Source: TGON
Today, I thought I’d tell you about a fantastic book I stumbled upon while searching for a new Kindle adventure. (despite being such an avid book lover, I fully embrace the electronic platform movement.) I found a cheap little book called Zer0es, and was fully expecting to not enjoy it (it was only 1.99 which doesn’t typically bode well for quality.)
I was wrong! This book was absolutely totally enjoyable. I even woke my partner up a few times because I was laughing so hard.
The book follows a team of 5 hackers, all different in their specialties (IE – trolls, old school ciphering, ANON type do-gooders, political extremists…etc) are recruited by the government to avoid going to prison. They must work as hackers for the US, in a secluded camp in the mountains. All of their activity is closely monitored, and they’re graded daily on their performance. They begin to uncover government secrets, and fall down a complete rabbit hole of mystery. There’s plot twists at every turns, and if you’re a fan of sci-fi or the like, or tech books, or social activism, or team-based stories, this book hits all of the notes and is nestled in a little pocket of crossover genres.
I’m going to be straight with you. I don’t know a damn thing about hacking, programming, or anything computer based. And this book has a LOT of technicalities. Normally, something like that would turn me off to a novel (see: The Martian) because I’m reading through pages and pages of information that truly goes in one ear and out the other. But in Zer0es, the characters are so goddamn hilarious and unique, I couldn’t put it down. This is a total character driven piece, and they seem so truly realistic, it puts the whole book in a rounded out and special experience. Wendig’s voice is both to the point and somewhat harshly poetic.
I don’t want to spoil too many details regarding the characters, because they’re that good, but if you have a kindle and enjoy funny, fast paced, engaging Young Adult literature, this book is a good choice.
Zer0es by Chuck Wendig
Pages: 432
Favorite quote:
“Maybe that’s the problem with generations. You start to forget what it was like when you were like them, so they become your enemy and you become theirs and nobody understands each other. Then you die and they become you and finally, finally they understand, but by then it’s too late.”
Best time and place to read it: In a room filled with only screens and beeping monitors.
