By the author of "Generation X". Set in Seattle's grunge rock clubs and coffee bars, this book focuses on the subculture of computer programmers at Microsoft who are frustrated by the mindless toil of churning out bits of programming. They are the microserfs bound by Bill Gates's high salaries.
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By the author of "Generation X". Set in Seattle's grunge rock clubs and coffee bars, this book focuses on the subculture of computer programmers at Microsoft who are frustrated by the mindless toil of churning out bits of programming. They are the microserfs bound by Bill Gates's high salaries.
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Add this copy of Microserfs to cart. $6.24, very good condition, Sold by Halcyon Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from LONDON, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1995 by Flamingo.
Add this copy of Microserfs to cart. $6.99, very good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1995 by Flamingo.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of Microserfs to cart. $8.87, very good condition, Sold by Greener Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1995 by Flamingo.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Add this copy of Microserfs to cart. $13.14, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by FLAMINGO.
Add this copy of Microserfs to cart. $27.00, very good condition, Sold by Nothing Like A Good Book rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Mount Sinai, NY, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by HarperCollins Publishers Canada, Limited.
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Near Fine in Fine jacket. In a clear protective Brodart mylar cover. Author's humorous novel about the trials and tribulations of the software geek working in the brave new world of computing in the confines of corporate Microsoft. Rubbing to flaps. Light bump tp lower spine end.
Add this copy of Microserfs to cart. $43.33, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Flamingo.
I am the first to admit that Douglas Coupland's books are not for everyone. His penchant for using in-jokes and self-referential humor can slow down even the most pop-culture savvy reader. But Microserfs is that rare novel that achieves a perfect balance between the timeliness of its setting (the beginning of the Internet era, early to mid-1990s) and the timelessness of its characters' struggles to create true connections with each other.
In this book, Coupland manages to capture the particular and relentless corporate hive mentality of Microsoft in the early '90s, while never losing sight of the characters' individual longings. In fact, by juxtaposing the inherent isolationism of the industry with the narrator's insatiable desire for intimacy (with family, friends, lovers), Coupland demonstrates that the human soul can never be satisfied by technology alone. Indeed, the search for newer, better technologies IS the search for human intimacy; the sophisticated structures we imagine and invent are bridges that (we hope) will open our lives to the the world around us in ways we may not know how to express.
Finally, Microserfs captures the texture of its times so precisely that I felt literally "present" in the story. Anyone who can recall the heady early days of the dot-com boom, when even e-mail seemed like a little piece of magic, will feel at home here. Coupland's prose renders both Seattle and Silicon Valley in three-dimensional clarity. And his depiction of this motley band of programmers and software engineers is spot-on, in my experience.
There is so much to appreciate in this novel, I feel remiss that I can't mention it all. The book is "light" enough to read on holiday and be endlessly entertained, but I also feel sure that its place in the new canon is assured thanks to its unflinching look at who we were, and who we are.
