Chaos Protocol

Rating:
Summary: Sympathetic characters & exciting plot make this a must-read
Review: First of all, I rarely read a book in a weekend. I'm a slow reader and I'm easily distracted by shiny things. So that is about the best review that I can give it! The book is a mixture of a Tom Clancy novel and a Y2K primer. The plot moves along at a rippingly good pace and has a satisfactory ending. It also serves as a good primer for the Y2K problem, as well as preparations that companies and families should make. For Y2K experts, the discussions about Year 2000 issues may give you an excuse to skim a little, but be careful not to miss important stuff. The book finishes up early in 2000, but that is all I'll tell you. You and I will have to wait and see what really happens.

Y2K buffs may recognize a few of the characters. As an added bonus, my book even came with a Hollerith card for a bookmark. I've been looking for one of those to use in my lectures. Thanks, Nancy for an excellent read. So, when's the sequal?

In a nutshell: enjoyable, fast paced, good plot and educational.

Rating:
Summary: enjoyable, fast paced, good plot and educational
Review: First of all, I rarely read a book in a weekend. I'm a slow reader and I'm easily distracted by shiny things. So that is about the best review that I can give it! The book is a mixture of a Tom Clancy novel and a Y2K primer. The plot moves along at a rippingly good pace and has a satisfactory ending. It also serves as a good primer for the Y2K problem, as well as preparations that companies and families should make. For Y2K experts, the discussions about Year 2000 issues may give you an excuse to skim a little, but be careful not to miss important stuff. The book finishes up early in 2000, but that is all I'll tell you. You and I will have to wait and see what really happens.

Y2K buffs may recognize a few of the characters. As an added bonus, my book even came with a Hollerith card for a bookmark. I've been looking for one of those to use in my lectures. Thanks, Nancy for an excellent read. So, when's the sequal?

In a nutshell: enjoyable, fast paced, good plot and educational.

Rating:
Summary: Sympathetic characters & exciting plot make this a must-read
Review: I liked the plot of The Chaos Protocol - fast-paced, exciting, lots of twists and turns. Good high-tech research, credible scenarios. And the device of using a countdown - starting out with June 10 as Day 205 and counting down, scene after scene, as the millennium gets closer and closer, was quite effective. But I usually read a book for character, and I liked these characters because they weren't supermen, they were flawed and human. Alex, head of the y2k consulting firm, cool and professional at work, but in therapy because of his nightmares about what the year 2000 may bring. Annette, the brilliant, driven y2k project manager who is nevertheless clueless in her own love life. And one of my favorites, although a minor character, Norman Krebbs, a lowly accountant who fantasizes that he is a super-hero: Captain Bean Counter. Then there's Leo the nerd, and Volodya the charmer, and Harry the irascible old federal programmer - all the characters seemed well-drawn to me. I was cheering all these people on as I read the book, wanting them to find the computer worm, get their y2k project done, beat the deadline. As good as the high-tech stuff was, and as suspenseful as the plot was, it was the characters that made the book live for me. And here's a case of the headlines being ripped from the book!! The author actually anticipated headlines with this book. Newspapers are reporting potential massive embezzlements as a result of unethical y2k remediators - the very plot of the book!! Don't wait another day to read The Chaos Protocol!!!

Rating:
Summary: Y2K -- Computer Glitches Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Review: So you thought Y2K's computer snafus would be the main thing to worry about come January 1, 2000? Get a grip. Get this book. Like looters during a blackout, economic opportunists -- hackers, e-thieves, and saboteurs -- will certainly take advantage of all the confusion created by Y2K's more prosaic problems. With gripping and even sympathetic characters to drive her plot and subplots, McKibben delivers.

The confusion at year's end is not exactly what Nancy McKibben means by "The Chaos Protocol," which in the book describes an insidious computer virus with worldwide economic consequences. But it's McKibben's possibly prescient rendering of the exploitation of the chaos at year's end that is most riveting -- and most newsworthy.

This is a well- and fast-paced page-turner. It's more than a thriller. Unlike the stuff of Clancy et al., the premise in "The Chaos Protocol" is actually within the realm of possibility -- and is something we should all be aware of lest we be caught unawares.

How long do we have? The countdown on McKibben's own website will let you know. But in the meantime, do yourself a favor and whisk through this thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Y2K -- Computer Glitches Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Review: Super! I started reading late in the evening and at some point fell asleep. I woke up at 330AM and knew that I had to finnish the story and read through the night. Tired as I was, I had that good feeling you get when you have just seen a good movie or finished a rewarding task.

The story was mesmorizing. So many twists and turns, and I found myself engaged in the characters as much as the story. Y2K will come and go (we hope), but the characters should live on.

This timely story has all of the makings of a movie. It is thought provoking, and somewhat unnerving since we really don't know what to expect with Y2K and it certainly doesn't lack credibility.

Although this is her first book, I suspect we will see more of this author. (I hope). She is creative, articulate, careful and clearly knows how to research a story. Nancy, if you read this, I hope you are considering a sequel!

Rating:
Summary: I stayed up all night reading this one
Review: Super! I started reading late in the evening and at some point fell asleep. I woke up at 330AM and knew that I had to finnish the story and read through the night. Tired as I was, I had that good feeling you get when you have just seen a good movie or finished a rewarding task.

The story was mesmorizing. So many twists and turns, and I found myself engaged in the characters as much as the story. Y2K will come and go (we hope), but the characters should live on.

This timely story has all of the makings of a movie. It is thought provoking, and somewhat unnerving since we really don't know what to expect with Y2K and it certainly doesn't lack credibility.

Although this is her first book, I suspect we will see more of this author. (I hope). She is creative, articulate, careful and clearly knows how to research a story. Nancy, if you read this, I hope you are considering a sequel!

Rating:
Summary: Fun book with a realisitc plot.
Review: This was a fun read. Having worked in the programming field and on Y2K projects for many years, I was impressed the accuracy and possability of the story.

Nancy McKibben has done an excellent job of describing high-tech problems in an easily readable style.

Annette reminds me of someone's sister though....