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Cover of DARK SQUARES
4.68

Based on 53 Goodreads ratings

DARK SQUARES

by chess but by alcohol and drugs. Rensch detours regularly to deliver a history of chess and the contemporary game largely controlled (i.e., financed) by the USSR until the 1990s, when even celebrity grandmasters barely earned travel expenses. Then came computers, the internet, and more media attention, which produced bigger prizes, plus the rise of cell phones, which facilitated cheating. Readers will sympathize with the author’s struggles but likely perk up when in 2008 he encounters two entrepreneurs operating an early internet chess site whose knowledge of serious competitive chess remained at the amateur level. He persuaded them to add features, programs, competitions, and the technology that ultimately promoted chess.com to its dominant position. During these years, the author writes of victories in his personal life, too, overcoming marital problems and escaping the influence of the cult."

Book Details

Publisher:When in
Published:1995-01-01
Pages:88
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9781541703

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This gripping psychological thriller plunges readers into a world where a seemingly innocent online game called "Dark Squares" begins to manipulate reality itself, blurring the lines between digital ...

Our Review

This gripping psychological thriller plunges readers into a world where a seemingly innocent online game called "Dark Squares" begins to manipulate reality itself, blurring the lines between digital entertainment and genuine peril. As the protagonist discovers that high scores translate into real-world consequences, the narrative builds unbearable tension through smart pacing and chillingly plausible scenarios that will resonate with digitally-native teens. The author masterfully captures the contemporary anxiety surrounding social media algorithms and our increasingly gamified existence, creating a story that feels both fantastical and terrifyingly possible.

What sets this young adult novel apart is its sharp commentary on modern tech culture wrapped in a compulsively readable mystery—it’s "Black Mirror" for the bookish set. Teen readers will devour the high-stakes plot and morally complex characters while parents will appreciate the thoughtful exploration of digital citizenship and online safety. The book’s clever premise and relentless pacing ensure it will spark important conversations about technology’s influence long after the final page is turned.

Themes

Proverbs, Yoruba

Subjects

Proverbs, Yoruba