Douglas Coupland's JPod Pokes Fun at Videogame Industry

[Kefkataran]

Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3101&Itemid=2) has a story today on a new novel by Douglas Coupland, author of Microserfs (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060987049/sr=8-1/qid=1148657904/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5724105-5185532?%5Fencoding=UTF8), a book that took a humorous look at the world of tech geekery. In his new novel, JPod (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596911042/sr=8-2/qid=1148657904/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-5724105-5185532?%5Fencoding=UTF8) , Coupland turns his eye towards the video game industry. Next Generation has kindly gathered a number of reviews of the novel to give an idea how it's turned out.

From the Guardian:

In the middle of developing a new skateboarding game for PlayStation, [the employees'] insufferable, cloying boss insists they add a 'charismatic turtle character' to it, which everyone recognizes as both humiliating and pointless...JPod is without a doubt his strongest, best-observed novel since Microserfs (1995), to which it is a kind of sequel.

From the New York Times:

At times it reads like the textual equivalent of a 1980's-era Nintendo game: a virtual playground where Coupland's more irritatingly mannered habits run amok. But when it works, JPod is a sleek and necessary device: the finely tuned output of an author whose obsolescence is thankfully years away.

And to give the (sort of) opposite opinion, from Publishers Weekly:

Like an ace computer coder loaded up on junk food at 4 a.m., Coupland derives his satirical, spirited humor's energy from the silly, strung-together plot and thin characters.

Personally, I think this sounds like a nice fun break from the utter seriousness with which some people take their video games. Considering that Amazon has the hardcover for only $15, I think I'm going to add this one to my summer reading list and purchase it immediately.

[Serapth]

Like an ace computer coder loaded up on junk food at 4 a.m., Coupland derives his satirical, spirited humor's energy from the silly, strung-together plot and thin characters.

Bah... thats Couplands shtick... frankly, the characters in Microserfs were pretty much unbelievable too, and i am a professional Geek. Hell... lets see... past characters... an ex-beef cake coder. A pro weightlifter female coder, a closet nympho-coder plus the brainy super genius coder. Um... yeah... silly characters abound.

That said, Microserfs was a great read, so ill pick this up to.

[Kefkataran]

I'll need to definitely check out Microserfs if I like this. Anyone who's read some of Coupland's other work? Supposed to be very different from Microserfs/Jpod

[Kefkataran]

As both actual and cyber mayhem crest, Coupland, himself a character in this rampaging comedy, reminds us that no matter how seductive the virtual realm is, it is real life that requires our keenest attention.

Indeed. A lesson worth learning for some of the folks around here, perhaps.

[Serapth]

I'll need to definitely check out Microserfs if I like this. Anyone who's read some of Coupland's other work? Supposed to be very different from Microserfs/Jpod

Yeah, I read Generation X. Frankly, being part of Gen X after reading that book I found it a highly pretentious, irritiating mental masturbation session. Frankly, if I was one of these people I would seriously consider depositing .44 inches of steel between my eyes.

Um.... I didnt like it.

[agentgray]

Microserfs was good, but yeah he over emphasizes the stereotype. I'm a geek and in know way know anyone in real life like that.

EDIT: I mean getting flat food so it can be slid under the door? Um....funny, but not real.

[Captain Sniffy]

I've read most of Coupland's books and mostly he comes off as a pretentious Vancouverite. But there are gems to be found in most of his books. My personal favorite is "Souvenir of Canada", which I bust out from time to time when I'm feeling a little homesick.

I'll definitely pick up JPod. I'm curious to see if he really captures the Sierra experience, which I suspect this work is derived from.

[drakkarim]

...add this one to my summer reading list and purchase it immediately.[/I]

summer reading list?? man, i haven't read any books other then reference manuals since college...

must be nice to have that much free time :)

[ChiHawk]

I really enjoyed "Life after God" and "Hey Nostradamus!", both by Coupland. They are both very subdued books, but I found them impossible to put down once I started reading them. I almost picked up JPod last night, but grabbed a couple of Phillip K. Dick books instead. JPod sounds like an entertaining read that I'll pick up soon.

[Kelegacy]

summer reading list?? man, i haven't read any books other then reference manuals since college...

must be nice to have that much free time :)
The only thing I do with my free time is masturbate.

No, really. I set aside an hour a night to do so.

[Balthasar]

No, really. I set aside an hour a night to do so.
Could you imagine how much writing you could do with that time?

[lost]

"Personally, I think this sounds like a nice fun break from the utter seriousness with which some people take their video games".

Amen to that.

I'll have to see if this has some UK stockists. A bit of summer reading might mean my GBmicro doesnt suffer "Castlevania Battery Burnout Syndrome".


EDIT: Just for anybody else interested, amazon.co.uk has a June 5th date down for the paperback at £7.79.

[Dr Quincy]

Could you imagine how much writing you could do with that time?

Probably an hour or so each night I'd imagine.

[Kelegacy]

Could you imagine how much writing you could do with that time?
Self gratification takes precedence. Plus, it clears the mind so I CAN write.

[antoniogaud]

I have read all of Coupland's books and hopefully jPod gets back the Microserfs' vibe his later books lacked.

As an aside, I used to see Coupland quite regularly at a certain Vancouver Starbucks when I lived there.

[robotfighter]

I've met some coders who were almost as weird as the Microserf's charicatures. Knew a guy who roamed his office collecting soda cans from everyone, every day. He was trying to turn his cube into a castle (turrets, arches and all) by using the cans as bricks. Now that the dotcom era's over, you don't see as many of those unique personalities, but they are out there.

As far as the book, I just reserved it at the library. Loved Microserfs, Life after God, and while Generation X was a slow read, it was still good.

[Kefkataran]

summer reading list?? man, i haven't read any books other then reference manuals since college...

must be nice to have that much free time

I don't have that much reading time, but if I didn't force myself to do reading, I don't think I'd honestly be that much of a writer. :p

[Sternn]

I really like Coupland's writing ...I was exposed to generation x at the right time and lapped it up ...great novel, unfortunate title

will have to pick up Jpod, sounds interesting

[Spigot]

I've never read Coupland's work but I do enjoy listening to interviews with him. I do own a couple of his books, but just haven't read them. I heard a really good interview with him the other day and it further reinforced my desire to read this book. I mean, it has pi calculated to 500000 places.

His description of the Anti-Doug (himself as a character in jPod) was great. "Looking into Douglas Coupland's eyes was like looking into a well filled with drowned toddlers."

Nice to see he still has a handle on self-deprication.

[Watership]

summer reading list?? man, i haven't read any books other then reference manuals since college...

must be nice to have that much free time :)

Yikes. People who only read non-fiction? Creepy. Make more free time.

[Watership]

I don't have that much reading time, but if I didn't force myself to do reading, I don't think I'd honestly be that much of a writer. :p

Reading makes everyone a better writer. Except people who read non-fiction tech manuals. Then that makes them better machines.

[NELS]

Loved Generation X, Microserfs, Life After God, and All Families Are Psychotic. Love Douglas Coupland, can't wait for this book!

[Kefkataran]

His description of the Anti-Doug (himself as a character in jPod) was great. "Looking into Douglas Coupland's eyes was like looking into a well filled with drowned toddlers."

Hahaha. Nice. Really looking forward to this now. Ordered it on Amazon during my lunch break, should have it by next week.


Reading makes everyone a better writer. Except people who read non-fiction tech manuals. Then that makes them better machines.

That's what I'm saying. ;)

[bean19]

I don't read hardcover books. They don't fit my hands correctly, but I will totally look for it to go softcover.

[evilpenguin9000]

So I read Jpod today and it definitely has a Microserfs vibe going on. I like it a lot (as I did Microserfs) but it is a little indulgent. Still i enjoy his quirky storytelliing.

[Kefkataran]

Looking forward to getting it in the mail Tuesday or Wednesday.