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CyberStorm #2
CyberSpace
A new future war unleashed. An event that will forever change the world. From the Amazon Charts and GoodReads Award winning author of CyberStorm comes a riveting new thriller. "BRILLIANT..." WIRED Magazine on Cyber series China and Russia threaten America not to intervene as simmering tensions between India and Pakistan escalate. One after the other, missiles are launched that destroy satellites in orbit... After long years apart, Mike Mitchell is reunited with old friends on a fishing trip in New Orleans. He brings his son Luke, now eight years old, while his wife Lauren attends a business meeting in Hong Kong. Suddenly, worldwide GPS signal goes out. Cell phones stop working. Communications go down. Within hours, almost all international borders are closed as conflict spreads around the globe. Thousands of planes are stranded in the air as Mike discovers that his wife took an overnight flight from China to Washington that morning. With satellites falling from the sky and rolling blackouts sweeping the nation, Mike must fight his way across the country in a desperate race to save his family. But this is only the beginning as the shocking truth comes out, in a new generation of warfare that will forever change the world... ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Not only a great thriller, but a wakeup call" —Brent Watkins, FBI Special Agent (retired)
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2020
1055 people are currently reading
575 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Mather
44 books1,823 followersMatthew is the million-copy bestselling author of CyberStorm and Darknet, and the hit series Nomad and Atopia Chronicles. He started out his career working at the McGill Center for Intelligent Machines, going on to become one of the world's leading members of the cybersecurity community. In between he's worked in a variety of start-ups,everything from computational nanotechnology to electronic health records to weather prediction systems. He spends his time between Montreal and Charlotte, NC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
June 18, 2020
A missile strike on a satellite causes a chain reaction forming a rapidly-expanding cloud of space debris. Cell phone, internet, GPS is lost shortly thereafter as more and more communication satellites are knocked out by the debris.
To give you a visual think the movie Gravity with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.
There was a good story to be told but the author didn't know how to tell it. I made it 60% and just couldn't go on so i jumped to the last chapter. A dull, uneventful, arduous journey. The main character what's his name spends most of the book trying to get to his wife.
This is my third Matthew Mather book probably my last, sub par reads.
Got this free on Kindle Unlimited. You get what you pay for.
To give you a visual think the movie Gravity with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.
There was a good story to be told but the author didn't know how to tell it. I made it 60% and just couldn't go on so i jumped to the last chapter. A dull, uneventful, arduous journey. The main character what's his name spends most of the book trying to get to his wife.
This is my third Matthew Mather book probably my last, sub par reads.
Got this free on Kindle Unlimited. You get what you pay for.
May 28, 2020
Another win
Absolutely loved it. I couldn't put it down.. I am looking forward to the next one. Thank you Matthew Mather for another good time.
Absolutely loved it. I couldn't put it down.. I am looking forward to the next one. Thank you Matthew Mather for another good time.
November 20, 2021
I enjoyed it but some of the technical jargon had my eyes glazing over and skipping ahead. I think there could have been a better way to present the idea without going into the specifics, which kind of pulled you out of the story.
October 26, 2022
Whoop! He did it again. Mather's ability to weave the science into his story is so refreshing! Science and technology can be overwhelming or boring for non-likeminded folks. However, the characters (which are back from his other novel yippee!), are so well developed, relatable and likeable, and the story is so good, that the reading is easy. I kept reading right through, because I couldn't wait to see what was going to blow up (literally and figuratively) next! That being said I want to use this opportunity to say that I was shocked and saddened to hear of Mather's passing. I've found that not many writers have the skill to weave science into a really good story; allowing it to move the story along and at the same time teach/make you question/and want to investigate the possibilities they present. He had a unique gift, which he shared. I'm forever grateful to him for that, and I'll keep reading all his books until I've read them all. May his soul rest in peace and his memory be a blessing to those who loved and will miss him.
May 27, 2020
Nonstop action and excitement!
Our favorite characters from CyberStorm are in the thick of it again as the sky falls around them. GPS is gone. Pakistan and India are lobbing missiles at each other and their satellites . The country has come to a stop as everyone learns the amazing number of devices and systems depend on the timing signals from the GPS satellites. Cellphones, navigation systems, aircraft tracking, almost all of the modern conveniences quit working. Paper maps might be found in antique shops, if you could figure out how to get there.
The author's ability to instantly introduce a character that you know well. Great action and understandable technology kept me glued from the first page. The combination of brilliant characters, red hot action, and an amazing storyline produce a book that you can't pass up!
Our favorite characters from CyberStorm are in the thick of it again as the sky falls around them. GPS is gone. Pakistan and India are lobbing missiles at each other and their satellites . The country has come to a stop as everyone learns the amazing number of devices and systems depend on the timing signals from the GPS satellites. Cellphones, navigation systems, aircraft tracking, almost all of the modern conveniences quit working. Paper maps might be found in antique shops, if you could figure out how to get there.
The author's ability to instantly introduce a character that you know well. Great action and understandable technology kept me glued from the first page. The combination of brilliant characters, red hot action, and an amazing storyline produce a book that you can't pass up!
October 9, 2020
2.5 Stars - All the right ingredients, but the recipe wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped.
I am usually drawn towards stories that mostly gets the tech right and where the technology drives the story. And there was a lot of tech in CyberSpace. The author obviously has done his research, which I appreciate, saving me from having to grimace at a lack of attention to detail.
Among other tech, Mr. Mather incorporates a next generation of communications satellites (à la Space-X's Starlink system) into the story that could happen (the satellites really communicate between themselves via laser links in space and we are highly dependent on GPS technology). The story is constantly in motion with all the elements of an adventure movie: terrorists, natural disasters, families in peril, etc.)
So why do I can't I bring myself to love or at least really like this book? That isn't an easy question to answer, but I think it has to do with the characters and the literally non-stop action. From the opening pages until the end, it seems like it is one disaster after another (boating accident, fires, floods, encounters with militias, loss of GPS and most satellites, terrorists, and a major hurricane hitting the Virginia shores). It is a bit much. The energy and pacing in great stories ebb and flow, but there was little time for the reader to decompress in this story.
With all the action, there was little time to really connect with the characters or to get to know them. Although this was an interesting story with potential, I'm not especially interested in seeing what happens in the next installment of the series.
I am usually drawn towards stories that mostly gets the tech right and where the technology drives the story. And there was a lot of tech in CyberSpace. The author obviously has done his research, which I appreciate, saving me from having to grimace at a lack of attention to detail.
Among other tech, Mr. Mather incorporates a next generation of communications satellites (à la Space-X's Starlink system) into the story that could happen (the satellites really communicate between themselves via laser links in space and we are highly dependent on GPS technology). The story is constantly in motion with all the elements of an adventure movie: terrorists, natural disasters, families in peril, etc.)
So why do I can't I bring myself to love or at least really like this book? That isn't an easy question to answer, but I think it has to do with the characters and the literally non-stop action. From the opening pages until the end, it seems like it is one disaster after another (boating accident, fires, floods, encounters with militias, loss of GPS and most satellites, terrorists, and a major hurricane hitting the Virginia shores). It is a bit much. The energy and pacing in great stories ebb and flow, but there was little time for the reader to decompress in this story.
With all the action, there was little time to really connect with the characters or to get to know them. Although this was an interesting story with potential, I'm not especially interested in seeing what happens in the next installment of the series.
May 31, 2020
The sky is falling, the sky is falling!
Tour de force number three in the Cyberstorm series, Cyberspace crash starts with a nefarious plot that has satellites falling all over the world. LEO (Low Earth Orbit) and REO (Remote Earth Orbit) are gradually filling up with space debris from destroyed satellites.
Greatest of threats is the loss of the Global Positioning System (GPS) running virtually everything from directions to farm equipment.
Mather masterfully weaves together the red herrings with real suspects until the reader is seeing the enemy behind every rock.
Without being a a spoiler, suffice it to say when you reach the conclusion of the book, you'll be extremely frustrated. Surprise!
Tour de force number three in the Cyberstorm series, Cyberspace crash starts with a nefarious plot that has satellites falling all over the world. LEO (Low Earth Orbit) and REO (Remote Earth Orbit) are gradually filling up with space debris from destroyed satellites.
Greatest of threats is the loss of the Global Positioning System (GPS) running virtually everything from directions to farm equipment.
Mather masterfully weaves together the red herrings with real suspects until the reader is seeing the enemy behind every rock.
Without being a a spoiler, suffice it to say when you reach the conclusion of the book, you'll be extremely frustrated. Surprise!
February 10, 2021
[4 stars] The mayhem stars slowly and almost undetected. I have no idea if all the stuff about the GPS satellites is really true or not. It reads like it is and that's enough for me. So there's no more GPS but there's a huge wildfire and a tornado and all kinds of other perils and dangers for Mike and his friends to get through. The story interested and grabbed me right from the start and I am looking forward to the next and final book.
Want to read
May 26, 2020author gift
April 18, 2023
I’m sorry
I tried to like it.
Beginning dragged on infinitely.
Then very slowly got a little more interesting.
But never escalated from there.
It’s a bargain book, sorry Matthew.
You get what you pay for.
You can do better.
I tried to like it.
Beginning dragged on infinitely.
Then very slowly got a little more interesting.
But never escalated from there.
It’s a bargain book, sorry Matthew.
You get what you pay for.
You can do better.
Read
July 9, 2020India and Pakistan are on the brink of war. Shooting might have broken out when an anti-satellite missile is launched setting off a chain reaction that takes out hundreds of communications satellites in orbit around the planet. Cell service and GPS are gone.
Mike, his son Luke, Chuck, and their colleague from MIT are out fishing in the Louisiana Bayou when all this goes down. Mike's wife, Lauren, the niece of a U.S. Senator, is on a Hong Kong business trip. The events interrupt transportation but Lauren managed to get on a flight back to the U.S., though is diverted, winding up in a holding facility when she is abducted by Chechen terrorists, who are apparently behind the whole thing.
Mike and his posse make a desperate run to reunite the family in DC but first he must find his wife, outrun a hurricane, save an Ohio town from uncontrolled forest fires, and thwart the terrorist spies that have infiltrated his small band of MIT communications experts.
I found the story to be idiotic. Perhaps a bridge between two books in a trilogy, but on its own made no sense.
Mike, his son Luke, Chuck, and their colleague from MIT are out fishing in the Louisiana Bayou when all this goes down. Mike's wife, Lauren, the niece of a U.S. Senator, is on a Hong Kong business trip. The events interrupt transportation but Lauren managed to get on a flight back to the U.S., though is diverted, winding up in a holding facility when she is abducted by Chechen terrorists, who are apparently behind the whole thing.
Mike and his posse make a desperate run to reunite the family in DC but first he must find his wife, outrun a hurricane, save an Ohio town from uncontrolled forest fires, and thwart the terrorist spies that have infiltrated his small band of MIT communications experts.
I found the story to be idiotic. Perhaps a bridge between two books in a trilogy, but on its own made no sense.
July 8, 2020
This book is focused on the premise of the following question: If GPS shut off today, how would it impact our lives? Its an interesting question and the author explores some interesting and unexpected consequences that truly informed me.
However, the delivery of this question and the execution of the answer is rough and unpolished. There is a great deal of inconsistency in the book, inexplicably well equipped and well financed people occur at the opportune time, and the characters are thrown into a literary washing machine of natural disasters that don't significantly add to the story, and in some cases, are simply cringe worthy.
However, the delivery of this question and the execution of the answer is rough and unpolished. There is a great deal of inconsistency in the book, inexplicably well equipped and well financed people occur at the opportune time, and the characters are thrown into a literary washing machine of natural disasters that don't significantly add to the story, and in some cases, are simply cringe worthy.
September 19, 2020
With all the depth and pacing of Tom Swift or Hardy Boys.
February 15, 2021
3 very flat stars averaged out over the whole book. And after Part 1, I asked readers not to pay too much attention to my actual rating. This time I think you should.
This book is very uneven and despite the glowing recommendations by several of my current fave authors, I wasn't all that impressed with what just felt like a bit of a rehash of the scenario from Part 1. Again, M2's writing is very good and very professional and EXTREMELY well-researched. But the first half or even 2/3's of this one read like a technical manual describing how to hook up an old VCR unit to your new Internet-run television. And we're talking details down to which type of soldering alloys would be best to use on Thurdays with an odd numbered day of the month...
Yes, those first couple of reading sessions were just that exciting and quite frankly I was having trouble visualizing even a one-star rating. The amount of technobabble in this book is borderline nauseating and at one point I grew frustrated enough to discontinue if it didn't change. I never thought I'd miss the inhumanity or smell of death and decay from the first book, but this one had just no real spirit to it at all. At least in part 1 I had the added interest of visualizing places I'd been in the Big Apple.
I must also say that its always a bad sign when you really REALLY hope one of the main protagonists (or more) doesn't survive. But Chuck is - well, how to put this delicately - an utter prick and I'm more than tired of his self-important whininess and need for constant argumentative and dramatic orations. And when he started spouting off about billionaires even though he himself obviously throws around millions as if it were pocket change, well, again I wish the bad guys had plugged him full of all kinds of projectiles. But to be fair, Chuck is not all that much worse than the rest of the squad where only Luke seems to be someone I'd like to hang out with ... and yes, he's only 8 here. Some might argue Damon should be given consideration but he's far too wet-noodly and so obviously on the spectrum that it makes it hard to relate to him. And good gods but he can reel off some boring bits of that babble I mentioned, that's for sure!
Luckily though, the story does pick up the pace. A lot of REALLY OBVIOUS aspects turn out to be - gasp - true but even so it was a welcome relief to see that the stunt teams got in their work before it was all said and done. I'm glad-ish that came to be - even though it was still all very rushed and way too convenient, plus M2 seems to love to have things happen we don't see but hear about later - but I did promise myself I'd give this whole trilogy a go. Without those last few chapters, well, who knows?
Wish me luck for part 3.
This book is very uneven and despite the glowing recommendations by several of my current fave authors, I wasn't all that impressed with what just felt like a bit of a rehash of the scenario from Part 1. Again, M2's writing is very good and very professional and EXTREMELY well-researched. But the first half or even 2/3's of this one read like a technical manual describing how to hook up an old VCR unit to your new Internet-run television. And we're talking details down to which type of soldering alloys would be best to use on Thurdays with an odd numbered day of the month...
Yes, those first couple of reading sessions were just that exciting and quite frankly I was having trouble visualizing even a one-star rating. The amount of technobabble in this book is borderline nauseating and at one point I grew frustrated enough to discontinue if it didn't change. I never thought I'd miss the inhumanity or smell of death and decay from the first book, but this one had just no real spirit to it at all. At least in part 1 I had the added interest of visualizing places I'd been in the Big Apple.
I must also say that its always a bad sign when you really REALLY hope one of the main protagonists (or more) doesn't survive. But Chuck is - well, how to put this delicately - an utter prick and I'm more than tired of his self-important whininess and need for constant argumentative and dramatic orations. And when he started spouting off about billionaires even though he himself obviously throws around millions as if it were pocket change, well, again I wish the bad guys had plugged him full of all kinds of projectiles. But to be fair, Chuck is not all that much worse than the rest of the squad where only Luke seems to be someone I'd like to hang out with ... and yes, he's only 8 here. Some might argue Damon should be given consideration but he's far too wet-noodly and so obviously on the spectrum that it makes it hard to relate to him. And good gods but he can reel off some boring bits of that babble I mentioned, that's for sure!
Luckily though, the story does pick up the pace. A lot of REALLY OBVIOUS aspects turn out to be - gasp - true but even so it was a welcome relief to see that the stunt teams got in their work before it was all said and done. I'm glad-ish that came to be - even though it was still all very rushed and way too convenient, plus M2 seems to love to have things happen we don't see but hear about later - but I did promise myself I'd give this whole trilogy a go. Without those last few chapters, well, who knows?
Wish me luck for part 3.
September 26, 2020
I'm not sure when this book came out, but I have had it in my TBR library for a little while. There were several mentions of things that happened in the US during the "global pandemic" so I would think this book release was fairly recent. I did read the first book in this series (quite a while ago), but at the time I started this one - I didn't know that this was a part of a series. I listened to this on Audible and think the narrator did a pretty good job creating individual, yet distinct voices for all of the different characters.
Okay, about the book, I definitely did not like it as much as the first book. There is way too much information that is just pretty much "info dumped" on the reader. There was a lot of action in the book, but things were still fairly confusing in the who and the why things were happening. There was also a pretty blatant set up for book 3.
The main characters of Mike, Chuck, Luke Damon and Lauren were characters from book 1 and while I like the group itself, there was a bit too much stereotyping of the characters into certain camps for me. Some of these characters were fairly one dimensional - even though that dimension placed them in a certain light for the reader . For example:
*Mike - Doesn't like guns and only watches CNN. Hates Fox News.
*Chuck - Loves guns, in fact has a small arsenal, a fortress of a home with escape tunnels and of course, hates CNN.
But, with that being said, the story premise was certainly unique and had moments of suspense. Luke, of course, was a scene stealer and just an all around cute 8 year old - so I would say he was my favorite character. Mike (the main male MC) was a bit wishy washy for my tastes and his wife Lauren ends up being somewhat of a badass.
I think the next book is not yet out (I'll check on that in a minute) but will probably continue on with the series to see what ends up happening.
Okay, about the book, I definitely did not like it as much as the first book. There is way too much information that is just pretty much "info dumped" on the reader. There was a lot of action in the book, but things were still fairly confusing in the who and the why things were happening. There was also a pretty blatant set up for book 3.
The main characters of Mike, Chuck, Luke Damon and Lauren were characters from book 1 and while I like the group itself, there was a bit too much stereotyping of the characters into certain camps for me. Some of these characters were fairly one dimensional - even though that dimension placed them in a certain light for the reader . For example:
*Mike - Doesn't like guns and only watches CNN. Hates Fox News.
*Chuck - Loves guns, in fact has a small arsenal, a fortress of a home with escape tunnels and of course, hates CNN.
But, with that being said, the story premise was certainly unique and had moments of suspense. Luke, of course, was a scene stealer and just an all around cute 8 year old - so I would say he was my favorite character. Mike (the main male MC) was a bit wishy washy for my tastes and his wife Lauren ends up being somewhat of a badass.
I think the next book is not yet out (I'll check on that in a minute) but will probably continue on with the series to see what ends up happening.
June 1, 2022
Chaos Ensues Once Again
Yikes!I thought the first book in this series was reality scary, but this one takes it to the next level. And then Mather throws in a big blob of mystery too. And a cliffhanger. Not that I’m cheap, but I was gonna wait until maybe the price of the third book came down a bit, but I don’t think I can wait for the next installment. OK, maybe I am cheap, but whatever.
Mr. Mather says he reads each review, so this part is really for his eyes only. So, Matt, I live in Kentucky. Have all my long life. I have frequently traveled the roads and areas you describe in Tennessee and Kentucky. Did you not have access to a decent map, or even Google Maps? As a refresher on the Interstate Highway System, all east/west routes have even numbers (like I-40) and north/south routes have odd numbers (like I-65). I-40 starts at Wilmington NC and heads west, over the mountains into TN. It cuts across TN, through Nashville, then to Memphis, where it crosses the Mississippi River and continues west. I-40 goes nowhere near Bowling Green, KY, much less Lexington. I-65 runs north from Alabama, through Nashville, into KY, through Bowling Green, north to Louisville, where it crosses the Ohio River into Indiana, then up to Chicago. Also, the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers is no where near Bowling Green. That is far to the west, near Paducah, at the point KY, IL, and MO meet. Finally, you had poor Vanceburg west of the fire raging in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Vanceburg is in northeastern KY, on the Ohio River. The Boone Forest lies much to the south of that location, not even a bit close to Vanceburg. Sorry to be so verbose, but details matter. I hope you will take a look at this and at least fix it in the e-book version.
Yikes!I thought the first book in this series was reality scary, but this one takes it to the next level. And then Mather throws in a big blob of mystery too. And a cliffhanger. Not that I’m cheap, but I was gonna wait until maybe the price of the third book came down a bit, but I don’t think I can wait for the next installment. OK, maybe I am cheap, but whatever.
Mr. Mather says he reads each review, so this part is really for his eyes only. So, Matt, I live in Kentucky. Have all my long life. I have frequently traveled the roads and areas you describe in Tennessee and Kentucky. Did you not have access to a decent map, or even Google Maps? As a refresher on the Interstate Highway System, all east/west routes have even numbers (like I-40) and north/south routes have odd numbers (like I-65). I-40 starts at Wilmington NC and heads west, over the mountains into TN. It cuts across TN, through Nashville, then to Memphis, where it crosses the Mississippi River and continues west. I-40 goes nowhere near Bowling Green, KY, much less Lexington. I-65 runs north from Alabama, through Nashville, into KY, through Bowling Green, north to Louisville, where it crosses the Ohio River into Indiana, then up to Chicago. Also, the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers is no where near Bowling Green. That is far to the west, near Paducah, at the point KY, IL, and MO meet. Finally, you had poor Vanceburg west of the fire raging in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Vanceburg is in northeastern KY, on the Ohio River. The Boone Forest lies much to the south of that location, not even a bit close to Vanceburg. Sorry to be so verbose, but details matter. I hope you will take a look at this and at least fix it in the e-book version.
January 9, 2021
Interesting Time To Read These Stories. I read CyberStorm nearly a year ago, in February 2020. Right as the COVID issue was beginning to cause global panic. But at least that story *mostly* focused on New York City, so while it was uncomfortable due to being all-TOO-realistic, it was at least possible to tell myself (as a Southern man who has only rarely even been through or over NYC) that it wouldn't happen here.
This book kept that all-too-realistic nature going (though with perhaps a few too many shots at billionaires who are legitimately trying to save humanity at the front), but this time went from New Orleans to Virginia Beach via Mississippi, Kentucky, and Ohio. Much harder to tune out as "it can't happen here", particularly since I stared down the face of Irma less than a month after moving to Florida and this book features just such a storm bearing down on Virginia. ;)
Overall truly a remarkable work of near-future science fiction, one that primarily uses tech that is already available to tell a tale that will hopefully never come to fruition.
And that ending! Let's just say I'm glad I read this book in January 2021, knowing CyberWar - the next book - is slated to be released in just a few months. :D Very much recommended.
This book kept that all-too-realistic nature going (though with perhaps a few too many shots at billionaires who are legitimately trying to save humanity at the front), but this time went from New Orleans to Virginia Beach via Mississippi, Kentucky, and Ohio. Much harder to tune out as "it can't happen here", particularly since I stared down the face of Irma less than a month after moving to Florida and this book features just such a storm bearing down on Virginia. ;)
Overall truly a remarkable work of near-future science fiction, one that primarily uses tech that is already available to tell a tale that will hopefully never come to fruition.
And that ending! Let's just say I'm glad I read this book in January 2021, knowing CyberWar - the next book - is slated to be released in just a few months. :D Very much recommended.
May 13, 2022
Excellent SCI-FI, believable science and near-apocalyptic story
This is my fourth Matthew Mather novel. I have read Darknet and Polar Vortex as well as Cyberstorm. This book, CyberSpace, has the same characters as Cyberstorm and references things that happened in that book. It is not necessary to read Cyberstorm before this book. This is a standalone novel. Cyberspace is an excellent SCI-FI book about bad guys taking over satellites and bringing on the apocalypse but are stopped before the world is completely gone. The characters are well developed, the story line fast paced and the science believable. I was very surprised how much havoc is created when something as simple as GPS is no longer available. It’s an awesome and scary concept. The story bounces from chapter to chapter from the perspective of Mike who is with his friend and son and the perspective of Mike’s wife who is flying back from the Far East. Yes, they eventually come back together but not until nearly the end of the book in a page-turning conclusion. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the third and final book of this three book series.
This is my fourth Matthew Mather novel. I have read Darknet and Polar Vortex as well as Cyberstorm. This book, CyberSpace, has the same characters as Cyberstorm and references things that happened in that book. It is not necessary to read Cyberstorm before this book. This is a standalone novel. Cyberspace is an excellent SCI-FI book about bad guys taking over satellites and bringing on the apocalypse but are stopped before the world is completely gone. The characters are well developed, the story line fast paced and the science believable. I was very surprised how much havoc is created when something as simple as GPS is no longer available. It’s an awesome and scary concept. The story bounces from chapter to chapter from the perspective of Mike who is with his friend and son and the perspective of Mike’s wife who is flying back from the Far East. Yes, they eventually come back together but not until nearly the end of the book in a page-turning conclusion. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the third and final book of this three book series.
July 11, 2020
I was eager to read this near future novel since I’ve enjoyed all of Mr. Mather’s books I’ve read, including the first in this series, Cyberstorm. As I read it, I realized I didn’t remember the last parts of that novel. This one was full of the same kind of suspense and I do care for Mike and his family and friends and what happens to them, but I didn’t see much character development. Here he is going through yet another world-wide catastrophe and he doesn’t learn anything new about himself. But I learned a lot of neat stuff from the discussions about how many satellites are orbiting our world, ane what would happen if they were damaged, turned off or brought down by a physical or cyber attack. The most important for me was the explanations about how the time signals they send are used in diverse ways, since that relates to my own novels.
May 26, 2020
Fantastic Hard SF/Techno Thriller
It is difficult today to find a good hard science fiction or techno thriller. Matt Mather is the master. And this story is not fiction. We live with this potential scenario every day. With all of the existing satellites and space debris and all of the new ones being launched, the potential for disaster is phenomenal. Matt definitely does his research. Our dependence on GPS is far reaching. If you really want to understand how our dependence on technology affects even the most minute parts of our lives through the art of great story telling and wonderful characters you will want to read this book. I always find reading a Mathers book entertaining.
It is difficult today to find a good hard science fiction or techno thriller. Matt Mather is the master. And this story is not fiction. We live with this potential scenario every day. With all of the existing satellites and space debris and all of the new ones being launched, the potential for disaster is phenomenal. Matt definitely does his research. Our dependence on GPS is far reaching. If you really want to understand how our dependence on technology affects even the most minute parts of our lives through the art of great story telling and wonderful characters you will want to read this book. I always find reading a Mathers book entertaining.
June 2, 2020
Another stunning read!
I was thrilled to finally read the sequel to CyberStorm, a novel I really liked. This new cyber space story was very well worth the wait! I liked the scientific, factual information mixed with the down home, real person manner of Mike and the brilliant, somewhat utopian sincerity of Damon. Little Luke growing up was also very appealing and altogether the outline of a fantastic plot was filled in, and there was nothing left wanting. I think the story characters thought back to CyberStorm enough that I was very glad I decided to re-read it before starting CyberSpace. I would recommend this book most highly, and, in fact already have!
I was thrilled to finally read the sequel to CyberStorm, a novel I really liked. This new cyber space story was very well worth the wait! I liked the scientific, factual information mixed with the down home, real person manner of Mike and the brilliant, somewhat utopian sincerity of Damon. Little Luke growing up was also very appealing and altogether the outline of a fantastic plot was filled in, and there was nothing left wanting. I think the story characters thought back to CyberStorm enough that I was very glad I decided to re-read it before starting CyberSpace. I would recommend this book most highly, and, in fact already have!
July 19, 2020
Overall, while acting as a suitable sequel for CyberStorm, this book did fall just a wee bit short for me. It didn't surpass the wonderfulness of CyberStorm, which in and of itself isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it also wasn't as good either and I was forced to deduct a star. It was still adventurous and thrilling its own right, but it just ehhh....a tad much to digest.
This book is a much more grand scale than the events of CyberStorm, since it's the planet going through stuff instead instead of one city. Just like its predecessor, this book dabbles in another technological reality of ours (in this case, GPS and satellites) and what can go wrong when something happens to them. Now while there's a definitely a "what" in this story that's to blame, it's a sort of confusing "what" (for me personally). As if the techno babbling stuff wasn't confusing enough in the first book, now it's even MORE complex, amplified by my own lack of knowledge of any of it. Unfortunately, there feels to be a whole MORE of the technological talk in this book than the former than the actual horrific/thrilling elements, which to me made it feel unbalanced and just so very lost. I was able to deal with that the first time, but had trouble doing so this time. It was just way too overwhelming. I found myself rushing my read when things got overly descriptive because I just wasn't understanding and it only disconnected me.
Fortunately, the return of some beloved characters, as well as the addition of some new ones, was satisfying. Everyone's still nicely written as they were, and then some. The moments that were thrilling and suspenseful were VERY much so, and were always my favorite parts. Though again, the vastness and global events of this book still felt a bit less intimate than the events in the previous book. I can't be fully mad at that though since this is a sequel, which by definition is ALWAYS supposed to be more grand in scale, but....I just felt a little less involved because of that.
Still, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the hell outta some scenes. And given that this story has two perspectives this time around with Mike's wife Lauren, that's double the unique thrills that I get to experience, since they're both at different places on the planet.
At any rate, despite my overall response to this book, I do think it was an enjoyable sequel. The fact that it touches on stuff in our reality makes it thought-provoking, which is never bad. I still wouldn't mind continuing the story when the 3rd book arrives. And now...I wait.
This book is a much more grand scale than the events of CyberStorm, since it's the planet going through stuff instead instead of one city. Just like its predecessor, this book dabbles in another technological reality of ours (in this case, GPS and satellites) and what can go wrong when something happens to them. Now while there's a definitely a "what" in this story that's to blame, it's a sort of confusing "what" (for me personally). As if the techno babbling stuff wasn't confusing enough in the first book, now it's even MORE complex, amplified by my own lack of knowledge of any of it. Unfortunately, there feels to be a whole MORE of the technological talk in this book than the former than the actual horrific/thrilling elements, which to me made it feel unbalanced and just so very lost. I was able to deal with that the first time, but had trouble doing so this time. It was just way too overwhelming. I found myself rushing my read when things got overly descriptive because I just wasn't understanding and it only disconnected me.
Fortunately, the return of some beloved characters, as well as the addition of some new ones, was satisfying. Everyone's still nicely written as they were, and then some. The moments that were thrilling and suspenseful were VERY much so, and were always my favorite parts. Though again, the vastness and global events of this book still felt a bit less intimate than the events in the previous book. I can't be fully mad at that though since this is a sequel, which by definition is ALWAYS supposed to be more grand in scale, but....I just felt a little less involved because of that.
Still, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the hell outta some scenes. And given that this story has two perspectives this time around with Mike's wife Lauren, that's double the unique thrills that I get to experience, since they're both at different places on the planet.
At any rate, despite my overall response to this book, I do think it was an enjoyable sequel. The fact that it touches on stuff in our reality makes it thought-provoking, which is never bad. I still wouldn't mind continuing the story when the 3rd book arrives. And now...I wait.
April 6, 2021
3.75 stars.
I try very hard to not compare each installment in a series or a trilogy. I like to take things on the whole. But I have to say CyberSpace did not move me as much as #1 series. Probably the main reason I wasn’t 100% on board was all the “cyber talk”. I mean I know I’m not a computer expert but it was a lot to take in. The kid was fine, he wasn’t overbearing. The father-son relationship was delicious. Thank goodness we didn’t have to spend a lot of time with the wife because guess what? I still don’t like her. Will I read the next book in this series? Yes and I always hope for the best.
I try very hard to not compare each installment in a series or a trilogy. I like to take things on the whole. But I have to say CyberSpace did not move me as much as #1 series. Probably the main reason I wasn’t 100% on board was all the “cyber talk”. I mean I know I’m not a computer expert but it was a lot to take in. The kid was fine, he wasn’t overbearing. The father-son relationship was delicious. Thank goodness we didn’t have to spend a lot of time with the wife because guess what? I still don’t like her. Will I read the next book in this series? Yes and I always hope for the best.
March 22, 2022
another gripping read…
After the first novel, I was convinced of this author’s talent. Some things I thought were amazing, others kind of “middle of the road”. Well written & researched the first book was a 5 star review. Although many similarities in the books in this series, they captivate you, keep you locked in an not wanting to take a break. I love reading that captivates me & gives me a distraction from real life, even if this series and real life seem so similar at times…
If you have any question about the validity of prepping, this series should convince you of the real need! A great read and highly recommended.
After the first novel, I was convinced of this author’s talent. Some things I thought were amazing, others kind of “middle of the road”. Well written & researched the first book was a 5 star review. Although many similarities in the books in this series, they captivate you, keep you locked in an not wanting to take a break. I love reading that captivates me & gives me a distraction from real life, even if this series and real life seem so similar at times…
If you have any question about the validity of prepping, this series should convince you of the real need! A great read and highly recommended.
September 26, 2020
This was the second book by Mather that I have read. This was a good book. It is a dystopian-light book where a satellite attack takes down all communications coupled with fires cause all kinds of shenanigans.
The book started off good. There was a lot technology speak which was fine with me, however it appeared to come to a very quick crescendo and seemed to be rushed. I wish it would have been stretch out a bit and build more on the political angle. It is not a bad book, I just like the first one better. I would read another book by Mather though.
The book started off good. There was a lot technology speak which was fine with me, however it appeared to come to a very quick crescendo and seemed to be rushed. I wish it would have been stretch out a bit and build more on the political angle. It is not a bad book, I just like the first one better. I would read another book by Mather though.
July 4, 2022
A very believable techno-thriller about how the destruction of satellites lead to worldwide panic. This follows the story from CyberStorm by the same author, which was an unexpected surprise for me. The general theme of this is how much our society relies on technology, and when this technology is removed the result is anarchy and chaos. The story is exciting and fast-paced, though the twist in the novel was pretty obvious. There's a third book in this series, and I'm really hopeful it's as good as the first two.
May 25, 2023
The first one was better
They switched from 1st person to 3rd person which I didn't understand. Mike got beat up and bruised in like every third chapter. Surprised there were any parts of him left to batter when it was all said and done. also this book was extremely technical. I mean there was so much space jargon I felt I'd get awarded a degree just for finishing the book. It made reading somewhat slower because I was trying to ensure I understood. Overall the book was good but truly cyber storm was the goat
They switched from 1st person to 3rd person which I didn't understand. Mike got beat up and bruised in like every third chapter. Surprised there were any parts of him left to batter when it was all said and done. also this book was extremely technical. I mean there was so much space jargon I felt I'd get awarded a degree just for finishing the book. It made reading somewhat slower because I was trying to ensure I understood. Overall the book was good but truly cyber storm was the goat
June 8, 2020
As always...excellent
You just can't beat a Matthew Mather book. He makes you think while entertaining you at the same time. I'm always boggled by the amount of research he has to have out in for each book. His books are smart but will never be described as dry or plodding. This book is no exception. I loved continuing on with Mike and his friends, following their journey and t by eir trials and tribulations. can't wait to see what comes next.
You just can't beat a Matthew Mather book. He makes you think while entertaining you at the same time. I'm always boggled by the amount of research he has to have out in for each book. His books are smart but will never be described as dry or plodding. This book is no exception. I loved continuing on with Mike and his friends, following their journey and t by eir trials and tribulations. can't wait to see what comes next.
July 14, 2020
Matthew Mather's CyberSpace demonstrates a solid understanding of societies dependence on space based assets for many of the things we rely on every day to include GPS, weather forecasts, the news, and communications services. Disrupting assets on orbit serves as the backdrop for what is essentially a survivalist, post-apocalypse story. While the book includes a number of vignettes filled with action, it frequently drags in between those scenes. It's a solid read for those focused on the survivalist genre but lacks the details important to those of us focused on the cyber genre. In particular, CyberSpace fails to delve into the motivations of those behind what is, in effect, a manmade apocalypse.
August 5, 2020
Fantastically written sequel like they should be
I love a sequel that you can read long after you read the first one, and it doesn't miss a beat. Enough little hints and reminders that you remember the feel of it, but not so much detail that it's like full-color flashbacks in TV show that waste half the episode. You don't have to have read the early books to understand this book. It gently walks you through it.
Thank you, Matt! Well done!
I love a sequel that you can read long after you read the first one, and it doesn't miss a beat. Enough little hints and reminders that you remember the feel of it, but not so much detail that it's like full-color flashbacks in TV show that waste half the episode. You don't have to have read the early books to understand this book. It gently walks you through it.
Thank you, Matt! Well done!
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