Rule 34 (novel)

Rule 34  

Front cover 1st edition (hardcover, US), 2011
Author(s) Charles Stross
Cover artist Alberto Seveso
Country US/UK
Language English
Series Halting State series
Genre(s) science fiction
Publisher Ace (US) / Orbit (UK)
Publication date July 2011
Pages 368
ISBN 978-0-441-02034-8
Preceded by Halting State
Followed by The Lambda Functionary

Rule 34 is a near-future science fiction novel by Charles Stross.[1][2] It is a loose sequel to Halting State, and was released on July 5 (US) and 7th (UK), 2011.[1][3] The title is a reference to the meme Rule 34 of the Internet, a meme which states that "If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions."[1][4]

Plot summary

The novel is told in second-person singular but from three points of view: Edinburgh Police Inspector Kavanaugh who investigates spammers murdered in gruesome and inventive ways, and learns about similar cases in other parts of Europe; Anwar, a former identity thief who becomes Scottish honorary consul for a fictional Central Asian state; and "The Toymaker", an enforcer and organizer for the criminal "Operation". Their interactions and conflicts drive the story.

Critical reception

Reviews have been favorable, with Cory Doctorow calling the novel, "savvy, funny, viciously inventive".[5] Kirkus Reviews gives it a star, saying, "Dazzling, chilling and brilliant",[6] Publisher's Weekly calls "the whole more than the sum of its parts",[7] and there are generally positive reviews in The Guardian[8] and The Scotsman.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c Rule 34 - Charlie's Diary. Antipope.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-04.
  2. ^ Stross, Charles. (2009-09-09) Rule 34 (9780441020348): Charles Stross: Books. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-04.
  3. ^ Apropos Nothing ... - Charlie's Diary. Antipope.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-04.
  4. ^ Tom Chivers (2009-10-23). "Internet rules and laws: the top 10, from Godwin to Poe". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6408927/Internet-rules-and-laws-the-top-10-from-Godwin-to-Poe.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
  5. ^ Boing Boing review Rule 34: pervy technothriller about the future of policing July 6, 2011
  6. ^ Kirkus Review RULE 34 June 1, 2011
  7. ^ Publisher's Weekly Rule 34 August 9, 2011
  8. ^ The Guardian What is Rule 34, you ask. Let Charles Stross explain August 11, 2011
  9. ^ The Scotsman Book Review: Rule 34 July 26, 2011