Someone mentioned this was an extension of Fast Times at Fairmont High, so I was a bit woried, but really it's a rather different story in the same universe, with the same characters. I loved it. The overall story isn't particularly creative, and the characters aren't super-exciting, but I think the setting is great, and it makes the story something much better. The ubiquitous computing and security elements are highly reminiscent of A Deepness in the Sky, but in a near-future setting, and I think there's quite a lot of subtlety in it. The ending's woolly, but I think it's probably a deliberate representation of the complexity of a near-singularity world. Oh, and it leaves everything open for a sequel.
Posted 2007-09-27.