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So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
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So Yesterday (edition 2005)

by Scott Westerfeld

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1,5227411,764 (3.6)75
Hunter Braque, a New York City teenager who is paid by corporations to spot what is "cool," combines his analytical skills with girlfriend Jen's creative talents to find a missing person and thwart a conspiracy directed at the heart of consumer culture.
Member:ambookgeek
Title:So Yesterday
Authors:Scott Westerfeld
Info:Razorbill (2005), Paperback, 240 pages
Collections:Your library
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Work Information

So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld

  1. 10
    Feed by M. T. Anderson (kellyholmes)
    kellyholmes: Explores consumerist culture
  2. 10
    Pattern Recognition by William Gibson (souci)
    souci: Same idea of cool-hunting, all about surface, yet with appearances that are deceiving.
  3. 00
    Bellwether by Connie Willis (mzonderm)
    mzonderm: Both books are interesting commentaries on how fads get started.
  4. 00
    Z by Michael Thomas Ford (kaledrina)
    kaledrina: similar protagonists
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» See also 75 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 74 (next | show all)
Mystery
  BooksInMirror | Feb 19, 2024 |
I'm quite impressed with Westerfeld's writing style: evocative without being overly verbose, clean dialogue that suits the characters. The narration and dialogue were clever without being cloying, which was a neat trick to pull off when the whole subtext to the books about "cool" and the people who define it. I almost gave this a five-star rating, but felt the very end of the book didn't quite live up to the previous 90% of it. Still, I will definitely be reading more of Westerfeld books. [UPDATE: Just found out that Westerfeld wrote Leviathan, the new steampunk YA novel. That's gonna be next on my list.] ( )
  Treebeard_404 | Jan 23, 2024 |
Set the time machine for today! The main character is a Cool Hunter on the watch for emerging fashions. He blows apart a marketing session by inviting an Innovator, a girl who starts fashions instead of following them. Then someone disappears and fashion gets deadly.

I really like how the plot charges ahead while peeling back the facade of marketing and fashion. The language has a now, post-modern shine (is post-modern already passé?) decorated with brand names. Even the cool hunting protagonist is nearly a brand name, Hunter Braque. He makes an aside early on about mentioning brands when he avoids saying “Google” because it is just too common.

This book even started a meme, the "missing black woman formation", called out in the first chapter. More info here: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/2008/01/mbw-formation/

It’s good this book is short, because both my son and my wife had to finish it in one sitting.
( )
  wunder | Feb 3, 2022 |
This was a favorite in high school, and I still really like it, but it has definitely aged over the ten years since it was published! I suppose it was inevitable that a book about whats current and trendy would become dated so fast (although various reference to Nokia phones probably didnt help). Even though the specific references arent current and some of the plot points wouldnt happen today thanks to youtube tutorial videos, the ideas about fashion, tech, and trends are still pretty relevant. Its also just fun to read, poo-sham will be hilarious forever as far as Im concerned. ( )
  mutantpudding | Dec 26, 2021 |
This book reminded me of "Ready Player One", with less silly action scenes (which were the best part of that book) and cyberpunk influence. Maybe it was the pop culture references and branding, or the self-conscious examination of "cool" and teenaged melodrama. ( )
  wishanem | May 27, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 74 (next | show all)
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Scott Westerfeldprimary authorall editionscalculated
Brick, ScottNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Dedication
To the Innovators. You know who you are.
First words
We are all around you.
Quotations
So Jen and I are still watching the Jammers, waiting for their next move. But don't try this at home. They're cashed up, dressed to move, and if they catch you messing with them, they will turn your head purple.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Hunter Braque, a New York City teenager who is paid by corporations to spot what is "cool," combines his analytical skills with girlfriend Jen's creative talents to find a missing person and thwart a conspiracy directed at the heart of consumer culture.

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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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