Rating: 
Summary: Philip K. Dick meets Arthur C. Clarke
Review: This book seems largely an attempt to explain Rucker's ideas about using artificial evolution to create artificial intelligence--the same scientific ideas that underlie his Software trilogy, but here presented in a much more "realistic" setting. I prefer the surrealism of Software (which also packs more of a philosophic punch) but I did enjoy reading this book--as much for the slacker main character as for the AI inspired plot--and would recommend it over Software for those who are mainly concerned about the science in their science fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: This is the perfect book for learning about the Internet.
Review: This book taught me more about the Internet and Web when I first read it in 1994 than any other book, magazine or article. In 1999, the "science fiction" in it has largely become reality, while other parts of it will hit the market in the near future.When the paperback comes out, I will buy many copies to share with older friends who seem "afraid" of the Net. I also recommend the book for literature classes at both the high school and college level. The blend of science with human reality is mature and sophisticated, making the novel crossover from sci-fi to literature.
Rating:
Summary: A very realistic cyberpunk novel.
Review: This novel is much more realistic than William Gibson or Neal Stephenson, at least in the cyberspacial aspect of the book. The timeline of the book seems to be just one or two decades in the future, and although the robots maybe doesn't seem so realistic, the plot and the hacking, which I consider utterly realistic, more than compensates for it. The protagonist, Jerzy Rugby, is, compared to other cyberpunk novels, very vivid and detailed, probably because Rucker chose to write in 1st person perspective. The conspiracy reminds me of some similar American movies, and it is clear that Rucker knows quite a lot about computers. This is the most realistic cyberpunk novel that I've read, and I think that you should do the same.
Rating:
Summary: This is the perfect book for learning about the Internet.
Review: Well, I didn't really hate it. After reading others by this author, I snapped up the Hacker & the Ants when I saw it. I finished it only because it kept seeming capable of being redeemed. It wasn't. I was very disappointed. Looking at the publication dates of this and his others will tell you all you need to know.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved the -ware books; hated this one.
Review: Well, I didn't really hate it. After reading others by this author, I snapped up the Hacker & the Ants when I saw it. I finished it only because it kept seeming capable of being redeemed. It wasn't. I was very disappointed. Looking at the publication dates of this and his others will tell you all you need to know.
Rating:
Summary: Geeky fun
Review: What happens when man creates an inorganic self-sustaining entity that has the ability to evolve into a higher level of existence? What happens when the bugs come out to play? Rucker has some interesting answers to the questions. Enter Jerzy Rugby, hacker, and Studly, his pet project, er, robot. From the book: <><>
Studly came wheeling up to me. "I think we should leave very soon, Jerzy," said he. I noticed that Studly's pincer was dark and wet. I peered closer. Blood. "Where's the dog?" "I dragged him behind the Vos' house." "You killed him?" "It seems so. I poked very hard at his neck and the material of the animal's skin gave way." "You've ... you've killed something, Studly! You aren't ever supposed to kill!" "I was only defending you and your friends." "Oh brother. I have to go back inside for a few minutes before we leave. Meanwhile I want you to drag that poor dog's body to the yard behind its own house. And then you get in the trunk of my car and close the trunk, you hear?" "To hear is to obey, Master." "Oh, and one more thing. What did you feed into the Fibernet back there, Studly?" "GoMotion ants."
<><> HACKER is technically superior to NEUROMANCER by William Gibson. Where Gibson describes "ice", visual representations of software barriers in a computer system, Rucker dabbles a bit more carefully and realistically in virtual scenes. I enjoyed the variety of characters that play throughout his story. Rucker's SciFi writing has matured from his early works, SOFTWARE and WETWARE (now published in a single volume, LIVE ROBOTS). Understand that the man is a mathematician, having peered into infinity and returned to write about it; his writings on four dimensional geometry are a work of genius. THE HACKER AND THE ANTS is good fun. The technology is Earth 20 years or so from now, perhaps even less. The story moves well, and it is relevant with regard to the current computer revolution. I enjoyed reading it, a personal recommendation indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Geeky fun
Review: What happens when man creates an inorganic self-sustaining entity that has the ability to evolve into a higher level of existence? What happens when the bugs come out to play? Rucker has some interesting answers to the questions. Enter Jerzy Rugby, hacker, and Studly, his pet project, er, robot. From the book: <><>
Studly came wheeling up to me. "I think we should leave very soon, Jerzy," said he. I noticed that Studly's pincer was dark and wet. I peered closer. Blood. "Where's the dog?" "I dragged him behind the Vos' house." "You killed him?" "It seems so. I poked very hard at his neck and the material of the animal's skin gave way." "You've ... you've killed something, Studly! You aren't ever supposed to kill!" "I was only defending you and your friends." "Oh brother. I have to go back inside for a few minutes before we leave. Meanwhile I want you to drag that poor dog's body to the yard behind its own house. And then you get in the trunk of my car and close the trunk, you hear?" "To hear is to obey, Master." "Oh, and one more thing. What did you feed into the Fibernet back there, Studly?" "GoMotion ants."
<><> HACKER is technically superior to NEUROMANCER by William Gibson. Where Gibson describes "ice", visual representations of software barriers in a computer system, Rucker dabbles a bit more carefully and realistically in virtual scenes. I enjoyed the variety of characters that play throughout his story. Rucker's SciFi writing has matured from his early works, SOFTWARE and WETWARE (now published in a single volume, LIVE ROBOTS). Understand that the man is a mathematician, having peered into infinity and returned to write about it; his writings on four dimensional geometry are a work of genius. THE HACKER AND THE ANTS is good fun. The technology is Earth 20 years or so from now, perhaps even less. The story moves well, and it is relevant with regard to the current computer revolution. I enjoyed reading it, a personal recommendation indeed.
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