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Little Brother
Spill
In a new Little Brother novella, there is no security in obscurity. But there can be redemption in mutual aid.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2024
31 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Cory Doctorow
255Ìýbooks5,742ÌýfollowersCory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist, journalist and blogger â€� the co-editor of and the author of the YA graphic novel In Real Life, the nonfiction business book Information Doesn’t Want To Be Free, and young adult novels like Homeland, Pirate Cinema, and
Little Brother
and novels for adults like
Rapture Of The Nerds
and Makers. He is a Fellow for the Electronic Frontier Foundation and co-founded the UK Open Rights Group. Born in Toronto, Canada, he now lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 23, 2024
When Marcus Yallow's private server is hacked, he uncovers a wider conspiracy to smear environmental protestors.
An interesting plot, which is a good way to introduce hacking terms into the wider vocabulary. Doctorow keeps his story clear and exciting from beginning to end.
An interesting plot, which is a good way to introduce hacking terms into the wider vocabulary. Doctorow keeps his story clear and exciting from beginning to end.
December 9, 2024
[added links to my other favorite writings by Cory Doctorow, 2024-12-03] I first heard of Cory Doctorow when he was on On the Media to talk about , his word for our zeitgeist where platforms have put (aka grift economy), everything is ugly (the literal title of ), companies (ever heard of "skimpflation"?), but somehow there's (titles of Noah Berlatsky's and Kate Manne's Substacks respectively). I'm saying all this to make a point, which is that Cory Doctorow is one of those rare authors who can bring his expertise into creative writing that's worth paying for (although this novella is free to read on Tor.com). In "Spill," he demonstrates his ability to write punchy sentences with personalities and weave a thrilling plot line while explaining how your personal data is commodified and used for stalking for better or for worse. He knows his stuff and entertains you. Go read his novellas on Tor.com or listen to him talk on shows like On the Media and . I'm a fan of his blog, , too.
**other writings by Cory Doctorow that you should read**
- , October 17, 2024. In case you're interested in an RSS feed for your favorite goodreads user, go to that user's profile page and replace "show" in the URL to "user__rss" (that's double underscore). e.g. "/user/show/1..." -> "/user/user__..."
- for Locus Magazine, May 6, 2024.
**other writings by Cory Doctorow that you should read**
- , October 17, 2024. In case you're interested in an RSS feed for your favorite goodreads user, go to that user's profile page and replace "show" in the URL to "user__rss" (that's double underscore). e.g. "/user/show/1..." -> "/user/user__..."
- for Locus Magazine, May 6, 2024.
January 12, 2025
A jump back into the atmosphere of Little Brother, where we find Marcus and Ange and all the causes they have always fought for.
Un salto indietro nelle atmosfere di Little Brother, dove ritroviamo Marcus e Ange e tutte le cause per cui lottano da sempre.
Un salto indietro nelle atmosfere di Little Brother, dove ritroviamo Marcus e Ange e tutte le cause per cui lottano da sempre.
December 9, 2024
Read to me by Cory Doctorow.
October 26, 2024
The story starts with a hacker discovering his server has been hacked. From there, it grows as a protest against a pipeline going through Native American land gets violently broken up, as the protestors are investigated from sabotaging the pipeline. The hacker discovers who the real saboteurs are, and the trail leads back through his hacked server.
November 9, 2024
great story by Cory
As always it’s the style I really like :) keep it coming and keep surprising us with your imagination! Thanks
As always it’s the style I really like :) keep it coming and keep surprising us with your imagination! Thanks
November 9, 2024
It is not exactly science fiction, but is beorderline 'cyberpunk' in the 'Little Brother' timeline.
Marcus Yarrow is grown up and married to Ange. He is still obsessed with coffee and computing.
It is the computing obsession which sets up this novella when Marcus' wonderful new server gets hacked via a staggeringly dumb security error by the owner (and Marcus' friend) of the data centre where it was housed.
Marcus knows how his server was hacked, but is curious as to who did the hacking and for what they use the pwned server.
Meanwhile his friend Tanisha is assisting Native land owners to resist and delay the Keystone Pipeline.
Of course, these seemingly disparate strands are connected. But how?
Doctorow mines his motherlode of knowledge about computer and network security and melds it with experience of police and private security misbehaviour, violence and malfeasance to make a satisfying story.
The novella is available to read here -
Marcus Yarrow is grown up and married to Ange. He is still obsessed with coffee and computing.
It is the computing obsession which sets up this novella when Marcus' wonderful new server gets hacked via a staggeringly dumb security error by the owner (and Marcus' friend) of the data centre where it was housed.
Marcus knows how his server was hacked, but is curious as to who did the hacking and for what they use the pwned server.
Meanwhile his friend Tanisha is assisting Native land owners to resist and delay the Keystone Pipeline.
Of course, these seemingly disparate strands are connected. But how?
Doctorow mines his motherlode of knowledge about computer and network security and melds it with experience of police and private security misbehaviour, violence and malfeasance to make a satisfying story.
The novella is available to read here -
October 11, 2024
How to [hack the stooges who] blow up a pipeline
About every other story from Doctorow becomes my favorite—Spill now holds that spot. Cory’s latest drop was inspired by a Kickstarter backer from the last Little Brother novel and weaves Marcus (and Tanisha) into a hack that turns into a multi-perspective indigenous landback fight against corporate oil and the feds. If Cory’s deep research, security background, and penchant for fully empowered characters applied to the fight against an oil pipeline doesn’t get you excited than feel free to keep enjoying your blue-pilled ribeye and Chianti.
About every other story from Doctorow becomes my favorite—Spill now holds that spot. Cory’s latest drop was inspired by a Kickstarter backer from the last Little Brother novel and weaves Marcus (and Tanisha) into a hack that turns into a multi-perspective indigenous landback fight against corporate oil and the feds. If Cory’s deep research, security background, and penchant for fully empowered characters applied to the fight against an oil pipeline doesn’t get you excited than feel free to keep enjoying your blue-pilled ribeye and Chianti.
December 9, 2024
It's a hard world, but there is hope in solidarity (because "the revolution is a homeland and a family")... Hope springs eternal, they say, I just don't believe it that much, I'm cynical that way... Anyway, a comforting reading, and it's very interesting, in the bleakness, the hacking and, yes, the hope (I do understand the need to assure the happy ending, but sometimes, it does seem a bit forced).
October 14, 2024
2.5 stars.
I really wanted to like this, but it came across as a little bit preachy and performative at times. And I really enjoy Cory Doctorow's fiction.
I really wanted to like this, but it came across as a little bit preachy and performative at times. And I really enjoy Cory Doctorow's fiction.
October 25, 2024
La historia un poco meh, pero tiene algunas reflexiones interesantes y movidas técnicas que a mi me molam para que engañarnos a estas alturas de la vida ya cagoen
November 20, 2024
Another excellent read from Cory in the Little Brother universe
December 17, 2024
If only real life worked like this
Another C.D. exposé of the underbelly of the USA. Gritty and all too believable (except the good guys win in the end).
Another C.D. exposé of the underbelly of the USA. Gritty and all too believable (except the good guys win in the end).
March 10, 2025
(3.5 Stars)
This was a fun little story set in the Little Brother universe. It was read by the author and released on his podcast.
This was a fun little story set in the Little Brother universe. It was read by the author and released on his podcast.
March 26, 2025
Great story about fighting the forces that consider destroying the world acceptable.
April 15, 2025
good and a little too real
October 25, 2024
Originally published at .
As I am sure I have said before, I am a big Cory Doctorow fan. I read his blog. I also have alerts that notify me when he publishes anything new. came up on one of those alerts, so I grabbed it right away and read it soon after.
The story takes place in the world of his previous series of novels that start with . This one centers around a group of indigenous protesters trying to prevent an oil pipeline from being built through sacred land, potentially fouling the people's water supply. This intersects with a cyber attack on a large company. Two main characters from the Little Brother universe working on these separate issue learn how they are related.
This novella is a quick and interesting read. Like all of Doctorow's work, it includes simple descriptions of complex technical issues. Then he spins a story that shows you how that technology affects characters that could be anybody. This book is both entertaining and educational. Highly recommended.
My rating: 4.5/5
As I am sure I have said before, I am a big Cory Doctorow fan. I read his blog. I also have alerts that notify me when he publishes anything new. came up on one of those alerts, so I grabbed it right away and read it soon after.
The story takes place in the world of his previous series of novels that start with . This one centers around a group of indigenous protesters trying to prevent an oil pipeline from being built through sacred land, potentially fouling the people's water supply. This intersects with a cyber attack on a large company. Two main characters from the Little Brother universe working on these separate issue learn how they are related.
This novella is a quick and interesting read. Like all of Doctorow's work, it includes simple descriptions of complex technical issues. Then he spins a story that shows you how that technology affects characters that could be anybody. This book is both entertaining and educational. Highly recommended.
My rating: 4.5/5
November 18, 2024
I read two of Cory Doctorow's "novellas" back to back, and of the two, this was the one I definitely enjoyed more. It's shorter than a full book, but still takes the time to dive fully into the story, which is interesting, engaging, and a well-written look into what actually goes into 'hacking' in the modern tech ecosystem. Worth a read!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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