Tuesday, January 26, 2010

One question for Cory Doctorow

In order to select who will talk with Cory Doctorow, we would like for you to write the one question you would ask him. Be thoughtful, articulate, and push our thinking!

55 comments:

  1. What do you see when you think of the future and how technology will be affecting our society in ten years? Twenty years?

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  3. Do you think that the response to a terrorist attack like that of 9/11, or even that in "Little Brother" would be handled in that same way if they were to occur in the United Kingdom due to the different form of government? Why or why not?

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  4. What inspired you to set "Little Brother" in the city of San Francisco? Out of all the other important cities in America, why did you choose San Francisco?

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  5. Many people say that "Little Brother: is a present-day version of George Orwell's "Nineteen eighty-four." When writing "Little Brother," what was your purpose? Did you intend to remind people of the lessons in "Nineteen eighty-four," teach them new lessons, or did you have another purpose?

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  6. Well, I have two questions. The first is, are you at all related to E. L. Doctorow, the author of Ragtime? My second question is, do you think that the reaction that the Department of Homeland had to the attack in San Francisco would be similar to an attack in a smaller city, like perhaps Denver or Phoenix?

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  7. In addition: Why do you have Marcus use proper grammar while IMing, rather than have him use "txt talk" like many teenagers do?

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  8. When do you think that the Department of Homeland Security will "stoop" to the tactics that are portrayed in "Little Brother?" Will it be more recent than most think?

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  9. What was your inspiration for writing little brother? Was there a particular instance in your life that led you to make such a controversial point?

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  10. Was there a certain event in your life that caused you to change your views of the government, specifically, your opinion of how the DHS handled investigations after 9/11.

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  11. I personally do not see government agencies abusing their power too much at these times. Do you see agencies, like the DHS in Little Brother, abusing their power? If not, do you think this will be our future?

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  12. What made you want to re-write your own version of 1984? Who is the 'Big Brother' or the telescreen of Little Brother?

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  13. When writing Little Brother, were laws like the Patriot Act in any way an influence to your opinion of the government and how they handled 9/11?

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  15. I have two questions, the first would be a personal question:

    When talking about the burritos in the mission district (I grew up in Twin Peaks and my dad worked in the Mission) I was wondering if you had based the burrito joint in "Little Brother," on a specific one in the Mission. (My favorite is Taqueria La Cumbre)

    My second question was in Chapter 10 and 11 when Marcus talks about using public-key crypto, I was wondering if you had a specific inspiration to use that idea in you book? I had never heard of it before, and I'm very eager to try it.

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  16. Do you personally agree with Markus's view in our government today or was it all a hypothetical thought?

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  17. I also had another question regarding the setting of the book. I used to live in San Jose, and your descriptions of the area are very lifelike; it brings me back to my life there. When writing "Little Brother," did you have to go to California to find these details? What about the Bay Area persuaded you to choose it for the setting of "Little Brother?"

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  18. What makes your beliefs about the government and aspects of life so strong?

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  19. What gave you the idea to write a modern day version of of 1984?

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  20. What made you decide to choose the location in California for the story to take place? Also did the time period have a certain importance to you?

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  21. What is your inspiration for the characteristics of Marcus? Did you base him off of many people or just a few?

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  22. In your own words, how would YOU describe terrorism?

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  23. Why did you choose to target the Department of Homeland Security in particular? Do you think that they have the potential to become as powerful and controlling as they did in Little Brother?

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  24. Do you think that there should be any limits on free speech? How far do you think one should be allowed to go when questioning the government?

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  25. Do you truly believe that the very near future is going to be similar or be exactly like what you have depicted in your book "Little Brother"? Or do you hope that the predictions in this story turn out to be wrong?

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  26. What was your inspiration while writing the novel Little Brother? Similarly, is the book oriented for high school students, and what amount of influence do you believe the novel has over young adults? (In the book, readers can clearly see the amount of influence that Marcus wields, is he based on you, or someone you know?)

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  27. Do you think that government agencies are gaining too much power and will abuse it like the DHS in "Little Brother"?

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  28. Were the characters in Little Brother inspired by real people?

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  29. Cory,
    When and under what circumstances do you think the scenario in Little Borther could come true?

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  30. In your mind, how did you relate Little Brother to 1984?

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  31. What made you want to write this book? Do you think this sort of thing could ever happen?

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  32. When writing Little Brother, did you write it as a sequel to 1984?

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  33. Cory,
    What made you want to write about this topic, what inspired you to write about protecting our freedoms?

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  34. What first inspired you to start writing books? Have you always had an interest in writing?

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  35. Why did you make Marcus's mother British? Was it so you could have a little of yourself inserted into the text?

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  36. Was this book a summary of what you think will happen during future terrorists attacks on America or, just a synopsis of what could happen?

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  37. with the threat of terrorism what precautions do you think that the government will take for our safety and what freedoms will the citizens give up to obtain this safety. Will the precautions be like those in 1984, Little Brother, or Fahrenheit 451?

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  38. What was the reason for creating Marcus the way you did? With his values and personality, did you want readers to connect with him or learn from his mistakes or what?

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  39. One question that I would ask him is why? Why did he want to write a book on how the government is so bad. What gave him the initiative to write something like that? Why did he write it in the perspective of a kid that is going against the government and most importantly, why did he have the DHS and the bad guys that nobody like? This what I would ask him if I got the chance to ask Cory Doctrow a question.

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  40. Was Marcus based on an actual person who you know or met? Or was he modeled after you?

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  41. What are some of the main points you wanted to make in your book?

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  42. Did you had the idea to write Little Brother for a long time or had it been more of a sudden decision or inspiration?

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  43. What inspired you to write a book about a teenager trying to take down the Department of Homeland Security?

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  44. An obvious question: Do you think Little Brother's society and 1984's society is going to happen in our future? If so how long do you believe this process will take?

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  45. Is Marcus a reflection of you or is he a fictional character?

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  46. Do you think that today's society will respond to a terrorist attack like they did in "Little Brother".

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  47. Other then the books that Marcus's screen names were based out of (W1n5t0n, M1k3y), what other things were inspiration to this book?

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  48. Is the use of technology already being used to resist the government by disrupting the systems in place to help the general public?

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  49. What do you think of the future for technology? Do you think that the lock-down in the book could actually happen?

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  50. What is the time period for this story? Do you actually think that our world could end up like this someday?

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  51. Do you think that Little Brother represents what will happen to the world and not just America?

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  52. Mr. Doctrow-
    Is there any special purpose for naming the character in Little Brother "Winston" just like the character in 1984?

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  53. You mentioned in your book that surveillance conditions in the U.K. were worse then they are here. Is that based in fact or is it one of the more fictional parts?

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  54. What year did you believe this story took place in. Were you thinking 2005 or more like 2020?

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  55. Do you consider yourself a person who challenges society if you think that it is wrong? Would you take the same actions as M1K3Y?

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