The Bezzle

I found The Bezzle by Cory Doctorow @pluralistic@mamot.fr somewhat disappointing, especially compared to Red Team Blues. While it was an interesting read, it was enough of a grind, that I put it down part way through and only finished it months later when I finished my other, more entertaining books.

Sure, some of my disappointment is because Cory set the bar so high. Also, since I already knew about the abuses of the private prison system and have been reading other authors who rant on about the abuses of oligarchs. So there was very little in here that was entirely new to me. For people who aren't familiar with these topics, I could see how it would be a big mind opener. For me it was a long litany of horrors.

On the other hand The Bezzle did expand my knowledge of the extent or particulars of the abuses and personalities involved. It was engaging, but not entertaining. However, I don't put entertainment at the top of my priorities for good reading because I'd rather be engaged with interesting topics than pandered to.

Overall, The Bezzle was worth reading, but vaguely disappointing.

(em português → sol2070.in/2024/03/resenha-livro-the-bezzle-cory-doctorow/ )

"The Bezzle" (2024) is the latest fiction by Cory Doctorow. It's a clever and very relevant page-turning political tech thriller.

It's the second book featuring protagonist Martin Hench, a kind of digital detective who uncovers intricate corporate scams. The first was "Red Team Blues" (2023).

It's a prequel, even better than the previous one. It begins at the time of the internet bubble at the end of the 90s and goes up to the mid-2000s. The central plot involves the corrupt privatisation of the US prison system (which actually took place), creating a horrific techno-dystopian incarceration that would cause envy for today's big techs.

It's one of those books that's hard to put down, even though it lays descriptions even of the lustre of a tie or the filling of an unusual sandwich (makes you hungry).

As a bonus, there are some tasty psychedelic adventures.

Cory, for those who don't know, as well as being a respected and popular speculative fiction writer, also works and writes non-fiction in the area of digital rights.