Wyrm

Rating:
Summary: I Loved it!!
Review: Lots of fun-the characters spend half the book as themselves and the rest of the time they are various dwarves, elves, wizards etc in a computer "game". I enjoyed the biological aspects as well as the off the wall trivia. Great stuff.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible, terrible book
Review: One of the greatest realizations I ever made regarding literature is that I am not obliged to finish a book just because I had begun it. But there is something to be said for reading a book just to see how bad it can get. WYRM will not disappoint in that regard. Even to the cursed last page, when I am asking out loud (and getting annoyed looks from strangers) "How bad can this get?", it gets worse. To say I hated it does a disservice to novels better written with better plots and more interesting characters, which I also hated. How, you may ask, can a black hole of a novel be so bad? Well, it is a very complicated recipe, much like that of preparing a nitro glycerin poundcake. First, continuously switch between first person and third person to the point the reader get sick from personality vertigo. Then add thick stereotypes 2000ft deep of women, technology, and hackers. Next, make sure you know very little about technology you are writing about. Sound good so far? Well, now add a dash of an inconsequential plot line leading to a completely predictable ending, even in the manner in which it was obviously pulled out of someone's orifice. And as a toping, throw in little "what if" scenarios where Mr. Fabi is undoubtly saying, "Oh yeah, well if I were in QUEST FOR THE HOLY GRAIL, wouldn't it be cool if I said 'balh blah blah' to the old man on the bridge! Ha ha ha. That would get him." This I understand. I often imagine myself as George Lucas, looking at a script of "The Phantom Menace", except I'm saying, "Wow, I'm really bad at this. Maybe I need to get some help." On the acknowledgements, Mr. Fabi thanks his friends for pulling the original manuscript from the "slush pile." Friends indeed. I can only say that if you are a masochist, and deeply desire to see how much literary pain you can inflict upon yourself, then WYRM is for you, and probably you alone.

Rating:
Summary: It's like being stuck in a room with a tedious geek
Review: I'll read anything dealing with a malevolent computer intelligence that wants to rule the world. I don't want to read anything that has a Monty Python reference every other page, where the term "Left Coast" is considered so funny that it also shows up every other page and where half the freakin' story is the characters playing in a computer fantasy game. Unfortunately, this book is both the former and the latter. The nasty computer intelligence theme cannot make up for the tedious jokes, badly-spun geek references and most of all for the MUD/MOO/D&D fantasy schtick. The characters spend half their time as elves, wizards, etc. fighting orcs, goblins, etc. I can play Nethack or read Tolkien if I want this stuff. And how do they defeat the evil intelligence? Well, in their game it's a dragon, so they lop off its head with a sword. Great, just great. Very imaginative ending. A very clever way for the author to weasel out the problem of how the characters might realistically defeat such an enemy. Mr. Fabi should have had them kill it on the tenth page so we would be spared the pain of reading the whole book.

Rating:
Summary: Strong story and research carry mediocre narration
Review: With his first novel, Mark Fabi has launched himself onto the forefront of a new age of writers by showing the one capacity necessary to all great writers: an intrinsic knowledge of which story will grab a readers attention. In Wyrm, I found myself frustrated by the sometimes confusing and wordy narration, yet willing to push through the weak spots to find out what the next plot twist brought. It is in his research and in his simple explanation of a complex plot that Fabi really shines. A must-read for anyone who enjoys a mix of fantasy and fiction.

Rating:
Summary: How do you know if you're a geek?
Review: One simple step: read this book. I started out being somewhat critical of this book. It did seem somewhat predictable which cliche characters. However, looking deeper I realized that Wyrm is actually a comprehensive look at what I affectionately term "Geek Culture." It has at least a passing reference to just about everything in geek culture (I was looking), from Tolkien & Carroll to MUDs & RPGs to Monty Python. If you manage to catch all of the references in the book, congratulations. You are a full-fledged geek, just like me. If not, try not to let the computerese scare you off. Wyrm is a thoroughly enjoyable read, if you can look past the corniness of the brand-name substitutes (there are subs for Microsoft, Dungeons & Dragons, and many other things). However, as author Mark Fabi is a practicing psychiatrist in real life, it did not suprise me to see a liberal dose of psychiatric theory sprinkled throughout the book as well, so if you're interested in stuff like that, you too just might be interested in this book. Overall, I would say that this is a very strong debut, and look forward to reading more.

Rating:
Summary: Wyrm Review
Review: This book rocks. What else can I say? I would recommend this book to anyone who is crazy about computers and virtual reality. A mix of science fiction and fantasy, this book is written half from the point of view of a virus eradicator and half in the form of a game created by a psycopathic hacker. So, if you enjoy high suspense and techno thrillers then Wyrm By: Mark Fabi is your choice.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and fun
Review: - A fascinating book that is hard to put down. It appeals to my generation (I'm 29) as all the references are ones that I'm familiar with. Mark Fabi has a great sense of humor. - I look forward to reading Red Mercury when it comes out.

Rating:
Summary: Bits and Pieces from everywhere... comprehensive enjoyment
Review: Ok, well I picked up this book with a friend, in no way realizing just how good it would be. The main story gets a little boggy and tiresome, but everything else makes up for it. I can promise you that the longest break I took from this book was just to do the puzzle... I didn't even sleep till I was done! Subtle and some not so subtle references to things the sci-fi fan immediately recognizes provide interesting twists and fits of giggles for the reader. I wish I heard about it sooner, and you can be sure that this holds a special place in my collection.

Rating:
Summary: You must read it, cyberpunks, hackers, and those related
Review: Wyrm is about a computer virus, it deals with multi user dimensions (MUD), and nueral induction, similar to that in Gibson's nueromancer. Refrences to mythology and the bible are made throughout the book, the apocalyptic doom of earth is pending and Michael Arcangelo virus hunter (hacker) must piece togethor the enigma of the beast. If you like cyberpunk novels this is a must have.

Rating:
Summary: Hackers, Virii hunters, and Cyber Thriller enthusiats ....
Review: This is one awesome novel to anyone interested in hacking and cyber-anything!! I could not put it down! Wyrm is fast moving and exciting, making for an adventurous reading, and on the edge of your couch excitement! Pick it up, and enter the world of the hacker ...