Machine Man by Max Barry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m a big fan of Max Barry’s works, with Company being one of the funniest and snarkiest books I’ve read. I remember when Barry started Machine Man. He wrote then published one page at a time on his website. It was an experimental approach to novel writing. I read for awhile then but got a little bored. I wanted to read more in one sitting and felt the story was too fragmented. Then he put up a pay-wall and I lost interest. Now that it was out in print, I decided to return to it. Indeed, I made it the first book I read on my new Kindle (basic edition).
The book is a fast read and has some funny lines. It’s especially fun for computer people and geeks who get some of the inside jokes and moods. Unfortunately, the way the novel was originally created overshadows the story. It feels disjointed and without a even flow. It does seem as if he reedited the ending of the story, which is seamless and quick moving.
Overall, a quick read and if you’ve read other Barry works, you’ll find some of his voice here. Though, it’s more of a twitter feed than a story telling.