Feed

Anderson, M.T. Feed. 2002. 237p. ISBN 978-0-7636-1726-4. Available at FIC AND on the library shelves.

How do you remain unique when you are always connected to the network? Titus has never thought about the feed, the network that underpins the world’s societies. Able to chat with anyone, bombarded with advertisements, Titus is unaware of how corporations are using the feed to know and manipulate individuals. Until he and his friends take a trip to the moon during spring break, he remains blissfully unaware.

At a nightclub, he is hacked by a man prophesizing doom for all, and suddenly Titus and his friends find themselves without access to the feed. The only good thing to come out of this worst-case scenario is Violet, a strange girl who was only implanted with the feed a few years ago when her father realized she would be discriminated against. They begin dating, and Violet reveals that she has decided to fight back against corporations by attempting to prevent them to categorize her.

At first, the plan goes well, but then Violet discovers that she is sick. Her feed has been corrupted during the hack, and the cost to fix it is prohibitive. And since corporations do not know her likes and dislikes, none of them are willing to sponsor a life saving operation that would let Violet live.

In a race against time, Titus and Violet must come to terms with the feed and discover whether they are in fact still individuals capable of rational and unique thoughts, or whether they are now nothing but corporate drones.