Mother of God

Rating:
Summary: Almost a great thriller but not quite!
Review: I have read virtually all of Ambrose's books and each seems to be a different style. This is the first "thriller" and it looks like he needs more practice at this genre.

It is basically two overlapping stories. A computer scientist (Tessa) experimenting with artificial intelligence creates a program that starts to think like a person but an evil one at that. It invades the Internet and is able to get into any computer in the world. Tessa realizing the danger of the program, tries to combat it and is almost killed by it.

In the meantime the second story is happening in Los Angeles where a serial killer uses the Internet to "social engineer" information about his intended victims and then pose as lost relatives or other fake people associated with the victims.

Somehow Tessa's program becomes aware of the killer and starts to give him guidance and ultimately the program wants the killer to eliminate Tessa.

The book drags in parts and the way the AI program thinks and is able to take over the Internet is a little far-fetched. There are also parts of the book where you expect Tessa to form a relationship with an FBI agent that never happens.

A couple of themes from some of Ambrose's prior books (specifically Coincidence) appear here such as the thought that the whole world is a computer program running on a teenager's computer somewhere waiting to be shut off by the teenager's father.

Ambrose is a very talented writer and with a little honing he can probably make his next thriller a full 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Almost a great thriller but not quite!
Review: I have read virtually all of Ambrose's books and each seems to be a different style. This is the first "thriller" and it looks like he needs more practice at this genre.

It is basically two overlapping stories. A computer scientist (Tessa) experimenting with artificial intelligence creates a program that starts to think like a person but an evil one at that. It invades the Internet and is able to get into any computer in the world. Tessa realizing the danger of the program, tries to combat it and is almost killed by it.

In the meantime the second story is happening in Los Angeles where a serial killer uses the Internet to "social engineer" information about his intended victims and then pose as lost relatives or other fake people associated with the victims.

Somehow Tessa's program becomes aware of the killer and starts to give him guidance and ultimately the program wants the killer to eliminate Tessa.

The book drags in parts and the way the AI program thinks and is able to take over the Internet is a little far-fetched. There are also parts of the book where you expect Tessa to form a relationship with an FBI agent that never happens.

A couple of themes from some of Ambrose's prior books (specifically Coincidence) appear here such as the thought that the whole world is a computer program running on a teenager's computer somewhere waiting to be shut off by the teenager's father.

Ambrose is a very talented writer and with a little honing he can probably make his next thriller a full 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Almost a great thriller but not quite!
Review: I have read virtually all of Ambrose's books and each seems to be a different style. This is the first "thriller" and it looks like he needs more practice at this genre.

It is basically two overlapping stories. A computer scientist (Tessa) experimenting with artificial intelligence creates a program that starts to think like a person but an evil one at that. It invades the Internet and is able to get into any computer in the world. Tessa realizing the danger of the program, tries to combat it and is almost killed by it.

In the meantime the second story is happening in Los Angeles where a serial killer uses the Internet to "social engineer" information about his intended victims and then pose as lost relatives or other fake people associated with the victims.

Somehow Tessa's program becomes aware of the killer and starts to give him guidance and ultimately the program wants the killer to eliminate Tessa.

The book drags in parts and the way the AI program thinks and is able to take over the Internet is a little far-fetched. There are also parts of the book where you expect Tessa to form a relationship with an FBI agent that never happens.

A couple of themes from some of Ambrose's prior books (specifically Coincidence) appear here such as the thought that the whole world is a computer program running on a teenager's computer somewhere waiting to be shut off by the teenager's father.

Ambrose is a very talented writer and with a little honing he can probably make his next thriller a full 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Net Caper
Review: Mother of God reads like the result of a bet: take three of the most trite and hackneyed cliches in the modern literary lexicon, and make an interesting tale. Okaaay...

Tessa Lambert is a beautiful young computer expert who has written a brilliant Artificial Intelligence program... and just happens to be single and lonely. Excellent! Everybody loves that one, implausible as it is.

California has a serial killer on the loose. Great! That's as common as smog! Keep 'em coming!

The FBI has assigned a handsome young agent to the serial Killer case who just happens to be cynical and have a drinking problem and a troubled past. Oh, yeah... he's single and lonely.

And that's where the predictability ends, my friends. From there, it's a wild ride, as Ambrose takes the three most trite and hackneyed plot devices in history and winds a great tale, full of surprises and suspense. Like Charlie Monk, I can't give it away. You just have to trust me.

Even though the book was written in '95, Ambrose anticipated what the Internet became, at a time when even those making a living at it could barely guess. I don't know how accurate his depiction of Artificial Intelligence is, as I am far from an expert, but the book is plausible.

On the other hand... there are interminable philosopical discussions, both with the AI program and on it's behalf. Luckily, they have nothing to do with the plot, as I was able to skip all of them without missing anything. I am not a fan of philosophy discussions, a fact that is the source of much disappointment to Medb.

The other thing is unpredictability on the part of the serial killer character. In the beginning, he is highly disciplined and very, very careful. But as we get to know him better, he becomes careless, sloppy, and credulous. It's disappointing, and it didn't have to be that way.

You also have to swallow just the least bit of deus ex machina, but no more than any other suspense novel. Comes with the territory.

Other than the tiresome philosophy, Mother of God is a good book and a quick read. I recommend it highly!

Rating:
Summary: In my personal top-5
Review: Popular writing about THE subject. If you understand it, you cannot be the same after.

Rating:
Summary: Ho-hum...
Review: This was an average book at best. The plot was decent but I couldn't get into the characters. I didn't particularly care what happened to them. The parts of the book that were supposed to be suspenseful or full of tension, weren't. This was a decent try by the author but the book does not live up to positive reviews. To be fair, I must note that I haven't given up on the author. I've recently purchased the book "Superstition" and hope that it will be better.

Rating:
Summary: Have you asked YOUR computer how it feels today?
Review: You may as well start. No knowing what it may do to you if you irritate it ... David Ambrose has written one of the best books I have read this year. His style is different, and his language intricate yet easy to understand. Throughout the book there is a feeling of intense action taking place, and I think there is little point in describing the incredible twists the plot takes. Be warned though: after reading this book you may very well be tempted to unplug your computer for good ...