Makers

by Caitlyn O’Fallon | 1:48 pm 11/07/2010

by Cory Doctorow Publisher: HarperCollins (3.5/5)

Futuristic fiction almost inevitably reflects the hopes and fears of the present, and Makers is no exception. In Cory Doctorow’s vision, America’s economy has crumbled, the financial giants have collapsed, the rich-poor divide is immense, and electric wheelchairs carry the super obese from one fast food outlet to the next. But at the same time, there is also a feeling of optimism: for example, technological aids are readily and cheaply available to everyone.

Makers made the most impact on me as a vehicle for Doctorow’s strong opinions on intellectual property, freedom, and big business. He repeatedly bangs home his points about fighting ‘the man’ in a way that somewhat reduced my enjoyment of the book. This is stuff he really believes in: not only is he an ardent supporter of Creative Commons, but he also posted this whole novel online for free (tinyurl.com/n5pjsq).

Although I did find the themes slightly overwhelming, Makers drew me in with its cynical wit. There is a strong strain of satire targeting recent history (particularly the dot-com bubble and the Bush administration). Makers is also tightly plotted enough to make me want to keep reading right to the last page, despite losing steam a little at some points.

Relationships are dealt with in a superficial way in most of the novel, which reflects the direction this futuristic society has moved in. Marriages inevitably fail, and sex is often referred to almost as if it were a pastime or form of exercise than anything else. The exception to this is an extraordinarily explicit one-night stand partway through the novel, which seemed entirely unnecessary. I was reading this in a public place (OK, a lecture), and it resulted in some quick page-flipping in fear that the guy behind me would think I was reading erotica in class. Awkward.

I would recommend Makers to anyone who enjoys a book with a message, and is interested in what Doctorow has to say. I’d also recommend it for the sake of the awesome inventions: despite all the fat people and economic ruin, the future is looking pretty damn cool.

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