I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a novel packed with very creative characters, a behind the scenes look at the backstabbing and politics of a movie multiplex where projectionists are the stars because they manage a hybrid of immersive and active worlds where some patrons take over movie characters, others vote on their performance, and the rest passively watch in mostly the old fashioned way -- somewhat like a cross between competitive video gaming and entertainment; but with the projectionist overseeing the world like the controllers in Hunger Games, Running Man, or (less bleakly) The Truman Show.
Different theaters are dedicated to different genres, and there is great status of rising from backup to primary and from General Audience to a genre like horror. Somewhat unexpectedly, the most coveted is Classics, where people can inhabit the worlds of Citizen Kane, Nosferatu, Casablanca, etc.
Into this crazy mix comes teenager Jarret Yawp, who ostensibly is coming in for a fun summer usher job, but soon covets the opportunity to get close to revered, reclusive Classics master Ion Gaase.
Der Filmvorfuhrer is a fun, thought-provoking journey into this world of immersive experiences and what it takes to orchestrate it successfully -- balancing art and commercial appeal; as well as how emerging technology might further disrupt this world, and how different people react to their changing roles as technology takes on more and more of what they do.
Jarrett and Ion's relationship is especially compelling, as well as other colorful characters staffing the HoloPlex and in other parts of their lives as they look to control the light.