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Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol: Book I
"Since knowledge is but sorrow's spy, it is not safe to know." -- Sir William Davenant, English poet and playwright (1606-1668)
Meet Esquelle (Es - Cue - El´) Données, a beautiful French information technologist having a leisurely cup of coffee at her favorite cafe in Versailles twenty-five years in the future. Two terrorists, intent on kidnapping, are watching her. Two NSA agents are monitoring her every move. And no less than five national intelligences services are about to disrupt her quiet life.
And all because of her older brother Bernard, a reclusive genius of an engineer whose inventions have been deemed a threat to the national security of the United States. His quantum encryption system has already been slammed with a Secrecy Order, and now his new communications device threatens economic and political devastation. His enemies will stop at nothing to prevent him from developing his world-changing breakthrough.
And they have the means to do so. In the fields of information technology, global communications, medicine, surveillance and military hardware, technology in development today has been realized. To protect its power and its secrets, a shadowy group within the US government will bring that technology to bear as they once again invoke the Telsa Protocol against Esquelle and her brother.
The first in a developing series, this book is a high-octane, hard-science thriller: an intricate dance of cause-and-effect where the axioms of the past drive the decisions of the future in a world where knowledge is both power and peril.
-- Joe Dacy II (http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00IAC6W16)
Meet Esquelle (Es - Cue - El´) Données, a beautiful French information technologist having a leisurely cup of coffee at her favorite cafe in Versailles twenty-five years in the future. Two terrorists, intent on kidnapping, are watching her. Two NSA agents are monitoring her every move. And no less than five national intelligences services are about to disrupt her quiet life.
And all because of her older brother Bernard, a reclusive genius of an engineer whose inventions have been deemed a threat to the national security of the United States. His quantum encryption system has already been slammed with a Secrecy Order, and now his new communications device threatens economic and political devastation. His enemies will stop at nothing to prevent him from developing his world-changing breakthrough.
And they have the means to do so. In the fields of information technology, global communications, medicine, surveillance and military hardware, technology in development today has been realized. To protect its power and its secrets, a shadowy group within the US government will bring that technology to bear as they once again invoke the Telsa Protocol against Esquelle and her brother.
The first in a developing series, this book is a high-octane, hard-science thriller: an intricate dance of cause-and-effect where the axioms of the past drive the decisions of the future in a world where knowledge is both power and peril.
-- Joe Dacy II (http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00IAC6W16)
651 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2014
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71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 10, 2015
If You're a Technophile or Conspiracy Buff, "Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol" is for You!
This skillfully crafted story has it all. Non-stop action, intrigue, dry wit and humor, incredible detail, and a nearly invisible line between science fiction and fact that yielded tremendous credibility. While at least one other reviewer compared it to Clancy, it reminded me more of Robert Ludlum's Bourne series except in this case it's a sociopathic NSA director as opposed to the CIA.
The author broke numerous fiction writing conventions yet this contributed to the book's credibility, originality and appeal. For one thing, numerous readers of this genre are self-admitted techies and nerds who thrive on the technical side. I know because I'm one of them. I saw an article not long ago which as I recall was written by Stephen King who advised authors to keep their research material invisible in their stories. To the contrary, Dacy plastered his extensive research throughout the story like excerpts from a technical paper or dissertation and I loved it. He even included various illustrations, which further added to the story's imagery, depth and interest. Whether it was the nuts and bolts of advanced technology, covert ops, or the chapter numbers in binary code, it was apparent he knew what he was talking about. Nonetheless, there were sections where his dry wit practically had me rolling on the floor or his ability to build suspense had me perched on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. While it may be considered incorrect to drop into the omniscient viewpoint from time to time, in this case it worked.
The story is about two genius level adult French siblings, Esquelle and her brother, Bernard, who possess a technology that permits communicating across the time barrier. Bernard's patent application has not only been denied but he's been told in no uncertain terms that he cannot release it in any manner at home or abroad based on the Tesla Protocol, the means by which the details of Nikola Tesla's inventions were secreted away roughly a hundred years prior. Of course neither of them plan to listen and thus the chase begins, though neither Esquelle nor Bernard have any idea what they're in for.
The plot is complex and loaded with characters but unlike some overpopulated stories I didn't have any trouble keeping them straight. The players were well fleshed-out and believable. The level of detail is outstanding, right down to the clever basis for the heroine's name, which I'm not about to tell you but as someone who's done some database programming myself I must say it was great. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next episode.
My only criticism is if, indeed, this novel had a copy editor, the individual should be fired. If it didn't, which I suspect, then it needs one who can catch the numerous missing words and other minor goofs. The syntax of the French dialog was often incorrect, but the author blamed that on Google, who was credited with the translations. I had French in high school back when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth and even after longer than I care to admit I can remember that adjectives follow the noun and the conjugation of verbs is entirely different than English. Thus, word for word translations seldom work.
This fantastic story deserved a good copy editor. These editorial blemishes, which most readers may not even notice (except, perhaps, other techies like me), detracted from what would otherwise be an incredibly awesome story, which, considering the level of detail otherwise, I find rather sad. Providing the reader with clean copy is as essential as maintaining a consistent plot and accurate research.
I suspect that the author was thinking and keyboarding so fast to get the story down that he inadvertently skipped over various prepositions and articles along the way. It didn't ruin the story by any means, but it was a distraction which precluded my ability to be entirely absorbed in it. In many ways I long for the days when you could sit down with a good book and get thoroughly lost in it, perhaps finding one or maybe two, if any, such mistakes. I find it especially sad when a story as good or better than many that passed through traditional publishing houses lacks that final bit of polish.
Besides that, this was my kind of book. Quite honestly, I loved it. Nonetheless, even while my techy side ate up his research, technical details, quotes, inside jokes and speculative sci-fi excursions, that same part of me cringed at every missing or misspelled word. Precision is just as important in writing as it is in engineering. If you painted a masterpiece, would you toss it in a $3 plastic frame from Walmart? No. And as a potential masterpiece in so many ways, forgive me when I say yet again that this story deserved a good copy editor.
This skillfully crafted story has it all. Non-stop action, intrigue, dry wit and humor, incredible detail, and a nearly invisible line between science fiction and fact that yielded tremendous credibility. While at least one other reviewer compared it to Clancy, it reminded me more of Robert Ludlum's Bourne series except in this case it's a sociopathic NSA director as opposed to the CIA.
The author broke numerous fiction writing conventions yet this contributed to the book's credibility, originality and appeal. For one thing, numerous readers of this genre are self-admitted techies and nerds who thrive on the technical side. I know because I'm one of them. I saw an article not long ago which as I recall was written by Stephen King who advised authors to keep their research material invisible in their stories. To the contrary, Dacy plastered his extensive research throughout the story like excerpts from a technical paper or dissertation and I loved it. He even included various illustrations, which further added to the story's imagery, depth and interest. Whether it was the nuts and bolts of advanced technology, covert ops, or the chapter numbers in binary code, it was apparent he knew what he was talking about. Nonetheless, there were sections where his dry wit practically had me rolling on the floor or his ability to build suspense had me perched on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. While it may be considered incorrect to drop into the omniscient viewpoint from time to time, in this case it worked.
The story is about two genius level adult French siblings, Esquelle and her brother, Bernard, who possess a technology that permits communicating across the time barrier. Bernard's patent application has not only been denied but he's been told in no uncertain terms that he cannot release it in any manner at home or abroad based on the Tesla Protocol, the means by which the details of Nikola Tesla's inventions were secreted away roughly a hundred years prior. Of course neither of them plan to listen and thus the chase begins, though neither Esquelle nor Bernard have any idea what they're in for.
The plot is complex and loaded with characters but unlike some overpopulated stories I didn't have any trouble keeping them straight. The players were well fleshed-out and believable. The level of detail is outstanding, right down to the clever basis for the heroine's name, which I'm not about to tell you but as someone who's done some database programming myself I must say it was great. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next episode.
My only criticism is if, indeed, this novel had a copy editor, the individual should be fired. If it didn't, which I suspect, then it needs one who can catch the numerous missing words and other minor goofs. The syntax of the French dialog was often incorrect, but the author blamed that on Google, who was credited with the translations. I had French in high school back when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth and even after longer than I care to admit I can remember that adjectives follow the noun and the conjugation of verbs is entirely different than English. Thus, word for word translations seldom work.
This fantastic story deserved a good copy editor. These editorial blemishes, which most readers may not even notice (except, perhaps, other techies like me), detracted from what would otherwise be an incredibly awesome story, which, considering the level of detail otherwise, I find rather sad. Providing the reader with clean copy is as essential as maintaining a consistent plot and accurate research.
I suspect that the author was thinking and keyboarding so fast to get the story down that he inadvertently skipped over various prepositions and articles along the way. It didn't ruin the story by any means, but it was a distraction which precluded my ability to be entirely absorbed in it. In many ways I long for the days when you could sit down with a good book and get thoroughly lost in it, perhaps finding one or maybe two, if any, such mistakes. I find it especially sad when a story as good or better than many that passed through traditional publishing houses lacks that final bit of polish.
Besides that, this was my kind of book. Quite honestly, I loved it. Nonetheless, even while my techy side ate up his research, technical details, quotes, inside jokes and speculative sci-fi excursions, that same part of me cringed at every missing or misspelled word. Precision is just as important in writing as it is in engineering. If you painted a masterpiece, would you toss it in a $3 plastic frame from Walmart? No. And as a potential masterpiece in so many ways, forgive me when I say yet again that this story deserved a good copy editor.
August 27, 2015
To review the novel Esquelle & The Tesla Protocol (Book 1), I must write one myself. It is neither a matter of what this book deserves nor a requisite to its complex scientific bearings. There is simply much to be said about the story. Nonetheless, I believe one can be reasonably accurate in summing it up as a bank. This institution of a book not only holds valuable resources but also necessitates a very serious and thoughtful engagement from the moment you enter.
There are two challenges that any SciFi author is faced with:
1) To enable audience from varying backgrounds to both understand and envision concepts and the world created
2) To never lose touch with the moral and entertainment quotient of the story in dwelling upon scientific details
Different authors choose different routes to achieve the above. Ones who can do it yield a book to relish. Joe Dacy II does so in every single chapter through two very simple inductions. First, he numbers his chapters in binary digits – reminding us each time of the mode our brains must remain attuned to. Second, he follows it up with a bite-size philosophical/academic/humorous text - from Confucious to Shakespeare to Darth Vader to Dictionary.com – that sets the tone for that chapter! He further garnishes it with other aids – Esquelle’s SQL-themed earrings that double-up as pen drives or maps and images that elucidate the subject at play. The essence of a good Sci-Fi lies in how well, and creatively, the author transcends complex data into a smooth reading experience. This book does it almost perfectly.
Why ‘almost’? Because SciFi in its very nature offers a paradox. To be good, it must be holistically bathed in cutting edge concepts and references. In doing so, it will inevitably be difficult to comprehend for many. Given the time play, one has to turn back pages to keep up with chapters belonging to past events as they intervene those in the present. Once again, the author helps us with precise date and time for every chapter, but it remains difficult to follow in light of catching-up that we do with programming fundamentals. The story often recounts the principle of Publish or Perish. However, in executing the former, Mr. Dacy can do better to further simplify the overall narrative and expression of technical data. For, a good book, good story and good idea deserve to be delivered effectively to as much of the reading population as possible. As a part of the world of SciFi literary fiction, I find this easier said than done. But as they say Joe, that is the job.
And now back to the geniusness of it all. In pondering over the science in this fiction, I cannot afford to bypass another achievement the book carries. From legal hearings to political analysis of Lewis Carroll’s sequel to Alice in Wonderland, to dynamics of an effective interrogation, complete with mistakes in behavioral patterns, the author sets out with a global, all-round agenda at play and showcases it with aplomb. It is a refreshingly accurate human element that the story does not abandon. Joe Dacy II gives us a snapshot of his quantum acumen towards the end of the fifteenth chapter when a tasty argument ensues on the practicality of Tachyons’ experiment between two scientists. It is a delight. In a short script of a page, he gives us for and against of the concept based on alternating points of Transmission, Encryption, Bandwidth, Buffering, Routing, Queuing, Miniaturization and Power requirement. But do not get lost in the terminology. The episode starts with a glass of water – a binary 1. It ends with that water being drunk – a binary 0.
So, before I really turn this note into a novel, allow me to bring the review to a closure: Should you read the book? Let’s put it this way: In dealing with the concept of time travel - of the most realistic nature thus far - there is a point when Joe takes 7 pages to cover a crucial period of 60 seconds! And he does it quite Inception-style, slowing down time in its details. That, is art.
Note: I received a free review copy for a fair and honest assessment.
There are two challenges that any SciFi author is faced with:
1) To enable audience from varying backgrounds to both understand and envision concepts and the world created
2) To never lose touch with the moral and entertainment quotient of the story in dwelling upon scientific details
Different authors choose different routes to achieve the above. Ones who can do it yield a book to relish. Joe Dacy II does so in every single chapter through two very simple inductions. First, he numbers his chapters in binary digits – reminding us each time of the mode our brains must remain attuned to. Second, he follows it up with a bite-size philosophical/academic/humorous text - from Confucious to Shakespeare to Darth Vader to Dictionary.com – that sets the tone for that chapter! He further garnishes it with other aids – Esquelle’s SQL-themed earrings that double-up as pen drives or maps and images that elucidate the subject at play. The essence of a good Sci-Fi lies in how well, and creatively, the author transcends complex data into a smooth reading experience. This book does it almost perfectly.
Why ‘almost’? Because SciFi in its very nature offers a paradox. To be good, it must be holistically bathed in cutting edge concepts and references. In doing so, it will inevitably be difficult to comprehend for many. Given the time play, one has to turn back pages to keep up with chapters belonging to past events as they intervene those in the present. Once again, the author helps us with precise date and time for every chapter, but it remains difficult to follow in light of catching-up that we do with programming fundamentals. The story often recounts the principle of Publish or Perish. However, in executing the former, Mr. Dacy can do better to further simplify the overall narrative and expression of technical data. For, a good book, good story and good idea deserve to be delivered effectively to as much of the reading population as possible. As a part of the world of SciFi literary fiction, I find this easier said than done. But as they say Joe, that is the job.
And now back to the geniusness of it all. In pondering over the science in this fiction, I cannot afford to bypass another achievement the book carries. From legal hearings to political analysis of Lewis Carroll’s sequel to Alice in Wonderland, to dynamics of an effective interrogation, complete with mistakes in behavioral patterns, the author sets out with a global, all-round agenda at play and showcases it with aplomb. It is a refreshingly accurate human element that the story does not abandon. Joe Dacy II gives us a snapshot of his quantum acumen towards the end of the fifteenth chapter when a tasty argument ensues on the practicality of Tachyons’ experiment between two scientists. It is a delight. In a short script of a page, he gives us for and against of the concept based on alternating points of Transmission, Encryption, Bandwidth, Buffering, Routing, Queuing, Miniaturization and Power requirement. But do not get lost in the terminology. The episode starts with a glass of water – a binary 1. It ends with that water being drunk – a binary 0.
So, before I really turn this note into a novel, allow me to bring the review to a closure: Should you read the book? Let’s put it this way: In dealing with the concept of time travel - of the most realistic nature thus far - there is a point when Joe takes 7 pages to cover a crucial period of 60 seconds! And he does it quite Inception-style, slowing down time in its details. That, is art.
Note: I received a free review copy for a fair and honest assessment.
February 24, 2019
In the beginning of the story , the flow of the story was quite good. I love the mix of danger and technology as I am also an IT specialist. But...further down the road, the flow of the story gets interrupted by to many details, and honestly I got bored and flipped through a lot of pages just reading only a few words, until the details got less and the story picked up again. From then on I was sitting on the tip of my chair, wanting to finish the story to see where it ends. I love technical stuff but not to much in detail, it takes the wind out of the story. But it ended well, very good written story.
May 5, 2019
(spoiler) Unfortunately billed as SciFi. Felt like more of a spy novel with a dash of lukewarm scifi thrown in. The heroine spent most of her time in a NW cabin hiding out.
July 5, 2015
Summary
- All in all, I enjoyed this solid technothriller about a French database programmer hunted by US intelligence services because of her brother's invention of a new communications technology. The content of the story is inventive and compelling. That said, certain ways in which the author chose to write the content often made the prose a chore to read. Below, I've listed what I think the author did well and what I believe could stand some improvement.
Done Well
- The story concept is unique and inventive. Not many writers cast a DBA (database programmer) as a main protagonist, so that was refreshing. Casting French agents as the good guys and Americans as the bad guys was also a nice change of page.
- When events/actions are being shown and unfolding without over-explanation, the story is darn good.
- Clearly, the author researched the underlying science and technology.
- The story had the feel of a major motion picture such as the Bourne Identity. I could see this on the big screen.
Suggested Areas for Improvement
- The story often moves at a snail's pace because of double and sometimes triple redundancy. The author explains what's going to happen (setup), then shows things happening (the actual story), and then recaps what happened. Only the middle part is necessary. Setup and recaps should be interspersed throughout the unfolding story, not go on for pages all on their own. Counter-intuitively, events in a work of fiction typically precede explanations so the reader knows why they should care. For example, I caught myself losing interest whenever the antagonist was sitting around his threat room plotting or in a meeting explaining what had happened.
- I agree with Stephen King that the informational "scenes" the author included have no place in fiction. Text that reads like it was cut 'n paste out of an encyclopedia kills the tension and flow. For example, I don't need to know the background and history of the scientist, Tesla, to understand and enjoy the story. If I care, there's always Wikipedia. A sentence or two is fine but not pages.
- Bullet points are an inappropriate way to provide explanation in fiction. It's a sure sign of telling rather than showing.
- All the foreshadowing was unnecessary, killed the tension, and even seemed a bit amateurish. "Little did he know, his plan wouldn't work out." I don't want hints about what will or won't happen. Don't rob me of the reveals. Let me find things out as events unfold.
- I'm a strong advocate for limited viewpoint and don't care for the omniscient viewpoint in which this story was written. All the head-hopping is jarring and creates a more distant perspective that doesn't immerse the reader as well. Still, this is just my opinion.
- There's too much tech talk at times. As an IT professional and software developer, I understood everything, yet the specific SQL terminology like primary keys and where clauses bogged me down. The author narrows his target audience by getting too technical. That level of detail isn't necessary to get the point across. Sometimes, less is more and makes the story flow better.
- The character development was sufficient to move the story forward but could stand some improvement. Each character serves a purpose plot-wise. The main protagonist has lots of cool gear and abilities, but I don't really feel like I truly got to know Esquelle as a person, and her character isn't always consistent. When she's not using her database skills, she's crying or giggling like a school girl. Also, I wanted Esquelle to take more direct action to drive the plot. She does a few things that save the day, but throughout over half of the story, she's hiding away somewhere while events take place.
- One disappointing thing was that the author didn't do much with the main driving plot point. Two countries are vying for possession of a communications device capable of sending signals into the past or future. The implications of that are mind-boggling, yet the author barely explores these possibilities.
- Some character motivations and plot drivers didn't add up for me. Why would certain characters help Esquelle at great personal risk to themselves or risk their lives to betray their country? Why are the antagonists obsessed with Esquelle to the point of wanting to kill her when what they really want is her brother and the technology he invented?
- All in all, I enjoyed this solid technothriller about a French database programmer hunted by US intelligence services because of her brother's invention of a new communications technology. The content of the story is inventive and compelling. That said, certain ways in which the author chose to write the content often made the prose a chore to read. Below, I've listed what I think the author did well and what I believe could stand some improvement.
Done Well
- The story concept is unique and inventive. Not many writers cast a DBA (database programmer) as a main protagonist, so that was refreshing. Casting French agents as the good guys and Americans as the bad guys was also a nice change of page.
- When events/actions are being shown and unfolding without over-explanation, the story is darn good.
- Clearly, the author researched the underlying science and technology.
- The story had the feel of a major motion picture such as the Bourne Identity. I could see this on the big screen.
Suggested Areas for Improvement
- The story often moves at a snail's pace because of double and sometimes triple redundancy. The author explains what's going to happen (setup), then shows things happening (the actual story), and then recaps what happened. Only the middle part is necessary. Setup and recaps should be interspersed throughout the unfolding story, not go on for pages all on their own. Counter-intuitively, events in a work of fiction typically precede explanations so the reader knows why they should care. For example, I caught myself losing interest whenever the antagonist was sitting around his threat room plotting or in a meeting explaining what had happened.
- I agree with Stephen King that the informational "scenes" the author included have no place in fiction. Text that reads like it was cut 'n paste out of an encyclopedia kills the tension and flow. For example, I don't need to know the background and history of the scientist, Tesla, to understand and enjoy the story. If I care, there's always Wikipedia. A sentence or two is fine but not pages.
- Bullet points are an inappropriate way to provide explanation in fiction. It's a sure sign of telling rather than showing.
- All the foreshadowing was unnecessary, killed the tension, and even seemed a bit amateurish. "Little did he know, his plan wouldn't work out." I don't want hints about what will or won't happen. Don't rob me of the reveals. Let me find things out as events unfold.
- I'm a strong advocate for limited viewpoint and don't care for the omniscient viewpoint in which this story was written. All the head-hopping is jarring and creates a more distant perspective that doesn't immerse the reader as well. Still, this is just my opinion.
- There's too much tech talk at times. As an IT professional and software developer, I understood everything, yet the specific SQL terminology like primary keys and where clauses bogged me down. The author narrows his target audience by getting too technical. That level of detail isn't necessary to get the point across. Sometimes, less is more and makes the story flow better.
- The character development was sufficient to move the story forward but could stand some improvement. Each character serves a purpose plot-wise. The main protagonist has lots of cool gear and abilities, but I don't really feel like I truly got to know Esquelle as a person, and her character isn't always consistent. When she's not using her database skills, she's crying or giggling like a school girl. Also, I wanted Esquelle to take more direct action to drive the plot. She does a few things that save the day, but throughout over half of the story, she's hiding away somewhere while events take place.
- One disappointing thing was that the author didn't do much with the main driving plot point. Two countries are vying for possession of a communications device capable of sending signals into the past or future. The implications of that are mind-boggling, yet the author barely explores these possibilities.
- Some character motivations and plot drivers didn't add up for me. Why would certain characters help Esquelle at great personal risk to themselves or risk their lives to betray their country? Why are the antagonists obsessed with Esquelle to the point of wanting to kill her when what they really want is her brother and the technology he invented?
October 15, 2014
Joe Dacy is a natural heir of Tom Clancy and if you're looking for someone to fill the void left by the departure of the man who gave us The Hunt for Red October or Patriot Games (my two favorites from his oeuvre), then the hour and the book are met. (You geeks have already bought Esquelle and are busy scanning the pages for any mistakes in the SQL.)
OK, before I even start this review, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you, the reader. Here goes:
Do you know what relational database technology is?
Have you ever been, or are you now, a DBMS programmer or administrator?
Have you ever heard of SQL? Do you know what it stands for? Can you code in it?
Have you ever heard of Oracle corporation? DB/2? Postgres? Ansa? Borland?
Have you ever heard of dBase II? III? Most infamously IV? Have you ever heard of a company called Ashton-Tate?
Do you know who Edgar Frank Codd is? Have you ever read his 13 commandments for relational database management systems?
Does it make you feel good to know that you know the difference between a tuple and a domain?
If you can answer YES to any of the above, then stop reading this review right now and go buy Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol by Joe Dacy. To help you grasp the point, go back to the top of this page and look at the cover. Closely.
All done? I'm sure that after reexamining the cover, you understood precisely why you should buy this book. And you know that I've just brought a little extra sunshine and joy to your life and you'll be thanking me years from now. No need to weep for gratitude or send gifts. I did this just because I'm that type of guy.
And you figured out that "Esquelle" is a Franconization of "SQL," right? I mean, how cool is that! (To make it all even better, the chapter headings are numbered in binary.)
And if you can't answer in the affirmative, you should still buy the book because it's an exciting and very cool read. And after you're done, you will have picked up just enough nerd cred to impress people at parties with your deep grasp of technology. Just don't push it when you're around a true nerd. You still don't know what query by example is and how it works so you run the risk of being found out. Otherwise, you'll do just fine.
By the way, in honor of this great book and topic, I'm running a little contest. During the 80s, many software companies released desktop RDBMS software packages for the IBM PC and some of the other competing systems. However, it was well known among the geek/DBMS cognoscenti that "Ted" Codd was known to favor one particular product in particular.
What was the product and the name of the company?
The first five people to send me an E-mail with the answer will receive a free copy of my book, Rule-Set: A Novel of a Quantum Future. Send your answers to rickchapman@softletter.com. The winners will be inscribed on this site as Geek DBMS Supremos for all time.
Rest of post up at: http://www.rule-set.com/ricks-blog/cr...
OK, before I even start this review, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you, the reader. Here goes:
Do you know what relational database technology is?
Have you ever been, or are you now, a DBMS programmer or administrator?
Have you ever heard of SQL? Do you know what it stands for? Can you code in it?
Have you ever heard of Oracle corporation? DB/2? Postgres? Ansa? Borland?
Have you ever heard of dBase II? III? Most infamously IV? Have you ever heard of a company called Ashton-Tate?
Do you know who Edgar Frank Codd is? Have you ever read his 13 commandments for relational database management systems?
Does it make you feel good to know that you know the difference between a tuple and a domain?
If you can answer YES to any of the above, then stop reading this review right now and go buy Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol by Joe Dacy. To help you grasp the point, go back to the top of this page and look at the cover. Closely.
All done? I'm sure that after reexamining the cover, you understood precisely why you should buy this book. And you know that I've just brought a little extra sunshine and joy to your life and you'll be thanking me years from now. No need to weep for gratitude or send gifts. I did this just because I'm that type of guy.
And you figured out that "Esquelle" is a Franconization of "SQL," right? I mean, how cool is that! (To make it all even better, the chapter headings are numbered in binary.)
And if you can't answer in the affirmative, you should still buy the book because it's an exciting and very cool read. And after you're done, you will have picked up just enough nerd cred to impress people at parties with your deep grasp of technology. Just don't push it when you're around a true nerd. You still don't know what query by example is and how it works so you run the risk of being found out. Otherwise, you'll do just fine.
By the way, in honor of this great book and topic, I'm running a little contest. During the 80s, many software companies released desktop RDBMS software packages for the IBM PC and some of the other competing systems. However, it was well known among the geek/DBMS cognoscenti that "Ted" Codd was known to favor one particular product in particular.
What was the product and the name of the company?
The first five people to send me an E-mail with the answer will receive a free copy of my book, Rule-Set: A Novel of a Quantum Future. Send your answers to rickchapman@softletter.com. The winners will be inscribed on this site as Geek DBMS Supremos for all time.
Rest of post up at: http://www.rule-set.com/ricks-blog/cr...
March 8, 2016
"Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol (Book 1)" by Joe Dacy II is an espionage novel in 3rd-person narrative. This near-future techno thriller deals with information technology and who owns it.
# Bernard and Esquelle Données are brother and sister. They're pioneers in database management and security. In fact, they're so far ahead of the pack that they've aroused the ire and envy of the US government, especially the NSA.
# Information has become more valuable than gold or platinum, and like the World Wide Web, info has gone global. A tachyon transmitter supplies a new medium of communication and the possibility of sending messages into the future or into the past. The narrative examines whether a nation (under the guise of national security) should deny an inventor's right to market a superior technology. There's your plot in a nutshell.
# The author is an educator as much as an entertainer. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation of information theory and tachyons which are theoretical wave-particles that move faster than light.
# Einstein's General Theory of Gravity tells us that nothing can exceed the speed of light. So tachyons are speculative entities, the fruits of science fiction or perhaps something like ESP where persons communicate over large distances simultaneously. ESP is in itself a speculative entity, an outgrowth of quantum theory. Close family members and/or life partners share many entangled particles so that one-partner may "sense" another though separated by great distances. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence of partners receiving premonitions about absent loved ones before the phone calls or hard-copy media. I've always assumed our ancestors communicated via ESP before they developed spoken language. Because language is a richer medium of description, it eventually replaced ESP which was too limited and unreliable. ESP tends to surface only for tragic accidents or extraordinary windfalls.
# The narrative may be enjoyed by adults or young adults, but it's not escapist fantasy. The actions scenes are well crafted and follow only after an extensive build-up. The pace is slower than many thrillers because the reader will encounter substance. The author makes clever use of drama to elaborate a rather arcane topic of database access. At times I was reminded of "The Glass Bead Game" by Hermann Hesse. Readers who want a Simple-Simon page flipper will be disappointed. "Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol" is a thinking-person's eBook.
# Bernard and Esquelle Données are brother and sister. They're pioneers in database management and security. In fact, they're so far ahead of the pack that they've aroused the ire and envy of the US government, especially the NSA.
# Information has become more valuable than gold or platinum, and like the World Wide Web, info has gone global. A tachyon transmitter supplies a new medium of communication and the possibility of sending messages into the future or into the past. The narrative examines whether a nation (under the guise of national security) should deny an inventor's right to market a superior technology. There's your plot in a nutshell.
# The author is an educator as much as an entertainer. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation of information theory and tachyons which are theoretical wave-particles that move faster than light.
# Einstein's General Theory of Gravity tells us that nothing can exceed the speed of light. So tachyons are speculative entities, the fruits of science fiction or perhaps something like ESP where persons communicate over large distances simultaneously. ESP is in itself a speculative entity, an outgrowth of quantum theory. Close family members and/or life partners share many entangled particles so that one-partner may "sense" another though separated by great distances. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence of partners receiving premonitions about absent loved ones before the phone calls or hard-copy media. I've always assumed our ancestors communicated via ESP before they developed spoken language. Because language is a richer medium of description, it eventually replaced ESP which was too limited and unreliable. ESP tends to surface only for tragic accidents or extraordinary windfalls.
# The narrative may be enjoyed by adults or young adults, but it's not escapist fantasy. The actions scenes are well crafted and follow only after an extensive build-up. The pace is slower than many thrillers because the reader will encounter substance. The author makes clever use of drama to elaborate a rather arcane topic of database access. At times I was reminded of "The Glass Bead Game" by Hermann Hesse. Readers who want a Simple-Simon page flipper will be disappointed. "Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol" is a thinking-person's eBook.
October 27, 2014
My mind is officially blown. Give me a minute, I need to pick up the pieces.
Ok. Done. Now we can talk about Esquelle:
1. This has been said before but I can confirm that there’s a strong scent of Clancy in this book. Tom Clancy is an old-time favorite of mine, I´ve been needing that kind of fix for a while without knowing it;
2. The style of writing flows well and it allowed me to plow into the story with ease. It’s been a quite a while since an independently-published book had done this for me;
3. Important themes were explored, mostly about the technological future and a certain government’s efforts to hide key discoveries. These are powerful themes that have caught my imagination;
But, mostly, I can say that I’ve just finished reading a story which has meshed plot and characters together in a grand melee. The research put into Esquelle must have been a nightmare, but it was well worth the trouble! We all have our particular dislikes; mine is a great story ruined by lack of proper effort.
Esquelle was more than worth my time and, as a testament to this, I am writing this review at 01:45AM. Tomorrow (today) is my first working day in two weeks and I’ve lost my beauty sleep to finish this great read!
Kudos to the author!
Ok. Done. Now we can talk about Esquelle:
1. This has been said before but I can confirm that there’s a strong scent of Clancy in this book. Tom Clancy is an old-time favorite of mine, I´ve been needing that kind of fix for a while without knowing it;
2. The style of writing flows well and it allowed me to plow into the story with ease. It’s been a quite a while since an independently-published book had done this for me;
3. Important themes were explored, mostly about the technological future and a certain government’s efforts to hide key discoveries. These are powerful themes that have caught my imagination;
But, mostly, I can say that I’ve just finished reading a story which has meshed plot and characters together in a grand melee. The research put into Esquelle must have been a nightmare, but it was well worth the trouble! We all have our particular dislikes; mine is a great story ruined by lack of proper effort.
Esquelle was more than worth my time and, as a testament to this, I am writing this review at 01:45AM. Tomorrow (today) is my first working day in two weeks and I’ve lost my beauty sleep to finish this great read!
Kudos to the author!
November 26, 2014
Esquelle is an expert in IT software. She is in fact so good, that IBM recruiters continually contact her to join their software development group. But she has a secret, which makes her want to stay independent. She has a chip implant near her brain that allows her to connect to the Internet and store tons of data virtually without any external hardware. Because of her genius brother Bernard’s creative technological inventions, both are considered security threats to the United States. While Bernard is safely hidden from everyone, Esquelle has NSA and Jihad terrorists after her. Their Uncle Robbie, head of a French intelligence service, uses all his resources trying to keep Esquelle safe. Esquelle has a few tricks of her own, but will it be enough to save her?
I admit that I don’t know exactly how a computer works; I only know how to use one. There was tons of explaining the computing process. I felt like I got a condensed lesson on the ins and outs of computing. I actually enjoyed it, mostly. It did get a bit over-technical though, for the regular people, like me. The story was well written, with well-rounded characters. I would definitely read more from this series.
I admit that I don’t know exactly how a computer works; I only know how to use one. There was tons of explaining the computing process. I felt like I got a condensed lesson on the ins and outs of computing. I actually enjoyed it, mostly. It did get a bit over-technical though, for the regular people, like me. The story was well written, with well-rounded characters. I would definitely read more from this series.
March 1, 2015
"The Newest technologies came to the edge of an invisible World ..."
Esquelle Tesla by Joe Dacy II is a "high-class" quality writing, the master piece in the Hard SF and political gamblings, visionary book of the future technology.
The novel is based on unique compelling story about French woman with supernatural capabilities due to hi- tech implant in her brain and her changing the world genius brother.
The newest words such as brain-implant, tabtop, nanobots, etc are providing additional exaltation and passion for the reading of this book.
I also love skillfully implemented quotes in the Joe Dacy II book as well as illustrations in the book, supporting visualization of the story.
However, I would avoid putting all eggs into the technology basket. Personally I see a future of the human kind as a mix the light ( and over light) - speed high-tech and developed spiritual features, such as telepathy, teleportation, levitation, etc.
The spiritual core is our key- differentiation from ROBOTS (!). Let's to remember that...
Merci beaucoup Joe Dacy II for the great read and Inspiration!
Thanks, Jacklyn,
I received a free copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
Esquelle Tesla by Joe Dacy II is a "high-class" quality writing, the master piece in the Hard SF and political gamblings, visionary book of the future technology.
The novel is based on unique compelling story about French woman with supernatural capabilities due to hi- tech implant in her brain and her changing the world genius brother.
The newest words such as brain-implant, tabtop, nanobots, etc are providing additional exaltation and passion for the reading of this book.
I also love skillfully implemented quotes in the Joe Dacy II book as well as illustrations in the book, supporting visualization of the story.
However, I would avoid putting all eggs into the technology basket. Personally I see a future of the human kind as a mix the light ( and over light) - speed high-tech and developed spiritual features, such as telepathy, teleportation, levitation, etc.
The spiritual core is our key- differentiation from ROBOTS (!). Let's to remember that...
Merci beaucoup Joe Dacy II for the great read and Inspiration!
Thanks, Jacklyn,
I received a free copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
August 21, 2016
Joe Dacy's Esquelle is a enjoyable techno-based thriller. Smart characters, a fast paced novel, full of action and adventure.
Dacy's prose is detailed enough that you feel like its coming from a place of authority. While there is a lot of technology in the novel, the plot didn't get bogged down. It read very much like a Dan Brown's book when the characters are discussing art or Tom Clancy discussing the ins and outs of submarines.
My only negative was the romantic subplot. I saw it coming when Dacy started mentioning what pajamas the two leads wore. It just seemed rather pointless. (But I admit, I find most romantic subplots pointless.)
Otherwise this is a great book. And I think people who enjoy books about computer technology or hard science fiction would love it.
Dacy's prose is detailed enough that you feel like its coming from a place of authority. While there is a lot of technology in the novel, the plot didn't get bogged down. It read very much like a Dan Brown's book when the characters are discussing art or Tom Clancy discussing the ins and outs of submarines.
My only negative was the romantic subplot. I saw it coming when Dacy started mentioning what pajamas the two leads wore. It just seemed rather pointless. (But I admit, I find most romantic subplots pointless.)
Otherwise this is a great book. And I think people who enjoy books about computer technology or hard science fiction would love it.
December 31, 2014
Anyone who reads this, and has any experience with Tom Clancy will immediately notice the similarities in writing style, plot and the amount of research done to fulfill accuracy. I'm assuming all the things I learned in this book were true, but I did not do much research into the some of the jargon's used. There is plenty of action that is packed into this book to keep you reading even if you don't understand SQL amongst other things mentioned.
Just as Tom Clancy can make anything seem like a high action scene, so can Joe Darcy. Not many people can pull off a Tom Clancy style, but Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol hit it right on the nose. Definitely a 5/5 from me.
Just as Tom Clancy can make anything seem like a high action scene, so can Joe Darcy. Not many people can pull off a Tom Clancy style, but Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol hit it right on the nose. Definitely a 5/5 from me.
January 29, 2015
When Esquelle and Bernard's parents die, no one knows at first that this was intentional, but every intelligent agency in the world knows that Esquelle, Bernard and their Uncle Robbie have information they do want. That is when this amazing adventure begins. Intelligence, espionage and computer intelligence, some of which is breaking technology, all come into play as the reader follows the twists and turns of this must read adventure. Great job in a novel that will have readers turning pages until the exciting conclusion.
March 12, 2015
I love intelligent heroines in books and Esquelle is one of the best I have come across. The story is just fabulous, a combination of action, suspense and something of an eduction to someone like me who is a bit of a technophobe. I just need to read the other book now!
Read
January 17, 2018Confusing at first, but it got much more exciting as it went along.
good story.
good story.
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