Cory Doctorow
A digital-age provocateur and science fiction author who fights for an open internet, weaving activism and tech critique into compelling narratives.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Canadian-British writer·Birthday: July 17·Generation X
Biography
Cory Doctorow is a writer who operates at the busy intersection of technology, law, and speculative fiction. Born in Canada and now based in London, he first gained a wide audience as a co-editor of the eclectic blog Boing Boing. His novels, like 'Little Brother' and 'Walkaway,' explore near-future scenarios involving surveillance, digital rebellion, and post-scarcity economies, making complex ideas about digital rights accessible and thrilling. Beyond fiction, Doctorow is a vocal activist, advocating for reforms to copyright law and championing the use of Creative Commons licenses, often releasing his own books for free download. His clear-eyed analysis of tech monopolies and his advocacy for user freedom have made him a essential voice in debates about the shape of our digital world.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Cory was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cory Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Cory's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Authored the young adult novel 'Little Brother,' a influential story about teen hackers fighting surveillance, which won the Prometheus Award.
- Served as a co-editor of the influential blog Boing Boing, shaping digital culture commentary for over a decade.
- Released many of his books under Creative Commons licenses, pioneering a model for free digital distribution while maintaining print sales.
- Was named a MIT Media Lab Research Affiliate and has held positions at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Did You Know?
He was the first person to get a 3D printer through UK customs, as recounted in his book 'Makers.'
He is a visiting professor at the Open University in the UK and at the University of North Carolina's School of Library and Information Science.
He once worked as a software consultant for the Disney Corporation.
““When someone puts a lock on something that belongs to you and won't give you the key, that lock isn't there for your benefit.””
