Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
by Cory Doctorow
Jules is a young man only a century ago. He lived long enough to see the cure for death and the end of the void, learn ten languages, and compose three symphonies... and fulfill your childhood dream to settle in Disney World. Disney World! The greatest artistic achievement of the ancient twentieth century. Now, as always, under the tutelage of a network of volunteer "ad-hocs" that supports classic driving, powered only by the slightest touch of high-tech. However, now "ad-hocs" seem to be under attack. The new group has taken over the Hall of Presidents and is replacing venerable sound animatronics with new, immersive, direct-to-brain interfaces that give guests the illusion of being Washington, Lincoln, and everyone else. For Jules, this is an attack on the artistic purity of Disney World. Even worse: This new group seems to have killed Jules. It makes him sad. (After all, this is only his fourth death and rebirth.) Now it's a battle: a battle for the soul of the Magic Kingdom, a battle of ever-changing reputations, technical witchcraft, and completely unpredictable outcomes. Exploding with advanced speculation and human insights, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom reads as if Neil Stevenson is dating Nick Hornby: a romantic comedy of coming of age and a cybernetic power tour. For more information about this name, visit the official Cory Doctorow website.
