Summer Reading

I just finished reading Cory Doctorow's Little Brother and it's the first book, film, television show, stage play, anything really I've read, seen or heard in recent memory, that manages to not only live up to it's hype-induced expectations but far exceed them.
The book, in case you're not familiar, is a novel that in essence re-imagines George Orwell's 1984 in our current and near-present, with a teen-aged protagonist.
Except the dire end-game of a totalitarian state happens as we read, and we get to follow Marcus (W1n5t0n) as he and his friends attempt to fight the power.
If you're a geek like me, you'll find yourself enthralled with the nifty tricks and technology Marcus and company use during the quest. If you're not, all the bits and bytes are explained during the course of the book in a way even the most ardent luddite can grasp and appreciate.
Besides, technology isn't the point, it's the tool. The point is freedom, liberty, and the power of an individual, no matter how seemingly ordinary or powerless, to affect positive change. Little Brother is a powerful reminder to all of us that one man or woman doesn't constitute a movement, but they damn well can start one.
So head on over to Cory Doctorow's web site and give it a read. It's available for free download, or for purchase. Personally, I've already given away one hard copy of the book to my "tween" niece, have plans for birthdays and Xmas buying of more, and I'm going to make sure I have a hardback copy in the house to give to my daughter when she is old enough. Yes, I think the book is that important.
Go forth and read.