The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore (review by Connie M. '17)

The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I picked up The Last Days of Night from the "free book" rack, I was doubtful of whether Graham Moore's second novel would live up to the whirlwind Gilded Age adventure the back cover promised. However, the fact that this novel is based on, of all things, a patent lawsuit, impressed me all the more when I found myself completely absorbed in the incredibly intelligent and fast-paced plot. Moore skillfully paints his characters with depth and unique personalities, many of whom are well-known historical figures (Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, J.P. Morgan, etc.). I loved getting to know the eccentricities of these almost legendary people, and Moore periodically provides wonderfully profound insights into the way their minds operate. My only reservation is that Moore can sometimes overdo the most unique parts of his writing. For example, I found the quotes that he placed before each of the very short chapters more distracting than helpful, and his insights can occasionally be presented more subtly. Overall, The Last Days of Night was refreshing and exciting and would be a great read in particular for fans of historical fiction, law, or the history of inventions. - Connie M. '17

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Zero to One by Peter Thiel (review by Anika B. '18)

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In Zero to One, Peter Theil, the founder of Paypal, takes the reader through the steps of building a successful startup. A notable aspect of revolutionary companies is that they go from 0 to 1, as opposed to going from 1 to n. In other words, Microsoft went from 0 to 1 by creating new technology. However, the next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. I read this book on the plane, and only opened it because I couldn’t use my phone during takeoff. I had planned on watching a bunch of movies, but the book was so amazing that I did not put it down until I finished it. The book was very easy to read, and the text was accompanied by comprehensive visuals. The brilliant metaphors further helped the reader internalize the content. However, the best part of the book was the content itself. The book preaches the opposite of what is taught in the typical economic class, allowing the reader to consider the world from a different point of view. I recommend this book to everyone, and I believe that all Harker students should read it. - Anika B. '18

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Lock In by John Scalzi (review by Catherine H. '17)

Lock In by John Scalzi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

John Scalzi’s Lock In introduces the reader to a world in the near future where millions of people have been affected by a virus that immobilizes the body but leaves the brain fully functional, while others have had their brains altered but still have fully functional bodies. Those who are immobilized are “locked in” and can use “threeps,” or robotic bodies, to interact with others in the physical world; those who have had their brain chemistry changed but have had no other physical effects are called Integrators and can allow those who have been “locked in” to borrow their bodies for a time. Hadens, those who have lost the ability to use their bodies due to this virus, find themselves in a new community that can exist outside of the physical realm, because they are not attached to their bodies. Scalzi does some interesting world-building and purposefully leaves the protagonist, Chris Shane, ambiguous. For example, Chris’s gender and race are hardly mentioned, which leaves the reader to interpret how Chris interacts with the world as an FBI agent looking to solve a murder that may have involved Hadens. I appreciated Scalzi’s subtle inclusion of diversity in the novel, and I look forward to reading more from him.

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In Persuasion Nation by George Saunders (review by Shannon H. '16)

In Persuasion Nation by George Saunders
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was almost addicted, inhaling this collection of dark short stories at an alarmingly fast pace. George Saunders creates a world in which advertising and persuasion overcome rational thought - his stories read like television commercials, slowly convincing the reader that the grotesque and brutal scenes are real. One short story begins with a polar bear lamenting his doomed existence to repeat the same patterns each day (he lives in a advertising scene). Each day he steals Cheetos from an igloo and is subsequently caught; afterwards, the owner of the igloo swings an ax to the polar bear’s head, and the day ends. Unsurprisingly, the polar bear engages in existential discussion and falls down the wormhole of philosophy. What a brilliant mix of realism and complete absurdism, and of course, it's great satire. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for some grim reality mixed with a dosage of humor and science fiction.

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The Circle by Dave Eggers (review by Andrew R. '17)

The Circle by Dave Eggers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Privacy in social media and on the Internet is a hot topic these days—the perfect target for some biting satire and not-so-futuristic science fiction. That’s what Dave Eggers is going for in The Circle, at least. He achieves those ends without offering much in the way of plot complexity or meaningful commentary. The storyline follows Mae Holland as she works her way up the corporate ladder of the Circle—a Silicon Valley super-corporation that seems to hold a monopoly over all the social media, scientific research, and Internet services. The section of the narrative where Mae relinquishes all her privacy to improve her standing in the company is chilling, but its impact is lessened by Eggers’s lack of subtlety in exposing the corporation’s tyranny: when the Circle’s executives make SECRETS ARE LIES, SHARING IS CARING, PRIVACY IS THEFT the new company motto, for instance, it’s hard to think of the campus as anything less than a malicious, 1984-like surveillance state. The Circle would have made a potent commentary on one of today’s most-discussed issues if it had spent more time on an intricate plot and less on too-obvious catchphrases and images of corruption. - Andrew R. '17

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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (review by Andrew R.'17)

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ready Player One has the amusing (if unlikely) premise of a massive ’80s cultural revival in the year 2044 following the death of billionaire video game designer James Halliday. In a famine-stricken vision of future America, Halliday’s will is the last hope for many of the country’s hopeful gamers: it bestows the designer’s entire fortune upon the first person to complete a series of ’80s-themed riddles set in the OASIS, a sprawling virtual-reality videogame that redefines MMORPGs. For a future-world teenager, intrepid fortune-hunter Wade Watts spends a surprising amount of time obsessing over minutiae of ’80s culture that seem more likely to appeal to the author himself. (Case in point: the president of the OASIS is Cline’s fellow science-fiction novelist Cory Doctorow.) My only qualm with this book is that, while the OASIS is constantly glorified, it’s clear that the collapse of the real world is a direct result of the citizenry’s lack of regard for anything outside their alternate-reality visors. One character hints at this, but, of course, he immediately recants his views and never brings them up again. Still, Ready Player One is a fun diversion from the real world—for the author as well as the reader. - Andrew R. '17

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Homeland (Little Brother #2) by Cory Doctorow (review by Catherine H. '17)

Homeland by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since Marcus started up the Xnet and exposed the government in Little Brother, everything has gone downhill. After the economy the crashes and leaves him with nothing, his former rival Masha shows up with a mysterious USB drive containing a load of dark secrets. She warns Marcus to leak the info on the drive if she ever goes missing, which she promptly does. However, in his new job as a webmaster for an independent candidate, Marcus can't afford to let anyone know that he's the leaker. Cory Doctorow's brilliant book, a sort of wake-up call that shows the dark side of technology, is a thrilling read. I would recommend this series to most if not all avid readers, regardless of age or genre preference.

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The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer (review by Monica K. 14)

The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The surprise sequel of The House of the Scorpion, The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer follows Matt's dismantling of his predecessor's drug empire. In particular, it explores the plight of the microchipped eejits, ethics of cloning and microchipping, and the polluted, future world. While the novel had potential (and is still well-written and recommended to fans of the first book), it could have been truly great with a serious round of editing. My main problems with it were that the pacing was off and main characters shifted personalities from the first novel or acted out of character to move the plot along. I also missed the world building and suspense of the first book. In the end the Lord of Opium is pretty good but not a must-read - however, I really, really recommend The House of the Scorpion. – Monica K. ‘14

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Spillover by David Quammen (review by Akshay B. '16)

Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Award-winning travel writer David Quammen brings you along on his latest fantastic journey across the world, documenting the origin and emergence of dangerous zoonoses, viral infections that come to humans from other species. Quammen is a brilliant narrator, combining humor with intellectual information to trace the spread of viruses like Ebola, AIDS and H1N1 as well as lesser known but no less frightening varieties. Unfortunately, he can only go so far, and readers who are not ardent fans of biology may find the narrative, at times, boring. However, readers will be pulled into the globe-crossing journey as Quammen gives a first-person perspective of his travels and hands-on experience with researchers. Fans of biology and people who like reading about worldly issues will find Spillover a fantastic read. - Akshay B. ‘16

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Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard P. Feynman (review by Agata S. '15)

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! by Richard P. Feynman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Readers unfamiliar with Richard Feynman might envision a scholarly, soberly theoretical physicist scratching away on a blackboard full of formulas so complex that only he and, perhaps, Einstein can understand them. However, after finishing Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!, readers discover a radically different side of the Nobel prize winner. Whether Feynman is breaking into Los Alamos safes, drumming in an amateur band as part of Brazil’s annual carnival, or having the time of his life in a Las Vegas strip club, he remains fantastically dynamic. Throughout, the language in the autobiography is rather simple, yet one hears a truly genuine voice behind the words. In my opinion, this is a must-read, even for non-physics fans, since it traces the story of a genius in such a non-conventional, exciting way. – Agata S.’15

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Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a novel that practically invented its own genre, Stephenson brings to life the engaging, fast-paced Metaverse, Hiro Protagonist's virtual reality. The world-building is top-notch, set in some pocket of a distant time ahead that remains unstilted -- unlike dystopian classics such as Brave New World. Snow Crash is refreshingly free of cloying allegory or philosophy, which seem to accompany any novel set in the future nowadays. It teems with energy that casts a vice-like hold on readers and refuses to let go. Hiro and YT (Yours Truly) make brilliant, edgy and flawed protagonists that truly have no parallel. Recommended to budding science fiction or cyberpunk fans. And – if you are already a hardcore fan of either but still haven't read this -- where on earth have you been? – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (review by Naomi M. '16)

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Terrorists have attacked San Francisco. The Department of Homeland Security takes a high school computer genius, Marcus, and his friends without any explanation to be brutally interrogated. Once released, Marcus finds that the government has turned his beloved city into a police state. Everyone is a potential threat. In order to bring down the paranoid authorities, he must figure out a way to bring the truth about the DHS to light. Armed with only his computer, Marcus sets a rebellion in motion larger than he could have dreamed possible. Reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984, Little Brother is a novel of the future - where fighting is done through technology and anyone can change the world. Lovers of dystopian fiction, this is the one for you. – Naomi M. ‘16

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Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson (review by Mrs. Cranston)

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Robopocalypse (available as an ebook through OverDrive), humans have finally done it. By creating a super-intelligent robot named Archos, we have, in its words, “made mankind obsolete.” In one horrifying moment (Zero Hour), Archos turns our technology against us, using cars, smart-weapons, even cell phones as tools of the robot uprising. Told from alternating perspectives before and after Zero Hour, this fast-paced book describes how a few brave humans resist Archos’ quest to cleanse the world of humanity. Readers who like a little philosophy thrown in with their apocalypse will adore this book. Sure there are be-tentacled super-robots ripping open buildings to extract humans like sardines from a can, but there are also humanoid robots meditating on what it means to be “alive.” Robopocalypse’s oral history structure as well as the scale and pace of its global disaster will draw comparisons to World War Z. However, while World War Z’s protagonists had to outmaneuver zombies (gross yes, but relatively slow and definitely brain-dead), Robopocalypse’s characters must outsmart a vastly superior intelligence whose army is global and instantaneous and in your iPad! In fact, the challenge is so compelling and Archos so daunting that the resolution is a bit unconvincing…still there are more books in the series, so we’ll see what happens next! Overall, a great read. - Mrs. Cranston, Harker librarian

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Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (review by Anika J. '17)

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An inspirational yet eye-opening novel, Walter Isaacson provides insight into the invention, development, and release of many Apple products. It opens with a description of Jobs' childhood. Frequently landing himself into trouble at school, few could ever have predicted what he would eventually accomplish. The reader is led through his tumultuous life: the positive memories, such as when he called up Bill Hewlett to ask for some parts, and negative ones, like distancing himself from the daughter he never wanted. I originally thought that I would not relate to Jobs, but to my astonishment, the majority resonates deeply with me. Lessons learned from this book are some that may never be forgotten. It's definitely a must-read. - Anika J. '17

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How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown (review by Allison W. '16)

How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming Mike Brown discusses his search for new planets which ultimately led to the decision that Pluto should not be considered a planet. Although the book does discuss some astronomy, it focuses on the process of scientific discovery and what Brown did on his path to discover the dwarf planet Eris. Starting with his bet that someone would find a new planet within five years, he discusses not only his work but also his home life with an infant daughter. How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is a humorous book which should appeal to anyone who wants to know why Pluto is not a planet. -Allison W. '16

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Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (review by Karen T. '16)

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a futuristic world on the brink of an alien invasion, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is accepted into the prestigious Battle School, an orbiting military school dedicated to training soldiers and leaders for the impending third alien invasion. As Ender accelerates through his studies, he encounters both friends and enemies, all of whom leave indelible marks on Ender's life. Although the plot tends toward repetitive monotony towards the middle of the book, the vivid characterization of the protagonist and the logic behind his brilliant tactics save the story from becoming insipid. While those who eschew the details of politics and technology may find this novel dull, Ender's Game will captivate fans of science fiction or military novels due to its complex characters and tactics, as well as its detailed writing style. - Karen T. '16

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