Notes from the Internet Apocalypse: A Novel

Wayne Gladstone

Mar 2014 · The Internet Apocalypse Trilogy Book 1 · Sold by Macmillan

About this ebook

When the Internet suddenly stops working, society reels from the loss of flowing data and streaming entertainment in Wayne Gladstone's provactive novel, Notes from the Internet Apocalypse.

Addicts wander the streets talking to themselves in 140 characters or forcing cats to perform tricks for their amusement, while the truly desperate pin their requests for casual encounters on public bulletin boards. The economy tumbles and the government passes the draconian NET Recovery Act.

For Gladstone, the Net's disappearance comes particularly hard, following the loss of his wife, leaving his flask of Jamesons and grandfather's fedora as the only comforts in his Brooklyn apartment. But there are rumors that someone in New York is still online. Someone set apart from this new world where Facebook flirters "poke" each other in real life and members of Anonymous trade memes at secret parties. Where a former librarian can sell information as a human search engine and the perverted fulfill their secret fetishes at the blossoming Rule 34 club. With the help of his friends---a blogger and a webcam girl, both now out of work---Gladstone sets off to find the Internet. But is he the right man to save humanity from this Apocalypse?

For those of you wondering if you have WiFi right now, Wayne Gladstone's Notes from the Internet Apocalypse examines the question "What is life without the Web?"

Ratings and reviews

This book is a wonderful journey through love, depression, fun, disorientation and friendship. It also gives a fascinating glimpse of what the world could be like should the internet disappear. I could really relate to Gladstone's journey; I think most of us who have been through something that rips at your soul can. It is written with an honest openness I greatly enjoyed. It is fun to read, and I couldn't help laughing at the silly jokes. Internet jokes, in real life :-) Would very highly recommend.

Loved this book, and the second in the trilogy. A fantastic mix of sci-fi and dark comedy with a bit of self help buried in there for those who read it with an interest in self reflection and a penchant for sticking out in a world focused on insta-stardom. Just purchased the third novel and look forward to concluding the journey. P.S. Gladstone, you owe me a book plate and I'd love to grab a shot with you sometime.

An impressive telling of a very different apocalypse then we are so used to these days. The story really paints a uncanny humor to real problems in this modern tech driven world. And the main character is one who for his faults is easy to relate to and feel remorse for. One of my new favorite reads by far!

About the author

WAYNE GLADSTONE is a longtime columnist for Cracked.com. He is the creator and star of the Hate by Numbers online video series. His writing has appeared on McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Comedy Central's Indecision, and in the collections You Might Be A Zombie and Other Bad News and The McSweeney's Joke Book of Book Jokes. He lives in New York.