Cory Doctorow
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003)
Author: Cory Doctorow
Genre: Science Fiction
Plot Summary:
Jules lives in a society that has cured death and done away with money. Jules lives and works in Disney Wolrd. There he helps to maintain and run the original attraction in Liberty Square. When he is murdered and another group attempts to take over and change his beloved attractions, Jules sets out to solve his murder and stop the new group from destroying the original attractions and technology and repalcing them with
newer more advanced displays. Through the course of his investigation he begins to take a closer look at the society and technology around him.
Geographical Setting: Florida, Disney World
Time Period: Distant Furure
Appeal Characteristics:
The futuristic setting, humor, interesting take on reincarnation and immortality, and modern technology. Fast paced, interesting plot, writing style is easy to read.
Read-alikes: Also try Doctorow's Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town (2005) for more of his trademark wit and unique SF approach. Another up and coming SF star with an off-kilter and slightly humoroous approach to the genre is Charles Stross. Try his Hugo nominated novels Iron Sunrise (2005) and Singularity Sky (2004). Another author with a similar approach to the genre is Sean Stewart (his 2004 novel Perfect Circle is a good starting point). For dystopian SF, try the works of Philip K. Dick. His novels look at many of the technological and social issues that Doctorow tackles in his work (and he has an acerbic wit to boot). Try classics of PKD's like Ubik (1969), A Scanner Darkly (1977), and any of his short story collections. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson is another book that takes the world as we know it and turns it on its ear. It features the humor and breakneck pacing of Doctorow at his best.
Red Flags: Violence, Sexual content
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