Reports on the Internet Apocalypse

October 31, 2016
In the final book of his Internet Apocalypse near-future trilogy, Gladstone brings his determinedly postmodern narrative to a satisfying conclusion. Special Agent Aaron N. Rowsdowner undertakes a quixotic investigation to end the Internet Apocalypse. Key to his success is locating the Internet Messiah Gladstone, who is the icon of protest and civil unrest. Though the story is framed as a gumshoe novel, it's all style and no mystery. The pace is pushed to the limit, as if to avoid the dread realm of "too long; didn't read." Both heroes and villains are clearly labeled, with no ambiguity. Gladstone (the author) tosses in sketches 4chan, Donald Trump, and other manifestations of the Internet. There is no tension, plot development, or character evolution to speak of, but that seems to be a deliberate stylistic choice. This is a sightseeing tour of online culture, business, and government,, the true meaning of which remains delightfully unclear.

November 1, 2016
The final tale in the Internet Apocalypse Trilogy arrives! While Notes from the Internet Apocalypse (2014) is zany, good fun, and Agents of the Internet Apocalypse (2015) is a smart thriller, this is a slow-burning noir. Readers anxiously awaiting a resolution to the shocking finale of volume two will need patience, as Gladstone (author and character), the unlikely Internet Messiah, is replaced as the protagonist for most of the story by ex-nemesis Aaron N. Rowsdower. Gladstone and the former special agent have much in common, and Rowsdower's monologue and flirtations with new love interest and film producer Margo Zmena quickly feel comfortable and familiar. He follows Gladstone's trail across the globe, building trust and acquiring allies. During this quest for justice and the return of the Net, Gladstone considers such important topics as Net neutrality and online content filtering, both self- and government-imposed. Will Gladstone ever settle his vendetta against the true archvillain behind it all? Will the Internet be reinstated for good? The surprising answers are secondary to the emotional connections forged between the true nodes of the networks: people.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

June 15, 2016

Durable Cracked.com columnist Gladstone here wraps up his cult-classic "Internet Apocalypse Trilogy" by exiling protagonist (and would-be Internet Messiah) Gladstone from America. Alas, he's being chased down both by the FBI, which holds him responsible for murder, and by a Hollywood producer who wants his story. Then the World Wide Web returns--but it's not the web we knew.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.