Rating: 
Summary: Grand Fantasy Adventure With A Heart And Soul
Review: "Killobyte" wouldn't have to be anything more than what it's described as on the back - a near-future hyper-realistic virtual reality game where players can play almost any role, until a hacker brings into the game the possibility of real death to the players - and succeed marvelously as an exhilirating adventure story and prime fodder for any number of dreams and fantasies. But, being written by Piers Anthony, it also adds in some extra dimensions for even more reward.
First, the VR-adventure themes - players play 'online' with and against any number of other players (and bear in mind that this was written in 1993, when things like the Internet were still in their infancy), choosing from a vast array of scenarios - High Fantasy type with dragons and sorcerors and dashing knights and beautiful maidens; Science Fictional settings; 'real-life' political intrigue/military settings - just about anything you can think of - and select from a host of loosely-defined 'roles' within their scenario, then go on to custom-make the specific attributes of their character. Players can log in and out of their scenario and come back in inprogress, but if killed ingame must start a new character. For any fan of video games, adventure/fantasy movies, and the sexier possibilities in Virtual Reality role-playing, this guarantees a great novel provided it's written well, which this is.
But there's more - first of all, though it's evident that the majority of Killobyte-players are 'normal', reasonably well-adjusted people whose excursions into the VR world no more mean that they can't enjoy the real world, any more than people who watch a lot of movies or read a lot of books can't enjoy numerous other aspects of life; the two lead characters - Waler and Baal - are indeed hampered by limitations that severely hamper their ability to partake of the 'real' world. And their backstories are given, providing insight into and generating real empathy for the characters. Baal, for example (this isn't giving anything away, it comes up early in the book) is both severely diabetic and hypershy. This is one thing I love about Anthony's writing: like Stephen King and Dean Koontz he includes characters with physical and/or mental ailments as main parts of the cast - sometimes it's not a main point, just a 'just-happens-to-be' kind of thing; other times it's a significant part of the character. But even when it's significant in the character and the story, it's always made clear that the affliction (or disability or whatever you want to call it) is FAR from the sole characteristic that makes up the person. This is true of Koontz's and King's books as well.
Piers also frequently includes characters of different races, belief systems, ethnicities, and the other things that unfortunately tend to divide people, into his books. Here, for example, the Druze religion is briefly brought into things, an actual religion that I had never heard of before reading "Killobyte". As a species, humanity isn't doing as good a job as it could of the different peoples mingling and understanding and respecting one another in the real world. Perhaps greater exposure to different cultures, religions, etc., through things like books and movies is a place to start? (If you agree with that, I'd enthusiastically urge you to check out "The Veiled Web" by Catherine Asaro, an excellent book that has the very notions above as one of its two main themes, along with the emergence of genuine Artificial Intelligence)
There's one other thing about this that's a big drawing point - the Author Notes at the back. Years back I gave up reading most Author Notes and interviews and the like, and I Never watch the behind-the-scenes making-of features on DVDs, because I don't want to risk spoiling the magic of the story. At the time I ceased with the interviews and stuff, I decided there were a few sources who were 'safe' in this way, Anthony being one of them. His notes are always entertaining, enlightening, and never take away even a smidgen of the magic of his books
Rating: 
Summary: "Killobyte" Kills
Review: Firstly, this is not my favorite book genre. However, on advice from a friend I surprisingly enjoyed "Killobyte".Piers Anthony gives us an intriguing concept of virtual reality in "game form". We meet heroic Walter Toland, an ex-policeman, now forced to be wheelchair bound. And Baal Curran, an introspective High Schol senior, who has retreated into a world of her own. Playing "Killobyte" brings them together on a journey of understanding and victory. A complete, well written story. Thanks--CDS
Rating:
Summary: "Killobyte" Kills
Review: Firstly, this is not my favorite book genre. However, on advice from a friend I surprisingly enjoyed "Killobyte". Piers Anthony gives us an intriguing concept of virtual reality in "game form". We meet heroic Walter Toland, an ex-policeman, now forced to be wheelchair bound. And Baal Curran, an introspective High Schol senior, who has retreated into a world of her own. Playing "Killobyte" brings them together on a journey of understanding and victory. A complete, well written story. Thanks--CDS
Rating:
Summary: Quick, easy, enjoyable
Review: Having avoided Piers Anthony since junior high school (16 years or so ago), I was first exposed to him through Killobyte. As a graphics programmer, this book is awful and very, very, very wrong. As a fiction reader, though, this book is complete, well written, and a delight to sit and pour through. Killobyte's characters, Walter, Baal, and Phreak, are perfectly described, their actions, their pasts...they all seem congruous and well-thought. The action is quickly paced and often funny. Fans of computer gaming will find it especially enjoyable to be immersed in this fantasy world of gaming, even one that is so very unlikely. You will read this book at one sitting, and end up wanting more, guaranteed.
Rating:
Summary: Quick, easy, enjoyable
Review: Having avoided Piers Anthony since junior high school (16 years or so ago), I was first exposed to him through Killobyte. As a graphics programmer, this book is awful and very, very, very wrong. As a fiction reader, though, this book is complete, well written, and a delight to sit and pour through. Killobyte's characters, Walter, Baal, and Phreak, are perfectly described, their actions, their pasts...they all seem congruous and well-thought. The action is quickly paced and often funny. Fans of computer gaming will find it especially enjoyable to be immersed in this fantasy world of gaming, even one that is so very unlikely. You will read this book at one sitting, and end up wanting more, guaranteed.
Rating:
Summary: Here is a book, every sci-fi, action reader should read.
Review: Here is a book, every sci-fi, action reader should read. KilloByte. Walter Toland is a ex-cop who is bound into a wheelchair. Baal Curran has type 1 diabetes. Both plays the same game called KilloByte. A virtual reality game. Going through the streets of Germany, and through castles saving princesses. But one thing they can't do is leave the game. Stuck together trying to stay alive or die. Not just die in the game, but dying in real life. A hacker puts a virus into their computers, making it impossible to quit the game. Baal is running low on sugar. If she can't leave the game soon she will die of low sugar. Walter could not be killed in the game or he would die in real life. How could they escape this fate? Will they survive?
Rating:
Summary: My Favourite Book Of All Time!
Review: i couldn't put it down, and i wished at the end that there was a sequil to this wonderful book. i also felt for a few days after I finished it that i wanted to go play my new virtual reality game, even though that was only in the book. it drew me in that much. my heart raced in all the close-to-dying parts. p.s.- do any of you know how to find the adress to send a fan letter to any of these authors?
Rating:
Summary: great
Review: i couldn't put it down, and i wished at the end that there was a sequil to this wonderful book. i also felt for a few days after I finished it that i wanted to go play my new virtual reality game, even though that was only in the book. it drew me in that much. my heart raced in all the close-to-dying parts. p.s.- do any of you know how to find the adress to send a fan letter to any of these authors?
Rating:
Summary: Best Piers Anthony Book Ever!!!
Review: I have been an Anthony fans for about 11 years and though I haven't read every novel he has written I have read many of his series. This was the first single novel of Anthony's that I read. As a matter of fact, next to the FOUNDATION TRILOGY, it was one of the MOST enthralling books I have ever read. This was an "edge of your seat" book. It not only was exciting but it was a "peek into the future." To begin with I read it cover to cover in 1 day I took the next 2 days to re-read and savor it all over again. On top of that it inspired me to write my first and only fan letter. (Of which was replied to by Piers himself.) I urge any and all fans to get and read this book. It is definatly worth the price (and a real bargain from AMAZON.COM) And for all you Sci-fi fans that haven't read Anthony, but liked the movie TOTAL RECALL, This is the author for you!
Rating:
Summary: Just got to love it!!!
Review: I just read Killobyte and i loved it. I was hooked from the start. I read it in two days and i barely ever just sit and read. I was sucked into the plot from the start. I'm really good with computers and I could probebly do what Phreak does if I wanted to, so I could understand what was going on but i didn't have to concintrate on what I knew to understand the book like some other sci-fi books I have read. My mother is diabetic so I knew what was going on to Baal. Just read the book and make comments about wanting a sequel.
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