- In both Charles Stross’ The Concrete Jungle and Cory Doctorow’s Down and Out in the
Magic Kingdom, mass surveillance is pervasive and commonplace. Whether they are
aware of it or not, the general public in these novels are always being watched,
ostensibly for their own protection. How, according to each text, does the knowledge
that someone or something is always watching affect the behaviour of the characters?
How does being able to watch his own death in Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
hinder Julius’ recovery from his own murder? How does the discovery of SCORPION
STARE in The Concrete Jungle both reassure and unsettle Bob Howard? What does the
existence of mass surveillance suggest about each society’s attitude toward itself and its
citizens?
Remember, the questions above are designed to help you generate an argument of your
own; it is up to you to formulate an original claim that logically links both novels
together. Also, in order to receive full credit for this assignment, you must discuss both
Charles Stross’ The Concrete Jungle and Cory Doctorow’s Down and Out in the Magic
Kingdom in your essay.
