The Lizard of Ozzzz, A New American Allegory

By Mary Lauren Karlton

Book Overview

The Lizard of Ozzzz.com by Mary Lauren Karlton is part satire, part science fiction thriller set in Silicon Valley during the height of the dotcom boom. The focal point of the story is a website: www.ozzzz.com-brainchild of techno-mogul Sam Thorne. Is ozzzz.com simply an innocuous children's educational website, or is there another agenda lurking behind the cyberspace curtain?Ask Caitlin Leary. Fresh out of MIT, Caitlin embarks on her new career at Ozzzz.com as Director of Technology where she unintentionally becomes embroiled in a plot that threatens the digital privacy of the website's young devotees. In this satiric tale of Silicon Valley, author Mary Karlton portrays the play of colliding egos, rampant greed and unabashed power politics during the heyday of the dotcom boom. Underlying the cutting humor is an examination of the profound issues around our vulnerability to electronic surveillance in the digital age.

Here's what Foster Gamble, President and Co-Founder of Clear Compass Media; Co-creator, "THRIVE" Movies and Movement says about the book: "I picked up The Lizard of Ozzzz, and I couldn't put it down. It's well written and very timely, as compelling characters take us through the day-to-day drama of greed and corruption as it poisons an enterprise in the high-tech world."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0971306508
• ISBN13: 9780971306509
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: Gig Productions
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Mindshare

Mary Lauren Karlton's "The Lizard of Ozzzz.com" is a fast-paced cautionary tale about the insidious nature of technology and greed. Caitlin Leary, a recent graduate of MIT, accepts a high-paying dream job as Director of Technology for Ozzzz.com, a popular and lucrative children's web site. Alas, there is more to Ozzzz.com than meets the eye. Volatile and charismatic founder Sam Thorne, who has insatiable appetites for sex, drugs, and - especially - money, and his nefarious cohorts have devised a mind control technology that has virtually enslaved millions of young Ozzzz.com users. They spend endless hours playing Wizard of Oz-styled online games and run up their parents' credit cards. Behind the scenes, Thorne blackmails a zillionaire investor to fund an even more diabolical scheme. To Caitlin's astonishment, Thorne quickly, and perhaps a bit too easily, seduces her. But Thorne has more devious plans for his young charge. He presents innocent Caitlin as the squeaky-clean face of Ozzzz.com, setting her up for a humiliating Tsunami of public scorn and condemnation. Caitlin soon questions her role at Ozzzz.com - and even her sanity. But she derives unexpected strength from supportive new friends and an anonymous computer hacker, all who have their own axes to grind with Thorne. Caitlin resolves to unravel Ozzzz.com's hypnotic hold on children and get to the bottom of Thorne's wicked plans, even if her decision threatens her career - or worse. The Lizard of Ozzzz.com is brisk, clever and engaging, and an authentic depiction the halcyon dot-com years by a capable writer who clearly experienced the hell-bent genius and absurdity of that period first-hand. Karlton posits a complex Orwellian nightmare that may become a reality if the public remains complacent to technological advances that often exceed our imaginings. Readers fascinated by, or concerned about our evolving relationship with technology will appreciate Karlton's well-crafted vision.

Misuse of the Crystal

Mary Karlton has gifted us, via fiction, a documentary of where human consciousness in separation from Truth/Love may potentially journey. Mary has carefully unveiled the inherentdangers of the misuse of modern technology in a world, often driven by fear, which in this story has manifest as the insidious control of innocent human minds. Mary uncovers the real power of ones driven by love. It is a story that could 'awaken' many if seen on the Big Screen/movies. Thank you, Mary, for your travels into the heart of Silicon Valley. The story mirrors the choice point of ancient Atlantis and its choice to misue the chip (crystail). Mary has revealed that today we have the same choice of misusing the light or being animated by the Light of Love.

Delicious satire with a potent message about privacy

The "Lizard of Ozzzz.com" is a real page-turner! I consumed it greedily in one sitting, savoring the satirical pokes at Silicon Valley while wondering about the chilling possibilities of mass mind control perpetrated by corporate America. Now that the FBI is pushing legislation to force Internet providers to "wiretap" their customers, I fear that Ms. Karlton's vision may be all too plausible! This book will entertain you royally, but beware that you might start looking over your shoulder every time you log on!