Rating: 
Summary: An intelligent page turner that will keep you up at night!
Review: For those of you who enjoy thought provoking and exciting techno-thrillers, this book is for you. I kept trying to figure out how an author with an English degree had such a thorough understanding of how computers, firewalls and all that other technical stuff worked?? An excellent book that I would highly recommend for your reading list.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This book kept me guessing the whole way! I was amazed how fast-paced the story was. There was no place in the book where I could put it down and get some rest! Fantastic read!
Rating:
Summary: Good first try, but not "Clancy Class" material yet
Review: Digital Fortress is a good story told at a pretty good clip. But before you read, turn to page 188 and change the line "Becker checked his watch. It read 1:45pm.." edit that to "1:45am" (Proofreader error). It'll make more sense. Now we 're ready to tackle the other weak points in an otherwise good action story.
TRANSLTR is the billion dollar secret NSA decryption engine that, according to the story line, can break any encrypted code within minutes to produce the clear text message. The story antagonist is blackmailing the NSA by claiming that he has invented a new unbreakable algorithm. To prove his point, he encrypts the algorithmic program using it and posts it on the internet. He then tells the world he'll sell the key to unlock it to the highest bidder.
Now here's where this smart guy loses me. Knowing that the NSA just might kill him to keep his new algorithm secret from everyone, he says that he has given a copy to a trusted confidant. If anything happens to him, his friend will publish the key on the Internet so EVERYONE in the world will have access to unbreakable encryption thereby foiling the UsofA NSA operations.
In other words, if anyone kills me, everyone gets the prize. Anyone see a motive for a "poorer" government to assassinate this guy? I sure do.
Not to give away too much of the plot, but the author gave away the key to the ending much too easily. It's too easy for anyone with a math background. The crypto geniuses didn't get it until a dozen pages later, which is a real surprise since they are suppose to be the super math wizards.
On the plus side, the writing is good and story progresses at a fast and easy pace. Good job for a new writer but has a long way to go to reach "Clancy Class"
Rating:
Summary: Altogether, a disappointment.
Review: Having started to read this book, I decided to do a search on "national security agency". They do indeed have a home page (nsa.gov), with pictures to boot. Anyway, my next link was fas.org - a fascinating site. While perusing their pages, my screen burped. Actually, it was more like a blink. It has never done this before and my first thought was that I had been flagged by "Big Brother". Scary stuff indeed! "Digital Fortress" was a big disappointment for me. Where to start, let me count the ways. Becker's trip to Spain for one was so far out there that I was hoping for a well placed bullet to the brain - his, that is. Here we have a strong jawed, 35 year old, cranberry drinking savant for whom a shot of vodka very nearly brings him to his knees. Within the space of 24 hours he manages to encounter an array of the most distasteful stereotypes - the vengeful Japanese victim of nuclear fallout; his meglomaniacal mogul father; the pompous food critic; the big fat ugly German; the out of control teenagers. And there's more. A ruthless, deaf, Portugese assassin who is unable to catch a scooter with a top speed of 40mph - and he's driving a car! And then there is the equally gorgeous and talented Susan who drives a Volvo ( although it is not mentioned, we can assume that Becker drives a sensible 6 year old Saab). Now Susan is an assertive modern woman unable to put a sleaze like Hale in his place. She fails to recognize the man for whom she has worked for 10 years (check the abovementioned web site for a picture of the director of the NSA). I would suggest that she employ the services of John Grisham and sue the socks off the NSA for not installing emergency lighting in their state of the art building. The line between suspension of belief and disbelief is a thin one. Mr. Brown's premise is original and intriguing. However, I believe that he has to make his characters more accessible and identifiable for the masses. Also, for those that like a good chase book, "The 39 Steps" has always been a favorite of mine.
Rating:
Summary: Kept me up at night reading! ! ! :-)
Review: This book was a pleasure to read. Well written and full of some of the most impressive twists and turns that I almost got dizzy just reading it. I didn't how the book would end until the very end. Well worth the time and money to buy it. Ban Brown has written a book that will take an important place on my bookshelf, right in front, in the middle. A must read for anyone who is even slightly interested in computer security, word/computer puzzles, murder, intrigue, good guys versus bad guys, surprise endings, staying awake at night trying to finish the book in one sitting or maybe your just somebody who really likes to read a good book now and then. My final take is this: Grab a Coca Latte, a comfortable couch, this book and settle in for a wild ride. ----> P. Hannum
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This book is a must for Clancy, DALE Brown Types. This may be the best techno-thriller since the "The Hunt for Red October." Get it!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent. You won't be disappointed.
Review: Don't think that this is another one of those 2nd rate Clancy imitators that we see so much of these days. This is an excellent book that can stand on its own, and even if you've become a little tired of this genre, you will be quite glad you read this book. Brown manages to make crypto an engrossing and fascinating subject. I highly recommend his book.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT! A real page turner.
Review: WARNING1 DO NOT START READING THIS BOOK AT BEDTIME IF YOU HAVE TO GET UP EARLY. You will have a hard time putting this book down once you start reading DIGITAL FORTRESS. It has more twists and turns than a roller coaster.I predict that it will be a movie very soon. I can't wait for Dan Brown's next book.
Also visit the website for the book and try your hand at breaking the codes. Thank You Mr. Brown for a wonderfull book.I
Rating:
Summary: A runaway tech-thriller
Review: The next time you sit down at your PC terminal think about the trouble you could create if only you knew how. Well, Dan Brown has saved you the trouble. Digital Fortress is a contemporary cookbook for all those readers who like their fare crisp and devilish exciting. The author has captured the cravings of a reading public and now deserves the credit. He's simply a terrifically tuned-in writer.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Deal
Review: What a surprise! As a retired federal law enforcement official, when I first read the inside cover of this book and saw that it took place at the NSA I was immediately interested since not that much is known about this agency, let alone write a book about the place. I lost some of my enthusiasm though, when I saw that it was a techno-thriller and involved some stuff about computers and encryption codes. My experience here is limited to surfing the net and e-mail. After reading some of the reviews on Amazon I decided to purchase the book and I was not disappointed. Everytime I thought I had the story figured out, Dan Brown threw in a new wrinkle. Everytime I got ready to put the book down, something else happened and I had to continue on. Brown writes as if he spent quite a bit of time on the campus at Fort Meade. As far as the computer stuff, it was eye opening and easy to understand. I now have a new appreciation for my own system. This book should be required reading for all people going through the CI school at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.. The storyline that took place in Spain with David Becker and the mercenary would warm the heart of any criminal investigator. FDS SGHR ANNJ When you read the book then you can decode my advice to you.
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