Broadcast is a Black Mirror-esque novel that follows Dave, a stagnating video blogger who is given the opportunity to boost his popularity with a new technology that broadcasts every thought and emotion in real time. However, his life is quickly turned into a nightmare as he slowly realizes how invasive this technology really is.

The themes of this book, surveilllance and privacy in the digital era, aren't very subtle. The opposing viewpoints get spelled out for the reader, often in the form of sweeping monologues. The plot is also relatively predicatble. Instead, the strengths of this book are in the horrific descent of madness Dave falls into as the story progresses. Most of this book is written in first person, which gives the reader an intimate connection with Dave.

The story begins slowly, with Dave not even getting the Mindcast inserted until about 35% of the way in. Even after that, it takes some time to get the plot rolling and to see the consequences of the Mindcast. The last quarter of the book was completely filled with action and was easily my favorite part. The last several scenes, to be, very reminiscent of a Black Mirror episode.

There were only two parts I really disliked about this book. Firstly, Dave himself was not a very sympathetic character, and this is remarked upon several times by other characters in the book. He's selfish, arrogant, and about as shallow as a puddle, personality. It is also because off those traits that the story can happen, but I can see many readers turned off because of it. I also didn't find one of the character motivations at the end very convincing, but I won't talk about that too much because of spoilers.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was an enjoyable read and an interesting take surveillance technology.

Honestly, I find the things that people are famous for these days totally mind boggling. Internet video bloggers for example. Posting photos of themselves to the world-weird-web before they are even out of bed in the morning, and obsessively checking the number of 'likes' and followers they have achieved in the last 5 minutes. If this is what today's young people aspire to then I despair for the future. Okay, maybe I'm just getting old. Or just maybe there is reason to beware...

David Callow is a quite famous vlogger, a narcissist and an all round douchebag, but somehow he has hundreds of thousands of teenagers hanging on his every selfie. For the time being at least.

David begins to get a sense that perhaps his followers are beginning to tire of his pointless posting and, following a disastrous evening out and a couple of dodgy purple pills, he decides to take part in a really crazy, no, scary, no, amazing new project.

Xan Brinkley, a multi-millionaire science genius, has invented a way of streaming a persons every thought and emotion to the interweb without the need for video making. All it takes is a tiny microchip implanted in the back of the head, and Xan thinks David is the perfect candidate.

The story is a little predictable (is a micro-chip in your brain ever going to be a good idea?) but it is very entertaining and moves along at a swift pace. I wish it had been longer and a little more detailed but overall it is a really good read. And that ending. I can't decide whether I love it or hate it, maybe I need to think about it a bit more. Okay, I've thought about it and I love it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Legend Press and Liam Brown for the digital copy I was provided in return for a fair review.

Broadcast by Liam Brown has 288 pages and was published in 2017 by Legend Press.

David Callow is an immensely popular vlogger that has amassed a huge following simply by posting videos of his everyday life. He is not particularly witty or interesting. In fact, he is a bit immature. And yet, the charm that attracts people to watch his videos is that he is just an ordinary guy-next-door. Due to his success as a vlogger, he is offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Technology has advanced to the point that a chip can be implanted and people can automatically see his thoughts. Broadcast is the story of his experience with life-changing technology.

This novel is a fast-paced and plot-driven story with interesting societal implications. It has a Matrix meets The Truman Show kind of feel. Brown does raise some thought-provoking questions about advances in technology and the effects on society, such as privacy concerns, corporate manipulation through advertising and even isolation-induced mental illness.

Overall I enjoyed this book. Although, ultimately I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. This is one of those books that people are either going to love or hate and how they feel about the ending will be the deciding factor. I honestly did not enjoy the way Broadcast ended. However, the majority of the book was extremely entertaining which is why I rated it a 4.

Broadcast was a rather hard book for me to get into. I didn't like the main character, David. He was self-absorbed and rather in love with himself. He has a few redeeming moments, but when not recognized he decides to sell his sole for popularity and ratings.
The book seemed to jump around a bit, so it was hard to follow at time. Some of the imagery was really hard to picture. That said the premise of the book was excited well and the plot line was something that should be considered.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Broadcast follows David Callow, an internet vlogger who broadcasts his life to his millions of followers. Feeling like his celebrity status may be failing, and desperate to ensure his popularity doesn't wain, David accepts an offer he can't refuse to take the 'next step' in technological advancement by having a microchip inserted into his brain. What follows is the ability to see David's every emotion, thoughts and memories - broadcast live to billions of people, and David's realisation that you shouldn't always get what you wish for.

The plot for this is sort of predictable, in that you can kind of guess where this is going. Technology is bad. However, it's more of the journey that I enjoyed with this. It's a satire of our current generation, snapchatting and instagramming our way through life, with everything revolving around technology. It's the sharp look at what 'celebrity' means in this day and age, when ordinary people can become overnight sensations just by being 'normal'. But is what we see really a reflection of that person's true self or is it merely an online persona of a 'perfect life'? I liked how thought provoking this was for such a short novel. It certainly pokes a hole in the current perceptions of reality.

I also liked the issues raised around the restrictions David faces about freedom of speech and thoughts. It almost seemed to give off a 1984/Big Brother vibe. Everyone is watching David, his every move and thought is scrutinised and he's even blackmailed because of it at one point. As the plot quickened towards the end, this really came into play as we see David struggle internally to control his emotions, so as not to raise suspicions.

My only main problem with this was with David himself. He's deeply unlikable - at first coming across as selfish and self involved. He cares very little for anyone or anything other than gaining more followers and increasing his celebrity. Nobody seems to see the 'real' him, including the reader. This often made it difficult to feel sympathetic towards him, and up until about 60% of the way through his obnoxiousness was really putting me off reading any further.

The ending for this was really good. Nothing is neatly wrapped up, reflecting the imperfect balance of the 'true' world, and I felt the despair. Normally this would drive me mad, but it seemed to fit well with the overall theme of the novel.

A great thought provoking science fiction novel, if you can get past the abhorrent main character.

Formatted review available at Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2093410168

Popular YouTube vlogger David Callow spends his entire day broadcasting his daily activities to his adoring fans. One day, tech mogul Xan Brinkley invites David to his offices and offers him the chance of a lifetime. Instead of spending his days creating content, they can install a microchip into David's skull that will stream his thoughts directly to his subscribers. David is cautious at first, but he accepts after an acquaintance bruises his ego. The chance to gain more followers is seductive, but he soon realizes there are more sinister plans in the works.

Self-involved David has always shared the mundane details of his life with his fans, but joining the MindCast project takes his oversharing to the next level. There's a whole new set of challenges and pressures when his unfiltered thoughts are constantly streaming to millions of people. He grows suspicious of the technology when the screen reflects something that he's not actually thinking; of course, by the sees something on screen it is what he is thinking! The novelty of MindCast quickly wears off and the weight of being constantly watched makes him feel imprisoned. He gets frustrated interacting with people in real life because they focus more on his MindCast stream than him. He wonders if there's any point to his existence if everyone already knows his thoughts before he opens his mouth, but he's also doubtful that he has a purpose if no one's watching. He's addicted to "the warm rush" that likes and comments give him. Even in the direst circumstances, he can't help but strike a pose for the camera or think about how many people are watching. All the attention makes him feel important, but is he just another cog in the machine? Are his followers really that devoted to him or is he just a temporary distraction until the next big thing comes along?

Sometimes things really are too good to be true! This story raises interesting questions about the place of technology in our lives. It has improved many aspects of our lives, but there are also impulses that need to be kept in check. In this day-and-age, how many of us haven't sacrificed privacy in exchange for a free service? It may seem like no big deal now, but having your entire life on public display can have serious implications. The characters were flat and the last three parts felt a little slow, but Broadcast is an entertaining, plot-driven story that I read in one sitting. I loved the ending! Read those terms and conditions, people! ;)

Spider Robinson explored the idea of what it really would mean to hear other people's thoughts in his Callahan books and how agonizing the cacophony of unbidden thoughts could become, how are there things no one would want to know - not really. Broadcast, a fun short novel, is the flip side: what happens when you broadcast all of your thoughts and dreams 24/7 and can never turn it off. Broadcast like a live feed continuously running. Sure you might be the most famous person on earth, but what would it be like for the whole world to hear all your innermost thoughts? What about privacy? Could you really have friendships when your true thoughts are constantly broadcast? Could you have a date? A relationship? Could you function in public? This is a terrific easy-to-read novel that seems pedestrian at first but really sneaks up on you. Thank you to Legend Press for an advance copy.

3.5 stars. I was intrigued by the premise of this science fiction novel, as the book explores the roles of media and privacy in modern society. I appreciated the writing style; Part One was written in third person, but then changed to first person after the main character had the microchip implanted in his brain that allowed the world to view his thoughts. While the premise and plotting are good, I was disappointed that all of the characters lack depth and simply fall flat. That said, it is still a page-turner and would be a good pick for book clubs to discuss.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, all-consuming piece of modern science fiction then Liam Brown’s third book, Broadcast, is a good place to start. It’s a well written and thrilling which is more than what you can expect from a lot of science fiction.

Following the life of social media star, David Callow, we watch as he agrees to take part in a new type of Big Brother documentary set make him a worldwide sensation. The pretence is interesting. Will the world ever start implanting chips into individuals to read their mind? I wouldn’t doubt it, but, for now - thank goodness - it’s an extreme alternative reality to ours.

I like David’s character. Deep enough to enjoy, but with just enough glossy, selfie-shallowness you feel he would decide to have his thoughts broadcast for fame (seriously, would you?).

Xan, the evil version of Elon Musk, is the personal embodiment of the power-hungry, tech entrepreneur we all like to imagine occupy the halls of Silicon Valley (sorry guys!). Stalking around trying to make the next giant tech leap forward in controlling the world.

It’s Sarah's, David’s manager's, character I’m disappointed in. She’s under-developed considering she could be a more instrumental in the ending.

Now, you aren’t going to hear me say this often, but this book SHOULD be a film. There are so many authors today who write a book with the silver screen in their head. Molding the words to suit the film rather than the page. This book has a lot of imagery perfect for the screen (I challenge any property developer to build a giant glass orb building), but it doesn’t feel like it is forcefully written for film. Saying that I could see a Hollywood script as I ploughed through (in less than 24-hours - I said it was gripping).

So why four stars, not five? After writing the review I’m reconsidering myself, but, and here is the but, I can’t work out if I’m a fan of the ending. It felt sudden and inconclusive. I prefer my fiction wrapped up neater and one character in the twist is so shocking it verges on unbelievable. That said, the book lingered with me as I milled around the ending attempting to come back to the real world, so, maybe, it deserves those five stars.

Broadcast by Liam Brown

Pros: terrifying yet plausible premise

Cons: things go predictably badly

Vlogger David Callow meets with the creator of OptimiZer, Xan Brinkley, and is offered the staring role in a new entertainment program. The show is called MindCast and will broadcast what David’s thinking, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

David is a fairly apathetic character when the book starts. He doesn’t really care about anything other than the number of views and likes his videos get, barely paying attention during the meeting that changes his life. He’s not particularly satisfied with the way his life is going, though he projects an image for his fans of a life that is fun and glamorous. So it’s interesting seeing him come to a slow realization of what having his thoughts projected to the world means with regards to his privacy, his safety, and his sense of self.

I was shocked by how few questions David had about the program. While he doesn’t seem to care about his privacy in general, he never asks how things like going to the bathroom or having sex would be dealt with. David is oblivious to the potential downfalls of having everyone able to see his thoughts at all times, so the conversations that point out how this technology can be used or abused are interesting. Even more interesting are the early unexpected side-effects, some of which I hadn’t considered.

While the main plot of the book is fairly predictable, the book’s premise, that some people can be so enamoured of themselves that they’ll give up all privacy in return for fame, is believable. And the results of such an act, are as horrific as you can imagine. You feel a real sense of dread as the book progresses, for a variety of reasons.

It’s a fairly short book and is an entertaining cautionary story.

Wow, I've never read anything like this book before. The first thing that caught my attention was the description on NetGalley: "Inception meets Black Mirror for the YouTube generation."

I thought they were exaggerating. They weren't.

"Imagine a show where instead of droning endlessly to the camera about what you thought of a film, or what you ate for breakfast, or what you did at the weekend, we actually get to see it, right then and there. No lag. No delay. No clumsy descriptions. Just a direct feed, straight from your brain to the screen. Everything you’re thinking, live and uncut. A constant stream of content, all day and night – even when you’re asleep! Forget video blogging, dude. This is the next logical step. This is evolution. This is MindCast.’"

See?! Crazy, right?

I just couldn't put it down. Awesome read!

While this book well describes the vapidity of the current tech-obsessed generation, it does not make for a very compelling protagonist. He is consistently crafted as a vacuous soul, but, not surprisingly, he's not a very likable person. And the conclusion, while not typical also is not very fulfilling. This is the dark side of dystopian-inspired literature and a cautionary tale about the price of virtual immortality.

Broadcast by Liam Brown is satire about the YouTube generation. It follows David Callow, a vlogger who has around a million fans. His manager, Sarah, and him are invited to a meeting with Xan Brinkley where they discuss implanting a microchip into David so that they can broadcast every single one of his thoughts. This obviously causes a lot of drama and issues with the people around David.

In the beginning, it was a little slow for me because it was a lot of explaining how the chip works and what everything was like for David, but once I got into the pace of everything, I was hooked. This novel had a perspective on social media that I'm pretty sure everyone has had a thought of, but never really looked that deep into it. It shows how we can go too far and never have privacy again. It shows how invasive technology can be.

I finished this book minutes ago, and I keep flicking through to make sure I didn't skip an epilogue or extra chapter because I want to know MORE. Broadcast by Liam Brown was absolutely addicting. It's been described as "Inception meets Black Mirror for the YouTube generation", and its rapid pace kept me immersed in this thrilling story.

A major question in this book is what lengths would you take to earn global fame and more money than you could imagine? It's an appealing offer that popular vlogger and video content creator David Callow received by a controversial tech company. All he would have to do is undergo a minor surgery that would insert a small chip through his skull, which would enable every one of his thoughts to be instantly streamed to anyone in the world.

Things go well at first - his videos were never more widely viewed, and people recognize him much more. But things take a turn quickly. He's lectured by a restaurant chef for thinking unfavorable thoughts about his meal (and therefore broadcasted to millions), he's bombarded by people that want ad space, he even finds himself held hostage. He questions who's on his side, and he promptly learns his new super-stardom wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Broadcast was an interesting read with a strong concept - Youtuber takes the next logical step in technology and broadcasts their every thought. It was an easy book to get through, the writing quite simple and smooth. There’s an unexplained person shift after Part One that was slightly disappointing as I prefer third to first, and I don’t usually like these shifts without good reason. There’s a hinted-at explanation towards the end, but this is then refuted again pages later, so I’m not really sure what was going on.

The mistakes made by the protagonist that allow the plot to even continue are glaringly obvious and feel slightly contrived, even when played off as arrogance and desperation. I also find it hard to believe that there were only two mentions of outrage from the population at what was happening. Too many people, I felt, were ok with what was happening. While gripping enough to begin with despite this and feeling suitably Black Mirror as the cover suggests, the plot slows right down towards the end and then finishes with an attempt at a moral-of-the-story cliffhanger that doesn’t quite work out and lost some of the realistic horror that I enjoy Black Mirror for. The book continues past the point that I found necessary - I found myself wishing that Part Four wasn’t actually a part of the book.

A mash up of Black Mirror and The Circle; I loved this book. The pace was fast and I did not want to stop reading until I reached the conclusion.

David Callow is your usual vlogger type; self obsessed and out for all he can get especially the adoration of thousands. When he is given the opportunity to have his subconscious thoughts streamed instantly it doesn't take long for him to agree. MindCast works via a chip which is inserted into his brain and after this simple procedure nothing David does will ever be private again.

Really tuning into today's obsession with social media, this book gave me the chills.

David Callow is an airheaded prick of a vlogger who's amassed millions of fans by filming his every (banal) move. With his popularity waning (even pointedly sticking his head out of a taxi window doesn't get him much attention from teenage girls anymore), his manager pushes him to accept a lucrative opportunity offered by tech mogul Xan Brinkley. The proposal is so extreme that even attention-addicted David has trouble accepting it: a microchip implanted in his brain will essentially broadcast his thoughts and feelings to the world 24/7. One drink-and-drug-fuelled night later, however, David wakes up to find he's uploaded an intoxicated video telling the world about, and agreeing to, the offer. With that, he becomes the first ever star of MindCast, 'the biggest show on Earth'.

It's not difficult to guess where this is going, but Broadcast is fast-paced and exciting, an incredibly quick and fun read. It worked on me like a literary earworm: once I'd started it, the story wriggled under my skin and I couldn't stop thinking about it until I'd finished. More than anything, it reminded me of a particular type of old-fashioned ghost/horror story – the type that delights in delivering a sticky end to an unpleasant protagonist. Loved the gutsy ending. Thoroughly enjoyable.