Bash Bash Revolution: A Novel

by Douglas Lain Narrated by Scott Merriman

Overview

A compelling coming-of-age artificial intelligence novel from Philip K. Dick Award-nominated author Douglas Lain.

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Munson is ranked thirteenth in the state in Bash Bash Revolution, an outdated video game from 2002 that, in 2017, is still getting tournament play. He's a high school dropout who still lives at home with his mom, doing little but gaming and moping. That is, until Matthew's dad turns up again.

Jeffrey Munson is a computer geek who'd left home eight years earlier to work on a top secret military project. Jeff has been a sporadic presence in Matthew's life, and much to his son's displeasure insists on bonding over video games. The two start entering local tournaments together, where Jeff shows astonishing aptitude for Bash Bash Revolution in particular.

Then, as abruptly as he appeared, Matthew's father disappears again, just as he was beginning to let Jeff back into his life.

The betrayal is life-shattering, and Matthew decides to give chase, in the process discovering the true nature of the government-sponsored artificial intelligence program his father has been involved in. Told as a series of conversations between Matthew and his father's artificial intelligence program, Bash Bash Revolution is a wildly original novel of apocalypse and revolution, as well as a poignant story of broken family.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A fun read; that is, until you close the book and start thinking about its implications. This is not a cartoonish sketch: it is a realistic and bleak look at the post-singularity world. An easy suggestion for fans of current, accessible science fiction that thoughtfully contemplates AI such as Cline's Ready Player One or Cargill's Sea of Rust , but it is also a great choice for those who enjoy John Scalzi’s narrative style.” — Booklist , starred review

“Bearing similarities to M.T. Anderson’s Feed, this timely novel explores the affordances and pitfalls of connecting and changing the world with technology.”— School Library Journal

“A fascinating mash-up of philosophy and video game culture. The kind of book that will stick with you long after you put it down.”
—A.C. Wise, author of The Kissing Booth Girl and Other Stories

“Hip, intelligent and utterly addictive. Strap in for a wild ride.”—Gareth L. Powell, author of Ack-Ack Macaque and Embers of War

"Lain's writing is unsettling, ferociously smart, and extremely addictive."—Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble

"A sharp shell of inventive geeky goodness around a devastatingly human core."—Suzanne Palmer

School Library Journal

03/01/2018
Gr 8 Up—Seventeen-year-old high school dropout Matthew Munson lives a low-key life between playing the popular video game Bash Bash Revolution and meet-ups with his religious girlfriend Sally at the local Dairy Queen. But then his father Jeffrey Munson, who has been a very sporadic presence, returns with an AI machine he's been working on with the U.S. government. Although his motives are sometimes questionable, the father insists on bonding with his son over video games. Jeffrey becomes quite good at Bash Bash Revolution, even better than his son, and enters a local gaming tournament. Then, just as father and son seem to be connecting, Jeffrey disappears once again, encouraging Matthew to investigate his father's whereabouts, as well as the AI machine. Bearing similarities to M.T. Anderson's Feed, this timely novel explores the affordances and pitfalls of connecting and changing the world with technology. VERDICT Recommended for most YA shelves.—Margaret A. Robbins, University of Georgia, Athens

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169558333
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	03/27/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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