Rating: 
Summary: A very fun book; techie hip
Review: A friend who knows the author suggested this book, and I've now recommended it to a number of others. Every time I see a "nano technology" conference I think of it. The story is clear and engaging, with enough twists to lend some interest and keep you thinking. A few more twists and I'd call it Pynchonesque. There are parts that get a bit silly and over the top (the comparison of Bill Gates and Saddam Hussein), but going over the top every now and then can be fun. If you live in the 128 area, silicon valley, or any place that has decided to call itself the silicon something (alley, village, shopping mall, whatever), you should pick this up and read it. Then look around and see if you see some of what is in here going on in this book around you.
Rating: 
Summary: Engrossing, original plot.
Review: This book has a lot to offer for everyone. It kept me reading, and indeed I read most of it in one sitting. The plot is detailed and complex, but not confusing. The character development is also good, as the characters and their actions seem believable. In fact, despite the fact that the plot seems like it could be a vast conspiracy turning up on some crazy web site, it is not so far out that one is not engrossed and wondering if such things could or will actually happen. It's apparent that the author knows a lot about technology and also did a fair amount of research on aspects of the book like the happenings during the Gulf War. Though the word 'technology' may put some readers off, it shouldn't. People who are knowledgeable about technology will say, "He knows his stuff," while most people who aren't will not be lost or and will not be wishing for a plotline that involves less technology. If you want an entertaining and intelligent thriller, this is it. I definitely would recommend this book, and look forward to more from Mr. Sundman.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining thriller based on interesting historical events
Review: On the surface Sundman's book is certainly an entertaining psychological/sci-fi thriller. However to students of the history of technology, or anyone who'se worked anywahere around the high-tech community is sure to appreciate this book at a much deeper level. John's experiences (ranging from interactions with leading tech companies, prominent individuals from the Silicon Valley venture capital community, the industrialization of MIT-high-tech around Boston) have enabled him to beautifully interweave real elements from this fascinating element of the real-world into his novel. At this deeper level, Acts a insightful, fictionalized history that very well describes the quest for power among some of the tech-elite, the world of big business, and that of finance. Real-events/people/places beautifully interwoven into this work include: Vannevar Bush's protege's (i.e. Fred Terman) guidance creating both the computer&biotech industry in Silicon Valley; the influence of Esther Dyson's PC Forum; the limo+large-bonus recruiting techniques that helped Microsoft beat Borland, etc. Anyway... if you're a student of the history of technology, you're sure to enjoy many deeper truths and real-world references hidden within.
Rating:
Summary: A well crafted yarn -both enrossing and thought-provoking!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has that hard to achieve balance of an engrossing plot -that makes for a quick and satisfying read -balanced with an obviously well researched storyline. That makes it not only believable -but causes the reader to take pause and consider the possible implications of today's (and tomorrow's!) technologies. The well written combination makes for a "can't put it down" read. I also respect the author's decision to not "dumb down" the technology aspects of the storyline. I did not find it necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of programming/high tech/etc. in order to both understand and appreciate those elements of the story. Kudos to Mr. Sundman, I am a hard reader to please -and his debut novel did a fine job of satisfying my craving for a well crafted yarn!
Rating:
Summary: This was a page-turner!
Review: I enjoyed this book a great deal. To me, the story flowed much better than recent efforts by some of my other favorite technothriller authors. If this is really the author's first effort, the book certainly doesn't read like it. I enjoyed the character development the most. The protagonist is a wonderfully fallible Everyman. Some of the other characters are recognizably based on real players in the computer industry. Some of those players will probably recognize themselves, and more than a few oversensitive Silicon Valley noses may be left a bit out of joint. The primary bad guy is a brutal pastiche of the least pleasant traits of the CEOs of several major Silicon Valley heavy-hitter firms, with an extra dollop of attitude, and a couple tabs of the brown acid left over from Woodstock folded in just for spice! Bottom line: I liked it, and I finished it in two sittings. It feels like what might have resulted if Tom Clancy had decided to write "Soul of a New Machine", but base it in a somewhat maleveolent parallel universe. You don't have to have worked in the high-tech industry or be a conspiracy theory addict to get into this one.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: One of my favorite books of all time (and I read a lot!)
John has a gift that in my mind rivels any of Tom Clancy's works. It's been several years since I read the novel but after reading it again recently, I am blown away how unique this book is. From it's historical perspectives (Silicon Valley who's who here) and it's Gulf War disease story line, it pulls you in and doesn't let you go until the last page. Check out www.wetmachine.com for some background information on John and his works.
Rating:
Summary: Bohemian Ink Review
Review: John Sundman's techno-thrill-ride Acts of the Apostles is a novel as intriguing as it is strange. In this piece of fiction, Sundman explores the question posed: how will we deal with the "subtle problem of reconciling freedom with technology?" Sundman spins a yarn reminiscent of Peretti's style, only in this drama the forces are not of spirit, but of flesh and blood, silicon and carbon. Central character Nick Aubrey faces extinction in the Valley of Silicon. His wife has left him. He teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. And Nick's position at Digital Microsystems will soon be cancelled. An opportunity for redemption comes in the form of Monty Meekman, a mysterious megalomaniac who has accumulated billions through his connections and advances in the world of technology. Meekman is known for his incredible successes, the loyalty of his inner circle and for the untimely demises of those who fail him. Like Lucifer tempting Christ, Meekman takes Nick to the ledge of a mountain overlooking the night lights of the Silicon Valley, Meekman's own world. Meekman stretches his arms and lovingly calls it his kingdom. From this vantage point, Meekman offers Nick a contract that will ensure he has all the things he could materially want. He will have enough money to save himself, to save his struggling ex-wife, and a job that allows him to focus on the work he loves. All he has to do is sign with Monty. Nick rejects it. The strangeness has begun. That same night, Nick boards a red-eye flight to Boston. While flying over middle America, a hysterical man on the flight mistakes Nick for someone else. This man then gives a bizarre lecture about the nature of Gulf War Syndrome and commits suicide. Nick's desire for a return to normalcy becomes impossible. He is considered a murder suspect and finds himself framed for illegal activities at his work place. Nick begins digging. Mysteries mount one another. From opposite sides of the metaphorical tunnel, Micro Biology and Nanotechnology dig to discover the connecting point. At the subatomic level, the two are the same thing. They can be wedded to each other with a new potential unmatched in the history of civilization. This technology is a double edged sword. Forerunners of the technology saw it as the needed component for the next stage of human evolution. Nick stumbles across a plan that presents it in a different light: it will be a tool used by one who would make himself a god with it, one who would seduce the minds of all, one who would ultimately become an anti-Christ. Nick's findings stir those in powerful seats. Soon, Nick finds himself an object of interest for the CIA and a cyber-militia. Circumstances force Nick to examine the uncomfortable truths of his own past. The past provides the only clues for the present. Nick must find a way to unlock 'the Beast' of the Kali computer chip-a chip designed by his own close friend and co-worker who lays comatose as the result of a botched murder attempt. The fate of the known world rests in one man's resolve to resist the seductions of technology. Nick must do it to reclaim his own soul from infection. His own veins house the wedded offspring of the human genome and the nanomachines. If Nick fails, then the way is paved for the anti-Christ of the digital age. A haunting story of potential, Acts of the Apostles is a poignant reminder that potential is a neutral commodity-not intrinsically good or evil. The surprise ending is sure to leave readers contemplating the events that are daily unfolding about them.
Rating:
Summary: thoughtful and entertaining at the same time
Review: Acts of the Apostles is the work of a man who had something to say, and was driven to put it on paper. The book reads like a thriller, but it is a far cry from the "good guys vs. the bad" formula. Woven into its fast-paced plot is a warning about where humanity is heading, who we're allowing to steer us, and how even the most well-meaning of us might be helping us get there faster. From Silicon Valley to the Sub-Saharan desert, John Sundman writes from experience, creating places, characters, and technology so real, you'll swear the events related here are going on as we live and breathe.
Rating:
Summary: A very fun book; techie hip
Review: A friend who knows the author suggested this book, and I've now recommended it to a number of others. Every time I see a "nano technology" conference I think of it. The story is clear and engaging, with enough twists to lend some interest and keep you thinking. A few more twists and I'd call it Pynchonesque. There are parts that get a bit silly and over the top (the comparison of Bill Gates and Saddam Hussein), but going over the top every now and then can be fun. If you live in the 128 area, silicon valley, or any place that has decided to call itself the silicon something (alley, village, shopping mall, whatever), you should pick this up and read it. Then look around and see if you see some of what is in here going on in this book around you.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books
Review: This book is exciting yet also true to its geek heritage. The book has a lot of the feel of Stephenson writings where they are easy to read, have the nerd cachet, and wildly entertaining.
I've have given this gift to numerous people that I thought would really enjoy it, with their background being much like that of the characters within the story. I should add that not all enjoyed it, but I'm not sure all of them actually read it either.
This book, along with Neuronmancer, Snow Crash, and Cryptonomicon, ranks as one of my all time favorite books.
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