For The Win - Cory Doctorow

For the Win - Cory Doctorow

by Renjith Joseph
Another YA novel by Cory Doctorow, this time based on goldfarming (in games), economics, and workers' rights.

The book contains short scenes in sections, each depicting one specific character in the story. In between, Doctorow adds small

messages to the readers explaining some economic facts or how something works. This can be weird, and some might be put off by this,

but if you stick with it, the novel will be interesting, as well as informative.

The universe Doctorow has created is much like ours, but many, many people play MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing

Games for you non-gamers) as part of their "work".

There are a number of main characters, Matthew Fong (in China), Wei-Dong (also known as Leonard Goldberg), who initially lives in

America, but then moves to China (the way he gets there is also interesting), Mala, a.k.a. General Robotwallah (a girl from Dharavi,

Mumbai, India), Yasmin Gardez (Mala's best friend, also in Dharavi), Big Sister Nor, in Singapore with Justbob and The Mighty Krang,

Conner Prikkel (the main economist for Coca-Cola games, in America), Lu (China again), Ashok Balgangadhar Tilak (a man that helps the

girls in Dharavi), Mr Banerjee (Mala's and Yasmin's employer), and Jiandi, a girl that has millions of factory-girl listeners on her

radio show.

All of the characters are fleshed-out and the story covers many important social issues.

10/10 for Doctorow.