One hundred years in the future, science has found a cure for death. A back-up copy of one's memory is loaded into a clone, and he's back on his feet. At least that's Cory Doctrow's vision in his debut novel "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom."
Doctrow's protagonist, Jules, had undergone such a procedure twice before the novel even begins. Each time, to recover and acquaint himself with his new body, Jules returns to Disney World. To him, it represents one of the more human elements in a society dominated by technological innovations.
That's especially true in light of his recent romance with Lil, one of the workers (called cast members) in the park's Liberty Square.
Unfortunately, his seemingly serene life becomes gradually more unstable with the arrival of an old friend met while working on one of his many theses. Keep-A-Movin' Dan had enjoyed a career as a kind of missionary to the more resistant parts of the globe. He previously enjoyed massive amounts of Whuffie, a tally of respect used in lieu of currency, yet had nearly lost it all when he turned to Jules for help. With little else to do in this life after all of his daring missions, Dan wishes to permanently pass away -- something unheard of in this future. He contacts Jules to help him recover his lost Whuffie so that he can die respectably and not as some washed-up has-been.
Yet it is Jules who meets his fate first.After a gruesome murder in the Enchanted Tiki Room, Jules is reincarnated and seeks vengeance on his killer. Although he doesn't recognize the woman who shot him, he knows exactly who conspired to kill him.
Fresh from their success with some of the attractions in Disney Beijing, a cast member and her followers begin improving some of the rides in Orlando. Her wildly successful design approach threatens the very human principles upon which the Magic Kingdom was built. Moreover, Jules believes Debra had him killed so that she could gain control of the park's crown jewel, the Haunted Mansion. A bitter struggle for power ensues between the traditionalist and the technologically enhanced factions, resulting in some surprising discoveries along the way.
Although this may seem a thematically heavy work dealing with murders, vengeance and suicide, Doctrow manages to pull it off with an astonishing lightheartedness.One of his wisest solutions to counter an otherwise dramatic plot was to set his tale in the Magic Kingdom. Such a whimsical locale not only opens up opportunities to relive childhood memories but also coincides with the overall fanciful nature of a science fiction novel.
Yet that classification shouldn't discourage potential readers who fear being bogged down in technical mumbo-jumbo. Much of the technology invented by Doctrow expands on the devices common to the present era. For example, all characters are connected to a kind of internet and can thus answer cell phone calls directly through their ears and without a physical phone. Moreover, these rational advancements are named in a way that does not distract readers and simultaneously fits in with the whimsical spirit of the Magic Kingdom.
Doctrow essentially defies the stereotypical definition of "science-fiction novel" -- and not just because of his realistic grasp of technology. He combines elements of murder mysteries, vengeance tales, romances and buddy comedies to create a work that appeals to a wide audience.His lighthearted conversational style, including a bizarre discussion on the advent of decaffeinated crack, turns an otherwise dreary novel into an extremely entertaining page-turner.
Underneath all of that, however, lies a grander message. Initial expectations would not classify this novel alongside distopian classics like Orwell's "1984," Huxley's "Brave New World" or Zamyatin's "We." Yet amidst the shiny happy denizens of the Magic Kingdom exists a biting social and political satire. In a manner that does not preach nor intrude upon the narrative, Doctrow questions the power of technological advancement in a deathless society. Characters can live recklessly and discard their bodies at will or purchase "designer bodies" to artificially improve their appearance. At that point, the line is truly blurred between who is human and who is a laboratory creation.
The political implications of technology are particularly relevant today as well. Although he could not have foreseen the current debates within the Walt Disney Company, Doctrow flirts with the very ideologies of that debate. Perhaps technology, though efficient, has destroyed the very human creativity on which the Walt Disney Company built its identity, perhaps not.
One can truly appreciate and debate this concept if the reader has visited the Magic Kingdom at least once. Additionally, such a trip enhances a reader's appreciation of the novel as a whole. Doctrow proves knowledgeable of the theme park's experience and respects the underlying spirit, evoking a pleasant feeling of nostalgia within those who can relate to his novel's setting.
"Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" is one of the best books of the past year, appealing to casual readers, avid readers and sci-fi fans alike. At the very least, it gives some ideas to those still searching for Spring Break plans.
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