Eastern Standard Tribe by Cory Doctorow
01/08/2004 . Source: Paul Skevington 

pub: TOR. 221 page hardback. Price: $23.95 (US), $33.95 (CAN). ISBN: 0-765-30759-6.

Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK.

check out website: www.tor.com and www.craphound.com

This book takes an interesting look at the ramifications of our current progress towards globalisation and its effect on the mentality of a race that has remained divided for thousands of years. As geographical borders lessen in significance due to the availability of cheap methods of travel and communication, people find a new way to segregate themselves: the Tribes. The Tribes are based around time zones, our protagonist, Art, being a member of the titular Eastern Standard Tribe.

They are collections of people who live to the same time scales, grouping together in a common cause to aid each other or to hinder the activities of the other tribes. This book is the story of Art's attempts to undermine the Greenwich Mean Tribe, by using his job to introduce ideas into it that undermine its ability to function efficiently. Along the way he meets a girl, falls in love and trouble ensues. Some things in the future haven't changed then.

'Eastern Standard Tribe' is the next novel to be ejected from Doctorow's unique literary mind and it's every bit as good as his first novel 'Down And Out In The Magic Kingdom'. Indeed, the two books share a lot in common: both being set in futuristic worlds and both taking as a basis for those worlds, an exaggeration of current cultural and social trends.

Each novel seems to be a minor treatise on the dangers of cheapening the availability of information, which is a topic that is central to this novel's opening statement. It purports to explain very clearly the theme of the story, 'Would you rather be smart or happy?' This supposition could also be viewed as the conflict between convenience and knowledge, spellcheckers and dictionaries.

In 'EST', Art seems to be fairly unique in that he is deeply engaged with this fast-food society, but despite this, he maintains a keen intellect. This makes the awful things that happen to him almost inevitable, he is like a fish out of water. The true natives of this world, the ones who are really adapted to it, are without exception reprehensible and largely merit-less characters.

The irony in this book's attack on this evolving way of life stems from the wonderful segments where Art uses the Internet, demonstrating Doctorow's intimate knowledge of on-line culture. If you're reading this, then I can almost guarantee that you will be struck by the authenticity of these little segments. Doctorow creates a chat room within a book and damn me if I didn't want to join in!

I would say though that, as much as I loved this book, I do find myself hoping that the next book departs a little more from the elements established in 'Down And Out'. It'd be great to see Doctorow go in a completely different direction in the next novel.

That's not to say that I wouldn't recommend you to grab yourself a copy of this. As usual Doctorow's marvellous sense of humour permeates every page, he has a comic cynicism that is typical of many Canadian and British writers, but it's a strangely optimistic cynicism that never makes the mistake of appearing too bitter. He's also about the only writer who can write about the near future and not make it seem that far off.

Finally, this book is available for free on Doctorow's website www.craphound.com, as is his first novel and his collection of short stories. I would recommend actually buying it, though. The front cover has a very arty picture of the Earth in a coffee cup on it and when left lying casually around the house could potentially fool people into thinking you're an intellectual. Well, I can hope, can't I?

Paul Skevington