Review: Predictable
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 01 28, 2014
I picked this up after reading a short story by the same author.  Unfortunately, this story was completely predictable from page 1. Naive technical genius comes up with an idea to integrate your phone, IM programs, etc into a chip in your hand.  Of course, you have the big corporation that tries to come across as people-friendly, and the corporation uses this idea to chip everyone.  Now you have to use the chip to even get basic city services, so those who don't wish to be under Big Brother's control can no longer ride a bus or even buy groceries.  Sycamore knows where you are at all times, what you purchase, who you look at... it can record your phone conversations as well, and they've removed the "web browser" functionality of the internet so you only see what they want you to see. Your entire life is now in the hands of a for-profit corporation.Obvious conclusion is that the original person who came up with the idea becomes disillusioned by the whole idea and sees where the world is heading, and can't do anything about it.  Except become a rebel.  Once Kurt makes the decision to be a rebel, the story ends.  And the author says that he's not planning to make a sequel.So basically, you have a book that was predictable all of the way through, and no hope of even getting to see a revolution, which would have at least been interesting.