Our next title is (you guessed it) Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. We'll be meeting on May 10th to discuss it.
The title is obviously an homage to Orwell's classic, 1984, but as you can see from the cover, this book has more of a "Take Back the Night" feel to it . . . or at least it would, if "Take Back the Night" involved tech gadgets, hoodies, and a whole lot of stomping. But you know what I mean.
I think you're going to really enjoy this book, and it will give you a lot to think about in terms of the choices you make every day when you log on to Facebook and Tumblr, use a cell phone, or click "Agree" at the end of a Terms and Services screen (that you haven't read) for the seventh time in a single day.
As you devour this book, consider the various ways in which it is tied to 1984. After all, Doctorow wouldn't have titled his novel "Little Brother" if Orwell hadn't been on his mind. You also might want to check out BoingBoing, the blog Doctorow co-edits. The front page is great, and the TECH section in particular often links to interesting articles such as this one from Wired magazine: Siri Remembers Your Secrets, But for How Long?
For our discussion . . . Complete one of the following, please:
- Is it real or is it make-believe? Doctorow mentions several technological gadgets that are employed either by Marcus or by the DHS: arphids, gait recognition software, Paranoid XBox, the homemade LED-ringed-toilet-paper-roll-spycam-locator, and about two thousand more. Which ones exist and are in use now (or can be made and used), and which ones are purely fictional? You don't have to find every last one. Just get a decent list going and tell us what's what.
- Ponder the fine line between providing reasonable national security and infringing upon people's Civil Rights. What challenges do we face as a nation in terms of maintaining security for our citizen's while ensuring basic freedoms? Where do we currently stand on this continuum? What do we, as citizens, need to do to ensure that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness continue to be perceived as unalienable rights? Write a short essay in which you discuss any of these questions or variations on this topic.
- Locate a news article (or two, or several) describing a security measure currently in use that could be seen as infringing upon basic rights--or that seems like a step in that direction. We already talked about the school that got in trouble for activating the webcams on its students' laptops (and yes, it was in Pennsylvania; I really have to stop trying to pin everything on Alabama), so steer clear of that one. Rest assured, there are still plenty of instances of covert surveillance out there. Find one (or two, or several) and bring it (or them) to share.
- As always, if you are inspired in some other way by this novel--to paint, draw, sketch, program, write, build, or create something--do it. And bring your results for everyone to contemplate.
That's it. See you on May 10th.
