Member Review

Let's get one thing straight - former NFL player Chris Kluwe can write. His sentences ebb and flow, evoking feelings of Stephenson, Dick and Gibson. He crafts his prose to fit the characters; pulling from their backgrounds and social status makes each feels real, their actions logical and true to their development. The world he has built feels (at times) too real, brimming over with that important piece of all good science fiction - the element of actual potentiality. You can see how Kluwe has designed this world, expanding upon societal trends and actions, layering in choices and technological advancements, but nothing outside the realm of possibility. The protagonist draws masterfully from Kluwe's experience within video games; surviving the tormentors and detractors, internalizing the drive to excel, having the willingness to push the envelope, and leaning heavily upon the bonds built among long-time friends and allies. You feel that he's been there, and really understands Ash (the protagonist) and her struggles. If I have a gripe, it would be that I want to see more of the game that frames Otaku, but I understand that the game is meant to be a framework, not a playground (a la Ready Player One). All in all, Otaku is a book I would recommend without reservation (other than some content warnings).