Book Review: Live Without a Net

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Live Without a Net     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Lou Anders
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction   Internet   [Short Stories]
Roc, Jul 2003, $14.95, 336 pp.

The underlying premise to this eighteen story collection is based on no Internet communicating between the many to the many. This reviewer not only read the book, but also asked her college IT major son do so too (that in of itself is a miracle that he left the hyper realm for the printing realm). Based on this unscientific sample of two (still 67% of the household population), the reaction to the tales will differ depending on the age (and experiences) of the reader. Those ancient baby boomers and fountain of youth older generations know first hand an unwired world of dial phones in which the consumer could choose any color as long as it was black. To that group, the stories will seem like alternate history as it is not much of a stretch to believe that the alternatives might have been viable at one time. To those whose braces are wireless cell phones from the birthing room, the book will still find reading it fun, but it will feel more like a fantasy or science fiction anthology.

The tales are cleverly written so that the much of the audience, regardless of age or experiences, will find LIVE WITHOUT A NET as an entertaining short story medley that is worth the time away from hyperspace HTML to enter the world of printing text.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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