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Dead Links
What if the Internet could kill you?
Araknee is one of the most popular websites ever made, and its competitors are dying under mysterious circumstances. When investigative journalist Amanda Katt decides to research Araknee, she discovers it has a mysterious power over its visitors. Amanda finds herself drawn into a conspiracy that could threaten the world.
Fans of William Gibson and Michael Crichton will appreciate this exciting technothriller.
Araknee is one of the most popular websites ever made, and its competitors are dying under mysterious circumstances. When investigative journalist Amanda Katt decides to research Araknee, she discovers it has a mysterious power over its visitors. Amanda finds herself drawn into a conspiracy that could threaten the world.
Fans of William Gibson and Michael Crichton will appreciate this exciting technothriller.
441 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Nigel G. Mitchell
27 books42 followersNigel G. Mitchell is a writer for the popular sci-fi blog, The Geek Twins. His work has been featured regularly in Slashfilm, Blastr, io9, and Screenrant. His short stories have been published in Lost Worlds and Black Hole Magazine. His latest novel is "Dead Links."
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 22, 2013
An interesting story about a different type of internet addiction. Not bad for a free book. :-)
June 8, 2017
DNF @ 43%
I rarely ever bail on a book but by this point I'd had enough of it. The typos and grammar errors I could forgive as I got the book for free, so let them slide. I even managed not to be too irritated by the almost constant use of the main character's full name, I get it, she's called Amanda Katt. I didn't need it constantly reinforced by "Amanda Katt did this," or " Amanda Katt did that," or "Amanda Katt said something to someone." It got quite grating and almost seemed like an attempt to increase word count.
What finally did it was the main character's, the aforementioned Amanda Katt, a supposed educated, top freelance journalist, near constant use of double negatives. Two examples picked at random being, "Well, don't tell nobody you saw Hal's soft spot. If it gets out, his reign of terror's over." Don't tell nobody? Really? So she wants somebody to be told by that rationale, does she? Also, "Boris, we ain't got nothin' solid yet, but I'll write up what we got and send up an update." Ain't got nothin'? So you mean you have something then? If you ain't got nothing then you must have something, no?
Admittedly it's likely more down to double negatives being a particular personal bug bear, and I did try to see past them, really I did your honour, but by Chapter 24 my desire to know the resolution of the story was overwhelmed by my annoyance at the double negatives.
I rarely ever bail on a book but by this point I'd had enough of it. The typos and grammar errors I could forgive as I got the book for free, so let them slide. I even managed not to be too irritated by the almost constant use of the main character's full name, I get it, she's called Amanda Katt. I didn't need it constantly reinforced by "Amanda Katt did this," or " Amanda Katt did that," or "Amanda Katt said something to someone." It got quite grating and almost seemed like an attempt to increase word count.
What finally did it was the main character's, the aforementioned Amanda Katt, a supposed educated, top freelance journalist, near constant use of double negatives. Two examples picked at random being, "Well, don't tell nobody you saw Hal's soft spot. If it gets out, his reign of terror's over." Don't tell nobody? Really? So she wants somebody to be told by that rationale, does she? Also, "Boris, we ain't got nothin' solid yet, but I'll write up what we got and send up an update." Ain't got nothin'? So you mean you have something then? If you ain't got nothing then you must have something, no?
Admittedly it's likely more down to double negatives being a particular personal bug bear, and I did try to see past them, really I did your honour, but by Chapter 24 my desire to know the resolution of the story was overwhelmed by my annoyance at the double negatives.
April 3, 2023
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and had a difficult time setting it down. It definitely hit my nostalgia bone with internet in the 90s. People/government trying to control the internet reminds me of how companies are supposedly scanning for csam and similar crap they’re pulling these days.
However, I did have some issues with it. There were some grammatical, plot, and similar errors in the book that seemed to get worse as it neared the end of the book. One of my big pet peeves happened many times - using the word “podium” instead of “lectern.” Podium is something you stand on, a lectern is something you stand behind. Not an egregious error, but it definitely made me twitchy, especially since it happened a lot. There were some sentences that didn’t make sense and a random c stuck to a word.
As for the plot errors, at one point a character randomly has a weapon they didn’t have before that then disappears, and later they complain about their mouth hurting after a different fight, when it said they got hit in the nose during the fight. Also, noses don’t have bones, they’re made of cartilage.
That stuff aside, I really did enjoy the book. Had those errors not been in there, I probably would’ve given this 5 stars. It was fun going back in time to how the internet and computers used to be, am definitely makes me grateful that we no longer need dial up haha
I really enjoyed this book and had a difficult time setting it down. It definitely hit my nostalgia bone with internet in the 90s. People/government trying to control the internet reminds me of how companies are supposedly scanning for csam and similar crap they’re pulling these days.
However, I did have some issues with it. There were some grammatical, plot, and similar errors in the book that seemed to get worse as it neared the end of the book. One of my big pet peeves happened many times - using the word “podium” instead of “lectern.” Podium is something you stand on, a lectern is something you stand behind. Not an egregious error, but it definitely made me twitchy, especially since it happened a lot. There were some sentences that didn’t make sense and a random c stuck to a word.
As for the plot errors, at one point a character randomly has a weapon they didn’t have before that then disappears, and later they complain about their mouth hurting after a different fight, when it said they got hit in the nose during the fight. Also, noses don’t have bones, they’re made of cartilage.
That stuff aside, I really did enjoy the book. Had those errors not been in there, I probably would’ve given this 5 stars. It was fun going back in time to how the internet and computers used to be, am definitely makes me grateful that we no longer need dial up haha
September 4, 2016
With a bloody computer cable cover and "dead" in the title, it should be clear that Dead Links centers on the perils of online addiction and manipulation. If that doesn't seal the deal, then the name of the novel's immensely popular website Araknee should. "Araknee is evil..,It's dangerous...,It traps us like flies in a web, and the more we struggle, the tighter it gets," warns one character. And early on, the intentions of the white-clad, seemingly psychic villain (appropriately named Jonathan Seer) are made as crystal clear as his cold, corporate climate: He wants world domination via The World Wide Web and the psychological controls of Araknee. And no one it seems (from an enthralled infant to a powerful politician) is immune. Except, of course, the proceedings' crusading protagonist.
With so many potboiler plot roadsigns posted, Dead Links might initially seem like it leads to a dead read, right? While the body count is high, the story has several strong, redeeming qualities that make it a good read. The biggest asset is that author Nigel Mitchell boldly breaks the often male-dominated techno thriller mold and allow a different type of hero to helm the adventure: That being an African American female.
Amanda Katt is a smart, rough-and-tumble journalist who freelances for several Phoenix-based publications. But, she senses a big story with New York-based Araknee, and tussles with Seer and his henchpeople--led by unseen, online femme fatale "Jane Doe"--early and often. But, in a nice twist on the guy-gets-the-girl-and saves-the-day theme, Mitchell instead allows Katt the honor: As she constantly risks her life to save her hapless fiancee (who's addicted to Araknee). Thus, she gets scraped, scarred, and shot at wherever she goes, making for a modern woman who isn't always eye candy, but is satisfyingly effective. Speaking of effective, the author also conveys a great sense of location: From NYC to Phoenix to SoCal and NoCal, the settings are wonderfully described and lend a good supporting cast of heroes and villains.
To his credit, real-life techno-journalist Nigel Mitchell keeps the plot relatively free of confusing computer jargon. But, anyone who has read or seen a lot of computer-driven thrillers will probably figure out quickly how Dead Links will end and who's really weaving Araknee's control of The Web. However, it is nice to see such predictability unfold through the eyes of a different race and gender and done so in so many well-conceived settings.
With so many potboiler plot roadsigns posted, Dead Links might initially seem like it leads to a dead read, right? While the body count is high, the story has several strong, redeeming qualities that make it a good read. The biggest asset is that author Nigel Mitchell boldly breaks the often male-dominated techno thriller mold and allow a different type of hero to helm the adventure: That being an African American female.
Amanda Katt is a smart, rough-and-tumble journalist who freelances for several Phoenix-based publications. But, she senses a big story with New York-based Araknee, and tussles with Seer and his henchpeople--led by unseen, online femme fatale "Jane Doe"--early and often. But, in a nice twist on the guy-gets-the-girl-and saves-the-day theme, Mitchell instead allows Katt the honor: As she constantly risks her life to save her hapless fiancee (who's addicted to Araknee). Thus, she gets scraped, scarred, and shot at wherever she goes, making for a modern woman who isn't always eye candy, but is satisfyingly effective. Speaking of effective, the author also conveys a great sense of location: From NYC to Phoenix to SoCal and NoCal, the settings are wonderfully described and lend a good supporting cast of heroes and villains.
To his credit, real-life techno-journalist Nigel Mitchell keeps the plot relatively free of confusing computer jargon. But, anyone who has read or seen a lot of computer-driven thrillers will probably figure out quickly how Dead Links will end and who's really weaving Araknee's control of The Web. However, it is nice to see such predictability unfold through the eyes of a different race and gender and done so in so many well-conceived settings.
March 12, 2013
This was quite the thrill ride. A few months back I read another book about the Internet enslaving people, but this was a lot better. The pace is fast and Amanda Katt is a real kick-butt character.
August 18, 2011
Three and a half stars.Quiet good tecno thriller.Deserves more recognition
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews