For the Win – Part 3

Part 3 of Cory Doctorow’s For the Win is much more action-packed than its preceding chapters. While the first 2 parts, in a sense, introduce the readers to the characters, part 3 allows us to see how these gamers from all over the world connect to each other. In part 2 we learn that Wei-Dong is friends with Lu, and in part 3 he takes advantage of his family’s shipping company to literally ship himself to China in a large shipping container in order to join the Webblies in their fight. To help the Webblies, Wei-Dong brings pre-paid gaming cards that gamers in China can use on US servers so that they can communicate online. Matthew is realeased from the labor camp where he was being held and joins up with his friends and Wei-Dong. One night while hiding out with other Webblies,  Lu, Wei-Dong, Jiandi, and the other boys are staying is raided by police, Lu is shot, and only Wei-Dong, Jiandi, and a few other boys escape.

In India, Ashok, Mala’s main economist, devises a plan to disrupt the in-game economies. Soon after, however, Mrs. Dibyendu is no where to be found, and Mala’s army is approached by a gang hired by Mr. Banjaree, who attempts to keep them out of the cafe. Mala’s army fights them off, but Mr. Banjaree returns with another gang and Ashok goes to the Union Leaders for help, who offer their support to Mala’s army. Soon after, Ashok is successfully in destabilizing the in-game economies, which gives the Webblies tremendous power. They blackmail Connor and his friends, demanding that the large game owners give the Webblies the gold that they deserve. Eventually, Connor sides with the Webblies, and even helps to free Mala who is kidnapped by Mr. Banjaree. Sadly, Big Sister Nor is killed when her hideout is attacked and set on fire. Wei-Dong, Jiandi, and a few others escape to India, where they meet Ashok and Mala’s army…but little do they know, Connor is planning to meet up with them, having learned the details about their meeting by hacking into their e-mails. It is here that the story ends.

I HATE ENDINGS LIKE THIS! Was Connor really trying to help the Webblies? Or was his plan just to make them trust him so that he could kill them? For the most part, I enjoyed reading this novel. At times, it grew tired of having to read it on my computer. I also had trouble understanding some of the gaming terms. I also wish the book had a different ending…it reminded me too much of the end of Inception where we don’t know what the heck is going to happen!