Wyrm

by Mark Fabi, Jaime de Marcos Andreu (Translator), Víctor Viano (Cover illustrator)

El fin del milenio ha llegado y la Bestia del Apocalipsis es un virus informático que acecha en Internet.

A medida que se acerca el nuevo milenio, las sectas, los falsos profetas y los movimientos religiosos inundan los medios de comunicación de todo el mundo con advertencias de que se avecina el fin del mundo. Pero Michael Archangelo, cazador de virus informáticos, tiene preocupaciones más mundanas: limpiar el sistema Goodknight, un sofisticado programa de ordenador diseñado para competir contra los grandes maestros del ajedrez.

Al cabo de poco tiempo, el virus de Goodknight aparece en sistemas informáticos de todo el mundo y muestra signos alarmantes de vitalidad, inteligencia y conciencia. Michael sospecha que su autor es el misterioso genio de la programación Roger Dworkin, quien lo diseñó para crear un juego de rol informático tan real que es capaz de matar a los jugadores.

Michael y su equipo de expertos en tecnología deben introducirse a través de Internet en el retorcido juego de Dworkin, y siguen su pista por un fabuloso mundo que mezcla realidad y fantasía. Pronto comprenden que el juego está fuera de control y que el virus se ha apoderado de Internet. Su propósito es aprovechar la histeria del cambio de milenio para hacer realidad los peores sueños de la humanidad.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Cyberpunk, Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction Fantasy

414 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 1997

Reviews

[Marcus Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine lended me this book and I was skeptical at first. However, the cover is misleading. This is a great techno thriller about AI taking over the internet... Twenty years ago. Despite some dated references, it's still viable and it still rocks! I fell hard for the couple, love the characters... It's a great story!

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

You would have to have lived in a hole for the past forty years not to get at least some of the jokes in this book-- and even if you had lived in a hole, you'd still probably think it was funny. This is sci-fi at its best, when it's about science making the leap from everyday life into something completely and totally beyond. If you like video games, roleplaying games, crossword puzzles, mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, Lord of the Rings, fantasy, dragons, elves, Monty Python, Isaac Asimov, pop culture, Star Wars, Star Trek or making fun of any of the above, read this book.

.......oh ps, it's out of print. so good luck. ;)

[Non Pantalones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book changed my life - I *still* judge all the techno-novels that I read by this gold standard. I can't say it is the best book I've ever read... or the most well-written... but I CAN say that I love this book!

[Jorge Fernandez Becerra · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had to summarise "Wyrm" in two words it would be quite easy, “Missed Opportunity"
When I started reading this book it caught me. Although I´m not an expert on computer engineering Mark Fabi gets to explain concepts like the difference between Virus and Worm or how a AI works without interfering too much in the narration so that any reader has the necessary tools to enjoy reading.
Despite having problems like the lack of a good character´s construction or personages who don’t evolve I think that it isn´t a big problem, the real main character of this novel is the Wyrm and how it (him?) adapts and evolves.
In fact, despite these problems it´s a very enjoyable book at least until Michael and the rest of characters entered in the “Virtual World/Role Videogame”. From this point the book becomes a kind of fantasy fanfic. It´s like Mark Fabi was a frustrated fantasy author and he obligated us to read his undistinguished fantasy novel inserting it inside his great sci-fi novel, ruining his story by the way.
And then there is the romantic sub plot, really it was necessary? It brings nothing to the novel. First, Al seems that the character of Al is created only to please the fantasies of geeks readers, a good-looking computer science, how could she be more stereotyped? In place the Michael-Al´s love story is insubstantial, Michael hates her, they go dinner and fall in love. They have an idyllic romantic story and they broke, because… I don´t know. He treats her like a girl or something like that. Deus ex Machina. After he saved him (Alert of cliché) and they get back together and she is pregnant. I´m crying ☹
In short, if Michael had decided to focus in the sci-fi plot and dispense with the romantic and the fanfic he would have written a shorter and better novel.

[Leo Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cool ideas, very cool and original interplay of them—but it’s far too long and the prose is cringe af.

It’s like being in the middle of an intense chess game but you keep getting interrupted by innuendos from an inappropriately raunchy uncle.

I see it’s out of print—I found this in a local secondhand shop, and they can have it back!

[Hasse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit outdated technology but the story holds. A bit like Tad Williams “Otherland” but more condensed.
Excellent pacing and a well thought out ending.

[Eleni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old school Tech Sci Fi. Good book. If you like Cryptonomicon you may like this.

[Isabella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dropped at page 90 // 16%

Don't think you'd enjoy this book if you've been outside in the past year.

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: A

So this book was an unexpected gem!

Wyrm is a book about Michael Arcangelo (eyeroll) who works as an IT consultant clearing viruses and worms from computers. His university friend hires him onto their project about an AI called Goodknight that has been developed to play chess against the masters of the world in a tournament, however, Goodknight has been infeced by a virus and Michael has to clear it out. This opens a can of wyrms (heh) that unveils a conspiracy that may signal the end of the world.

I really enjoyed this book in all of its early 2000s tech glory. Imagine Hackers * Sex and the City * Scary Movie. It's a goofy, fun romp with a bunch of tech-guru stereotypes, funny characters, one hot chick that has to become the protagonist's girlfriend and also feels like a self-insert that the author wrote for himself. The author helps us out a lot by explaining common tech terms and the differences between different types of IT systems/networks in an early 2000s scope, which is still kind of relevant today.

The perspective was written mostly in first person until chapter 6 of the book, where it's written in third. This part of the book was a bit disorienting, and I think the author's desire the keep the book at 18 chapters with three equal sections kind of took away from it in the end. The second section of the book technically starts in chapter 5/6, and then part 2 picks up after the characters have already transitioned into a new part of the book, so it seems almost pointless. The middle section of the book went on for so long, it felt like a huge drag.

This is when the characters are, in third person, in the MUD trying to find the wyrm. This just went on for way too long and I never felt like there were any stakes. I also felt like the reveal between Al and Mike was kind of lame and stereotypical, it felt like Bold and the Beautiful. Their relationship, in general, was pretty forced and moved way too fast. The allusions to sex were so cringey but also so early 2000s at the same time, I couldn't really say anything negative about it cuz it kinda fit that era of writing. Mike's voice is really so strong in this book, he was a very well-fleshed out character.

Glad I read it, a lot of fun, and I really liked the multiple fonts used in the book to denote different documents.

[Vilmibm · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is tough. there's a kernel of a *really interesting* cyber narrative in here that i found highly compelling. unfortunately, it's about 300 pages too long and full of irrelevant filler, irritating references, long 4th wall breaking explainers, and dad jokes.

i can't in good faith recommend it without the strong advice to skim when you recognize the filler parts.

it's fascinating to compare it to the much later ready player one which (knowingly or not) lifts a lot of the same premise but in a much dumber and less interesting way.

[Osmosisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reminded of this book by Ready Player One's success, and decided to see whether it holds up - and somewhat surprisingly, it does. Although the technological details are of course rather dated by now, the core idea still stands, and for a work of fiction is references to tech and computer science are pretty accurate. Basically a nerd adventure, but instead of dealing with things as superficial references, they're actually considered and incorporated in the plot.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really doubles down on its incredibly specific interests, but I generally like that in a book... And while, when it was published, it was "current"; I actually enjoy reading it now more; as it serves as a look back into the tech and tech culture of pre Y2K and the early days of the net. Some things haven't aged well, (the romance particularly), but overall - a fun, period piece, geeky tech thriller.

[Fiona Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t keep many paper copied of books, but this is one of them. I loved this book. It’s adventurous, there are puzzles - I enjoy the characters... I have never found another copy of this book, digital or otherwise, and despite writing to the author, have not been able to locate a copy of the sequel.

I feel like I have a gem I’m hoarding, but would love to share the wealth.

[Ronny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this back around the turn of the millennium, and I remember liking it a lot, not sure how I liked the characters, but I found the story and world building fascinating (iirc)

[Adrian Herbez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great late 90s cyberpunk fun to be had with this one. I also appreciated how the author worked in CS / AI concepts like Searle's Chinese room.

[Saya · Rating 2 out of 5]

La verdad es que no recuerdo nada de este libro, solo que me dejó un poco "meh". Está claro que debería volver a leerlo un día de estos...

[Assaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it a long time ago.
Probably quite outdated nowadays.

[Michael Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Very satisfying.

[Scurra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a bad case of first-novel syndrome. Not the usual one of the story being a badly-disguised autobiography with extra colour, but the "throw everything in and the kitchen sink" one.

Not that this is a bad thing. If anything, the book needs the ludicrously OTT approach to make the underlying premise work. As it is, he posits a genuinely scary idea and executes it with real flair.

Sure, the technology now feels dated (well, apart from the full-sensory input chair, but I'm sure that exists now), but the central conceit still works. Indeed, part of me wonders if a Wyrm might be evolving somewhere like World of Warcraft even as I write...


(edit: I've just finished (22/11/11) reading Ready Player One which has an awful lot of structural and stylistic similarities with this. Not that that's a bad thing.)

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This kept me reading with combination of exuberant charm and high levels of geek-appeal due to all the references, both subtle and otherwise, to technology, SF and mythology.

Ultimately I was left rather unsatisfied by the lack of any real struggle or tension – no matter what the problem the hyper-competent hero could always make a couple of calls, get on a plane and end up face to face with the world’s foremost expert in the problem domain (who could always be convinced of the possible existence of a malign AI within a paragraph or two).

An odd book that seems confused about its target audience; the style feels aimed at the airport bookstore techno-thriller market, but the references are very SF/gamer geek oriented.

[Michael Slembrouck · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s really enjoyable, enough that the things holding it back from being legendary are noticeable enough to make it a little disappointing. It feels like there’s a much more intense, mind-bending, world changing story buried beneath things meant to make it more broadly appealing. With the story synopsis, the timing of the publication, the fact that it’s long been out of print, and with the intriguing title and awesome cover art, it feels like the book has a bit of a minor reputation for something more, but it’s pretty much just a standard, if intelligent, science-fiction book. I like the humor and the diversions, except for the romance, but it really feels like a missed opportunity.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It defines the tech-y exuberance of the 1990's, when the Internet was just beginning to come into widespread use and it seemed like solutions to many problems would soon be a mouse click away. In a few respects it is kind of like the TV show "Friends," in that the reader has to wonder where these people get all their money and their neat apartments. I know IT pays pretty good, but this book seems to stretch it a little. It does have several tongue in cheek references to sci fi; i.e, "Vogon Poetry."

[Loren Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Wyrm in high school by chance, picking out of the library because the cover was neat and I'd about read everything else, and loved it to pieces. When I graduated, I tried to find a copy at every book store in town, and even thought about offering to buy it from my school. Finally, my mom suggested Amazon and I was thrilled to find that they had this seemingly-rare, unheard of book. I've read it twice since then and love it more each time. It's a true hidden gem. I'd kill to read Fabi's other novel!

[Hank · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of you who like to listen to old IT stories, or just those who like the fact that you can recognize parts of Philadelphia in the story, this is a collection of rare terms and a mini-adventure packed in one. Developing a theory that's far-fetched at times and not always understandable (even working with computers as long as I have), this was recommended to me by Louise, and I'll consider it one of the more fun reads in recent memory.

[Arwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the craziest books I’ve ever read. You really had to have been into geekdom in the late 90’s to appreciate it. It’s hacker culture pre-2000’s plus role playing plus chess all mixed together with the “A.I. gets self-awareness and is now going to cause the end of the world” scenario. Other than that I’d recommend it and I would read it again some time.

[Jose García · Rating 2 out of 5]

No soporta la comparación con otros libros de temática similar, por ejemplo REAMDE de Stephenson, RPO de Ernest Cline o Neuromante de Gibson.

Lo que menos me ha gustado es la transición entre lo real y lo virtual, demasiado forzado y poco creíble. Además los personajes tienen demasiado poca profundidad y el protagonista suena demasiado a primera persona.

[Elad Hod · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite computer science fiction books of all time. I especially like the first half as during the second half it veers towards a fantasy setting more and I preferred the characters' real-world interaction. Great philosophical and original ideas raised in this book, highly recommended.

[Robert Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tech and conflict are very much a product of the 90s, but it's all entertaining regardless. There are mind games (including a crossword puzzle the reader can fill out for themselves), talk of psychology, copious jokes made only for "har"-ing at, and a healthy clip to the storytelling.

[Josh]

Found it a bit slow and unfortunately dated

[Mopie · Rating 2 out of 5]

OMFG this is bad... this is my 2nd time trying to read this, but man its a challenge