The title of this fun, fast paced and filled with interesting concepts, points to it being about copyright law. And it is, but the great thing is how much else Schneyer manages to get from that premise.

Analog September 2013

The setup is basically a less than successful writer trying to find alternative ways to earn a living. His name is Eric Weiss (probably a reference to Houdini’s real name) and his only novel is called Harriman’s Loophole (which I think refers to Heinlein’s character D.D. Harriman). In this world, hibernation technology has just been introduced, which his publisher has found a way to use to extend their copyright length by abusing the legal grey area of people in hibernation being neither dead or alive.

The writer misuses this offer for hibernation to try and get out of a ridiculous library fine, and the narrative makes quick successive jumps years forward.

Things get pretty ridiculous as the consequences of the hibernation legal loophole expands to other areas, but there are elements of truth behind all the legal loopholes, the kafkaesque AI support bot and how in general lawmakers can’t keep up with technological advances.

The story here is more ideas and premise than actual story, but it flows fast and the concepts are packed in the pages, and given Schneyer’s background as a lawyer, he clearly had fun making up this scenario.

Read in Analog September 2013
Rating: 4