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42 pages 1 hour read

James Tiptree Jr.

The Girl Who Was Plugged In

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1973

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

"The Girl Who Was Plugged In" by James Tiptree Jr. is a novella set in a consumerist future where corporations control most aspects of life. P. Burke, a neglected 17-year-old girl, becomes a Remote controller for the celebrity Delphi through the Global Transmissions Corporation. She excels in her new role and falls in love with rebellious film director Paul Isham, but struggles with her own identity and the corporate world. Themes include the impact of technology, entertainment, consumerism, and the relationship between body and mind. The book contains sensitive topics related to body image and autonomy.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

James Tiptree Jr.'s The Girl Who Was Plugged In is celebrated for its compelling exploration of identity, technology, and corporate control. Critics praise its innovative narrative and emotional depth, though some find its dystopian themes bleak. The novella remains a thought-provoking and powerful commentary on societal issues.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Girl Who Was Plugged In?

A reader who would enjoy The Girl Who Was Plugged In by James Tiptree Jr. likely appreciates dystopian science fiction with strong themes of identity, technology, and corporate control. Fans of Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and William Gibson's Neuromancer will find this tale compelling and thought-provoking.

Book Details
Pages

41

Format

Novella • Fiction

Setting

Future Earth • 21st Century

Publication Year

1973

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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