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In the distant future, as imagined by science fiction novelist Cory Doctorow, a lot has changed (not the least of which is that people live forever), but one thing remains constant: the Magic Kingdom at Florida's Walt Disney World. That is, until a renegade group attempts to commandeer the living history shrine and retrofit its quaint attractions with some future-shock technology.

The battle lines thus drawn, traditionalists conspire to thwart the takeover attempt.


Doctorow serves huge dollops of Disney theme park reverence along with a fascinating glimpse at a jacked-in society that takes the notion of a wireless internet to its logical, if disturbing, conclusion. "Down and Out" covers terrain similar to William Gibson's "Neuromancer," but it's more accessible. It will satisfy both science fiction and theme park geeks. If you happen to be both, you'll double your pleasure.