Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town

Alan purchases a house in Toronto's Kensington Market to start a new life, leaving behind his unusual family and their remote home near Kapuskasing, Ontario. In his new neighborhood, Alan partners with Kurt, a resourceful technologist who salvages computer parts to create a free wireless network for the community. Together they work to expand this grassroots internet infrastructure project while navigating relationships with local business owners and residents. The story moves between Alan's present-day life in Toronto and his past growing up in northern Ontario with his uniquely non-human family - born to a mountain father and a washing machine mother. His efforts to build a normal life in the city are complicated by supernatural elements from his past that begin to surface. This novel combines urban fantasy with digital-age themes of community, connectivity, and identity. The story explores how people reconcile their true nature with the face they present to the world, and questions what it means to belong in both human and technological networks.

Readers note this book defies categorization, mixing elements of magical realism, tech culture, and urban fantasy. Many appreciate its creative premise and unique characters, with several reviews highlighting the blend of mundane Toronto life with surreal family dynamics. Positives: - Original, unpredictable story structure - Strong writing of technology themes - Effective mix of fantasy and reality - Complex character relationships Negatives: - Confusing, disjointed narrative - Unresolved plot threads - Hard to follow multiple storylines - Some found the pacing inconsistent "The weirdest book I've ever loved" appears in multiple reader reviews. Others call it "frustratingly brilliant" and note it requires patience to navigate. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (7,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.0/5 (200+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (600+ ratings) Most critical reviews focus on the challenging narrative structure, while positive reviews praise its creativity and ambition. The book maintains a dedicated following among readers who enjoy experimental fiction.

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★ Cory Doctorow releases all his novels under Creative Commons licenses, allowing readers to freely share and adapt his work while maintaining attribution. ★ Kensington Market, where much of the novel is set, is a multicultural neighborhood in Toronto known for its eclectic mix of vintage shops, food markets, and artistic community. ★ The free wireless network project described in the book mirrors real-world initiatives like NYC Mesh and Toronto Mesh, which aim to create community-controlled internet infrastructure. ★ The protagonist's variable 'A' name reflects a common theme in fairy tales and folklore where true names hold power and characters often hide or change their identities. ★ Before becoming a novelist, Doctorow worked as European Affairs Coordinator for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit digital rights group that influences many themes in his work.