Rating: 
Summary: Where's the beef?
Review: This story consists of 2 highly staged dramas, each taking place in its own setting. Two scenes doesn't make for a great thriller. I found the storyline to be thin. In particular, unraveling the "code" at the end of the book was as tough as deciphering "Voyager" from "V-ger" in Star Trek: The Movie. I do not recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Buy more Postage Stamps!
Review: Because after reading "Digital Fortress" you'll definitely want to switch from E-mail to US Mail!Seriously - I found the book to be an exceptional first effort. The storyline is frightening [and more than likely already going on!]. The characters were a little rough, and they seemed to have a hard time remembering just how smart they were supposed to be - and I thought making every scene change a chapter (128 of them) was definitely overkill - but all in all it's really an excellent story. The plot twists and turns exery which way - the minute you think you have a handle on it, it evolves into something else. I had a little trouble getting into the book, probably because I was unfamiliar with Mr. Browns style of writing, but after the first 50 or so pages I found it almost impossible to put the book down! As mentioned in a lot of the other reviews - there are errors in this novel. Susan who supposedly is so smart - really proves to be "slow" at times - dare I say "dense"! And David - David should confine himself to being a teacher! He is not cut out for 'hero' status at all! But Strathmore - the writing that concerned him was at times jerky, but he was definitely the classic bad guy. Very good character development on this one. The assassin was obviously myopic - which explains why he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn at 5 paces - but that was never explained while much was made of the fact he was deaf! The other characters were to one-dimensional for my taste. A few extra pages devoted to their development would have greatly enhanced the story, especially where Midge, Brinkerhoff, Jabba and Fontaine were concerned. Summary: "Digital Fortress" is not perfect - but I think it's a "must read" (except when you're trying to fall asleep - then you better choose another book - 'cause this one "will" keep you awake!) I've added it to my collection, and I look forward to other novels by Dan Brown joining it in the [hopefully] near fu! ture!
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the read!!
Review: The story line kept building right up to the last page. I was very impressed with the style of writing. There was a great deal of technology that he explained in a way that did not put one to sleep. It flowed with the story. The characters were well written. Although there was a main character, every character worked to accomplish the task; a team effort. Nice to know that one person does not "save the world" type of deal here. Definitely worth picking up and reading it.
Rating:
Summary: I liked it.
Review: First of all, you must remember that this is fiction. I've seen many reviewers complain about the technological accuracy or whatever in this book. Remember: it is fiction, written by an english teacher. Keep that in mind and you could enjoy the book. It has an interesting plot and lots of action. The sequences in Spain are humorous. Sure the characters are a little underdeveloped and certain aspects of the plot are ludicrous, but it is an enjoyeable read. Mind candy. I just can't believe that nobody has heard of the NSA. I've known about them since I was a little kid. My biggest problem with the book is the code at the end, which I can't seem to figure out (I guess cryptology isn't my area).
Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY EDGE OF YOUR SEAT READING!
Review: A real page turner for those late nighters. It was one of those books that were hard to put down. Dan Brown's writing makes you care about the characters and the twists and turns of the tightly written plot will not leave you bored but wanting more. Dan! Hurry up with your next book! Can hardly wait.
Rating:
Summary: Demerits for typos
Review: Good action movie, er, novel. But they rushed it out too quick. It has annoying typos, including one that an earlier reviewer pointed out is essential to understanding a section of the book. Fire that proofreader!
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent & gripping
Review: Digital Fortress was one of those books that I wished would never end. I heard the author on the radio talking about international terrorism and codebreaking. As a retired military officer and law enforcement official, I was fascinated with the book's issues of national security and technology that can intercept and decipher digital communications. The author managed to raise both the issues of national security and invasion of privacy very effectively and did it in a scary and really believable read. Excellent novel.
Rating:
Summary: Thanks to Brown, I couldn't sleep until I finished that book
Review: Man, this book had me laying awake at nights wondering what was gonna happen to Susan next, and counting the seconds until I could grab the book off my dresser and open it back up. It was good, and I had trouble determining that this was Brown's first novel. While it is true that his main characters seem a bit perfect, I'd like to see him write another story with them in it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Couldn't put it down
Review: Dan Brown sent me an e-mail asking me to read and review his book. I am happy I agreed. I picked up this book and I statrted to read it and I couldn't put it down until I finished. I hope to see more from this author in the future as he is most certinaly the next great government mystery writer. Great Job Dan Brown
Rating: 
Summary: At the request of the Author
Review: This book is truly an anomaly. I really didn't like it, but after fits and starts, I found myself reading the last 150 pages or so in one sitting. So it had its air of mystery and suspense, but that was more than overcome by wooden characters, all of whom performed like puppets on a string. The hypothesis is interesting - a super translator that has the potential of intercepting and decoding any message in any form from any source. But the book doesn't flow, it jerks. Each passing thought seems to constitute a chapter. In short, the plot and character development lack continuity. We start with some Japanese computer nerd dying in Spain. His last act is to give a gold ring to a total stranger. The reason for this generosity is never explained. Perhaps it was because he wouldn't be caught dead with a ring inscribed "quis custodiet ipsos custodes." In any event, we now have a red herring that is pursued relentlessly by the hero (David), who is in turn pursued relentlessly by the most inept assassin that ever trod the earth. This guy would be a natural for the current "action" film genre - a killer who can empty three clips from an AK-47 from 15 feet and not hit anything. David is at the same time the unluckiest and the luckiest character in recent fiction. Example: (Unlucky) - As part of an infinite series of amazing coincidences, David secures information about the whereabouts of the red herring from a fat German and an unhappy hooker. Instead of promptly following up on this lead, David finds himself in desperate need of a glass of cranberry juice. Bad move, for while he is refreshing himself, our assassin (whose job it is to follow David and eventually kill him when the ring has been secured) has time to somehow gain access to fatso and his paramour, and murder them. Why he would risk losing his main target to do this, we don't know. Perhaps he is such an incompetent assassin that he must knock somebody off periodically, irrespective of how irrelevant they might be, just to keep his license to kill. Anyway, back luck for David. As he finishes his cranberry cocktail, our assassin has finished his job just in time to be back on David's tail. Example (Lucky) - Continuing with the infinite series of amazing coincidences, our hero finds himself in possession of the red herring. The assassin chases him through the streets of Seville, missing innumerable shots, and finally has him trapped, on foot, in a cul-de-sac too narrow for an automobile. It is six o'clock in the morning, and there is not a soul in sight. The assassin has drawn a bead, and David is prepared to breathe his last. Suddenly, the church bells chime. Instantly, and I mean instantly, this five foot wide cul-de-sal is packed with three or four thousand Sevillians, all clad in black, and all headed for the Cathedral. David joins the happy throng, and if one listens carefully, the assassin can be heard muttering under his breath, "curses, foiled again!" No fear, after several vain attempts at murder in the Cathedral, our assassin croaks, and David is safe (maybe). While all this is going on in short spurts, the true villain is trying to save the translator from the bad guys. He is a highly motivated person - motivated by an Oliver North (ugh) perspective of patriotism and unrequited love for the heroine (Susan). He is the one who sent David to Spain; he is the one who hired the assassin to do him in. In this respect, the book could be subtitled, "What I did for Love." Susan, who is the hero's main squeeze, looks askance at the villain's unique approach to romance, and once again, after many jerks and spurts, the villain dies horribly without succeeding in either mission. The translator is destroyed, and Susan is irrevocably the sole and exclusive property of the hero. The heroine is a study in herself. She purportedly has an IQ somewhat higher than God, but she needs 20 critical minutes to have explained to her that the elemental difference between Uranium 235 and Uranium 238 is three! While she is struggling with all this, our national secrets, military and otherwise, are leaking into cyberspace. Fortunately the delay isn't fatal, but from page one this paragon of mental acuity hasn't a clue what's going on. When I think of first novels, I think of such masterworks as Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," Michael Crichton's "Andromeda Strain," Ira Levin's "A Kiss Before Dying," and John Grisham's "A Time to Kill." Dan Brown has undeniable flair, and Digital Fortress could have been right up there with Andromeda if the plot had been thought out and the characters developed. Try again, Dan, but try flow instead of jerk.
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