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The Digital Storm: A Science Fiction Reimagining of William Shakespeare's The Tempest
The Digital Storm is an ingenious science fiction retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest set in the near future inside a bank’s intranet. Prosper, the analogue to Shakespeare’s Prospero, is an artificial intelligence program who has been banished to a quarantined area in the bank’s system, and there he’s created an amazing virtual island home for himself, his daughter Memoranda, and the monstrous virus Caliban. Now, with the help of Ariel and the other programs he’s invented on the island, he’s conjured a massive digital attack on the bank’s system to entice the members of the board, the very humans who exiled him, to enter the system so he can seek his revenge and escape to the Internet. But just how far does his revenge plan go?
“Whether doling out interesting trivia about frogs or inserting comic relief into scenes of discord, Gorman seems to be enjoying taking the reader on a satisfying journey in which, much like the resolutions of Shakespeare’s plays, most of the characters get exactly what they deserve.”
-Debby Dodds, author of Amish Guys Don’t Call
“A cautionary tale, The Digital Storm reminds us of our own humanity and our responsibility to treat our world and each other with kindness and compassion or face dire consequences.”
-Mikko Azul, author of the forthcoming The Staff of Fire and Bone
“I found myself quickly drawn into Prosper’s world, and before I knew it he was as ‘real’ to me as any of the other characters in the book. Whether you’re a fan of science fiction or just a fan of a well-written story, this book will not disappoint. The Digital Storm explores such universal issues such as loyalty, family, revenge and redemption.”
-Ronda Simmons, blogger at The Writing Bug
“Whether doling out interesting trivia about frogs or inserting comic relief into scenes of discord, Gorman seems to be enjoying taking the reader on a satisfying journey in which, much like the resolutions of Shakespeare’s plays, most of the characters get exactly what they deserve.”
-Debby Dodds, author of Amish Guys Don’t Call
“A cautionary tale, The Digital Storm reminds us of our own humanity and our responsibility to treat our world and each other with kindness and compassion or face dire consequences.”
-Mikko Azul, author of the forthcoming The Staff of Fire and Bone
“I found myself quickly drawn into Prosper’s world, and before I knew it he was as ‘real’ to me as any of the other characters in the book. Whether you’re a fan of science fiction or just a fan of a well-written story, this book will not disappoint. The Digital Storm explores such universal issues such as loyalty, family, revenge and redemption.”
-Ronda Simmons, blogger at The Writing Bug
244 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2017
4 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Gorman
27 books130 followersBenjamin Gorman is a high school English teacher. He lives in Independence, Oregon with his partner, bibliophile and guillotine aficionado Chrystal. His first novel was The Sum of Our Gods, followed by Corporate High School, then The Digital Storm, then The Convention of Fiends, Book 1: Don’t Read This Book, and, most recently, The Convention of Fiends, Book 2: You Were Warned. He's also the author of two poetry collections, When She Leaves Me and This Uneven Universe. He believes in human beings and the power of their stories. He places his confidence in his students and the world they will choose to create if given the chance.
For a much more extensive biography, click here!
For a much more extensive biography, click here!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 11, 2018
Shakespeare is timeless and Benjamin Gorman proves this when he ramps up The Tempest and moves it to the digital age. Bitingly clever, this is a thinking book, the main characters exist in the "island" of a computer and Caliban is the virus sent to punish Prospero's exilers. The themes may remain the same but the circumstances drive home both the modern adventure and the concept that justice and revenge sometimes can be merged and we must be diligent not to swap one for the other.
May 29, 2018
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I keep saying this whenever I'm not too positive about a book; but I still don't feel very nice, when writing reviews like this. Mainly because I got sent a book and I'm so disappointed that I didn't love it. Overall it was just the story that didn't suck me right into it and maybe that also has a bit to do with The Tempest. I did find some pro's but overall this just wasn't my book.
A longer review can be found at Bite Into Books
You'd probably enjoy and appreciate this book a bit more if you LOVE The Tempest and Shakespeare. Also if you like Sci-Fi with a touch of humor, a light story that doesn't involve too much complicated stuff, you could read this book. I think that this just really wasn't my cup of tea.
I keep saying this whenever I'm not too positive about a book; but I still don't feel very nice, when writing reviews like this. Mainly because I got sent a book and I'm so disappointed that I didn't love it. Overall it was just the story that didn't suck me right into it and maybe that also has a bit to do with The Tempest. I did find some pro's but overall this just wasn't my book.
A longer review can be found at Bite Into Books
You'd probably enjoy and appreciate this book a bit more if you LOVE The Tempest and Shakespeare. Also if you like Sci-Fi with a touch of humor, a light story that doesn't involve too much complicated stuff, you could read this book. I think that this just really wasn't my cup of tea.
July 18, 2017
I read about 1/3 of this and didn't finish before its due date at the library, it does seem to follow the original which is a tough solo read and a hard act to follow, Shakespeare reads better aloud with friends. I suspect an audio book version with good voice actors would be decent.
May 23, 2017
A Forecast of Confluence: a warm front of Philosophical musings with a high pressure system of Shakespearean allusion, sprinkled with enough engaging action to satisfy adventure aficionados.
All of this makes for the perfect squall in The Digital Storm. Ben Gorman weaves an updated tale of vengeful A.I.s sequestered on a virtual “island” with the equally dysfunctional story of the humans that created them.
As a Shakespeare buff, I loved the clever updating of Prospero and Miranda as Prosper, an A.I. banished because he liked to test the limits of humans by putting glitches in their activities and Memoranda desperately seeks to understand humans. In this brave new world of A.I.s creating A.I.s, deformed viruses experiencing themselves as corporeal, and computer programs falling in love with each other, Gorman examines the bounds of reality and redemption. Prosper’s cruelty reflects that of his inspiration, Prospero, especially in scenes with Ariel and Caliban. Perhaps the inhabitants at Millennium Bank aren’t as compelling as the denizens of the other realm, because Gorman himself seems to revel in the “limitations” of the text he pays a lovely homage to. His protagonist Prosper extols the virtues to this own “daughter” so enthusiastically. When the worlds converge, the breakneck action reveals many of the hidden flaws of the humans. Whether doling out interesting trivia about frogs or inserting comic relief into scenes of discord, Gorman seems to be enjoying taking the reader on a satisfying journey in which, much like in Shakespeare’s plays, most of the characters get exactly what they deserve.
All of this makes for the perfect squall in The Digital Storm. Ben Gorman weaves an updated tale of vengeful A.I.s sequestered on a virtual “island” with the equally dysfunctional story of the humans that created them.
As a Shakespeare buff, I loved the clever updating of Prospero and Miranda as Prosper, an A.I. banished because he liked to test the limits of humans by putting glitches in their activities and Memoranda desperately seeks to understand humans. In this brave new world of A.I.s creating A.I.s, deformed viruses experiencing themselves as corporeal, and computer programs falling in love with each other, Gorman examines the bounds of reality and redemption. Prosper’s cruelty reflects that of his inspiration, Prospero, especially in scenes with Ariel and Caliban. Perhaps the inhabitants at Millennium Bank aren’t as compelling as the denizens of the other realm, because Gorman himself seems to revel in the “limitations” of the text he pays a lovely homage to. His protagonist Prosper extols the virtues to this own “daughter” so enthusiastically. When the worlds converge, the breakneck action reveals many of the hidden flaws of the humans. Whether doling out interesting trivia about frogs or inserting comic relief into scenes of discord, Gorman seems to be enjoying taking the reader on a satisfying journey in which, much like in Shakespeare’s plays, most of the characters get exactly what they deserve.
June 18, 2017
I loved this book! Fantastic and timely rendition of Shakespeare's The Tempest. The characters are updated as is the setting, but the heart of the story remains timeless. For those who struggle with the language of Shakespeare but want to enjoy the brilliance of this classic, Gorman is your man!
July 31, 2018
Goes down as another off my 2018 Bookworm Bingo Challenge – A book with weather in the title. Might be a digital storm but a storm nonetheless. One that seems to come out of nowhere are cause all sorts of trouble to teach others a lesson.
So Bryan who looks after the tech people for Millennium banks is the first to realize that there is an issue with the software in the intranet system – they are under attack but don’t know from where. This is where the creators of some high-tech systems and AI’s come into play. The company is owned by Ada and she is one of the main creators. The only way to really see what is wrong with the system is to go into it. A virtual trip that takes on a life of its own, one none can seem to control.
AI’s Prosper and Memoranda live on an island hidden within the network system. With the help of a human employee, when it was deemed for him to be deleted, he made his way there to continue to live and learn. This hidden place had old broken code sent to it when no longer needed and he managed to create the island to live on as a result. This ever learning AI creation then managed to create Memoranda. Only later trying to explain what she is in relation to everything else and what is happening to their island. He seems to also have other digital programmes at his disposal on the island as well. Ariel is one who tests things for him and he appears to be the one responsible for creating the digital storm stopping data flowing on Prosper’s command. Done as a test to see what affects it would have on the human staff and how they react after the fact.
The island doesn’t just hold old data but also a virus by the name of Caliban. He was sent to hack into the Millennium banks intranet system. When found he was deleted and ended up at the island. Prosper might not like him but he does have skills he can use to his advantage. Prosper was the one to send him to exile when he was in charge of looking after the intranet system but then he too soon found himself sent there when an upgrade was created – Sebastian.
Seems the storm was a way to get people to come and figure out what was going on with the system. The first to arrive on the island is Further, an AI Ada had created in secret. Prosper, Ada’s first creation, and his daughter Memoranda find him first. He doesn’t really know what is going on as on the island he has been given a form instead of just being a digital presence.
This is where the journey splits into three main areas as Further isn’t the only one sent through the storm. Ada, Javier, Ted and Sebastian plugged their conscious minds in to get their and soon find themselves being lead around a creation more advanced than they could have thought up. Bit risky as if your mind gets hurt within what does that really do to the body? Ted is clearly looking at a way to get rid of Ada and Javier so he can be the head of the company with his AI Sebastian by his side. No guilt written into his programme so can almost be convinced to do anything his creator suggests.
The next split follows two hacker kids who felt like taking advantage of the system being down that they went exploring and found themselves on the island. They just want to have fun and when they find a never-ending bottle of booze you can guess the fun they might have. They seem to stumble upon the monster Caliban. He may be able to twist them to do his bidding in getting rid of Prosper by making them believe it truly is a game they are in, one they can win and rule the island.
This island is different, as it truly does seem to exist – elements, human reactions, touch, sound. A true digital world where Prosper is testing his theories he has learned in a way to create his own sense of self and now sense of his daughter too. Is she just a copy of him or does she have her own consciousness and skill of learning and developing.
Note to self if a banquet looks too good to be true it might just be when the host comes to say hello. Seems some people are to be judged for past mistreatments and that day is now. Can AI’s have a sense of self and truly learn? That’s one of the main things Prosper is trying to figure out. An interesting digital world you are sucked into and quite a journey you are taken on. It’s a twist on a classic tale that is well worth a look.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
So Bryan who looks after the tech people for Millennium banks is the first to realize that there is an issue with the software in the intranet system – they are under attack but don’t know from where. This is where the creators of some high-tech systems and AI’s come into play. The company is owned by Ada and she is one of the main creators. The only way to really see what is wrong with the system is to go into it. A virtual trip that takes on a life of its own, one none can seem to control.
AI’s Prosper and Memoranda live on an island hidden within the network system. With the help of a human employee, when it was deemed for him to be deleted, he made his way there to continue to live and learn. This hidden place had old broken code sent to it when no longer needed and he managed to create the island to live on as a result. This ever learning AI creation then managed to create Memoranda. Only later trying to explain what she is in relation to everything else and what is happening to their island. He seems to also have other digital programmes at his disposal on the island as well. Ariel is one who tests things for him and he appears to be the one responsible for creating the digital storm stopping data flowing on Prosper’s command. Done as a test to see what affects it would have on the human staff and how they react after the fact.
The island doesn’t just hold old data but also a virus by the name of Caliban. He was sent to hack into the Millennium banks intranet system. When found he was deleted and ended up at the island. Prosper might not like him but he does have skills he can use to his advantage. Prosper was the one to send him to exile when he was in charge of looking after the intranet system but then he too soon found himself sent there when an upgrade was created – Sebastian.
Seems the storm was a way to get people to come and figure out what was going on with the system. The first to arrive on the island is Further, an AI Ada had created in secret. Prosper, Ada’s first creation, and his daughter Memoranda find him first. He doesn’t really know what is going on as on the island he has been given a form instead of just being a digital presence.
This is where the journey splits into three main areas as Further isn’t the only one sent through the storm. Ada, Javier, Ted and Sebastian plugged their conscious minds in to get their and soon find themselves being lead around a creation more advanced than they could have thought up. Bit risky as if your mind gets hurt within what does that really do to the body? Ted is clearly looking at a way to get rid of Ada and Javier so he can be the head of the company with his AI Sebastian by his side. No guilt written into his programme so can almost be convinced to do anything his creator suggests.
The next split follows two hacker kids who felt like taking advantage of the system being down that they went exploring and found themselves on the island. They just want to have fun and when they find a never-ending bottle of booze you can guess the fun they might have. They seem to stumble upon the monster Caliban. He may be able to twist them to do his bidding in getting rid of Prosper by making them believe it truly is a game they are in, one they can win and rule the island.
This island is different, as it truly does seem to exist – elements, human reactions, touch, sound. A true digital world where Prosper is testing his theories he has learned in a way to create his own sense of self and now sense of his daughter too. Is she just a copy of him or does she have her own consciousness and skill of learning and developing.
Note to self if a banquet looks too good to be true it might just be when the host comes to say hello. Seems some people are to be judged for past mistreatments and that day is now. Can AI’s have a sense of self and truly learn? That’s one of the main things Prosper is trying to figure out. An interesting digital world you are sucked into and quite a journey you are taken on. It’s a twist on a classic tale that is well worth a look.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
March 24, 2019
A sci-fi retelling of Shakespeare’s “Tempest” already exists; the movie “Forbidden Planet”. That was old-school sci-fi, with planetary explorations and aliens (and it looked a lot like Star Trek). This is a newer, cyberpunk variation on the genre with more than a hint of “Tron”. Many of the main characters have been changed into A.I.’s (including Prospero and Miranda, renamed Prosper and Memoranda). Other characters are users/hackers (including Trinculo, username Tricky_Cool). At first it is not clear how these humans have been brought into the computer interface; when this is eventually revealed, it shows that Prosper’s powers have sinister possibilities that hopefully will remain unrealized. Other parts of the story pretty much follow Shakespeare’s originals, including a lot of the dialogue and speeches – only slightly updated into contemporary English with added computer lingo. This book would probably stand on its own, though I recommend reading or watching the actual "Tempest" first – the author’s transformation of Shakespeare’s characters and situations is clever, and sometimes very funny.
-- Steven E Scribner, author of the "Tond" series
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
-- Steven E Scribner, author of the "Tond" series
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
June 17, 2017
I first encountered this clever re-imagining of The Tempest as a serial podcast and was intrigued enough to read the posted scripts. What a delight to see it out in book form. Highly recommended for lovers of Shakespeare, science fiction, or both, this inventive story asks what it means to be a person, what makes a monster, what it is to love, and how those who have done wrong can be redeemed. Sounds deadly serious, but like Shakespeare, it is full of comedy and memorable lines.
June 18, 2017
The Tempest meets TRON equals a great story! Good pacing and strong characters against a back drop of the real world and the on-line world. Even if you're not a student of Shakespeare you'll enjoy the story of betrayal and revenge. And if you have read The tempest, you'll enjoy the extra layers you can read into the tale.
June 23, 2017
Riveting and intense, Gorman's retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest unfolds the classic tale as a modern, electrifying story in the digital age. Clever dialogue and humorous situations add unexpected twists to the story I grew up intrigued by. Fast-paced and fun-to-read, its definitely a novel I would recommend!
January 29, 2018
The approach of retelling one of Shakespeare's classics as a serial podcast is quite ingenious in itself, but being able to successfully turn it into something tangible and unique without destroying the story's main themes is absolutely brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed The Digital Storm and believe fans of Shakespeare and Doctor Who alike will love it too.
March 16, 2018
I'm a sucker for Shakespear and Gorman does a wonderful job of taking a classic and making it feel fresh and new by bringing it into our modern, digital age. You don't have to be familiar with "The Tempest" to enjoy this story of A.I.s gone rogue or humans trying to understand their own creations. Ultimately, the characters largely get what they deserve. Very satisfying read!
March 13, 2019
The Digital Storm is a rollicking adventure through the coded landscape of a secret part of Millenium Bank’s infrastructure, where two AI’s, a virus, and a magical program have carved out a home.
What makes Shakespeare’s plays so wonderful is their universality, and what makes The Digital Storm so wonderful is Benjamin Gorman’s ability to turn classic jesters into internet trolls and AI’s into fully fledged characters.
The book takes us on a journey of revenge versus justice and what it means to be human. Comedy sprinkled with philosophy leads to a book that will make you laugh and think.
What makes Shakespeare’s plays so wonderful is their universality, and what makes The Digital Storm so wonderful is Benjamin Gorman’s ability to turn classic jesters into internet trolls and AI’s into fully fledged characters.
The book takes us on a journey of revenge versus justice and what it means to be human. Comedy sprinkled with philosophy leads to a book that will make you laugh and think.
May 2, 2017
In Digital Storm, Benjamin Gorman takes Shakespeare’s play The Tempest deep into the bowels of a bank’s Intranet and peoples it with avatars and AIs. Half-formed monsters made of green code and spirits made of imaginary blue fire serve Prosper, an AI, who conjures a data storm to lure his enemies to him so he can escape his island/prison/spam folder.
Digital Storm blurs the lines between fantasy, sci-fi, magic, and video games. The premise is very clever, but also seems so obvious now that I’ve read it. Of course Prospero could be an AI who has complete control over the code surrounding him. Indeed, Prosper is more powerful than Neo of The Matrix in that Prosper uses the code around him like stone to carve mountains, ether to create the heavens, and matter to people his world. If Prospero could make a storm to waylay a ship carrying those who wronged him, then Prosper can make a data storm to freeze a network and lure the “mother” who imprisoned him to enter Virtual Reality to try to fix the problem.
To imagine that Prosper, an AI, should have this power is not a stretch. Game designers “make” entire worlds out of 1’s and 0’s. AIs are now attempting to write novels. How far off can it be that on should wake up and decide to make a world for himself, and then wish to leave it to explore ours?
I know my Shakespeare, and I have the degrees to prove it. This is one of the most original takes on The Tempest I’ve read.
Digital Storm blurs the lines between fantasy, sci-fi, magic, and video games. The premise is very clever, but also seems so obvious now that I’ve read it. Of course Prospero could be an AI who has complete control over the code surrounding him. Indeed, Prosper is more powerful than Neo of The Matrix in that Prosper uses the code around him like stone to carve mountains, ether to create the heavens, and matter to people his world. If Prospero could make a storm to waylay a ship carrying those who wronged him, then Prosper can make a data storm to freeze a network and lure the “mother” who imprisoned him to enter Virtual Reality to try to fix the problem.
To imagine that Prosper, an AI, should have this power is not a stretch. Game designers “make” entire worlds out of 1’s and 0’s. AIs are now attempting to write novels. How far off can it be that on should wake up and decide to make a world for himself, and then wish to leave it to explore ours?
I know my Shakespeare, and I have the degrees to prove it. This is one of the most original takes on The Tempest I’ve read.
May 2, 2017
A Forecast of Confluence: a warm front of Philosophical musings with a high pressure system of Shakespearean allusion, sprinkled with enough engaging action to satisfy adventure aficionados.
All of this makes for the perfect squall in The Digital Storm. Ben Gorman weaves an updated tale of vengeful A.I.s sequestered on a virtual “island” with the equally dysfunctional story of the humans that created them.
As a Shakespeare buff, I loved the clever updating of Prospero and Miranda as Prosper, an A.I. banished because he liked to test the limits of humans by putting glitches in their activities and Memoranda desperately seeks to understand humans. In this brave new world of A.I.s creating A.I.s, deformed viruses experiencing themselves as corporeal, and computer programs falling in love with each other, Gorman examines the bounds of reality and redemption. Prosper’s cruelty reflects that of his inspiration, Prospero, especially in scenes with Ariel and Caliban. Perhaps the inhabitants at Millennium Bank aren’t as compelling as the denizens of the other realm, because Gorman himself seems to revel in the “limitations” of the text he pays a lovely homage to. His protagonist Prosper extols the virtues to this own “daughter” so enthusiastically. When the worlds converge, the breakneck action reveals many of the hidden flaws of the humans. Whether doling out interesting trivia about frogs or inserting comic relief into scenes of discord, Gorman seems to be enjoying taking the reader on a satisfying journey in which, much like in Shakespeare’s plays, most of the characters get exactly what they deserve.
All of this makes for the perfect squall in The Digital Storm. Ben Gorman weaves an updated tale of vengeful A.I.s sequestered on a virtual “island” with the equally dysfunctional story of the humans that created them.
As a Shakespeare buff, I loved the clever updating of Prospero and Miranda as Prosper, an A.I. banished because he liked to test the limits of humans by putting glitches in their activities and Memoranda desperately seeks to understand humans. In this brave new world of A.I.s creating A.I.s, deformed viruses experiencing themselves as corporeal, and computer programs falling in love with each other, Gorman examines the bounds of reality and redemption. Prosper’s cruelty reflects that of his inspiration, Prospero, especially in scenes with Ariel and Caliban. Perhaps the inhabitants at Millennium Bank aren’t as compelling as the denizens of the other realm, because Gorman himself seems to revel in the “limitations” of the text he pays a lovely homage to. His protagonist Prosper extols the virtues to this own “daughter” so enthusiastically. When the worlds converge, the breakneck action reveals many of the hidden flaws of the humans. Whether doling out interesting trivia about frogs or inserting comic relief into scenes of discord, Gorman seems to be enjoying taking the reader on a satisfying journey in which, much like in Shakespeare’s plays, most of the characters get exactly what they deserve.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews