sites dedicated to programming for it, emulators to run the classic games on it, and other trivia. In this book, it receives a handful of paragraphs here, and a few sentences scattered throughout the book.
The book also seems to avoid conflict. In the 2 pages covering Maniac Mansion (one of which is artwork), there is no mention, for example, of the battles the company had when marketing the title on the Nintendo, for example. Stories that have been reported for over a decade on fan sites and magazines.
I use those few examples as just the tip of the iceberg. The book has some pretty artwork and interesting photos. But just like LucasArts the company in the new millennium, it lacks any teeth and does not cater to the curiosity of the true LucasArts fan base -- the adventure gamers.
Review Date: 7/10/2010
Helpful Score: 1
This book is quite a fun roller coaster ride, taking the reader back and forth through time and different pasts and futures as Will and Tim get tangled up in an evil plot.
My only problem with this book is the ending. It really seemed to me that after such a wonderfully-written book, Rankin gave up about 10 pages before the end, and left way too many questions in my mind (most of which I won't spoil for you now) and wrote what I felt was a cop-out ending (which, by the way, only lasted for half a page).
I got attracted to Rankin's writing after exhausting (and re-reading) my Terry Pratchett collection; Rankin's "Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" was my introduction and if these two books so far are any indication, I will enjoy the others I have ordered. Hopefully, though, from the front cover all the way to the back cover.
My only problem with this book is the ending. It really seemed to me that after such a wonderfully-written book, Rankin gave up about 10 pages before the end, and left way too many questions in my mind (most of which I won't spoil for you now) and wrote what I felt was a cop-out ending (which, by the way, only lasted for half a page).
I got attracted to Rankin's writing after exhausting (and re-reading) my Terry Pratchett collection; Rankin's "Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" was my introduction and if these two books so far are any indication, I will enjoy the others I have ordered. Hopefully, though, from the front cover all the way to the back cover.
1 to 5 of 5
