Jones getting political traction in SF. He continues to dominate his "flock" in ways that are hard to understand. He tells them who they can couple with, if they can split up, he takes their money, doesn't allow private accounts. Guyana settlement has started. The first group actually liked it . . . until Jones arrived. A feeling of living out a socialist dream in harmony with nature. Tough but ideologically satisfying. Jones, all this time, is becoming more paranoid. He pretends at one meeting to have poisoned everyone, speaks glowing of mass suicide, fears FBI and CIA. New West article paints damning portrait of the temple based on interviews with fallen away members. Jones decides it's time to go. The only politician who stays on his side is Willie Brown. The others go quiet. Attorney is Charles Garry of Black Panthers fame. "I'm like Perry Mason, only all my clients are guilty."
Follows Sadie and Sam (Mazer) from childhood to mid-thirties when both are feeling old and a bit out of it in the gaming world. Characters are well-rounded, develop throughout the novel in interesting way. Plot is involved but sensible. Not a single, "Oh, come on!" moment. The book could have been faster paced. Odd, since the main topic is video games which are not for their speed of engagement and Gabrielle Zevin clearly knows her video games. Recommended by Michael Connelly in an interview. He also has Bosch pick up the book in his novel, Resurrection Walk, as Bosch tails a possible witness to a crime as she moves through a bookstore. Sadie and Sam do not get together at the end, which is good. Marx killed by homophobic nutcase who really wants to kill Sam, but Sam isn't there. Marx is father of Sadie's child.
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