For the Win
A Novel
- Publisher
- Tor/Forge
- Initial publish date
- May 2010
- Category
- General
- Recommended Age
- 13 to 18
- Recommended Grade
- 8 to 12
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9780765333841
- Publish Date
- Sep 2012
- List Price
- $30.99
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9780765322166
- Publish Date
- May 2010
- List Price
- $19.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Out of print
This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.
Description
In the virtual future, you must organize to survive
At any hour of the day or night, millions of people around the globe are engrossed in multiplayer online games, questing and battling to win virtual "gold," jewels, and precious artifacts. Meanwhile, others seek to exploit this vast shadow economy, running electronic sweatshops in the world's poorest countries, where countless "gold farmers," bound to their work by abusive contracts and physical threats, harvest virtual treasure for their employers to sell to First World gamers who are willing to spend real money to skip straight to higher-level gameplay.
Mala is a brilliant 15-year-old from rural India whose leadership skills in virtual combat have earned her the title of "General Robotwalla." In Shenzen, heart of China's industrial boom, Matthew is defying his former bosses to build his own successful gold-farming team. Leonard, who calls himself Wei-Dong, lives in Southern California, but spends his nights fighting virtual battles alongside his buddies in Asia, a world away. All of these young people, and more, will become entangled with the mysterious young woman called Big Sister Nor, who will use her experience, her knowledge of history, and her connections with real-world organizers to build them into a movement that can challenge the status quo.
The ruthless forces arrayed against them are willing to use any means to protect their power—including blackmail, extortion, infiltration, violence, and even murder. To survive, Big Sister's people must out-think the system. This will lead them to devise a plan to crash the economy of every virtual world at once—a Ponzi scheme combined with a brilliant hack that ends up being the biggest, funnest game of all.
Imbued with the same lively, subversive spirit and thrilling storytelling that made LITTLE BROTHER an international sensation, FOR THE WIN is a prophetic and inspiring call-to-arms for a new generation
About the author
Cory Doctorow is a multi-award-winning science fiction author, technologist, activist and speaker. His novels include Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, Eastern Standard Tribe and the recently released contemporary fantasy, Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town.
Awards
- Nominated, Prometheus Award Nominee
Editorial Reviews
“A terrific read ... A cogently written, passionately felt argument.” —The New York Times on Little Brother
“Awesome…He's terrific at finding the human aura shimmering around technology.” —The Los Angeles Times on Little Brother
“A believable and frightening tale of a near-future San Francisco … Filled with sharp dialogue and detailed descriptions… within a tautly crafted fictional framework.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Little Brother
“One of the year's most important books.” —Chicago Tribune on Little Brother
“A wonderful, important book…I'd recommendLittle Brother over pretty much any book I've read this year.” —Neil Gaiman, author of The Graveyard Book on Little Brother
“A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion—as necessary and dangerous as file sharing, free speech, and bottled water on a plane.” —Scott Westerfeld, author of Uglies, Pretties, and Specials on Little Brother
