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New York Times bestselling author Cory Doctorow returns to the world of Red Team Blues to bring us the origin story of Martin Hench and the most powerful new tool for crime ever invented: the personal computer.Third Place Books is thrilled to welcome back Cory Doctorow to our Lake Forest Park store for the third novel in his Martin Hench series, Picks and Shovels. He'll be joined in conversation by author Dan Savage, best known as the writer behind "Savage Love," America’s longest-running advice column.
This event is free and open to the public. For important updates, RSVP is highly recommended in advance. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book!
About Picks and Shovels. . .
The year is 1986. The city is San Francisco. Here, Martin Hench will invent the forensic accountant--what a bounty hunter is to people, he is to money—but for now he's an MIT dropout odd-jobbing his way around a city still reeling from the invention of a revolutionary new technology that will change everything about crime forever, one we now take completely for granted.
When Marty finds himself hired by Silicon Valley PC startup Fidelity Computing to investigate a group of disgruntled ex-employees who've founded a competitor startup, he quickly realizes he's on the wrong side. Marty ditches the greasy old guys running Fidelity Computing without a second thought, utterly infatuated with the electric atmosphere of Computing Freedom. Located in the heart of the Mission, this group of brilliant young women found themselves exhausted by the predatory business practices of Fidelity Computing and set out to beat them at their own game, making better computers and driving Fidelity Computing out of business. But this optimistic startup, fueled by young love and California-style burritos, has no idea the depth of the evil they're seeking to unroot or the risks they run.
In this company-eat-company city, Martin and his friends will be lucky to escape with their lives.
Praise for Picks and Shovels. . .
"Picks and Shovels... is note perfect...Despite cultural entropy, corruption, greed and all the betrayals there’s a core of hope and honor in the story too."
—Stephen Fry, author of Mythos
"Cory Doctorow writes as few authors do, with tech world savvy and real world moral clarity. A true storyteller for our times."
—John Scalzi, author of The Kaiju Preservation Society
"Not only is Marty Hench an absolutely compelling narrator, but the story, which explores the relationship between computers and crime, is exciting, surprising, and full of suspense. Doctorow's fan base extends well beyond the boundaries of sf, and this novel is a wonderful gift to his fans."
—Booklist
"You won't put this book down - it's too much fun. I was there when it all began. Doctorow's characters and their story are real."
—Dan'l Lewin, CEO and President of the Computer History Museum
"Cory Doctorow is one of our most important science fiction authors."
—Kim Stanley Robinson, author of The Ministry for the Future
Cory Doctorow (craphound.com) is a science fiction author, activist and journalist. He is the author of many books, most recently Picks and Shovels (a followup to The Bezzle), The Bezzle (a followup to Red Team Blues) and The Lost Cause, a solarpunk science fiction novel of hope amidst the climate emergency. His most recent nonfiction book is The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation, a Big Tech disassembly manual. Other recent books include Red Team Blues, a science fiction crime thriller; Chokepoint Capitalism, nonfiction about monopoly and creative labor markets; the Little Brother series for young adults; In Real Life, a graphic novel; and the picture book Poesy the Monster Slayer. In 2020, he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Photo credit: JonathanWorth.com.
Dan Savage writes Savage Love, America’s longest-running advice column, and hosts the Savage Lovecast. He’s the author of six books, one screenplay that got made, and two or three that didn’t. He lives in Seattle with his husband and his husband’s boyfriend and their two dogs and, yes, it is complicated.
Want a signed edition of the featured book, but can't make it to the event? Order through our website or over the phone, and write your request for a signature or personalization in the comments field at checkout. Please call the hosting store if you're placing your order within 24 hours of the event.
Third Place Books Events Code of Conduct: Third Place Books is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of event attendees and guest authors, during both online and in-store events. By registering for this event, you are agreeing to refrain from engaging in inappropriate behavior and harassment of any kind throughout the course of this event (i.e. racial slurs, profanity, hate speech, spam comments, etc.). Please note that any participants who engage in inappropriate behavior or harassment of any kind will be immediately ejected from the event.
For media or access inquiries, please email [email protected] or call our Lake Forest Park store at (206) 366-3311.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA, United States, Washington 98155
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