Ingo Siekmann
2018-12-05 00:12:47 UTC
Hallo,
... or: "well, not really missing, he just not answers your calls."
What it is: Political thriller, written by one of the most successful
writers and a former US-President. I have read the American, original
version of the book.
The plot: The US are under attack (as usual). Just recently a computer
virus was discovered that has infected (infiltrated? spoiled?) probably
every computer. If the virus is ever activated, every computer will turn
into a doorstopper, all data will be lost, and the USA will turn into a
defenseless third-world nation over night.
President Jonathan Duncan gave this problem the nice code name "Dark
Ages". Only Duncan and the innermost circle know this name. And
suddenly, he is contacted by a mysterious woman who seems to be involved
with the virus. She tells him the code name. One of the eight persons
must have leaked it. As Duncan knows not who he can trust, he leaves the
White House and takes up the case himself.
At the same time, a woman named Bach, a contract killer, arrives in the
US to cut any loose endings. Also, the vultures are circling above the
president and try to impeach him.
My thoughts: Well ... What do you get when the (maybe) most successful
crime writer and a former president team up to write a thriller?
Yes, a rather mediocre book.
It is not bad, but is also not very good, It is what TV Tropes calls "so
okay it's average".
The hero - very noble, very brave, former POW in the Gulf War because
Viet Nam would make him to old -tries to save his country, outwits the
mastermind and finally stops the virus at the last moment (as usual),
despite that he is no computer expert and just uses good old common
sense. On the way, he dodges a few bullets and event shoots a few bad
guys. Rather bland guy.
The villain - a mysterious cyber terrorist. A disappointment. Pale,
bland, your generic brilliant mastermind. You need a good villain for a
good book. This one is rather dull.
Bach, his hired gun, is much more interesting. She is even much more
interesting than the hero.
The book seems to give some insights into what it means to be the POTUS.
What it's like to live with the constant pressure and the ever-present
media, and the need to depend on other people.
Also some funny, minor things. When Duncan sneaks out of the White
House, he has to drive a car himself for the first time in years.
For the style - rather average.
Most of the time, something happens, and it is explained afterwards why
it happened or that the hero expected something like this and took
precautions. No real suspense, no real thrill.
A few times, Duncan tells us his thoughts about the current state of
America and politics. Very liberal (for an US president), but it avoids
to become preachy. I have read worser pamphlets in main-stream
thrillers, f.e., in Tom Clancy novels.
Also, the title is misleading. The president is not missing. He is most
of the time in contact with his staff and has a Secret Service detail
nearby. He also has prepared a hide out where he works with the smartest
IT experts to beat the virus.
And to the big turn-off: Sloppy research. AFAIK, Patterson has a stable
of assistants working for him. Maybe he should hire a professional
researcher, Or at least checks some internet forums.
Event if it would look good in a movie, some things just don't work this
way. Silencers do not sound like in the movies. Stealth helicopters are
not invisible magic carpets. Computer viruses do not work this way. And
event if they would work this way, it would be impossible to re-install
the complete IT infrastructure of the US-Forces in two weeks. In secret.
And finally, we have chapter 80. One advice to all authors - never use
Google translate when you want to use foreign languages in your novels.
Seriously. Whatever language the Berlin cop-lady uses, it is not German.
So, in conclusion - I wound not say avoid it like a plague. But I would
also not say to look for it, when you have other thrillers in your shelf.
Thoughts?
Bye
Ingo
... or: "well, not really missing, he just not answers your calls."
What it is: Political thriller, written by one of the most successful
writers and a former US-President. I have read the American, original
version of the book.
The plot: The US are under attack (as usual). Just recently a computer
virus was discovered that has infected (infiltrated? spoiled?) probably
every computer. If the virus is ever activated, every computer will turn
into a doorstopper, all data will be lost, and the USA will turn into a
defenseless third-world nation over night.
President Jonathan Duncan gave this problem the nice code name "Dark
Ages". Only Duncan and the innermost circle know this name. And
suddenly, he is contacted by a mysterious woman who seems to be involved
with the virus. She tells him the code name. One of the eight persons
must have leaked it. As Duncan knows not who he can trust, he leaves the
White House and takes up the case himself.
At the same time, a woman named Bach, a contract killer, arrives in the
US to cut any loose endings. Also, the vultures are circling above the
president and try to impeach him.
My thoughts: Well ... What do you get when the (maybe) most successful
crime writer and a former president team up to write a thriller?
Yes, a rather mediocre book.
It is not bad, but is also not very good, It is what TV Tropes calls "so
okay it's average".
The hero - very noble, very brave, former POW in the Gulf War because
Viet Nam would make him to old -tries to save his country, outwits the
mastermind and finally stops the virus at the last moment (as usual),
despite that he is no computer expert and just uses good old common
sense. On the way, he dodges a few bullets and event shoots a few bad
guys. Rather bland guy.
The villain - a mysterious cyber terrorist. A disappointment. Pale,
bland, your generic brilliant mastermind. You need a good villain for a
good book. This one is rather dull.
Bach, his hired gun, is much more interesting. She is even much more
interesting than the hero.
The book seems to give some insights into what it means to be the POTUS.
What it's like to live with the constant pressure and the ever-present
media, and the need to depend on other people.
Also some funny, minor things. When Duncan sneaks out of the White
House, he has to drive a car himself for the first time in years.
For the style - rather average.
Most of the time, something happens, and it is explained afterwards why
it happened or that the hero expected something like this and took
precautions. No real suspense, no real thrill.
A few times, Duncan tells us his thoughts about the current state of
America and politics. Very liberal (for an US president), but it avoids
to become preachy. I have read worser pamphlets in main-stream
thrillers, f.e., in Tom Clancy novels.
Also, the title is misleading. The president is not missing. He is most
of the time in contact with his staff and has a Secret Service detail
nearby. He also has prepared a hide out where he works with the smartest
IT experts to beat the virus.
And to the big turn-off: Sloppy research. AFAIK, Patterson has a stable
of assistants working for him. Maybe he should hire a professional
researcher, Or at least checks some internet forums.
Event if it would look good in a movie, some things just don't work this
way. Silencers do not sound like in the movies. Stealth helicopters are
not invisible magic carpets. Computer viruses do not work this way. And
event if they would work this way, it would be impossible to re-install
the complete IT infrastructure of the US-Forces in two weeks. In secret.
And finally, we have chapter 80. One advice to all authors - never use
Google translate when you want to use foreign languages in your novels.
Seriously. Whatever language the Berlin cop-lady uses, it is not German.
So, in conclusion - I wound not say avoid it like a plague. But I would
also not say to look for it, when you have other thrillers in your shelf.
Thoughts?
Bye
Ingo