I picked up this book at the public library at the same time as Generation A. Hesitated to read it due to the description containing words of doom and gloom. Enjoyed the characters, getting to know a bit more about them chapter by chapter. Especially liked Rachel who reminded me of Brennan in the Bones series. I noticed a few repeated phrases or thoughts that were used in Gen. A. Coupland is a scary genius in getting inside people's minds, describing observations, dreams and fears while questioning belief systems, life purpose, relationships and loneliness. I didn't like Generation X very much so I wasn't sure I wanted to read this but Player One feels much more coherent and the characters are more identifiable. The quirky, contemplative and thoughtful moments are sometimes a bit much but much less the postmodern waffle from Generation X. I read it in two days. That's good too. It seems to me that the idea that humanity is about to become something else (post-human: whatever it is that we become next) is rather grand and apocalyptic and we would do well to concentrate on how we are doing here and now and work on finding more immediate solutions. Though the ways the characters in Player One end up together seems to suggest the same thing. One of the conclusions is: 'Let us reach out to shock and captivate people into new ways of thinking.' Or, as was said during another time of huge change: 'Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.' Concerning what we may become, I'm not sure if giving clones of ourselves an owner's manual will save time. Not if it takes all these clones to live the life of one person. And I fear that that life, and its copies, would be as preposterous and pretentious as a reality show on TV, or one of those obviously scripted talent shows. Maybe our brain states are not the explanation but just the means ...
Do You like book Le Ultime 5 Ore (2012)?
Pretty good. Quirky, morbid and great plot!
—kellie
Read this now, then read it again. Wow.
—cutiesnoopy
