TINAG

Late last night I finished Walter Jon Williams' This Is Not a Game. It's the longest of the books I picked for the workshop, but it didn't feel like it. Probably because I couldn't put it down for more than a few hours.

The story centers on Dagmar, a woman who creates storylines for ARGs, which are like MMOs with a real world component. You might be asked to stop an alien invasion on Venus, but in order to do so, you'll have to drop off a package at LAX. Like actually, physically get your butt over that horrendous airport.

It's a very cool concept, and all the more enjoyable because I've been reading so much "foundational" scifi. WJW's work is very brisk, the characters are dynamic, and I loved the incorporation of social networking into this thriller. I'm highly recommending this book to any and all scifi nerds, especially gamers and those with an economics background.

I've still got 6 submissions left to read and critique, but I'm getting through them more and more quickly. I love it when the author asks questions. That really helps to direct my critiques. And I'm finally, fully excited to meet everyone at the workshop. The butterflies seem quiet, for now.