by M.T. Anderson
Genre: Science Fiction (YA)
Though aimed at young adults, this novel is one that might interest readers of all ages. M.T. Anderson’s chilling futuristic tale describes a society dominated by consumerism, technology, and subliminal mind control. Titus and his friends are typical teenagers—they shop, attend parties (on other planets, of course), and enjoy music, games and entertainment. The difference between them and teens of today is that Titus and his friends have the Feed, a chip implanted in their brains that gives them a constant stream of advertisements, gaming, and all other forms of information. Talking is even optional; they can “chat” with each other in their minds.
When a hacker attacks their feeds, however, they are forced to go offline for a brief spell. They’re so dependent on the feed that the silence is pretty traumatic for all of them; it forces them to think for themselves, and they all feel helpless. They’re all relieved when the glitch is fixed.
Enter Violet—Titus’ new friend and a rebel who gets the feed later in life and resents it. She fights it by scattering her shopping patterns to confuse the feed, and the corporations later use this to deny the financial assistance she needs to repair the malfunctioning feed that is slowly killing her body.
Publisher’s Weekly called it a “thought-provoking and scathing indictment of corporate-and media-dominated culture.”
Anderson’s satire about an ultra-consumerist society is not so far-fetched when one considers how dependent we’ve become on technology. Computer chips are being implanted in our pets, and cookies on Amazon.com and other shopping sites track our shopping habits already. Could it happen? You read it, and tell us your thoughts in a comment.
