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Description edit
Narrated in the form of a Powerbook entry by Dan Underwood, a computer programmer for Microsoft, this state-of-the-art novel about life in the '90s follows the adventures of six code-crunching computer whizzes. Known as "microserfs," they spend upward of 16 hours a day "coding" (writing... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Daniel: The book's narrator and Microsoft employee.
- Susan: One of Daniel's roommates and co-workers at Microsoft.
- Todd: One of Daniel's roommates and co-workers at Microsoft.
- Bug: One of Daniel's roommates and co-workers at Microsoft.
- Michael: One of Daniel's roommates and co-workers at Microsoft.
- Abe: One of Daniel's roommates and co-workers at Microsoft.
- Karla: Daniel's co-worker/ girlfriend.
- Jed: Daniels deceased brother
Quotes edit
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“It's like male geeks don't know how to deal with real live women, so they just assume it's a user interface problem. Not their fault. they'll just wait for the next version to come out--something more user friendly”
Dan -
“The woman at the gym calibrated my fat/water/meat/bone ratios, made an inward gasp and I asked her what was wrong. She said (after a tentative, you-have-cancer pause) "You're what's technically known as a 'thin fat person'.It was so degrading. Not only am I skinny, but what meat I do possess isn't meat at all, but lard.”
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“But I did say, "There's one thing computing teaches you, and that's there's no point to remembering everything. Being able to fin things is what's important.”
Dan -
“Ethan said randomness is a useful shorthand for describing a pattern that's bigger than anything we can hold in our minds.”
Dan -
“Went to the gym for the first time today and my body feels like an East German Trabant car running on linseed oil crashing into a stack of burning televisions.”
Dan -
“I used to always think I had to have a reason to record my observations of the day, or even my emotions, but now I think simply being alive is more than enough reason. Unshackled!”
Setting & Locations edit
- Redmond, WA United States: The location of the Microsoft Campus
Organizations edit
First Sentence edit
This morning, just after 11:00, Michael locked himself in his office and he won't come out.
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This book is in Joel On Software Reading List. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Douglas Coupland (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 1995
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 1995
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 384
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.54
Subjects edit
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