Citation
Doctorow, C. (2008). Little brother. New York, NY: Tor.
Description
Marcus, a.k.a "w1n5t0n," is only seventeen years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works–and how to work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school's intrusive but clumsy surveillance systems.
But his whole world changes when he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they're mercilessly interrogated for days.
When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: to take down the DHS himself.
But his whole world changes when he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they're mercilessly interrogated for days.
When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: to take down the DHS himself.
Science Fiction
Tor. (n.d.). Little brother details. Retrieved from http://www.torteen.com/books/little-brother-cory-doctorow/
Scholarly Review
In this unapologetically didactic tribute to 1984, Marcus—known online as w1n5t0n (pronounced "Winston")—takes on the Department of Homeland Security.
It's only a few years in the future, and surveillance software is everywhere. Monitored laptops track students' computer use; transit passes and automated toll systems track travel; credit-card networks track consumer purchasing. A terrorist attack on San Francisco is all the excuse the DHS needs for a crackdown, and Marcus is swept up in the random post-bombing sweeps. But where arrest and torture break 1984's Winston, they energize w1n5t0n. Released from humiliating imprisonment and determined to fight those who say that the innocent have nothing to hide, Marcus becomes the driving force behind a network of teenagers fighting the surveillance state. Long passages of beloved tech-guru Doctorow's novel are unabashedly educational, detailing the history of computing, how to use anti-surveillance software and anarchist philosophies. Yet in the midst of all this overt indoctrination, Marcus exists as a fully formed character, whose adolescent loves and political intrigues are compelling for more than just propagandistic reasons.
Terrifying glimpse of the future—or the present (Kirkus Reviews, 2010).
Kirkus Reviews. (2010, June 24). Book Reviews. [Review of the book Little Brother, by C. Doctorow]. Retrieved on March 26, 2018 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/cory-doctorow/little-brother-2/
It's only a few years in the future, and surveillance software is everywhere. Monitored laptops track students' computer use; transit passes and automated toll systems track travel; credit-card networks track consumer purchasing. A terrorist attack on San Francisco is all the excuse the DHS needs for a crackdown, and Marcus is swept up in the random post-bombing sweeps. But where arrest and torture break 1984's Winston, they energize w1n5t0n. Released from humiliating imprisonment and determined to fight those who say that the innocent have nothing to hide, Marcus becomes the driving force behind a network of teenagers fighting the surveillance state. Long passages of beloved tech-guru Doctorow's novel are unabashedly educational, detailing the history of computing, how to use anti-surveillance software and anarchist philosophies. Yet in the midst of all this overt indoctrination, Marcus exists as a fully formed character, whose adolescent loves and political intrigues are compelling for more than just propagandistic reasons.
Terrifying glimpse of the future—or the present (Kirkus Reviews, 2010).
Kirkus Reviews. (2010, June 24). Book Reviews. [Review of the book Little Brother, by C. Doctorow]. Retrieved on March 26, 2018 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/cory-doctorow/little-brother-2/
My Analysis
Little Brother was an interesting read. It is something I would not normally pick up or choose for myself, so it was refreshing to read a book that is different from my usually book choices. I found this book to be very relatable, and it is also relatable to 1984 by George Orwell. Even if readers have never read 1984, I think most will be familiar with Big Brother and see the connections between both novels. The main character, Marcus (online alias: w1n5t0n), he describes the high-tech surveillance of his high school and how he maintains his privacy by circumventing the school’s software and monitors. After a major terrorist attack destroys the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Marcus and his friends are in danger and are taken by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who use torture tactics to gain information. When Marcus and his friends are finally set free, Marcus decides he will fight the surveillance and the DHS. Through is fight, Marcus learns that every action has consequences and that sometimes peaceful protests or situations can turn dangerous or deadly. On top of the main story line of fighting “Big Brother,” there is a more subtle, underlying story of Marcus and his first love. While this isn’t my favorite novel, I did find the story interesting and fast paced. The topics and themes covered are very relevant, and I think readers will relate components of the story to their own lives and the turns that technology is taking today. I found the technical jargon interesting, although I can see where Doctorow’s descriptions could be problematic for less “tech-savvy” readers. Overall, this was a good book, and I would definitely recommend it to others, especially those that are interesting in technology and politics.
Hashtags
#bigbrotherisalwayswatching
#littlebrother
#privacyisalie
Usage
I would like to use this as part of a library lesson on digital literacy and how nothing we put on the internet is private or erasable. This book would give students a look into how others can access and use their internet usage and data.
Awards
John W. Campbell Memorial Award - Winner
CYBIL Award
Hugo Award - Nominee
Philip K. Dick Award Winner
Prometheus Award Winner
Censorship
Students at Booker T. Washington High School in Florida were originally assigned Little Brother as part of a summer reading assignment, to be discussed when school was back in session. Despite the novel being approved by the school administration, the school principal cancelled the summer reading assignment due to the novel’s content, stating that it contained “endorsed hacker culture and questioned authority.” While it isn’t completely banned from the school, it is an optional read for advanced 11th grade students. When author Cory Doctorow heard about this incident, he sent 200 copies of his novel to the high school and recorded a video directed at the school’s students. His book is also available as a free download under a Creative Commons License.
Kellogg, C. (2014). Florida school pulls Cory Doctorow’s book, he sends it to students. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-cory-doctorow-book-pulled-from-florida-schools-20140610-story.html
References
Kellogg, C. (2014). Florida school pulls Cory Doctorow’s book, he sends it to students. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-cory-doctorow-book-pulled-from-florida-schools-20140610-story.html
Kirkus Reviews. (2010, June 24). Book Reviews. [Review of the book Little Brother, by C. Doctorow]. Retrieved on March 26, 2018 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/cory-doctorow/little-brother-2/
Tor. (n.d.). Little brother details. Retrieved from http://www.torteen.com/books/little-brother-cory-doctorow/
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