Take our deepest fears about our dependence on digital and stretch them. Likewise our suspicions of the social media and tech companies for which we work as willing slaves. Add a taste of accessible philosophy (what’s reality anyway?) and neuropsychology (how can we trust our memories when they are subject to distortion?). Now send a naive and narcissistic vacuous life-style vlogger on a pilgrim’s progress through the landscape and you’ve got a sense of Liam Brown’s highly entertaining third novel. |
Clever, thought-provoking, yet unpretentious, this story of a young man’s descent into the dark side of digital is great fun. While it seems to encompass almost every angle of the downside of our fascination with the minutiae of our own and others’ lives, I was constantly surprised by the author’s ingenuity. Although not quite stream of consciousness, in keeping with the spirit of the novel, I thought I’d share the reflections I jotted down as I read. As you can see, it covers a wide range of themes. |
While I enjoyed the author’s debut, Real Monsters, I feel Broadcast is an even better showcase for his talents. Thanks to Legend Press for my advance proof copy and invitation to join the blog tour. I’m curious to see what other readers made of the book. |
If you’re interested in the theme of mind-altering technology, you might enjoy my short story Telling the Parents. For another satire on social media, see the novel, i hate the internet. |
Is riptide a suitable metaphor for how our social media addictions could sweep our feet from under us? I’m afraid it’s going to have to be, since that’s the topic of this week’s flash fiction challenge. I had set the idea aside to work on something else, when life began mimicking fiction. |
Developed for the physically challenged, soon all but the Luddites subscribed. Why swim against the tide by typing when you can speak your words onto the screen? The app’s errors were amusing and easily fixed. We welcomed each innovation, especially the one translating thoughts to words via microchips in our brains. So much easier on the vocal chords. Finning through an ocean of efficiency, oblivious of the undertow, we broadcast far and wide. Until the next compulsory upgrade ditched the correction command. Words mangled in the riptide, opinions turned upside down, our output continued, making liars of us all.
If you’re interested my second novel, Underneath, is on cut-price kindle discount until the end of this week: Amazon UK 99p https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06X9VN6CD Amazon US $1.35 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9VN6CD/ |