Rating: 
Summary: Less than Da Vinci Code
Review: I read this book after reading Da Vinci Code (which is one of the most entertaining book I have read in recent years), and I must say that Digital Fortress doesn't come close. Not by a mile. Understandably, this is one of Brown's earlier works. But the bottom line is this book lacks the complexities and element of surprise (and history) found in Da Vinci Code.
Rating:
Summary: Before Da Vinci...
Review: I think Dan Brown's writing has greatly improved with time and experience- either that or he's just written about more interesting and compelling subjects in his newer books. His greatest strength as a writer is in pulling out obscure, well-researched facts and throwing them into a fast paced chase to catch the bad guy and stop something from blowing up. While this book has an impressive array of facts and figures, good action, good characters, and intriguing plot twists, I think it lacks the focus that I felt was in Angels and Demons and the Da Vinci Code. In Digital Fortress, I was bounced around from David Becker's linguistic skills to Susan Fletcher's cryptography skills to the villains' own obsessions and quirks. His later books seems more tightly controlled, and thus, hooked me into the story more.All in all, another fun, informative, and fast read- I finished it just over 2 hours in the bookstore- but not one I'd really care to buy. There is a code that is at the end of the book that presumably, if you paid attention to the book, you'd be able to solve, but I just don't care enough about this one to bother.
Rating: 
Summary: A STUNNING debut by a FABULOUS writer!!
Review: Like many, my first introduction to Dan Brown was through his absolutely SPECTACULAR thriller, 'The Da Vinci Code'. After devouring that in half the time it normally takes to read a novel, I have found and read ALL of his books. I must say, in a VERY short amount of time, he has become one of my absolute MUST HAVE authors. ALL of his books are superior thrillers, and 'Digital Fortress' is his first great book. What we as average, everyday citizens of the United States do NOT realize, is how much information we do NOT see--which is fine with me. I trust my government NOT to tell me everything. But when the NSA's Ultimate Super Computer comes across an encryption it cannot crack, suddenly the future of this ultra-secret organization is in serious jeopardy. I think we would be shocked at what information they have access to. However, I firmly believe that in order to keep us safe from dangers that we rarely (if ever) find out about, people who run these facilities NEED to exist. Who KNOWS how many disasters organizations like the NSA has thwarted--and kept quiet about over the years. However, for each and every person who believes the NSA SHOULD exist, there are just as many who believe that electronic eaves-dropping ought to be illegal, whether or not it ultimately makes American citizens more safe. This is the major dilemma facing the Deputy Director of the NSA. He has always been one of the biggest Patriots our government has ever seen, and is looking to make amends on a particular public fiasco which, although has ended, can never be forgotten. TRANSLATR is THE Super Computer of Super Computers. Able to decipher virtually ANY and ALL encrypted electronic messages. But when one of the NSA's brightest is called in to assist the Deputy Director on a program that TRANSLATR seems incapable of cracking, the rubber hits the pavement, so-to-speak. At first this seems absolutely IMPOSSIBLE. But as it turns from impossible to probable and then finally to possible, the weight of what is happening suddenly becomes the biggest nightmare anyone in American Cryptology has ever experienced. A code which is soon to be GIVEN away on the Internet--a code which is 100% UNBREAKABLE. The conspiracy has been set, and the NSA's very life is at stake--among other things. Immediately an unlikely College Professor is dispatched to Europe to attempt to acquire the Pass Code which will keep 'Digital Fortress' from becoming available to the free world. While at the same time unsuspecting NSA employee's find themselves caught up inside a world-class conspiracy that the NSA Director apparently knows about, and is willing to let happen--all in the name of secrecy. Dan Brown has built a truly fantastic tale of intrigue that rivals the techno-thrillers by Clancy, Cussler or anyone else for that matter. What WOULD happen if a code such as 'Digital Fortress' becomes available to everyone connected to the Internet? How could our top code-breakers help continue to ensure our safety if such an event actually happened? TRUST me, this IS a frightening scenario. Also, the phrase, 'DON'T trust ANYONE' applies to this story. What you THINK is happening isn't necessarily what IS happening. Just read it and you'll understand. If there are any technical problems with what Dan Brown has written and actual computer software, well NOT being a computer expert myself, it all seemed pretty real to me. I guess if I WERE an expert I might catch something somewhere, but for me, it all seemed very real in the way it was portrayed. HIGHLY recommended, as is ALL of Dan Brown's fabulous novels.
Rating:
Summary: An awesome book!
Review: I have read Digital Fortress twice already, and I've read many similarly entertaining books to Digital Fortress such as: Tom Clancy's "Net Force," Britt Gillette's "Conquest of Paradise," and George Orwell's "1984". None of which are as exciting or thrilling as "Digital Fortress". Dan Brown should write many more books of this genre and I look forward to reading "Angels and Demons" after being blown away by "The Da Vinci Code".
Rating:
Summary: Early evidence of great talent!
Review: Dan Brown writes for an intelligent reader, someone who can appreciate the subtle mysteries encoded in the more intricate plot and who enjoys gleaning factual information pertinent to the subject at hand, in this case computers, cyberspace and the politics they engender, while enjoying a facsinating read. Brown's considerable skill in imparting remarkable tid bits of information in interesting ways is clearly evident in this early work. Yes, he has improved but this first effort is well worth your time. Brown's skills are not limited to teaching his audience about technology and encryption puzzles. In addition to a cleverly crafted plot he creates characters whom his readers are eager to embrace. Susan Fletcher a brilliant and patriotic mathematician works for a secret government agency, NSA, that uses the latest computer technology to find and uncode terrorist messages. She and her lover, David Becker, a highly regarded university professor fluent in many languages, are faced with a crisis that tests their abilities and puts their lives at risk when a brilliant but confused ex agent develops a deadly encryption code. The clever twists and turns make pausing unthinkable until the situation is resolved. The beauty of reading a novel by Dan Brown is in taking the time to enjoy his prose and all the information contained therein. Unfortunately the suspenseful story forced me to finish much too quickly. I'll just have to read it again!
Rating:
Summary: Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? Who Will Guard The Guards?
Review: I have read many of the greatest epics ever written --The Illiad and The Odyssey by Homer (more than 5 times each), The Aeneid by Virgil twice, The Divine Comedy by Dante, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Candide, The Republic by Plato, most of Euripedes, most of Sophocles, most of Aeschylus, Stasinus, Arctinus, Lesches, Agais, Sappho, The Histories by Herodotus, Bulfinch's Mythology, The Fall of Troy by Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Best of The Achaens-Pindar's Homer and others by Nagy, Greek Heroine Cults by Larson, Homeric Variations On A Lament By Briseis by Casey Due Hackney, Imagining Illegitimacy In Classical Greek Literature by Mary Ebbott, most of Shakespeare, Machiavelli, Marco Polo, Melville, all of Robert Ludlum, all of Clavell, some of Clancy, most of James Patterson, most of Trevanian, some of Follett, Some of Van Lustbader, most of Robin Cook, most of Crichton, most of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, most of Thomas Harris, most of Grisham, some of Hesiod and Pindar, all of Robert Ludlum, all of J.K. Rowling, some of Buck, most of J.R.R. Tolkien, and my all time favorite, till now, Shibumi by Trevanian.
Once I started reading "Digital Fortress," I couldn't put it down until I finished it the same day. That has never happened for me. "Who will guard the guards?" Nothing could be so true. Dan Brown has created in Digital Fortress the unbreakable code that has been encrypted using itself. (Kind of like building a safe and putting the blue-prints inside.) Digital Fortress would make the NSA obsolete and there would be no more big brother. If you are into computers, like I am, this is a definite 10+++++++, must read, thriller. Some of the words are boggling: Andalusian Sun, Eidetic Memory, Ciphertext and Cleartext, Pedagogue, Julius Caesar's Perfect Square, Cupola, Brute Force Attack, Rotating Clear Text Algorithm and the best one - Rhyolite Satellites in Geosynchronous Orbit. And after all this, there is still more. He gives you a code to break and a free gift if you break the code. If you don't break the code, in my opinion, you didn't really finish the book. 128-10-93-85-10-128-98-112-6-6-25-126-39-1-68-78. I solved it. (Did you?) What a great ending. Oh yeah, don't forget about the Book Jacket on the Hardbound cover. Nice touch. (I'll bet most people didn't even catch that.) Can't wait to read it again. I think I will right now. Thanks Dan Brown -- Tom Leonard...
Rating: 
Summary: Great E-book
Review: I thought this was a great E-book. Very fast paced with many plot twists and turns. The book does have it's moments where your wondering why these "super smart" agents can't put two and two together. However if your not going in to this book with an over-critical mindset, I think it's a great story. I find the plot to be unique and the writing very witty. Being that this was Dan Brown's first book, I'm satisfied with the value. After reading this, I'm looking forward to reading some of his other books. What is so great about Dan's books is that he gives your factual information in a fictional story. While reading you are being moved along in this story, but also picking up these interesting tidbits about the government, NSA, code-breaking, and other subjects. If you are remotely interested in learning things which are somewhat "secretive", I suggest picking this up or checking out another one of his books.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment
Review: This book was recommended to me by an employee of a local bookseller. I was told the book, would "draw you in" and "keep you in suspense". I was sorely disappointed.
Putting all of my technical gripes aside, I found that the book was surprisingly opaque. I had the story figured out before I had a quarter of the book read. I hoped that I was mistaken and would be surprised with the ending. Unfortunately I was not mistaken.
This is not a bad book, it just was not what I was expecting or looking for.
If you are technical or insightful, beware... you may be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Factual, Fast, and Fun
Review: I was introduced to the books of author Dan Brown only three weeks ago, but have quickly absorbed all four of his published works. It is easy to see why some are comparing the work of Dan Brown and James BeauSeigneur (THE CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY). Both Brown and BeauSeigneur deal masterfully with the more mysterious features of religion, politics, and science. Both bring to light amazing bits of information, which they weave into the intricate patterns of their stories. Both are highly imaginative and write with a ring of authenticity that makes for a compelling read. While Brown compresses labyrinthine plots into brief time periods to provide page-turning suspense, BeauSeigneur trilogy is of epic proportion, covering several decades. While Brown applies the mysteries of history to the drama of "today," BeauSeigneur uses both history and prophecy (from perhaps a dozen major world religions) to transport the reader from the world of today, to the very dawning of a new age in a story reminiscent of the scope of Asimov's classic, FOUNDATION. One other difference is that BeauSeigneur has taken the novel (pun intended and forgiveness is asked) approach of including footnotes in his books of fiction. By doing so, he all but eliminates the necessity of suspending disbelief. Few authors employ such strong factual grounding as to make footnotes useful, but I believe Brown's work (and his readers) would benefit from BeauSeigneur's innovation.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it...and I refuse to be picky.
Review: C'mon people, this was a great read! Yeah, I figured out the
ending a few pages before the characters (each chapter is only a page or two, sometimes less), but so what? Anyway, that plot point is just one of may twists and turns. Obviously this author worked out his plot backwards and it's seamless. Let's stop being so picky about an author who doesn't dumb down his plots just to appeal to mass-market morons. Read it and learn something. All the "experts" below claiming he didn't do his research: I write computer software and while he took some shortcuts, he basically got it right. Sheesh! Finally some fast-paced intelligence and he gets shot down by everyone! For the record, I find Tom Clancey extremely boring and his books are way too long. Except for "Red October" I've never found a single book of his even remotely suspenseful. (I don't even care that I don't know how to spell his name.)
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