Not All ‘HEA’ (Happily Ever After) titles at Library
William Gwin/Reader s Guide
One reader described a book’s ending as not “HEA” or “Happily Ever After.” I found this term interesting, suggesting all kinds of short-hand personal and cultural references, and I could foresee an extended use of “HEA” beyond describing a less than sanguine plot ending. For example, I can imagine replying to a parent’s query: “How did the soccer game turn out?” “Well, not very ‘HEA.’ Let’s just say that!”
From the dystopian genre, (certainly not “HEA”) you might enjoy “Attack Surface,” by Cory Doctorow, which is part spy-thriller, part “Big Brother” cyber conspiracy. Mash Maximow is a gritty, street-smart operative working for the “winning side,” which exploits her elite cyber skills to oppress dissidents in repressive governments across the globe. Out of boredom, she has become a hi-tech prankster, interfering with people’s lives from thousands of