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The Jericho Iteration
In a broken city, a newspaper editor risks everything for the story of a lifetime
It takes only minutes for the earthquake to demolish St. Louis. The city’s oldest structures crumble, its finest bridge collapses into the Mississippi, and the observation deck of the famous arch falls to earth, killing five. Seven months later, all those who can afford to leave have gone, abandoning the poor, sick, and desperate to scrap for survival. Gerry Rosen, a reporter for the Big Muddy Inquirer, isn’t going anywhere. Whether thriving or ruined, this is his town.
After months of reporting on the earthquake’s aftermath, with electricity, security, and food in short supply, Rosen stumbles on something that takes his breath away. Beneath the rubble of old St. Louis lurks a stunning government conspiracy, the details of which are almost too dangerous to print. Rosen goes underground, running from the army in a desperate attempt to save his city—and his life.
It takes only minutes for the earthquake to demolish St. Louis. The city’s oldest structures crumble, its finest bridge collapses into the Mississippi, and the observation deck of the famous arch falls to earth, killing five. Seven months later, all those who can afford to leave have gone, abandoning the poor, sick, and desperate to scrap for survival. Gerry Rosen, a reporter for the Big Muddy Inquirer, isn’t going anywhere. Whether thriving or ruined, this is his town.
After months of reporting on the earthquake’s aftermath, with electricity, security, and food in short supply, Rosen stumbles on something that takes his breath away. Beneath the rubble of old St. Louis lurks a stunning government conspiracy, the details of which are almost too dangerous to print. Rosen goes underground, running from the army in a desperate attempt to save his city—and his life.
Hardcover
First published November 1, 1994
16 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Allen M. Steele
235 books416 followersBefore becoming a science fiction writer, Allen Steele was a journalist for newspapers and magazines in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Missouri, and his home state of Tennessee. But science fiction was his first love, so he eventually ditched journalism and began producing that which had made him decide to become a writer in the first place.
Since then, Steele has published eighteen novels and nearly one hundred short stories. His work has received numerous accolades, including three Hugo Awards, and has been translated worldwide, mainly into languages he can’t read. He serves on the board of advisors for the Space Frontier Foundation and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He also belongs to Sigma, a group of science fiction writers who frequently serve as unpaid consultants on matters regarding technology and security.
Allen Steele is a lifelong space buff, and this interest has not only influenced his writing, it has taken him to some interesting places. He has witnessed numerous space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center and has flown NASA’s shuttle cockpit simulator at the Johnson Space Center. In 2001, he testified before the US House of Representatives in hearings regarding the future of space exploration. He would like very much to go into orbit, and hopes that one day he’ll be able to afford to do so.
Steele lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Linda, and a continual procession of adopted dogs. He collects vintage science fiction books and magazines, spacecraft model kits, and dreams.
Since then, Steele has published eighteen novels and nearly one hundred short stories. His work has received numerous accolades, including three Hugo Awards, and has been translated worldwide, mainly into languages he can’t read. He serves on the board of advisors for the Space Frontier Foundation and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He also belongs to Sigma, a group of science fiction writers who frequently serve as unpaid consultants on matters regarding technology and security.
Allen Steele is a lifelong space buff, and this interest has not only influenced his writing, it has taken him to some interesting places. He has witnessed numerous space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center and has flown NASA’s shuttle cockpit simulator at the Johnson Space Center. In 2001, he testified before the US House of Representatives in hearings regarding the future of space exploration. He would like very much to go into orbit, and hopes that one day he’ll be able to afford to do so.
Steele lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Linda, and a continual procession of adopted dogs. He collects vintage science fiction books and magazines, spacecraft model kits, and dreams.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 22 reviews
June 25, 2018
In the year 2012, a huge earthquake destroyed much of the Midwest United States. Now, a year later, the city of St Louis is trying to come back from the brink of extinction and the heavy-handed Emergency Relief Agency carries out their tasks utilizing martial law. Gerry Rosen is an investigative reporter who finds himself chasing after a big story but not quite sure where it will lead. What he does know is that people around him are getting killed and it all involves a mysterious something with a code name, Ruby fulcrum. As he follows the trail and becomes a fugitive himself, Gerry uncovers a conspiracy of monumental proportions involving the federal government and artificial intelligence.
It sounds like a techno-thriller and, indeed, that’s the way this novel reads. However, it is actually science fiction, having been published in 1994 and with the setting being the “near future” of 2013. Reading it now in 2018, is much like reading a contemporary thriller albeit with a few twists where the author’s guesstimate of then-current trends would lead. I confess that part of the fun I had reading this novel was being spoon-fed those little tidbits that turned out to be mostly incorrect. But even though CompuServe and Commodore did not last to be the tech mega-companies that they are in the book, nor do we concern ourselves with fax machines and long-distance rates in 2013, all that really doesn’t matter. The fact that the states of Oregon and Washington succeeded from the US and became the country of “Cascadia” however, is integral to the plot and so the book, in fact, becomes a bit more like reading a sci-fi thriller.
This book is quite a bit different than most of Allen Steele’s more space-adventure works but his fans will still appreciate his tight prose, quality characterization and tech-savvy climactic scenes. Another good one from Mr. Steele.
It sounds like a techno-thriller and, indeed, that’s the way this novel reads. However, it is actually science fiction, having been published in 1994 and with the setting being the “near future” of 2013. Reading it now in 2018, is much like reading a contemporary thriller albeit with a few twists where the author’s guesstimate of then-current trends would lead. I confess that part of the fun I had reading this novel was being spoon-fed those little tidbits that turned out to be mostly incorrect. But even though CompuServe and Commodore did not last to be the tech mega-companies that they are in the book, nor do we concern ourselves with fax machines and long-distance rates in 2013, all that really doesn’t matter. The fact that the states of Oregon and Washington succeeded from the US and became the country of “Cascadia” however, is integral to the plot and so the book, in fact, becomes a bit more like reading a sci-fi thriller.
This book is quite a bit different than most of Allen Steele’s more space-adventure works but his fans will still appreciate his tight prose, quality characterization and tech-savvy climactic scenes. Another good one from Mr. Steele.
June 23, 2022
In a near-future United States with a devastated heartland, thanks to a major earthquake on the New Madrid fault, a more and more restrictive police state has imposed martial law on the citizens. The Emergency Relief Agency (ERA) has subsumed the role of Federal enforcement and is targeting people left homeless by the quake, among other things. Into this broken St. Louis comes Gerry Rosen, reporter for a local newspaper, who is accidently mistaken for a different reporter and thus begins his discovery of an enormous conspiracy involving Sentinel 1 - ostensibly a Star wars style anti-ballistic missile system, the ERA, and the possible escape of a strong artificial intelligence. When the shadowy figures behind the conspiracy start killing everyone who was privy to the conspiracy, Gerry must trust somebody to help him in his quest for the truth. But who can he trust and what does Sentinel 1 really do? Allen Steele has departed a bit from his high frontier stories with a detective mystery story that flows easily and is gripping and entertaining. You will probably guess a few things along the way but overall it is a breath of fresh air.
September 2, 2023
A fun little romp that has a journalist slowly uncovering a privately funded conspiracy plot amidst a city barely recovering from a large earthquake; with plenty of political commentary and a little side-twist of Neuromancer.
As other comments have pointed out, the tech is a bit outdated here. Things running on optical floppy desks, modems and 100Mbp being considered “sizable” and whatnot.
However, the political commentary might as well be from a current post-Covid era… it’s eerily similar to our current predicament in the US… sadly.
So, while the author may not have nailed the tech component of this novel (or failed to accurately predict what our tech would be at in 2013), he absolutely nailed our political climate dead on, even if the ending was a bit anticlimactic, and a bit on the far-fetched side of things.
Overall, I’d say worth the read, if you happen to see it at a used book store for cheap.
As other comments have pointed out, the tech is a bit outdated here. Things running on optical floppy desks, modems and 100Mbp being considered “sizable” and whatnot.
However, the political commentary might as well be from a current post-Covid era… it’s eerily similar to our current predicament in the US… sadly.
So, while the author may not have nailed the tech component of this novel (or failed to accurately predict what our tech would be at in 2013), he absolutely nailed our political climate dead on, even if the ending was a bit anticlimactic, and a bit on the far-fetched side of things.
Overall, I’d say worth the read, if you happen to see it at a used book store for cheap.
November 25, 2011
Сюжет прост: недалекое будущее (для автора книги, а для нас - настоящее ;)) Это самое будущее как всегда "прекрасно" - в 2012 году страшное землетрясение в США. Сент-Луис (место действия) практически стерт с лица земли. Руины, беженцы, голод, криминал - полный набор постапокалипсических трэш-декораций. Да, и ещё, в качестве общего бэкграунда невнятно намекается, что мир уже давно находится в состоянии мировой войны (правда, не очень понятно, кого с кем :)). Городом (и страной) фактически правят военные, а именно некие войска чрезвычайного реагирования (ВЧР), которые по отношению к местному американскому населению ведут себя похлеще любых фашистских оккупантов.
Главный герой книги - репортер независимой газеты, слегка желтоватой :) - оказывается втянут сначала в детективную историю (расследует смерть своего друга-репортера). Но потом эта детективная история потихоньку перерастает в заговор национального масштаба, где ВЧР совместно с представителями высокотехнологических корпораций собирается совершить государственный переворот с помощью супер-технологий (орбитального оружия).
Но тут в действие вмешивается новый персонаж - супер-пупер-мега-искусственный интеллект :))), которые распространяется по компьютерным сетям по принципу вируса, и который, сбегает от своих хозяев (!), после чего задружившись с репортёром (!!), решает пресечь нафик назревающий заговор (!!!). И таки его пресекает! Правда, зачем данному ИИ всё это надо, так и неясно :)))
В целом книга посредственная. Сюжетных линий несколько, но есть ощущение, что ни одна из них не доведена автором до некоего смыслового завершения.
Иногда подобные книги обладают прекрасной "атмосферностью" - читаешь про все эти постапокалипсические "красоты" - и аж мурашки по коже! Здесь ничего подобного не наблюдается :(((
Да и сама фантастическая составляющая (про ИИ, обретший самостоятельность), тоже как-то уже морально подустарела... Точнее, раскрыта автором банально, без изюминки.
Главный герой книги - репортер независимой газеты, слегка желтоватой :) - оказывается втянут сначала в детективную историю (расследует смерть своего друга-репортера). Но потом эта детективная история потихоньку перерастает в заговор национального масштаба, где ВЧР совместно с представителями высокотехнологических корпораций собирается совершить государственный переворот с помощью супер-технологий (орбитального оружия).
Но тут в действие вмешивается новый персонаж - супер-пупер-мега-искусственный интеллект :))), которые распространяется по компьютерным сетям по принципу вируса, и который, сбегает от своих хозяев (!), после чего задружившись с репортёром (!!), решает пресечь нафик назревающий заговор (!!!). И таки его пресекает! Правда, зачем данному ИИ всё это надо, так и неясно :)))
В целом книга посредственная. Сюжетных линий несколько, но есть ощущение, что ни одна из них не доведена автором до некоего смыслового завершения.
Иногда подобные книги обладают прекрасной "атмосферностью" - читаешь про все эти постапокалипсические "красоты" - и аж мурашки по коже! Здесь ничего подобного не наблюдается :(((
Да и сама фантастическая составляющая (про ИИ, обретший самостоятельность), тоже как-то уже морально подустарела... Точнее, раскрыта автором банально, без изюминки.
March 7, 2014
Not a bad book and a big departure from Steele's normal space adventures. This one revolves around Gerry Rosen, a reporter for a St. Louis alternative newspaper in a post-quake city disaster. It has been a good 10 months since the quake hit, but the Emergency Relief Authority (ERA) refuses to leave. They are the Gestapo in this story, and yet they're spoiled rich prep kids in uniform, trying to avoid normal military service. That was odd. When Gerry's best friend and fellow reporter ends up dead while investigating something mysterious involving the Tiptree Corporation and its recently released satellite, which is circling the earth in order to spy on American citizens and possibly engage in military action, Rosen retrieves his friend's notes and becomes a target of assassins himself.
While I enjoyed the book, it takes place in 2013, not too far off from the 1994 publication date of the book. Yet it's amazing how much Steele got wrong about future technology. He got palm computing right, I'll admit, but you've still got modems, floppy discs, etc., etc., and the artificial intelligence that he writes about toward the end of the book has probably already been duplicated 20 times over by now. I think he even used DOS. Pretty funny.
So, Steele's not a future teller, like Philip K Dick was, but he still tells a good story and it is pretty riveting, and while it's not a five star book, I do heartily recommend it for all.
While I enjoyed the book, it takes place in 2013, not too far off from the 1994 publication date of the book. Yet it's amazing how much Steele got wrong about future technology. He got palm computing right, I'll admit, but you've still got modems, floppy discs, etc., etc., and the artificial intelligence that he writes about toward the end of the book has probably already been duplicated 20 times over by now. I think he even used DOS. Pretty funny.
So, Steele's not a future teller, like Philip K Dick was, but he still tells a good story and it is pretty riveting, and while it's not a five star book, I do heartily recommend it for all.
August 8, 2017
St. Louis has been devastated by a 7.5 earthquake. The Emergency Relief Agency (ERA) was mobilized and martial law was declared. Gerry Rosen, the novel's wise-cracking protagonist and reporter for the local Big Muddy Inquirer, has just learned that his friend and fellow reporter, John Tiernan, has been murdered after being shot with a laser beam. The only knowledge that Gerry has regarding the situation is what the woman looked like who requested the meeting through Gerry and the message that she requested that he pass along, "Ruby fulcrum."
This novel combines elements of both science-fiction and a murder mystery set in a dystopian environment. The ERA maintaining martial law, behaving more like swaggering Nazis, add a thriller element to this enjoyable novel.
This novel combines elements of both science-fiction and a murder mystery set in a dystopian environment. The ERA maintaining martial law, behaving more like swaggering Nazis, add a thriller element to this enjoyable novel.
July 19, 2018
{2.5 stars}
Not all books age the same way, especially when you refer to models \ brands, which become obsolete. I am not saying it is a bad book, but it was surely more exciting nearly 25 years ago. Today the futuristic vision is 5 years behind me resulting in certain aspects which seem naive or wishful thinking by the author {other technical ones a bit over simplistic}. Nonetheless there is a mystery to be solved, but as the fundamental premise of it has been churned quite thoroughly by now, it tuned out to be a quiet uneventful read.
Not all books age the same way, especially when you refer to models \ brands, which become obsolete. I am not saying it is a bad book, but it was surely more exciting nearly 25 years ago. Today the futuristic vision is 5 years behind me resulting in certain aspects which seem naive or wishful thinking by the author {other technical ones a bit over simplistic}. Nonetheless there is a mystery to be solved, but as the fundamental premise of it has been churned quite thoroughly by now, it tuned out to be a quiet uneventful read.
February 8, 2023
St. Louis suffered a major earthquake. As a result the government sent in the Emergency Relief Agency (ERA) and instituted martial law. By the start of the novel martial law has been going on for eleven months. A down on his luck reporter, Gerry Rosen, stumbles on big story which the ERA and their leaders want suppress. Rosen has become a target. Can he survive to tell his story. A lot of action in this one. Some interesting twists. Rosen is a good narrator. A nice little SF thriller.
July 18, 2018
I had hope this book would be about the massive earthquake that levels St Louis, which is why I chose to read it. Instead it delved a little about the earthquake and its aftermath and primarily about a murder and conspiracy-[art pf a series.
Disappointed
Disappointed
November 16, 2019
I heard this describe as a SF book set on Earth instead of in space like the authors other books.
But it took until 1/4 of the way in before the fantastical element were hinted at.
Overall, it was interesting but kind of slow.
But it took until 1/4 of the way in before the fantastical element were hinted at.
Overall, it was interesting but kind of slow.
February 18, 2019
My 1996 booklog says: B+, well-written but implausible. I remember nothing of the book now (but will cheat & look shortly....)
October 20, 2012
I met Steele some years back at a Scifi Con in Orlando where he was the guest of honor. I had never read any of his books at the time and frequently start reading an author because they guest at a con. I started with Coyote and completed the entire series and have read two or three of his other books. Jericho was hardly the best but it was interesting and when it hit the point in the story where the first real "artificial intelligence" was revealed and that it was actually good rather than evil I found that was a pleasant and interesting surprise. Some of the plot line was a little along the political lines of the Coyote series. Overall the book was good and different which helped make it more interesting. The funny thing since the story is basically in our current time frame is how much computer interaction and the internet have evolved in reality. The book actually is a bit behind in this respect even though it would have been a bit ahead when written.
July 14, 2010
This is a very good adventure revolving around Gerry Rosen, a staff reporter for a local alternative newspaper in post disaster St. Louis. It has been almost a year since a major earthquake devastated this large city. But, though the local authorities have repeatedly advised that they could handle the reconstruction and law enforcement issues, the Emergency Relief Authority (ERA) refuses to leave. When another reporter begins investigating this odd behavior, he ends up dead. Gerry is able to retrieve his notes--and something else--which puts him on the short list of the unknown assassin.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was written--in 1994--as a near-future Sci-Fi adventure, and does a pretty good job. The only thing--and this is minor--was his basic computer technology was a little dated (DOS). But that took nothing from this otherwise great action adventure. 4 of 5 stars :o)
I enjoyed this book very much. It was written--in 1994--as a near-future Sci-Fi adventure, and does a pretty good job. The only thing--and this is minor--was his basic computer technology was a little dated (DOS). But that took nothing from this otherwise great action adventure. 4 of 5 stars :o)
January 2, 2014
My wife and I lived in University City through the 1980s; two of our kids were born there, and I went to graduate school at Wash U. So, I know all the cited landmarks throughout Forest Park, south St. Louis, Clayton, U. City, etc., etc., etc. Not only that, because the book was written in 1994, it is *exactly* the St. Louis I remember. I might also mention that I did some foundation work on my house for purposes of earthquake reinforcement during that time.
On the other hand, I found the science fictional concept which finally comes out near the end of the book, to be pretty naive. It would be a spoiler to talk more about it, so I will stop there.
In the end, I truly enjoyed the book for its locale; not sure how others less familiar would fare.
On the other hand, I found the science fictional concept which finally comes out near the end of the book, to be pretty naive. It would be a spoiler to talk more about it, so I will stop there.
In the end, I truly enjoyed the book for its locale; not sure how others less familiar would fare.
July 3, 2016
I picked this book up mainly because it takes place in St.Louis. I had never read a book that takes place where I live. It added to the story which started one way and ended up in a totally different direction, in a good way. This book was written in the mid-90s so some of his prediction of how things would be in 2013 were off the mark and humorous.
August 29, 2008
My very favorite book by Allen Steele. I found it one very fast furious read. The author always sticks to the best of hard science fiction in that everything in can reasonably happen from today's science. Few hold this standard as well as Mr Steele while still being very readable.
May 14, 2018
A fun, if dated read. I love Steele, and this stand alone novel is prescient in many ways-- substitute St. Louis for New Orleans, the rise of the surveillance state, etc. Yet, in many ways the tech he imagines is (now) passe. Nonetheless, an enjoyable techno-thriller.
July 25, 2009
An early departure from Steele's specialty of space exploration, this is a fast-paced high-tech thriller set in the near-future that holds up quite well.
October 29, 2011
Novel about a computer system that becomes intelligent. Nothing that really sticks in your mind.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1313
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1313
March 5, 2012
not really the book i was expecting to read. was expecting enviro-post-apocalyptic-thriller and it was more techno-conspiracy thriller. and kinda boring and draggy at that.
February 20, 2011
A slow read at times but it really made you think, especially with today political climate.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 22 reviews