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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
dark
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Freaking fantastic. The best of the series so far and of course it makes me paranoid, but at the same time thankful that we don't go quite that far. One day we will though and that idea makes me sad/scared.
I read the first book in this series way back in 2013. Little Brother was a fast-paced response to increased surveillance and eroding civil rights in the face of terrorist threats. Homeland built on that theme by looking at the extra-legal activities of a government contractor that was prepared to use deadly force to keep their secrets secret. Cory Doctorow’s new novel, Attack Surface, is the darkest and most terrifying of the series yet. I recommend that interested readers go back and re-read the first two books to refresh their memories, because this book heavily references them...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.
This book gets 5 huge stars for the afterwords and authors notes.
The story...I'll give it 3 stars. It was enjoyable, it was nice being back in the world of LB & HL and the characters we met there. It had to be tempting to write more about Yallow but I'm glad, in the end, that you didn't. And, I'm always impressed when male authors try to write honestly (or what at least from another male's pov seems like honestly) in the voice of a leading female character. You seem to tap into a little Amor Towles in that regard in this novel and THAT is a huge compliment.
While your writing always scares the living sh!t out of me and what the future holds for my already tech-obsessed tween you don't just provide the problem but also a pathway to a solution...a glimmer of hope and I thank you for that.
The story...I'll give it 3 stars. It was enjoyable, it was nice being back in the world of LB & HL and the characters we met there. It had to be tempting to write more about Yallow but I'm glad, in the end, that you didn't. And, I'm always impressed when male authors try to write honestly (or what at least from another male's pov seems like honestly) in the voice of a leading female character. You seem to tap into a little Amor Towles in that regard in this novel and THAT is a huge compliment.
While your writing always scares the living sh!t out of me and what the future holds for my already tech-obsessed tween you don't just provide the problem but also a pathway to a solution...a glimmer of hope and I thank you for that.
After ten years in the tech industry Masha is very good at her job. Surveillance tech companies pay Masha a lot of money to use cell phones, cell towers, and all kinds of technology to spy on bad guys. Masha’s special skill is being able to collect tons of data and interpret the information to create information cascades. She knows how everyone is connected. But who are the bad guys?
Sometimes for reasons even she isn’t clear about, Masha, will go out at night and help those she spies on during her day job. She teaches these new friends how to avoid being detected. Eventually, the target of her work hits closer to home and her friends.
This is a stand alone novel set in the same world as Doctorow’s Little Brother and Homeland. In Attack Surface we follow a first person narrative told from the perspective of Masha who is a character in the first two books. The timeline jumps around and it helps fill in the reader on events from the first two novels. It has been six years since I read Homeland and I needed help with the backstory. It would be nice to read Little Brother and Homeland first, but it isn’t necessary.
Without reading the first two novels it’s easy to figure out the setting is an alternate world, but it’s scary close to how things work in the world today.
The main conflict of the novel takes place within Masha. She likes to keep her worlds and people in different compartments. When those compartments begin clashing she has to decide what kind of person she is and who she will help.
The politics and problems of technology are fascinating. I enjoy Doctorow novels the most when I am learning something new about technology. In this novel I learned about zero day exploits. I also laughed when the author casually mentions how Internet of Things are stupid. I have used the app Signal for years, but now I want a faraday bag for my phone!
This would be a fun book to talk about with other people who are interested in tech security. I highlighted so many paragraphs that would make great conversation starters. There are also a lot of discussions in the novel about the purpose and effectiveness of protesting.
If you are already a fan of Doctorow or slightly alternative realities then you will like this book. My hope would be that more people read this and it would make them think about how their data is being used, because everyone who uses a mobile device is impacted.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Attack Surface in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes for reasons even she isn’t clear about, Masha, will go out at night and help those she spies on during her day job. She teaches these new friends how to avoid being detected. Eventually, the target of her work hits closer to home and her friends.
This is a stand alone novel set in the same world as Doctorow’s Little Brother and Homeland. In Attack Surface we follow a first person narrative told from the perspective of Masha who is a character in the first two books. The timeline jumps around and it helps fill in the reader on events from the first two novels. It has been six years since I read Homeland and I needed help with the backstory. It would be nice to read Little Brother and Homeland first, but it isn’t necessary.
Without reading the first two novels it’s easy to figure out the setting is an alternate world, but it’s scary close to how things work in the world today.
The main conflict of the novel takes place within Masha. She likes to keep her worlds and people in different compartments. When those compartments begin clashing she has to decide what kind of person she is and who she will help.
The politics and problems of technology are fascinating. I enjoy Doctorow novels the most when I am learning something new about technology. In this novel I learned about zero day exploits. I also laughed when the author casually mentions how Internet of Things are stupid. I have used the app Signal for years, but now I want a faraday bag for my phone!
This would be a fun book to talk about with other people who are interested in tech security. I highlighted so many paragraphs that would make great conversation starters. There are also a lot of discussions in the novel about the purpose and effectiveness of protesting.
If you are already a fan of Doctorow or slightly alternative realities then you will like this book. My hope would be that more people read this and it would make them think about how their data is being used, because everyone who uses a mobile device is impacted.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Attack Surface in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Masha is a hacker that helps governments spy on dissidents. When she's not working, she's helping those same dissidents stay "hidden" from the surveillance systems as long as she feels they're fighting for a just cause. But then things start hitting close to home when the systems are used on her longtime friends. Now Masha has to choose a side.
This is the first book that I've read by Cory Doctorow. It took a while for me to really get into Attack Surface, but once I reached that point I thought it was a good book. Based on the description I thought I wouldn't need to read Little Brother and Homeland first. I think I would've enjoyed Attack Surface more if I had read them. I felt like I was missing a chunk of Masha and Marcus' history. There was glimpses of their backstory, but I felt like there was more to it.
I do recommend the book to anyone that likes sci-fi or tech thrillers. Maybe try reading the Little Brother series first though.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the first book that I've read by Cory Doctorow. It took a while for me to really get into Attack Surface, but once I reached that point I thought it was a good book. Based on the description I thought I wouldn't need to read Little Brother and Homeland first. I think I would've enjoyed Attack Surface more if I had read them. I felt like I was missing a chunk of Masha and Marcus' history. There was glimpses of their backstory, but I felt like there was more to it.
I do recommend the book to anyone that likes sci-fi or tech thrillers. Maybe try reading the Little Brother series first though.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is too close to reality to really be labeled speculative fiction. It's a brilliant story and a timely warning, and I'm not sure why I'm not giving it five stars.
'Attack Surface' is a thoughtful meditation on right and wrong, on technology and surveillance, and maybe most importantly on hope. But it's also a rip roaring, action packed spy thriller that will leave you up far past your bedtime. Highly recommended!