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98.4
One man can change the world.
One man can end it.
Nigel Yenn is a Security expert, working for a mysterious corporation riddled with secrets.
His life is unsurprising and by-the-book.
All that is about to change…
Dazed after losing his girlfriend Ruth and his job, he is in limbo. But soon he realises that knowledge is power … especially in a terrifying world of computerisation gone berserk.
International organisations and agencies have become deeply troubled by what they suspect is happening at Nigel’s former workplace in Elstree. One particular arm of the company, Group Three, run by pioneering Dr Stergen, is eerily private. Accessing information about them is virtually impossible – barring the garish PR stunts used by Stergen to raise his own image while keeping him immune from challenging questions.
In a final bid to uncover the chilling mystery of this strange organisation and the exact nature of Stergen’s work, UN agent Charles Chindale tracks Nigel down and recruits him to investigate.
Faced with no alternative, Nigel pursues every line of enquiry he can, unravelling a haunting series of events, the likes of which the world has never seen before…
Deep inside the laboratories of Group Three, an abomination is being developed.
Dr Stergen is using human brain power like never before … to create a weapon of mass destruction, forging brain waves with computer chips inside ballistic missiles.
Humanity has never been less safe.
Nigel is the only hope they have left.
One man can end it.
Nigel Yenn is a Security expert, working for a mysterious corporation riddled with secrets.
His life is unsurprising and by-the-book.
All that is about to change…
Dazed after losing his girlfriend Ruth and his job, he is in limbo. But soon he realises that knowledge is power … especially in a terrifying world of computerisation gone berserk.
International organisations and agencies have become deeply troubled by what they suspect is happening at Nigel’s former workplace in Elstree. One particular arm of the company, Group Three, run by pioneering Dr Stergen, is eerily private. Accessing information about them is virtually impossible – barring the garish PR stunts used by Stergen to raise his own image while keeping him immune from challenging questions.
In a final bid to uncover the chilling mystery of this strange organisation and the exact nature of Stergen’s work, UN agent Charles Chindale tracks Nigel down and recruits him to investigate.
Faced with no alternative, Nigel pursues every line of enquiry he can, unravelling a haunting series of events, the likes of which the world has never seen before…
Deep inside the laboratories of Group Three, an abomination is being developed.
Dr Stergen is using human brain power like never before … to create a weapon of mass destruction, forging brain waves with computer chips inside ballistic missiles.
Humanity has never been less safe.
Nigel is the only hope they have left.
- GenresScience Fiction
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1969
7 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Hodder-Williams
23 books5 followersChristopher Hodder-Williams was an English writer, mainly of science fiction, but he wrote novels about aviation and espionage as well. Before his career in writing, Hodder-Williams joined the army in 1944, and served in the Middle East and lived in Kenya and New York, later settling in the UK. Many of his books are early examples of what would later be called techno-thrillers. He also worked as a composer and lyricist, and wrote numerous plays for television.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 7, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Being honest, this is a case in which the cover totally hooked me.
2.5 stars, rounded up.
Synopsis: Nigel Yenn is a security expert who recently lost his job with a scientific research firm. He is recruited by a UN agent to investigate the firm’s Group Three branch, led by Dr. Stergen. The UN has received reports of inhuman research techniques being used by Group Three to develop a new weapon of mass destruction: bombs containing human brains. Dr. Stergen is creating a WMD by bonding brain waves with computer chips inside ballistic missiles. Nigel is key to revealing Stergen’s plan and stopping him before he starts a war.
Originally published in 1969, 98.4 is dated, of course. It does, however, successfully blend believable science fiction with the Cold War espionage of that age. The great fear during much of the Cold War was that the US or the USSR would develop and a powerful nuclear weapon against their enemy. Ultimately, the national security doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction was developed and followed by both sides, based on the concept that deterrence would prevent complete annihilation. Even still, there were factions on both sides that continually attempted to circumvent the MAD security doctrine. While this is a sci-fi novel, this background is important to understand the plot of the book.
Even though it's dated, the main characters are believable as they react to the threat of this newly-developed weaponry and the potential for another world war. This book will appeal to those who enjoy classic science fiction and Cold War espionage.
2.5 stars, rounded up.
Synopsis: Nigel Yenn is a security expert who recently lost his job with a scientific research firm. He is recruited by a UN agent to investigate the firm’s Group Three branch, led by Dr. Stergen. The UN has received reports of inhuman research techniques being used by Group Three to develop a new weapon of mass destruction: bombs containing human brains. Dr. Stergen is creating a WMD by bonding brain waves with computer chips inside ballistic missiles. Nigel is key to revealing Stergen’s plan and stopping him before he starts a war.
Originally published in 1969, 98.4 is dated, of course. It does, however, successfully blend believable science fiction with the Cold War espionage of that age. The great fear during much of the Cold War was that the US or the USSR would develop and a powerful nuclear weapon against their enemy. Ultimately, the national security doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction was developed and followed by both sides, based on the concept that deterrence would prevent complete annihilation. Even still, there were factions on both sides that continually attempted to circumvent the MAD security doctrine. While this is a sci-fi novel, this background is important to understand the plot of the book.
Even though it's dated, the main characters are believable as they react to the threat of this newly-developed weaponry and the potential for another world war. This book will appeal to those who enjoy classic science fiction and Cold War espionage.
January 6, 2016
98.4 is an excellent example of classic near-future science fiction.
When you keep in mind that 98.4 was originally published in 1969, it is all the more amazing. While bits and pieces show its early origin, the novel holds up extremely well to the test of time. The central characters have an intense realism, and their actions and motivations can be understood.
Nigel has recently lost his job and his girlfriend. The reasons are nebulous and linked to parts of his past he has forgotten, whether by accident or design. This past comes to haunt the present. Nigel is hired to investigate Group 3, a research team led by Dr Stergen. To the public, Stergen is a pioneer, a hero, but the public is unaware of his private research. The UN has heard rumors of inhuman research techniques applied to the development of a weapon of mass destruction - bombs containing human brains.
Stergen has been removing brains from research subjects, using them to create organic computers. Nigel’s memories hold the key to revealing Stergen’s plan and stopping him, before he starts a war.
98.4 is an impressive science fiction thriller blending action and espionage. Christopher Hodder-Williams clearly did a lot of research in preparation for this novel. While some of the technology referenced is dated from our viewpoint, it is important to remember this novel is set in 1969, not the present. The US still was in the throws of McCarthyism and fear of the communism motivated extremist factions. The fear that the US would try to start a war on the strike first premise was a very real one. The UN was viewed with suspicion. This history plays an important role within 98.4.
This cerebral thriller will appeal to lovers of classic, character driven science fiction.
4/5
I received a copy of 98.4 from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
—Crittermom
Visit Muttcafe.com for more reviews
When you keep in mind that 98.4 was originally published in 1969, it is all the more amazing. While bits and pieces show its early origin, the novel holds up extremely well to the test of time. The central characters have an intense realism, and their actions and motivations can be understood.
Nigel has recently lost his job and his girlfriend. The reasons are nebulous and linked to parts of his past he has forgotten, whether by accident or design. This past comes to haunt the present. Nigel is hired to investigate Group 3, a research team led by Dr Stergen. To the public, Stergen is a pioneer, a hero, but the public is unaware of his private research. The UN has heard rumors of inhuman research techniques applied to the development of a weapon of mass destruction - bombs containing human brains.
Stergen has been removing brains from research subjects, using them to create organic computers. Nigel’s memories hold the key to revealing Stergen’s plan and stopping him, before he starts a war.
98.4 is an impressive science fiction thriller blending action and espionage. Christopher Hodder-Williams clearly did a lot of research in preparation for this novel. While some of the technology referenced is dated from our viewpoint, it is important to remember this novel is set in 1969, not the present. The US still was in the throws of McCarthyism and fear of the communism motivated extremist factions. The fear that the US would try to start a war on the strike first premise was a very real one. The UN was viewed with suspicion. This history plays an important role within 98.4.
This cerebral thriller will appeal to lovers of classic, character driven science fiction.
4/5
I received a copy of 98.4 from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
—Crittermom
Visit Muttcafe.com for more reviews
June 12, 2019
Pure fantasy
I am working my way through this authors list if books, and for the most part enjoyed them so far.
This one was more work than pleasure, if you like fantasy, read on, otherwise this book makes Star Wars look factual.
I am working my way through this authors list if books, and for the most part enjoyed them so far.
This one was more work than pleasure, if you like fantasy, read on, otherwise this book makes Star Wars look factual.
January 16, 2016
I read this book in the digital version released in 2015 by Endeavour Press. The novel was originally published in 1966 or 1969, there is conflicting information as to that date.
I wish I could say I enjoyed reading this novel. My three star rating is only because I was interested in seeing how a science fiction novel published almost fifty years ago would hold up from the science standpoint. The author built his story around a concept which would do very well in the science fiction genre today, utilizing human brain tissue as a power source for nuclear weaponry. That's a rather incomplete synopsis but it does give you an idea of what type of science fiction you will find in this novel. Unfortunately the author used a style of telling the story which I find irritating; he gave very incomplete background for what was happening and made me - the reader - work much too hard to understand what was going on in the novel.
I had read almost half of the novel before there was any type of explanation for why Nigel Yenn could not remember any of the incidents leading up to the situation he now found himself in. I had the feeling that pages and pages must be missing from the digital download I was reading when that was not the case at all, the same style continued throughout the novel. I never saw any explanation for how Nigel was able to purposely utilize a nerve in his brain to "hide" the memories he didn't want. That would have been nice to know. People around Nigel, both the good guys and the bad guys, all seemed to remember Nigel's history perfectly well and yet nobody ever gave me - the reader - anything but cryptic hints of what had happened to him. I simply got tired of waiting for the answers to be revealed.
This novel is written in the style where one person will say two or three words and the person they are talking to will understand the unspoken remainder of the sentence. Well, I didn't understand what they were talking about and I didn't like that aspect. The novel also relies heavily on the political problems of the day with Russia, England, the United States, and the United Nations rubbing up against each other with disagreements about nuclear weapon capabilities - not just cold war, but also hot warfare with Russian invasions of European countries. Even with these slightly dated subjects, I think I would have enjoyed the story had the author not made me work much too hard to figure out what was happening. I couldn't read his mind. Perhaps you will not have that same problem.
I received this novel as an e-ARC through NetGalley.
I wish I could say I enjoyed reading this novel. My three star rating is only because I was interested in seeing how a science fiction novel published almost fifty years ago would hold up from the science standpoint. The author built his story around a concept which would do very well in the science fiction genre today, utilizing human brain tissue as a power source for nuclear weaponry. That's a rather incomplete synopsis but it does give you an idea of what type of science fiction you will find in this novel. Unfortunately the author used a style of telling the story which I find irritating; he gave very incomplete background for what was happening and made me - the reader - work much too hard to understand what was going on in the novel.
I had read almost half of the novel before there was any type of explanation for why Nigel Yenn could not remember any of the incidents leading up to the situation he now found himself in. I had the feeling that pages and pages must be missing from the digital download I was reading when that was not the case at all, the same style continued throughout the novel. I never saw any explanation for how Nigel was able to purposely utilize a nerve in his brain to "hide" the memories he didn't want. That would have been nice to know. People around Nigel, both the good guys and the bad guys, all seemed to remember Nigel's history perfectly well and yet nobody ever gave me - the reader - anything but cryptic hints of what had happened to him. I simply got tired of waiting for the answers to be revealed.
This novel is written in the style where one person will say two or three words and the person they are talking to will understand the unspoken remainder of the sentence. Well, I didn't understand what they were talking about and I didn't like that aspect. The novel also relies heavily on the political problems of the day with Russia, England, the United States, and the United Nations rubbing up against each other with disagreements about nuclear weapon capabilities - not just cold war, but also hot warfare with Russian invasions of European countries. Even with these slightly dated subjects, I think I would have enjoyed the story had the author not made me work much too hard to figure out what was happening. I couldn't read his mind. Perhaps you will not have that same problem.
I received this novel as an e-ARC through NetGalley.
December 1, 2015
This book is published by Venture Press.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews