Shadow of the Mothaship

"Shadow of the Mothaship" by Cory Doctorow is a science fiction short story included in his collection "A Place So Foreign and Eight More," published in the early 2000s. The narrative unfolds in a futuristic society that wrestles with the aftermath of an alien visitation and the subsequent disappearance of adults from a suburban neighborhood, leaving behind a younger generation grappling with chaos and disillusionment. It explores themes of identity, authority, and rebellion within a darkly imaginative setting. The story follows Maxes Fuentes, a 22-year-old protagonist whose parents have been taken aboard a mysterious mothership along with other "Processors," a group dedicated to ushering humanity into a form of enlightenment. The tale juxtaposes Maxes' rebellious, often reckless antics against the bleakness of a world where adults have abandoned their responsibilities. With his parents gone, Maxes engages in outlandish escapades, such as attempting to fly his family's home like a kite. Through interactions with various eccentric characters, including a dubious vendor named Stude and fellow neighborhood residents, Maxes attempts to redefine his existence in a world turned upside down. Ultimately, the story’s climax culminates in a defiant act against the very structures that once defined his existence, raising questions about autonomy and the consequences of societal expectations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Cory Efram Doctorow is a Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author who served as co-editor of the blog Boing Boing. He is an activist in favour of liberalising copyright laws and a proponent of the Creative Commons organization, using some of its licences for his books. Some common themes of his work include digital rights management, file sharing, and post-scarcity economics.