Just finished this. I couldn’t help of think about Jude and friends from A Little Life. I loved how Pioneers was saved until towards the end instead of thrusting us into the gamer world right away. 4/5
I hadn’t thought of the A Little Life connection but I can definitely see it! And always interested in how people respond to the Pioneers sections. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I absolutely LOVED this book. As an AFAB person who literally studied pure math and then worked in tech, the reflection on the specific experience of sexism in STEM was so accurate. It's not just the devaluing of women's work, but also the attribution of your work to men. I FELT the indignation on her behalf. On my own behalf. I also really valued the sensitivity and thought she put into showing an experience of physical disability, tho for that I don't have so great an experience to evaluate against. I did also grow up gaming, tho there were lots of specific games that hadn't hit my radar. I love the way she expressed the characters through their game tastes, through their styles in game development itself. "Two Sides" was perhaps my favourite section in the entire book for this. My biggest critiques are: 1) no one ends up in pure math in a GRAD program without being absolutely passionate about the work. Not to say there AREN'T fields of math where you might blink and and find yourself - statistics, CS, engineering - but pure math just isn't one of them. You don't just accidentally get good at it; you have to be immensely curious and driven to even stand a chance of getting into grad school for it. You COULD get through an undergrad program on aptitude alone (tho incredibly unlikely), but you won't be getting into a grad program unless you've got publications to your name already, along with the grades and high references. You don't get publications without being curious, without asking questions no one has asked before. Frankly, even the study of existing work in that field requires such passion. 2) I found it hard to believe that a gay person would even consider their job to be the lightning rod that brought danger to their life. Existing as a gay person, especially at that time, was inherently life threatening. Ant would have certainly been harassed on the street, been chased, beaten up, or at very least have known someone close who has been. Even in the liberal bubble that is California. If anything, I feel much safer overall in my life working at a company that makes clear, decisive actions that support my communities. It is believable enough that shooters would target the tech company, but they also would be targeting gay clubs, public streets, schools ("don't say gay" bills for example) and of course the laws - of these, only the targeting of laws (making gay marriage illegal) was referenced. When fascism rises, it isn't some isolated incident; it's everywhere.
I am thoroughly mixed on this one. The characters were too unlikeable. Sam was obviously a surly misanthrope, but flawed and scarred, so I get it. But I found Sadie increasingly unlikeable, petty, and entitled as the book went on. Marx was idealized as loveable and handsome, a bit too much so, and was sort of not believable. And I was annoyed Dov, who was obviously just awful, kind of got off too easy. His appearance at the end almost colored him as a sympathetic figure. While the perspective of women in tech was on point, a lot of the social signaling throughout the book was a bit off putting as it seemed largely unnecessary to the story. All that said, I did find the plot engaging and enjoyed the unusual stylistic elements, so I consider it worth the read if not quite deserving of the hype.
Both main characters were horrible people. Only Sadie as a child was normal. The only character that was likeable was Marx, spoiler, they murdered him in a, the author virtue signals, attack. Not a good book. 2/5 easy to read and not exactly a sleeper gives it 2 stars. loses 3 stars for the virtue signaling, the horrible characters and the story telling.
Just finished this. I couldn’t help of think about Jude and friends from A Little Life. I loved how Pioneers was saved until towards the end instead of thrusting us into the gamer world right away. 4/5
I hadn’t thought of the A Little Life connection but I can definitely see it! And always interested in how people respond to the Pioneers sections. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I absolutely LOVED this book. As an AFAB person who literally studied pure math and then worked in tech, the reflection on the specific experience of sexism in STEM was so accurate. It's not just the devaluing of women's work, but also the attribution of your work to men. I FELT the indignation on her behalf. On my own behalf.
I also really valued the sensitivity and thought she put into showing an experience of physical disability, tho for that I don't have so great an experience to evaluate against.
I did also grow up gaming, tho there were lots of specific games that hadn't hit my radar. I love the way she expressed the characters through their game tastes, through their styles in game development itself. "Two Sides" was perhaps my favourite section in the entire book for this.
My biggest critiques are:
1) no one ends up in pure math in a GRAD program without being absolutely passionate about the work. Not to say there AREN'T fields of math where you might blink and and find yourself - statistics, CS, engineering - but pure math just isn't one of them. You don't just accidentally get good at it; you have to be immensely curious and driven to even stand a chance of getting into grad school for it. You COULD get through an undergrad program on aptitude alone (tho incredibly unlikely), but you won't be getting into a grad program unless you've got publications to your name already, along with the grades and high references. You don't get publications without being curious, without asking questions no one has asked before. Frankly, even the study of existing work in that field requires such passion.
2) I found it hard to believe that a gay person would even consider their job to be the lightning rod that brought danger to their life. Existing as a gay person, especially at that time, was inherently life threatening. Ant would have certainly been harassed on the street, been chased, beaten up, or at very least have known someone close who has been. Even in the liberal bubble that is California. If anything, I feel much safer overall in my life working at a company that makes clear, decisive actions that support my communities. It is believable enough that shooters would target the tech company, but they also would be targeting gay clubs, public streets, schools ("don't say gay" bills for example) and of course the laws - of these, only the targeting of laws (making gay marriage illegal) was referenced. When fascism rises, it isn't some isolated incident; it's everywhere.
Thank you for sharing such well-developed thoughts! I am glad you loved the book and it gave you so much to engage with.
Confused. Wasn’t Sam in undergrad, not grad school?
I liked all the characters specially Sam’s family. I wish they did more chapters like Pioneers . Good book
The Pioneers chapter was definitely one of the most innovative in terms of form!
I am thoroughly mixed on this one. The characters were too unlikeable. Sam was obviously a surly misanthrope, but flawed and scarred, so I get it. But I found Sadie increasingly unlikeable, petty, and entitled as the book went on. Marx was idealized as loveable and handsome, a bit too much so, and was sort of not believable. And I was annoyed Dov, who was obviously just awful, kind of got off too easy. His appearance at the end almost colored him as a sympathetic figure. While the perspective of women in tech was on point, a lot of the social signaling throughout the book was a bit off putting as it seemed largely unnecessary to the story. All that said, I did find the plot engaging and enjoyed the unusual stylistic elements, so I consider it worth the read if not quite deserving of the hype.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve just read this book and didn’t like it.
Fair!
Both main characters were horrible people. Only Sadie as a child was normal. The only character that was likeable was Marx, spoiler, they murdered him in a, the author virtue signals, attack.
Not a good book.
2/5
easy to read and not exactly a sleeper gives it 2 stars.
loses 3 stars for the virtue signaling, the horrible characters and the story telling.