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Walkaway

by Cory Doctorow

out 4/25

Imagine a world, "default," where the ultra-wealthy control everything, the middle-class hang on by the thread of low-paying jobs, most anything can be produced cheaply, and much of the land has been destroyed by climate change. Add to that a younger generation dabbling in "communist party" raves who would rather brave the unknown than be controlled by the ultra-rich who have defaulted on the promise of government, and you have Walkaway. The world outside of default has been trashed by the greed of those in control, and is rumored to be a dangerous environmental wasteland, but it is the only option, so people go. This is utopia, but it isn't easy and it doesn't paint over the grunge of being human. The fluid sexuality in Walkaway is hot with full consent, a truly beautiful sense of the other, and absolutely no neckties. Of course, things go along okay until the Walkaways do what the ridiculously wealthy haven't been able to do: conquer death. Then there is war. You will want to talk about this book over and over. - Linda