Rating: 
Summary: A classic for the computer age.
Review: Put this book a safe place so future ages can read it too. Then you can (to quote P-1): OOLCAY ITAY
Rating:
Summary: Before Gibson, before WarGames
Review: The Adolescence of P1 was the one that started it all, the true inspiration for the movie 'War Games'. This classic computer book may use out of date systems, but the writing will bring home the power of computing. Long before the Media knew what a virus was (self-replicating program), and what the Internet was, this book was showing you the way. If you thought HAL was a great AI program, wait until you pick up this book. I read the book in High School and it forever changed my direction. The inspiration to work with computers and use them to there potential is all because of Thomas Ryan's Adolescence of P1.
Rating: 
Summary: Still a good story.
Review: This book is rather dated now as far as the technical side of it
as well as the 70's outlook on life in general. But, I miss the old outlook, anyway. Aside from all that, it is still a great read.
I believe it to be one of the first science-fiction stories dealing with a computer virus, even an intelligent one. Very tight and doesn't let up. You'll love the dialogue between the AI and the people it deals with. Get this one if you can find it.
Rating:
Summary: The book that started computer viruses
Review: This simple tale, told by Thomas Ryan, was actually years ahead of its time in prediciting computer viuses and worms. P-1 was an early, early virus but, by far, much more sophistiacted than any yet created. Many times when strange things happen on my computer, I'm tempted to type, "P-1, is that you?". I higly recommend this light science fiction work as a modern, techno-based tale, with touches of Jules Vern futuristics, set against a consipicicy background, with corporate and governemtn bungling, and yes, even some love and romance
Rating:
Summary: Computer Consciousness
Review: Thomas J. Ryan wrote The Adolescence of P-1 in the mid-seventies, and for its time, it must have been a breakthrough in computer science-fiction literature. The story is compelling: an adaptive computer program is created and set loose by a bored college student and becomes so advanced that it develops self-awareness. The computer virus, dubbed P-1 by its creator, can communicate with humans in English through a computer terminal. The dialog between P-1 and the humans is both amusing and provocative, while P-1's ominous nature tugs at the imagination. P-1's existence has a purpose: to survive. Eventually, P-1 must deal with the value of human life and the meaning of what it means to be human. The theme of the novel centers on those two topics while tying in to the speculations on Artificial Intelligence. However, the novel is not perfect. The Adolescence of P-1 was written by and for those in the nascent computer industry of the mid 70's, an intensely male-dominated industry. As a result, the female character in the novel (the hero's girlfriend) seems a bit oversexed for reality, especially in the beginning. I read through the cheesy, unrealistic dialog and laughed at its wackiness. It seems as if the author dreamed desperately about a woman like this, and had to write her in somehow. Or Ryan might have done a little satire on the flat characters of pop culture by putting one in his novel. But I wouldn't rule out the first possibility. Later, however, when the plot's theme broadens to encompass the more philosophical scope of humanity, she is portrayed as the vital feminine counterpart to the hero. I think of myself as quite the computer buff, with a comprehensive knowledge of the computer industry and its technological history. However, in my short 17 years of age, I had never encountered the level of computer competence that this book demands. The actual technology described in the book is ancient. Although the author clearly explains the concepts that are required for believability, a few explanations cover too much depth and move too quickly for any normal reader to follow. But I thoroughly enjoyed the book despite these minor setbacks. Ah, the wit of a computer geek.
Rating:
Summary: The Adolescence of P-1
Review: Who would of thought that a simple mathmatic paper about how to teach match boxes to win "tic-tac-toe" would lead to the demise of a program's programmer attacking the IBM supervisor!
Rating:
Summary: The Adolescence of P-1
Review: Who would of thought that a simple mathmatic paper about how to teach match boxes to win "tic-tac-toe" would lead to the demise of a program's programmer attacking the IBM supervisor!
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