Start-ups in fiction

[nancylebov]

I recently saw a suggestion that fiction about start-ups tends to be much better than Sturgeon's Law would imply, but I'm not sure whether it's just easier to notice the good stuff.

Suggestions for fiction-- good, bad, or indifferent-- about start-ups?

My impression is that romances are frequently about women who own small businesses, but usually don't cover the start-up phase. I don't read a lot of romances, though, so I could have missed start-up stories.

I've also got something in the back of mind mind that there are some start-up stories in urban fantasy/paranormal romance about people figuring out how to make a living from their magical powers, but nothing specific is coming to mind.

Some start-up stories:

Heinlein's _The Rolling Stones_
Bujold's _A Civil Campaign_ is (among other things) a start-up story, and
excellent.

> The social network.
> Ghostbusters
> Moby dick **I'm not sure why this was included**
> Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
> Primer
> Tono bungay
> Jurassic park
>

Comments

[andrewhickey.info]

Cryptonomicon and parts of Reamde, both Neal Stephenson.
A bit of a stretch but parts of Permutation City
The Jump 255 trilogy by David Louis Edelman

[andrewhickey.info]

Also several Pratchetts -- The Truth being probably the best example.

[madfilkentist]

My own "The Unfood," Analog, September 1982.

Christopher Anvil

[lightningbug]

Christopher Anvil, 'way back when I was still reading Analog, had scads of them based on the formula:
1. Clever inventor/businessman comes up with a Neat Idea
2. Starts a business selling it.
3. Idea has unforeseen and potentially disastrous consequences
4. Plot ensues
5. Profit!!

Sadly, I don't remember any titles, but some of the doodads were

* A radio that let you talk back to the announcer
* A device that turned any wall into an impenetrable force field (marketed as soundproofing!)
* An antihistamine/cold medicine that made people "friendly"
* Pills that will give long life, good health, or great powers of mind. Pick one and only one.

High-Yield Bondage

[lightningbug]

by Hayford Pierce, takes an alien anthropology grad student with a library, a broken spaceship, and no local money from zero to complete control of the world's economy. It's very, very silly.