Virus

by Bill Buchanan

In the 1990s, "smart" weapons have redefined how the military targets its enemies. In the near future, they will be replaced by "brilliant-class" weapons, controlled by artificially intelligent computers. Among these is a devastating breed of computer supervirus that is virtually unstoppable. And when it invades the United States' space-based defense technology, the world will burn in its fever.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller

415 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

Reviews

[Eric Shaffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the next best thing to nothing, and I mean that if there is no other techno-thriller available, this one might do. Mr. Buchanan is certainly well-informed, or seems to be, about the possibilities of cyber-dorking around with the orbiting space lasers or cannons or pea-shooters with which sometimes actual people spend real time and money on. What sends this book into the doldrums or into Silly Spacey Giggleland is that Mr. Buchanan knows nothing about how to write about characters (let alone actual humans, I suspect) feeling emotions or being depicted as if Mr. Buchanan thinks they might appear if they were feeling emotions. Whether grief or love, the displays of emotion in the book, and they are blessedly few, are written as if they were composed for the technical manuals used by film directors before "talkies"--in other words, there are a lot of hands flung over closed eyes and fevered brows, voices breaking with choking on words said or unsaid, and pictures pulled from pockets for loving last looks as the gazer is microwaved like bipedal popcorn by a supercomputer with an identity crisis. I'm actually surprised I finished reading this novel, but it did serve to make me sleepy every night for ten or twelve days, so I got good use out of it. I can see that Mr. Buchanan worked hard on this book, and you will, too, if you decide to read it. The labor may be rewarding, depending on your willingness to not read something else.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the kind of viruses I generally read about, but it was an easy read. I started and stopped for days at a time, but it was easy to get back in. Written after the 1993 NYC bombing but before 9/11, it’s a story of Arabic spies and computer virus engineers getting a foothold in the space intelligence system of “Star Wars”. Totally plausible, at times suspenseful, but it’s going back to the annual book sale to find another home...I’m more of a biological virus person..

[Bob Sipes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought and read this book back when it was released in 1996. I liked it then, but as I just finished re-reading it, I like it even more today. Back in 1996, it seemed more futuristic and surreal. Today, while we do not have "brilliant class" weaponry or a functioning SDI program (that is unclassified), we are seeing a plethora of sophisticated malware capable of manipulating machinery and stealthily spying on targeted devices and users.

This book realistically depicts the decisions that must be made regarding the software lifecycle and the ramifications of disregarding change control and testing. The forensic techniques used to detect the malicious actors and ultimately the virus code itself were realistic and enough detail was provided to satisfy the expectation of realism. That the ultimate perpetrators responsible were never identified is also realistic and abnormal for a fictional thriller.

Aside from the obvious science fiction aspects (SDI, Scramjets, laser weaponry, etc.) the interactions between leaders, the actions of all characters, and the main theme are realistic in today's world and very entertaining.

This book ranks with those by Dale Brown, Larry Bond, Tom Clancy, and Stephen Coonts.

If the names STUXNET, DUQU, and FLAME mean anything to you, read this book!

[Node · Rating 3 out of 5]

A virus with artificial intelligence takes control of an armada of anti-ballistic satellite network and holds the entire world hostage. Who could have seen that coming, right?

An amusing novel. What's fun about this novel is how most science fiction writers who look at the near future, is not how it's envisioned. Set in 2014, we have space traveling airplanes, holographic computers, and VCRs. The characters are likable but border a bit in being one dimensional.

The book is okay but I wouldn't recommend it. It has an impossible premise, the United States actually managed to construct these flying death machines in orbit without any international repercussions, yet the story keeps moving. Kudos to the author for writing this with a straight-face.