check
out website: www.tor.com
and www.craphound.com The first important thing to note, a thing that has only
just struck me, is that if you add just one letter and a space to Cory's surname
he becomes a well-known British television character. What better credentials
could you want for an SF writer?
This book takes an interesting look
at the ramifications of our current progress towards globalisation and its effect
on the mentality of a race that has remained divided for thousands of years. As
geographical borders lessen in significance due to the availability of cheap methods
of travel and communication, people find a new way to segregate themselves: the
Tribes. The Tribes are based around time zones, our protagonist, Art, being a
member of the titular Eastern Standard Tribe. 
They
are collections of people who live to the same time scales, grouping together
in a common cause to aid each other or to hinder the activities of the other tribes.
This book is the story of Art's attempts to undermine the Greenwich Mean Tribe,
by using his job to introduce ideas into it that undermine its ability to function
efficiently. Along the way he meets a girl, falls in love and trouble ensues.
Some things in the future haven't changed then.
'Eastern Standard Tribe'
is the next novel to be ejected from Doctorow's unique literary mind and it's
every bit as good as his first novel 'Down And Out In The Magic Kingdom'. Indeed,
the two books share a lot in common: both being set in futuristic worlds and both
taking as a basis for those worlds, an exaggeration of current cultural and social
trends. Each novel seems to be a minor treatise on the dangers of cheapening
the availability of information, which is a topic that is central to this novel's
opening statement. It purports to explain very clearly the theme of the story,
'Would you rather be smart or happy?' This supposition could also be viewed as
the conflict between convenience and knowledge, spellcheckers and dictionaries.
In 'EST', Art seems to be fairly unique in that he is deeply engaged with
this fast-food society, but despite this, he maintains a keen intellect. This
makes the awful things that happen to him almost inevitable, he is like a fish
out of water. The true natives of this world, the ones who are really adapted
to it, are without exception reprehensible and largely merit-less characters.
The irony in this book's attack on this evolving way of life stems from
the wonderful segments where Art uses the Internet, demonstrating Doctorow's intimate
knowledge of on-line culture. If you're reading this, then I can almost guarantee
that you will be struck by the authenticity of these little segments. Doctorow
creates a chat room within a book and damn me if I didn't want to join in!
I would say though that, as much as I loved this book, I do find myself
hoping that the next book departs a little more from the elements established
in 'Down And Out'. It'd be great to see Doctorow go in a completely different
direction in the next novel.
That's not to say that I wouldn't recommend
you to grab yourself a copy of this. As usual Doctorow's marvellous sense of humour
permeates every page, he has a comic cynicism that is typical of many Canadian
and British writers, but it's a strangely optimistic cynicism that never makes
the mistake of appearing too bitter. He's also about the only writer who can write
about the near future and not make it seem that far off.
Finally, this
book is available for free on Doctorow's website www.craphound.com, as is his
first novel and his collection of short stories. I would recommend actually buying
it, though. The front cover has a very arty picture of the Earth in a coffee cup
on it and when left lying casually around the house could potentially fool people
into thinking you're an intellectual. Well, I can hope, can't I?
Paul
Skevington |
