Helpful Score: 7
This is a bit different from Dan Brown's other books but of a similar theme. It is exciting and suspenseful, and I really enjoyed it.
Helpful Score: 7
Much better than my first Dan Brown read (DaVinci Code)! Writing is decent, there is a fast moving plot with several twists throughout.
Helpful Score: 6
Very interesting book that makes you think. Dan Brown really knows how to scare you!
Helpful Score: 5
woo hoo, what a page turner! Fast paced and keept me guessing all the way through. I have recomended this book to many readers!
Helpful Score: 5
Excellent thriller! I loved the twists and turns--a real page turner!
Helpful Score: 4
A surprisingly good thriller. My first Dan Brown read, and now I want to reader The Da Vinci Code. My dughter gave me the book, and at first I was little interested, due to the "Digital" word in the title. Highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 3
This was a good book, but I have actually read better. I did not expect a few of the turns, though.
Helpful Score: 3
Picked this off my shelf yesterday morning, 'cause I was kind of in the mood for a dumb, light thriller. And I had recently read a review where someone had said that they had "learned a lot" about Internet privacy and cryptography from the book. So, even though I hadn't really liked Brown's 2 other novels, I figured I'd give it a go.
Well, it was dumb.
You one thing that always annoys me? When an author goes out of his way to tell you that his heroes are gorgeous, fit/muscular, and at a genius-level of intellectual brilliance - but then they don't do anything to prove it.
Another thing that annoys me? Boring, unresearched stereotypes. In this book, it's the people of Spain (in general), and punk rockers. The punks were so bad I was actually laughing. It was worse than sitcoms from the 80's where it was trendy to have an episode featuring those stupid, dangerous, drug-using punks for a while. Seriously.
Oh, and there's nothing about codes or security in it that the average Internet user or person who read a book on codes as a kid doesn't know. If you have no idea what PGP is AT ALL, go for it.
There's also a bunch of total crapola about how the government NEEDS to be able to read everyone's e-mail to defeat all the insidious plots against us, and snide comments about how silly it is that housewives are worried about the government stealing their top-secret recipes. And references to civil rights activists as "fanatics." Rather offensive, really.
To give it its fair due, the denouement was fairly exciting.
But if you're interested in finding out about computer security, read Neal Stephenson's "Cryptonomicon." Now that's a good book.
Well, it was dumb.
You one thing that always annoys me? When an author goes out of his way to tell you that his heroes are gorgeous, fit/muscular, and at a genius-level of intellectual brilliance - but then they don't do anything to prove it.
Another thing that annoys me? Boring, unresearched stereotypes. In this book, it's the people of Spain (in general), and punk rockers. The punks were so bad I was actually laughing. It was worse than sitcoms from the 80's where it was trendy to have an episode featuring those stupid, dangerous, drug-using punks for a while. Seriously.
Oh, and there's nothing about codes or security in it that the average Internet user or person who read a book on codes as a kid doesn't know. If you have no idea what PGP is AT ALL, go for it.
There's also a bunch of total crapola about how the government NEEDS to be able to read everyone's e-mail to defeat all the insidious plots against us, and snide comments about how silly it is that housewives are worried about the government stealing their top-secret recipes. And references to civil rights activists as "fanatics." Rather offensive, really.
To give it its fair due, the denouement was fairly exciting.
But if you're interested in finding out about computer security, read Neal Stephenson's "Cryptonomicon." Now that's a good book.
Helpful Score: 3
It was good enough to keep me reading, but seemed to go on and on. Outdated on computer security.
Helpful Score: 3
I actually enjoyed this more than the DaVinci Code. Highly recommended for suspense fans.
Helpful Score: 2
Very similar to his other books. A great, suspensful read.
Helpful Score: 2
Suspense for even those that are not computer gurus. Brown weaves a story of believable intrigue about what our bureaucrats in D.C. are doing reading our email and listening to our cell phones.
Helpful Score: 2
This was the first of Brown's novels I had read, and it looks likely to be my last. The characters were as flat as pancakes and not especially believable, Brown's treatment of the technology shallow and uninteresting, and the sadistic coworker villain straight from central casting. Next!
Check out Neal Stephenson's tome "Cryptonomicon" for a good novel with cryptography as a plot element.
Check out Neal Stephenson's tome "Cryptonomicon" for a good novel with cryptography as a plot element.
Helpful Score: 2
Not my favorite Dan Brown, but still kept my interest.
Helpful Score: 2
Slow moving at first. Pretty good. Definite twist near the end.
Helpful Score: 2
My least favorite Dan Brown novel. A good read, however not a page turner.
Helpful Score: 2
Fast-paced, quick chapters, same style as his other novels. I am in the Software profession so I particularly enjoyed this plot unfolding.
Helpful Score: 2
Couldn't put it down. Fast-paced, page turner, stay-up-all-night kind of read.
Helpful Score: 2
Very good book, you can't resist to read on. It has the atmosphere of movies like The Sum Of All Fears, with high level conspiracies and some action...
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book as I did all Dan Brown books. I would buy any new book by him.
Helpful Score: 2
Great Read, The action was flowing at a steady rate, All happing in one day. And there was a little twist at the end which was rather unique.
Helpful Score: 2
A Thriller that will make you consider the computer and what trouble it can bring..............
Helpful Score: 2
Full of twists and turns, keeps you on the edge of your seat, not knowing what will happen next.
Helpful Score: 2
Warning: if you know how physical and computer security works, your ability to suspend disbelief will be sorely tested. In particular, the idea of where the main computer core's power supply should be.
Still a fun read, and for me, funny.
Still a fun read, and for me, funny.
Helpful Score: 2
Not an Angels & Demons or Da Vinci Code, but entertaining nonetheless.
Helpful Score: 2
Suspence. NSA calls its head cryptographer uncovers information that sends shock waves through the corridors of power. A real techno-thriller!
Helpful Score: 2
This is a pretty good book even tho it got off to a slow start for me. But it doesn't compare to DaVinci Code.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was good, not great, but good.
Helpful Score: 1
Typical Dan Brown mystery, about a code that needs to be broken. I liked it.
Helpful Score: 1
It's ok. An enjoyable read.
Helpful Score: 1
Dan Brown's brilliant mind is evident again!
Helpful Score: 1
Extremely fast read. Hard to put down.
Helpful Score: 1
One of Dan Brown's best. Bestselling author of The DaVInci Code has done it again. A thriller that is truly believable and may be his next movie mystery. Susan Fletcher battles to save the NSA's reputation and it's invinciblel code-breaking machine. A must read if you love Dan Brown's work.
Helpful Score: 1
could it happen? read it and find out
Helpful Score: 1
NSA's codebreaking machine runs into an unbreakable code. Politics and death follow the heroine and her lover as they unravel mayhem.
Helpful Score: 1
Sat on my shelf for a year; thought it might be too "techie" for me. It wasn't - what a great thriller. The pace never lets up! Highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 1
Definitely a thriller and a fun read!
Helpful Score: 1
Another Dan Brown novel. This one about esionage, a little romance, some mystery, and throw in some computer tech stuff and you have a good book. I am no techie but have used computers since the 1970's and some of his reasonings seemed doubtful to me, but that didn't ruin my enjoying the intrigue.
Helpful Score: 1
great if you like to enjoy reading
Helpful Score: 1
Great Book!!
Helpful Score: 1
When the NSA's invincible code breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptograper, Susan Fletcher, a brillant and beautiful mathematician. She discovers that the NSA is being held hostage by a code so complex that it could cripple US intelligence.
Helpful Score: 1
Thrilling book! Great read!
Helpful Score: 1
Not a bad read. It seems to me that in most Dan Brown books that there seems to be similar characters. In this book, the characters weren't as strong as in Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code. But all in all a good book.
Helpful Score: 1
who doesn't love a Dan Brown book? i hope this is the next to be put into movie production...
Helpful Score: 1
This is better than the Davinci Code and just as good as Angles and Demons.
Helpful Score: 1
Dan Brown really knows how to sweep you off into the adventure and suspense promptly and sustains throughout book. Loved this one
Helpful Score: 1
I love Dan Brown but this is just an ok book. It's interesting but the subject matter (digital code breaking) was not as enthralling as his other books.
Helpful Score: 1
I didn't like this as well as The DaVinci Code or Angels and Demons, but it was still an interesting read
Helpful Score: 1
A good quick read with some good suspense.
Helpful Score: 1
If you liked the the DaVinci Code, Angels and Demons, and deception point, youll like this one :)
Helpful Score: 1
Good reading from Dan Brown.
Helpful Score: 1
So interesting - I couldn't put it down.
Helpful Score: 1
following suit with dan brown books, i could not put this computer thriller down
Helpful Score: 1
I love the way this guy writes! His chapters are short, with great page turners and the story is fantastic. You will love this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Code-breaking techno-thriller worth a read by the same author of The Da Vinci Code.
Helpful Score: 1
I found this to be a poorly-written book. The characters were cardboard-like cliches. The plot was not only unbelieveable, but obvious, and the characters -- who were supposedly intelligent experts -- were unable to figure out the simplest clues and puzzles. But for the fact that "The DaVinci Code" was a best-seller, this book would have rightfully remained unknown and unread.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was pretty good. It wasn't as good as The DaVinci Code or Angels and Demons, but worth a read.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was just okay. I found a lot of it very predictable and formulaic. It was a good read for an airplane trip though. The Da Vinci Code was better.
Helpful Score: 1
Obviously an early work. If one is able to suspend disbelief (especially about the technical details) this book may be enjoyable.
Helpful Score: 1
An excellent mystery/thriller about the cyber world from the Da Vinci Code author.
Helpful Score: 1
Unbreakable code threatens NSA and the security of the entire US. Earlier book by the author of the DaVinci Code.
Helpful Score: 1
Some parts were too technical. I just skimmed over those. Sometimes it was very predictable, but overall the story was interesting, fast-paced, and very enjoyable.
Helpful Score: 1
An imaginative and absorbing story.
Helpful Score: 1
An entertaining read; well-worth an afternoon.
The National Security Agency (NSA) is one setting for this exciting thriller; the other is Seville, where on page 1 the protagonist, lately dismissed from NSA, drops dead of a supposed heart attack. Though dead, he enjoys a dramaturgical afterlife in the form of his computer program. Digital Fortress creates unbreakable codes, which could render useless NSA's code-cracking supercomputer called TRANSLTR, but the deceased programmer slyly embossed a decryption key on a ring he wore. Pursuit of this ring is the engine of the plot. NSA cryptology boss Trevor Strathmore dispatches linguist Dave Becker to recover the ring, while he and Becker's lover, senior code-cracker Susan Fletcher, ponder the vulnerability of TRANSLTR. In Seville, over-the-top chase scenes abound; meanwhile, the critical events unfold at NSA. In a crescendo of murder, infernos, and explosions, it emerges that Strathmore has as agenda that goes beyond breaching Digital Fortress, and Brown's skill at hinting and concealing Strathmore's deceit will rivet cyber-minded readers.
The National Security Agency (NSA) is one setting for this exciting thriller; the other is Seville, where on page 1 the protagonist, lately dismissed from NSA, drops dead of a supposed heart attack. Though dead, he enjoys a dramaturgical afterlife in the form of his computer program. Digital Fortress creates unbreakable codes, which could render useless NSA's code-cracking supercomputer called TRANSLTR, but the deceased programmer slyly embossed a decryption key on a ring he wore. Pursuit of this ring is the engine of the plot. NSA cryptology boss Trevor Strathmore dispatches linguist Dave Becker to recover the ring, while he and Becker's lover, senior code-cracker Susan Fletcher, ponder the vulnerability of TRANSLTR. In Seville, over-the-top chase scenes abound; meanwhile, the critical events unfold at NSA. In a crescendo of murder, infernos, and explosions, it emerges that Strathmore has as agenda that goes beyond breaching Digital Fortress, and Brown's skill at hinting and concealing Strathmore's deceit will rivet cyber-minded readers.
Helpful Score: 1
It's OK but somewhat unbelievable.
Helpful Score: 1
as all of his books this is great
Helpful Score: 1
a race against time to break a code to keep all the secrets at NSA
Helpful Score: 1
excellent! a real page-turner.
Helpful Score: 1
Another great Dan Brown book!
Helpful Score: 1
More fast paced action from the author of "The Da Vinci Code".
Helpful Score: 1
Another awesome book from the Davinchi code
Helpful Score: 1
Another great thriller from Dan Brown! I would give it 4 stars!
It is about a code-breaking machine that the NSA has that encounters a code it cannot break. Susan Fletcher, a beautiful "head cryptographer", uncovers information that will send shock waves through the "corridors of power". A code so ingenious that it could cripple US intelligence. Susan Fletcher finds herself caught in the middle of secrecy and lies and feels betrayed on all sides. She finds herself fighting for her country and her life, and also for the life of the man she loves!
EXCELLENT!!
It is about a code-breaking machine that the NSA has that encounters a code it cannot break. Susan Fletcher, a beautiful "head cryptographer", uncovers information that will send shock waves through the "corridors of power". A code so ingenious that it could cripple US intelligence. Susan Fletcher finds herself caught in the middle of secrecy and lies and feels betrayed on all sides. She finds herself fighting for her country and her life, and also for the life of the man she loves!
EXCELLENT!!
Helpful Score: 1
Although it was interesting to read a book that involved the topic of "spying" on the public during a time that the topic is so hot in the news...I did find the book to be a bit predictable and the characters seemed flat to me.
Helpful Score: 1
Alot better than Davinci Code.
Helpful Score: 1
A good read. Very techno-computer based thriller, but you don't have to be a techie to keep up with it.
Helpful Score: 1
Red Hot Dan Brown. This would help you understand a little more about NSA.
Helpful Score: 1
Exciting read, I enjoyed it.
Helpful Score: 1
LOVED IT! A real page turner!
Helpful Score: 1
My husband read this book and enjoyed it.
Helpful Score: 1
Literary critics may not like Dan Brown, but I'm not a book snob yet. The book is fun, fast and difficult to put down. Yes ... there were a few times when I sat there knowing the answer before the characters ... frustrating since I don't have the education level they do, but overall, it was a compelling story, and an interesting morale tale, especially during these times when personal privacy no longer seems to be a given right. Enjoy!
Helpful Score: 1
Not as good as Angels and Demons. A lot of computer technical wording. Overall though, very good read.
Helpful Score: 1
A rollicking good read with interesting subject matter. The field of crypography makes for some intriguing plot twists in this dramatic story.
Helpful Score: 1
I will admit that this book didn't really catch my attention until I had gotten halfway through it. Once I hit that half, however, I couldn't put it down until I finished it! The ending kept having all sorts of fun endings you aren't expecting.
Helpful Score: 1
Fairly standard cyberspytechnoconspiracythriller. At its best when the plot is speeding along; at its worst when it's being heavyhanded on the "this could really happen" stuff. A decent read, in the end, but not all that memorable.
Helpful Score: 1
Really enjoyed this book. Leaves you hanging till the very end.
Helpful Score: 1
Fast Read...not as good as Davinci
Helpful Score: 1
I love Dan Brown..this book is a great read with all sorts of twists and turns.
This book is about a code-breaking machine with a code that it can not break..enter a brilliant (and beautiful) mathematician who is the NSA's head cryptographer. She discovers that the NSA is being held hostage by a code that could cripple U.S. intelligence. She gets caught up in secrets, lies and betrayals during her investigation; and finds herself fighting for her life and the life of the man she loves.
I loved this book..couldn't put it down..I know my little description does NOT do it justice.
This book is about a code-breaking machine with a code that it can not break..enter a brilliant (and beautiful) mathematician who is the NSA's head cryptographer. She discovers that the NSA is being held hostage by a code that could cripple U.S. intelligence. She gets caught up in secrets, lies and betrayals during her investigation; and finds herself fighting for her life and the life of the man she loves.
I loved this book..couldn't put it down..I know my little description does NOT do it justice.
Helpful Score: 1
Not as good as his other three - a little bit slow to start but still a great read
Helpful Score: 1
If you know nothing about computers or computer networks this can be a fun read. If you do have some knowledge of how computers work AND you have a strong ability to suspend disbelief then you too can enjoy this thriller. Yet if you can't forgive their proposterous view of how computer network function then you may want to skip it. This is NOT a "Da Vinci Code" or "Angels and Demons". It most similar to is "Deception Point" style.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent read. A real page turner.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the kind of story you hope isn't true but somehow you can't help thinking it might be. Interesting 'Big Brother' tale with good action and lot's of twist and turns.
Helpful Score: 1
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head crytographer, Susan Fletcher. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage--not by guns or bombs, but by a code so ingeniously complex that it released it would cripple US intelligence. Susan finds herself fighting not only for her country but also for her life and for the life of the man she loves.
Helpful Score: 1
By the author of The DaVinci Code. Page turning thriller.
Helpful Score: 1
A fun read for someone who's not too technical. Unfortunately, I'm an IT Professional and I was really rolling my eyes at times. An enjoyable read regardless, typical fast moving Dan Brown book.
Helpful Score: 1
Another by Dan Brown, as only Dan Brown can write.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a good book. It was very techno.
Helpful Score: 1
Good Brown book, but not nearly as good as his later books
Helpful Score: 1
This is the third Dan Brown book I've read (also read The Da Vinci Code, and Angels and Demons) and it's my favourite thus far. Kept me interested and intrigued the whole way thru - I had trouble putting it down. This is something that I'll probably re-read down the road which is unusual for me.
Helpful Score: 1
I didn't think this book was as good as Dan Brown's other books.
Helpful Score: 1
A better novel than The Davinci Code
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent book, up to his standards but different than his religious books.
Helpful Score: 1
Fast-paced and fun to read. I enjoyed this book.
Helpful Score: 1
One of my favorite books, Dan Brown is such an amazing author!
Helpful Score: 1
A techno-thriller. Not as good as Brown's other novels, but still an interesting read.
Helpful Score: 1
Page-turner, fast-paced, classic Dan Brown!
Helpful Score: 1
Another you can't put down Brown.
Helpful Score: 1
A very complex novel. It is a thinking book!
Helpful Score: 1
A cyber thriller that even keeps a non-cyber fan going.
Helpful Score: 1
David Pogue, Macworld Magazine
A thriller is only as thrilling as it is real, and if Dan Brown's gut-churning story were any realer, its plot turns would hurl you against the wall.
Don Ulsch, Managing Director, the National Security Institute
You are not going to forget Dan Brown! Comparisons of Brown to Tom Clancy are inevitable and justified. What Clancy has written so convincingly about the CIA and the FBI, Brown has accomplished masterfully for the secretive National Security Agency in "Digital Fortress". Dan Brown has crafted a powerful and memorable novel that is alive and kicking with intrigue, covert action, and more twists and turns than the NSA has underground bunkers.
A thriller is only as thrilling as it is real, and if Dan Brown's gut-churning story were any realer, its plot turns would hurl you against the wall.
Don Ulsch, Managing Director, the National Security Institute
You are not going to forget Dan Brown! Comparisons of Brown to Tom Clancy are inevitable and justified. What Clancy has written so convincingly about the CIA and the FBI, Brown has accomplished masterfully for the secretive National Security Agency in "Digital Fortress". Dan Brown has crafted a powerful and memorable novel that is alive and kicking with intrigue, covert action, and more twists and turns than the NSA has underground bunkers.
Helpful Score: 1
Written by Dan Brown, the author of the bestselling Da Vinci Code, but with a very different story line. "When the NSA's invincible code breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician". It's great airplane reading I can vouch for that! This book is i excellent condition having been read one time on the plane! A real page turner with unexpected twists and turns.
According to Publisher's Weekly, "In this fast paced, plausible tale, Brown blurs the line between good and evil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike."
According to Publisher's Weekly, "In this fast paced, plausible tale, Brown blurs the line between good and evil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike."
Helpful Score: 1
A very gripping book about codes and code-breaking. It keeps twisting as you think you figure it out - a great page-turner!
Helpful Score: 1
This book is a very fast read about computer codes and server challenges and office relationships. I could see if becoming an action film. An enjoyable read!
Helpful Score: 1
I did not enjoy this one, horrible writing and completely predictable. This one is in a whole different league than Da Vinci and Angels.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book!
Helpful Score: 1
Being a kind of geek this book kept me sucked in from the front cover to the back. Some interesting technical stuff that seems plausible, and a good bit of suspense. One of those you have a tough time putting down.
Helpful Score: 1
A real page turner...I really enjoyed this.
Helpful Score: 1
Another exciting book from Dan Brown.
Helpful Score: 1
If you enjoy technology, you will love this one. Exciting from beginning to end.
Helpful Score: 1
Gripping, much like Brown's other novels.
Helpful Score: 1
Although it's not the DaVinci Code, this one held my attention pretty well.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent thriller! Dan Brown does it again!
Helpful Score: 1
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a real page turner!!! Worth reading again and again. If you like Davinci Code you'll love Digital Fortress
Helpful Score: 1
Lots of computer-geek language but not so much as to make it boring or difficult to read. Classified as a "Techno-Thriller" the plot is complicated with many twists. The writing will keep you on the edge of your seat and you won't want to put it down.
Helpful Score: 1
In this fast-paced, plausible tale, Brown blurs the line between good and evil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike.
Helpful Score: 1
A good read--although I liked his "Angels and Demons" and "Da Vinci Code" better. About a third of the way into it,I realized I had already read it--perhaps in 1998 when it was new. I couldn't remember the ending, so I finished it.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a good one.
Helpful Score: 1
Not as good as Angels and Demons or The DaVinci Code but still a thrilling page turner.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was a little slow at first, but turned out to be REALLy interesting and I couldn't put it down! Same guy who wrote the Divinci Code.
Helpful Score: 1
So-so. Predictable and too many coincidences - not up to his usual.
Helpful Score: 1
Best of all Dan Brown books!
Helpful Score: 1
Another great book by Dan Brown.
Helpful Score: 1
If you like DaVinci you will love this!
Helpful Score: 1
Very good high tech novel, although different from his previous books I've read.
Helpful Score: 1
(from back cover) When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a birlliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is beain held hostage...not by guns or bombs, but by a code so ingeniously complex that if released it would cripple US intelligence. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Susan Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but also for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent book. If you loved other Dan Brown books you will enjoy this one.
Helpful Score: 1
Smart thrills is right. Dan Brown is a true master.
Helpful Score: 1
In most thrillers, "hardware" consists of big guns, airplanes, military vehicles, and weapons that make things explode. Dan Brown has written a thriller for those of us who like our hardware with disc drives and who rate our heroes by big brainpower rather than big firepower. It's an Internet user's spy novel where the good guys and bad guys struggle over secrets somewhat more intellectual than just where the secret formula is hidden--they have to gain understanding of what the secret formula actually is.
In this case, the secret formula is a new means of encryption, capable of changing the balance of international power. Part of the fun is that the book takes the reader along into an understanding of encryption technologies. You'll find yourself better understanding the political battles over such real-life technologies as the Clipper Chip and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software even though the book looks at the issues through the eyes of fiction.
Although there's enough globehopping in this book for James Bond, the real battleground is cyberspace, because that's where the "bomb" (or rather, the new encryption algorithm) will explode. Yes, there are a few flaws in the plot if you look too closely, but the cleverness and the sheer fun of it all more than make up for them. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and a lot of high, gee-whiz-level information about encryption, code breaking, and the role they play in international politics. Set aside the whole afternoon and evening for it and have finger food on hand for supper--you may want to read this one straight through. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
David Pogue, Macworld Magazine
A thriller is only as thrilling as it is real, and if Dan Brown's gut-churning story were any realer, its plot turns would hurl you against the wall.
In this case, the secret formula is a new means of encryption, capable of changing the balance of international power. Part of the fun is that the book takes the reader along into an understanding of encryption technologies. You'll find yourself better understanding the political battles over such real-life technologies as the Clipper Chip and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software even though the book looks at the issues through the eyes of fiction.
Although there's enough globehopping in this book for James Bond, the real battleground is cyberspace, because that's where the "bomb" (or rather, the new encryption algorithm) will explode. Yes, there are a few flaws in the plot if you look too closely, but the cleverness and the sheer fun of it all more than make up for them. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and a lot of high, gee-whiz-level information about encryption, code breaking, and the role they play in international politics. Set aside the whole afternoon and evening for it and have finger food on hand for supper--you may want to read this one straight through. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
David Pogue, Macworld Magazine
A thriller is only as thrilling as it is real, and if Dan Brown's gut-churning story were any realer, its plot turns would hurl you against the wall.
Helpful Score: 1
A real thriller. A great twist in the end.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the original Dan Brown - pre DaVinci Code and the hype. This book is a true techno-thriller for those up to an intellectual cat and mouse chase. Hop on for a great ride!
Helpful Score: 1
Not his best, but if you are computer-savy, you will find it interesting anyway.
Enjoyed this very much! Fast Paced thriller...
Helpful Score: 1
Rating 2 out of 5 stars. Angels and Demons and the Davinci Code far exceeded Digital Fortress.
Helpful Score: 1
Not as good as his other books but Ive read worse.
Helpful Score: 1
It is a thriller, but there are a couple of areas where I felt like his research was perhaps a bit spotty. I also have trouble with his idea that one governmental agency could justify a need to have access to all information concerning its citizens, while denying that information to the world at large.
Helpful Score: 1
This book kept me going until the very end. Full of twists and turns, a great read!
Helpful Score: 1
I've read four Dan Brown novels to date, including, of course, The da Vinci Code, and, so far, this book is my favorite. A page turner!
Helpful Score: 1
A good read. Some exciting parts definitely.
Helpful Score: 1
Being a computer geek, I thought this one was awesome!
Helpful Score: 1
This is not Dan Brown's best work. You should read it only if you're a Dan Brown fan, and want to say you've read them all.
Helpful Score: 1
"In this fast-paced, plausible tale, Brown blurs the line between good and evil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike." Publishers Weekly
Helpful Score: 1
Another good one by Brown.
Helpful Score: 1
When NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher.
Helpful Score: 1
His first novel. Not as good as the Davinci Code but still a thriller
Helpful Score: 1
The ultimate code - it's powerful, dangerous and unbreakable. A realistic techno-thriller by the author of the Da Vinci Code.
Helpful Score: 1
A technothrillerwith an intense plot.
Excellent read
Helpful Score: 1
A fast paced thriller/mystery. A good read.
Helpful Score: 1
Not one of Dan Brown's better books. From his offensive ideas about government spying (women are worried about someone reading their recipes? Really? As if that's all women e-mail each other about) to his predictable ending, this book was poorly written and poorly thought out. And the secret code everyone was fussing over? I figured it out several pages before the "super smart" characters did.
Not an intelligent read.
Not an intelligent read.
Helpful Score: 1
Good book. engaging and interesting.
Helpful Score: 1
Whent he National Security Agency runs into an unbreakable code everything starts to go bad. The head cryptographer, Susan, and her fiancee' David are in for a wild ride and there is a time limit on both of them. Can she decode the final encryption of Enai Tankado in time to save the NSA's super computer? Very good read and it definitely sparks alot of questions about what type of security our government really does have.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is vintage Dan Brown although not as fast paced as his Angels and Demons or DaVinci Code. It is every bit as scientifically fascinating and riveting!
Helpful Score: 1
This is a really good read. It took me about 100 pages in till I couldn't put it down and from there it kept me guessing till the last few chapters of the book. I really liked the quotes and ideals in this book. This author is great!
Wow, what a page-turner! This book is very action-packed. I often found my heart pounding. This book isn't meant to be a computer manual or a science book. Even though the science may be "out of date", the story isn't. It deals with the very real threat of cyber-terrorism and what measures are used to combat it. I happen to be for the Patriot Act, but whether you are for or against this policy, you will find that this book suits your politics.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a great ook, keeps you on your seat.
Helpful Score: 1
What an amazing heroine in this book! I was so thrilled reading the story as the plot unfolded. Moral of the story, go with your gut, intuition!
Helpful Score: 1
One of Dan Brown's (The Da Vinci Code) earlier stories. This one is about codebreaking and the NSA. Dan Brown's typical intellectual thriller.
Helpful Score: 1
Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Those interested in code-breaking,computer security will surely enjoy this book.
Helpful Score: 1
This was one of the most exciting books I have ever read. It never let up from the very beginning to end. I was at the edge of my seat and reading frantically. Highly recommended to anyone who loves a great, very satisfying thriller.
Helpful Score: 1
A good read, but willing suspension of disbelief is difficult if you are a software/hardware developer.
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book and as this is my third Dan Brown book, I can now say that I truly enjoy his writing style. I love how nearly every chapter is from a different point-of-view (keeps alternating between 3-4 main characters/plot situations). There are tons of twists and JUST when you think you know what's going to happen, BAM... he changes it on you! I also love how Dan Brown fleshes out the characters and how even a one page minor character will get a back-story. It makes the characters seem more realistic and that they exist for a purpose. I would highly recommend this book.
Helpful Score: 1
very good book. I truly enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to others.
Helpful Score: 1
One of Dan Brown's better books. But than I am more computer science savvy, than DaVinci curious.
Mrs. B,.
Mrs. B,.
Helpful Score: 1
Another fast-paced, Dan Brown thriller, Digital Fortress is a good read, based on a breach of the National Security Agency's code breaking machine and the consequent adventures of its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher and her super-resourceful, self-effacing, crafty linguist fiancee, David Becker as they try to save the day!
Helpful Score: 1
Predictable. Over the top. Contrived. Not nearly as enveloping as Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons. Disappointing.
2 stars out of 5
2 stars out of 5
Helpful Score: 1
I'm a big fan of both "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons," and I also love any suspense thriller that is set in the government, code breaking, etc. This is Dan Brown's first book, and you can certainly tell. Did it have suspense? Kind of. Was it thrilling? I guess. Did I feel like maybe I should have read it in 1998 when it was first written instead of in 2009, when a lot of technological advancements and gadgets are so completely different than what they were in the '90s? You got it.
This is a book that unfortunately is dated, and also has a lot of fairly stereotypical reasons that seem to propel major characters and their actions. If you don't have a cell phone or know how to use the Internet, this may be the book for you to read nowadays. If you do have the cell phone and know what Google Earth is, and definitely what a blog is, then this is not the book to read in 2009.
This is a book that unfortunately is dated, and also has a lot of fairly stereotypical reasons that seem to propel major characters and their actions. If you don't have a cell phone or know how to use the Internet, this may be the book for you to read nowadays. If you do have the cell phone and know what Google Earth is, and definitely what a blog is, then this is not the book to read in 2009.
Helpful Score: 1
eh. Was not impressed. I felt is drrraaagggeeedd. Also, the female character...stereotyped much? I feel Dan got pretty sexist when writing her. Not for feminists.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a most excellent suspense/thriller that kept me reading. I never wanted to put it down. If you liked the DaVinci Code and Demons & Angels, then you'll love this too!
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent!!! I love Dan Brown and everything he's written (I've read them all!!)
Helpful Score: 1
Fast-paced thriller about a new mysterious computer code that the government's invincible code-breaking machine can't break. Great read for fans of books like The Da Vinci Code (same author!).
Helpful Score: 1
Not like the Da Vinci Code or Angels & Demons; however I enjoyed it just as much. Hard to put down
Helpful Score: 1
Not his best work, but a good read
Helpful Score: 1
different storyline, interesting plot, recommended.
Helpful Score: 1
Really action packed. It kept me reading well past my bedtime on several nights!
Helpful Score: 1
Dan Brown thriller. Government has a massive code-breaking computer with a perfect record... until a computer genius in encryption unleashes his masterpiece.
Helpful Score: 1
The best Dan Brown book I have read. But I still love them all.
Helpful Score: 1
Another amazing read from the author of the DaVinci Code! This thriller deals with the NSA and an unbreakable code. Many books have predictable plots where you can see what's coming. Digital Fortress keeps you on the edge of your seat and breathless! I read it in one sitting - I couldn't put it down!
Helpful Score: 1
Great story.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent!
Helpful Score: 1
Typical Dan Brown - reads like a movie. A quick, fun read, good for vacations or the beach.
Helpful Score: 1
Techno-thriller about code-breaking and national security.
Helpful Score: 1
"Digital Fortress" is the best and most realistic techno-thriller to reach the market in years. A chilling thrill a minute." -- The Midwest Book Review
"In this fast-paced, plausible tale, Brown blurs the line between good and evil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike." -- Publishers Weekly
"In this fast-paced, plausible tale, Brown blurs the line between good and evil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike." -- Publishers Weekly
Helpful Score: 1
Not as good as Da Vinci Code, but worth the read.
Helpful Score: 1
a definite page turner, but i knew who the bad guy was right away which I hate. No where near as good as Angels and demons.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed the book even though I am not a cyber space buff..it is still easy to understand and enjoyable
Helpful Score: 1
*****A good mystery/thriller from the writer of THE DAVINCI CODE
Helpful Score: 1
I liked the suspense of the whole story until the end when it took the characters far long to crack a fairly obvious code. It is well written and very exciting.
Helpful Score: 1
excellent!!!
Helpful Score: 1
A must for Dan Brown fans. Thoroughly absorbing.
Helpful Score: 1
I really like Dan Brown and, I might be in the minority, but I thought Digital Fortress was just as good, if not better than The Da Vinci Code
Helpful Score: 1
Love Dan Brown. Versatile writer. Nothing like the Da Vinci Code
Helpful Score: 1
Action packed novel with non stop suspense. A good read for any Dan Brown Fan.
Helpful Score: 1
Great suspense.
Helpful Score: 1
Dan Brown seems to have difficulty ending some of his books. They get 3/4 of the way thru, and it seems that he realizes just how long the book is and they take a sharp turn toward the ending. I've found this to be true in every book of his I've read.
Its a bit disconcerting, but does not diminish the overall value of the book.
This is better than Angels and demons and Deception Point. If you liked those, you'll love this one.
Its a bit disconcerting, but does not diminish the overall value of the book.
This is better than Angels and demons and Deception Point. If you liked those, you'll love this one.
Helpful Score: 1
good book
Helpful Score: 1
Quick Read.
Helpful Score: 1
a good techno thriller - liked davinci code better
Helpful Score: 1
A real page-turner with plenty of action.
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful Book! Kept me enthralled from page 1!
Helpful Score: 1
When NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographers, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves throughthe corridors of power.
Helpful Score: 1
Of the 4 Dan Brown books so far, this is one of the two involving the government - not the two with the Church. Hence less controversial - NOBODY trusts the government! :-) It features a DIFFERENT college professor as the action adventure hero (Not Langdon but a linguist rather than symbologist)and has the incredible fast paced constantly-changing action that really keeps tuned in to "Who do I trust now?" A great read, a MUST for anyone interested in codes, (either computer or secrecy) and encryption. Plu I loved it!
Helpful Score: 1
Good early thriller by the author of the DaVinci Code.
Helpful Score: 1
This is an excellent book. Its one of those rapid page turners that you hate to stop reading to do something else. The story is realistic and in tune with current events; i.e. Bush's authorization for intercepting communications and makes you wonder about Big Brother.
Helpful Score: 1
I love Dan Brown. He is one of the best authors I have ever read. I got hooked after I read the Davinci Code. This book is awesome. Its about the NSA, which is really cool to learn about.
Helpful Score: 1
Grabs your attention
Helpful Score: 1
Dan Brown, author of the DaVinci Code, writes a fast paced thriller that blurs the line between good and evil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike.
Helpful Score: 1
Dan Brown is always good
Helpful Score: 1
Very different theme than DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons but this is an entertaining and fast read.
Helpful Score: 1
Dan Brown is a good writer, and this is an interesting concept, but it wasn't my favorite of his.
Helpful Score: 1
Very good read - keeps you interested at all times!
Helpful Score: 1
Digital FortressThe Ultimate code. It's powerful, Dangerous---and unbreakable
Helpful Score: 1
I thought I'd be bored but was drawn in very quickly and had to read it straight through! Ending was a complete surprise to me.
Amazon.com
In most thrillers, "hardware" consists of big guns, airplanes, military vehicles, and weapons that make things explode. Dan Brown has written a thriller for those of us who like our hardware with disc drives and who rate our heroes by big brainpower rather than big firepower. It's an Internet user's spy novel where the good guys and bad guys struggle over secrets somewhat more intellectual than just where the secret formula is hidden--they have to gain understanding of what the secret formula actually is.
In this case, the secret formula is a new means of encryption, capable of changing the balance of international power. Part of the fun is that the book takes the reader along into an understanding of encryption technologies. You'll find yourself better understanding the political battles over such real-life technologies as the Clipper Chip and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software even though the book looks at the issues through the eyes of fiction.
Although there's enough globehopping in this book for James Bond, the real battleground is cyberspace, because that's where the "bomb" (or rather, the new encryption algorithm) will explode. Yes, there are a few flaws in the plot if you look too closely, but the cleverness and the sheer fun of it all more than make up for them. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and a lot of high, gee-whiz-level information about encryption, code breaking, and the role they play in international politics. Set aside the whole afternoon and evening for it and have finger food on hand for supper--you may want to read this one straight through.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Amazon.com
In most thrillers, "hardware" consists of big guns, airplanes, military vehicles, and weapons that make things explode. Dan Brown has written a thriller for those of us who like our hardware with disc drives and who rate our heroes by big brainpower rather than big firepower. It's an Internet user's spy novel where the good guys and bad guys struggle over secrets somewhat more intellectual than just where the secret formula is hidden--they have to gain understanding of what the secret formula actually is.
In this case, the secret formula is a new means of encryption, capable of changing the balance of international power. Part of the fun is that the book takes the reader along into an understanding of encryption technologies. You'll find yourself better understanding the political battles over such real-life technologies as the Clipper Chip and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software even though the book looks at the issues through the eyes of fiction.
Although there's enough globehopping in this book for James Bond, the real battleground is cyberspace, because that's where the "bomb" (or rather, the new encryption algorithm) will explode. Yes, there are a few flaws in the plot if you look too closely, but the cleverness and the sheer fun of it all more than make up for them. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and a lot of high, gee-whiz-level information about encryption, code breaking, and the role they play in international politics. Set aside the whole afternoon and evening for it and have finger food on hand for supper--you may want to read this one straight through.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent subject, excellent author [remember DaVinci Code?]. The Ultimate Code, powerful, dangerous and unbreakable. I read it in 2 sittings.
Helpful Score: 1
Quick read, early Dan Brown thriller!
Helpful Score: 1
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer.... shock waves through the corridors of power...
Helpful Score: 1
another fantastic read by Dan Brown. This book does not involve religion. just plain mystery.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a good, fast, light read. Entertaining.
very good read
One of best action novels every read. Outstanding.
Another phenomenal book by Dan Brown. You are at the edge of your seat when you read this novel as you follow Susan Fletcher at NSA headquarters and David Becker in Seville, Spain. Dan Brown consistently creates suspense and thrill as you the reader are trying to piece together the mystery alongside the book's main characters. Nothing is ever as it seems, and those who seem to be innocent often have a hand in the wrong. Just like Robert Langdon, Susan Fletcher and David Becker are thrown in a situation in which they did not anticipate and their lives are both on the line as they work ferociously to find the pass key to Digital Fortress.
Great read. Moves at a good pace.
After reading The DaVinci Code, I had high hopes of another Dan Brown book with twists and turns on every page. Unfortunately, this book did not reachg my level of expectation. At times, I forced myself to read just to complete it. While there were a few unexpected turns in the book, I didn't really experience any suspense until near the end. I give the book 2 stars based on the last 50 pages. If you really want to read one of Brown's better books, then pick up Deception Point. That one had me reading it while cooking dinner.
Excellent reading if you like computers
This book rocked from the first page to the last. What a wild ride that keeps you guessing and hoping. A great read!!
A good book and good story but not great. Well written but the ending is kinda drawn out and predictable. Looking forward to reading Dan Brown's other works.
Good and fun read. Techies will find the material somewhat outdated and simplified but I guess that's what would make the book appeal to a broader audience. I gave it four stars.
This book was so intense, I could not put it down! That has not happened for me in YEARS. Excellent high-action story!
Interesting, fast paced adventure again from Dan. Liked it but was my least favorite of all his books. Any math/numbers geeks will likely enjoy this one...about code breaking & such. Dan Brown is a great storyteller.
hard to put down!!
Great read!
An intelligent beach read.
A great thriller by the author of The Da Vinci Code
I liked this one better than Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. Looking forward to more from Dan Brown.
SECRECY AND LIES. FACED PACED NATIONAL SECURITY
The ultimate code...it's powerful, dangerous---and unbreakable.In this fast-paced, plausible tale, Brown blurs the line between good and eveil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike. It is the best and most realistic techno-thriller to reach the market in years.
Another great Dan Brown book!
Exciting Dan Brown thriller
If you are looking for a quick, entertaining and suspenseful read, this is your book. While the premise of the story requires a stretch of the reader's suspension of disbelief, the plot is complicated and intricate and stacked with possible endings that keep you engaged throughout.
Very good and suspenseful book by the author of "The Da Vinci Code".
This was an absolutely great book. I could not put it down. It is an easy read and enjoyable.
Implausible dreck.
I did enjoy this book and it was a fast and easy read.
This is a great book, except that it uses the same formula as Dan Brown's other books
A little technical for me but a good story of codebreaking and national security.
Very good read.
I like his other books better.
This book was a definite page turner.
a little bit dated but overall a good read
Digital Fortress is another outstanding Dan Brown novel. Fast paced, highly educational and entertaining. If you want a good read that is full of action and mystery then this is a must read.
reads like a hit action movie
Great book; couldn't put it down. I've just started reading mysteries, and most seem to have the same type of characters invovled (ie FBI, Police, etc.). This was a nice change from that. I would almost say this was also a romantic suspense because of the characters involved, and the ending.
The computer references are very accurate and the problems plaguing the information society in which we live are adequately depicted. Great read!
Not as good as Brown's other books.
Always fun brain candy!
Fans of The Da Vinci Code will enjoy this book.
After Da Vinci Code, just average.
Loved this good. Great until the very end.
While interesting, I must admit to NOT being a Dan Brown fan....Once again cryptographers and the NSA in an accelerating tale... Paws Forever - Maggie
a disturbing, cutting-edge techno-thriller that should galvanize everyone who sends or receives e-mail or even dreams of navigating the web,
Interesting concept. Started out better then it ended.
i think this book is the best one by this over-rated author.
I liked it. I believe it is one of his earlier books, but still has the plot twists and surprises, and the characters seem like real people.
Great thriller! So many twists and turns, you may not see the end till it hits you in the face.
Not nearly the caliber of Da Vinci Code or Angels & Demons, but still a fast paced good read. Certainly will keep you guessing until the end.
another great one by brown!
Great book! Great for tech geeks. Surprisingly complicated ending.
An engaging read - although slightly predictable
Fast read, entertaining.
Too Busy. I am not an IT and after reading this book, I'll Never want to be.
Ironic - busy AND Boring. Do not recommend, unless you are into IT.
Ironic - busy AND Boring. Do not recommend, unless you are into IT.
Liked it, but it lacked the specific details that his later books have. Still worth reading
This is an enjoyable high-tech thriller from the best-selling author of The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons. The story shifts quite frequently between suburban Washington (NSA headquarters) and Spain, so you get the feeling of jump-cuts like in a film. While several of the technology references are certainly outdated (ISDN, Netscape for instance), the story still holds together quite well. If you enjoy Dan Brown's breezy style, and especially if you work in IT or are interested in computer security, Digital Fortress is highly recommended.
The invincible code-breaking machine encounters a code it cannot break. Susan Fletcher is a brilliant and beautiful mathematician called in to help. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, she battles to save the agency she believes in. This book held my attention from page one. It was hard to put down until I finished.
Ultimately a love story but the technological basis of the story kept me riveted until the end. Well written and masterful in content and development of characters and story line. An intense thriller.
This was pretty bad. Nowhere near the excitement, fast pace, deep character development and enthralling nature of "Davinci Code", "Angels and Demons" or "The Lost Symbol". Having thoroughly enjoyed every other novel I've read of Dan Brown, I was left wondering if he truly wrote this. The book could have easily been condensed down to 200 pages. The cheap tricks to induce suspense will have you rolling your eyes and crying out in frustration by the end, and the dialogue is so cheeky and lame it feels like a joke. I was also bummed because each of Brown's novels I've read before have engrossed me in the subject matter, and created an interest in the topics (historical backgrounds and otherwise) he lays out amid the thrilling stories. Not at all the case here. Very little detail was given about the NSA, computer technology and the country's IT security history (though it would probably be very outdated now anyway). Highly disappointed.
great thriller...very fast read...exhilarating!
I personally enjoyed all of Dan Brown's books, this included. He writes great conspiracy/political/mystery type thrillers.
One of Dan Browns Best. Forget the Davinci Code. This Book is PG and won't corrupt the youth. In fact it will appeal to the teen culture with its techno-speak and thrill seeking altruistic causes. True to his writing ability it is a page turner that will keep you up all night wanting to know what is going to happen next. I'm sure he didn't sell as many copies of this one because it is not controversial, but it is a better book overall.
Brown is a master the plot just keeps you turning pages
Another page turner from Dan Brown. The 4th of 4 that I've read. He needs to write another!
One of my favorite Dan Brown books! This takes you into the digital world of computers and secret government agencies. This book will keep you in this story from the very first page!
Loved it. Thrilling, kept me reading all night
Good book for computer geeks.
another winner by Brown, if you liked any of his books, you should like this one too.
Another good book by Dan Brown. Like The DaVince Code and Angels and Demons, this book is a fast paced page turner. Excitement on every page.
Love all of Dan Browns.
This was one of my favorites
This was one of my favorites
Fast paced and really keeps you going. I actually listened to this book and found myself yelling at the cassette player near the end of the book when these "brilliant cryptographers" couldn't figure out "the crucial code" which I had figured out much earlier! AND I am NO cryptographer!!!
I might even have liked this book better than Da Vinci or Angels and Demons.
I might even have liked this book better than Da Vinci or Angels and Demons.
The most amazing thing about this book is how closely it parallels the things that have been reported lately in the news about Julian Assange. You remember - that guy who founded WikiLeaks. By a coincidence, as I was reading this book, the news was reporting claims by Mr. Assange that I was reading. I have no doubt that he read this book years ago.
A must-read for today.
A must-read for today.
The National Security Agency has been working for years on a method to intercept and crack any code or encrypted message sent via E-Mail across the globe. They finally developed a machine so powerful that it can decode even the toughest messages in just a matter of minutes. The machine is dubbed TRANSLTR.
The existence of TRANSLTR is threatened when a bitter, crippled Japanese programmer threatens to release an encryption method that TRANSLTR can't crack: Digital Fortress. Digital Fortress is placed up on the web, encrypted in itself so that only those with the passcode can unlock it. The NSA learns the programmer is working with a partner as a safety measure. If he should die, the partner will publish the passcode within 24 hours.
The programmer is found dead in Spain and the NSA must race the clock to obtain both passcodes before it is too late.
The whole idea that keeping Digital Fortress out of the hands of the public was a life or death situation seemed a little too weighty for me. I believe the basic idea of Digital Fortress is that the encryption was constantly revolving, making it impossible for a computer to guess when the correct passcode had been entered. Anyone in the computer world knows that everything has a workaround. It may be that Digital Fortress would make TRANSLTR extinct, but necessity is the mother of invention and people would eventually figure out how to break into a file encrypted by Digital Fortress.
Therefore, the book seemed a little bloody to me. People were taking the issue WAY too seriously.
If you put the absurdity of the subject matter aside, I still enjoyed the book. I'm really starting to like Dan Brown's work. I've also read the Da Vinci Code and both books are filled with information you may not have previously known (such as where the term "sincerely" really comes from). They were also both written in real-time. I absolutely love books written in real-time. No skipping ahead three months and losing a portion of the person's life. No thought or detail left unattended.
It was a good, dark read that I really enjoyed. I can't wait to delve into some of Dan Brown's other works.
The existence of TRANSLTR is threatened when a bitter, crippled Japanese programmer threatens to release an encryption method that TRANSLTR can't crack: Digital Fortress. Digital Fortress is placed up on the web, encrypted in itself so that only those with the passcode can unlock it. The NSA learns the programmer is working with a partner as a safety measure. If he should die, the partner will publish the passcode within 24 hours.
The programmer is found dead in Spain and the NSA must race the clock to obtain both passcodes before it is too late.
The whole idea that keeping Digital Fortress out of the hands of the public was a life or death situation seemed a little too weighty for me. I believe the basic idea of Digital Fortress is that the encryption was constantly revolving, making it impossible for a computer to guess when the correct passcode had been entered. Anyone in the computer world knows that everything has a workaround. It may be that Digital Fortress would make TRANSLTR extinct, but necessity is the mother of invention and people would eventually figure out how to break into a file encrypted by Digital Fortress.
Therefore, the book seemed a little bloody to me. People were taking the issue WAY too seriously.
If you put the absurdity of the subject matter aside, I still enjoyed the book. I'm really starting to like Dan Brown's work. I've also read the Da Vinci Code and both books are filled with information you may not have previously known (such as where the term "sincerely" really comes from). They were also both written in real-time. I absolutely love books written in real-time. No skipping ahead three months and losing a portion of the person's life. No thought or detail left unattended.
It was a good, dark read that I really enjoyed. I can't wait to delve into some of Dan Brown's other works.
incredible suspense..especially for someone afraid of modern technology gone amok
A well written book that I could follow. I am not very tech savvy but was able to understand everything.
Another excellent read by Dan Brown.
Not the DaVinci Code nor Angels and Demons. If you are a techy kind of person entranced with computers and technology, this is the book for you. My 85 year old father thought the story dragged and had too much reference to technology garble.
Another great Dan Brown novel. Couldn't put it down.
This was another great thriller of Dan Brown. You remain rivited from the beginning to end as truths arise.
Among the work that I have read by this author this was the one I liked least, yet I still couldn't put it down.
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage... not by guns or bombs, but by a code so ingeniously complex that if released it would cripple U.S. intelligence. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Susan Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but also for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.
Loved it, loved it! Love his books and writing style.
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the head cryptographer uncovers a plot to hold the NSA hostage- with a code that would cripple the US intelligence. Great book!
In most thrillers, "hardware" consists of big guns, airplanes, military vehicles, and weapons that make things explode. Dan Brown has written a thriller for those of us who like our hardware with disc drives and who rate our heroes by big brainpower rather than big firepower. It's an Internet user's spy novel where the good guys and bad guys struggle over secrets somewhat more intellectual than just where the secret formula is hidden--they have to gain understanding of what the secret formula actually is.
In this case, the secret formula is a new means of encryption, capable of changing the balance of international power. Part of the fun is that the book takes the reader along into an understanding of encryption technologies. You'll find yourself better understanding the political battles over such real-life technologies as the Clipper Chip and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software even though the book looks at the issues through the eyes of fiction.
In this case, the secret formula is a new means of encryption, capable of changing the balance of international power. Part of the fun is that the book takes the reader along into an understanding of encryption technologies. You'll find yourself better understanding the political battles over such real-life technologies as the Clipper Chip and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software even though the book looks at the issues through the eyes of fiction.
Typical Dan Brown with many twists and turns to keep you interested in finding out what happens.
I think this is one of Dan Brown's better books. The female protagonist was a nice change of pace and her role as a high level cryptologist allowed for an exciting setting. I am an avid mystery fan and I was pleasantly surprised at some of the twists and turns of the plot. Good quick read
oversize - softback - National Security Agency secret code thriller. An unbreakable code is discovered being used, and NSA is unable to break it - it's for he suspense keeps getting thicker and thicker.
Top notch story.
Top notch story.
very good and suspenceful! couldn't put it down
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant, beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage--not by guns or bombs -- but by a code so complex that if released would cripple U.S. intelligence. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.
dan brown is an excellent author. this book is as good as the devinci code
NSA's invincible code breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it can not break. What the head cryptographer uncovers is shocking. A code so complex it could cripple the U.S.
When the National Security AGency's invincilbe code breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls in its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant, beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage, not by guns or bombs, but by a code so complex that if released would cripple U.S. intelligence.
Great book. It kept me intrigued until the end!
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridor of power. This book is great for all you computer enthusiasts out there.
(From the book cover) When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls in its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power.
A book that you won't put down until you have finished reading!
Intriguing and suspenseful. Excellent twists at the end.
Highly recommend!
Great book!! A page turner I couldn't put down!
This book has a dust cover
Anonymous reviewed Digital Fortress on
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls ites head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage...not by guns or bombs, but by a code so ingeniously complex that if released it would cripple U.S. intelligence. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Susan Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country byt also for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage...not by guns or bombs, but by a code so ingeniously complex that if released it would cripple U.S. intelligence. Caught in an acceleraating tempest of secrecy and lies, Susan Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but also for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.
I checked the box by mistake, now I can't undo it. I didn't read this. After reading 'The DaVinci Code' I lost interest in Dan Brown. He's like eating a huge bar of chocolate, then getting sick. After that you stay away from chocolate. Same goes for Anne Rice.
When the code-breaking machine at NSA finds a code it cannot break the head cryptographer. What she uncovers send out shockwaves.Can she save the Country?
When NSA's invinvible code breaking machine envounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryotographer, Susan Fletcher. What she uncovers sends shock waves thru the corriders of power. The NSA is being held hostage by a code so ingeniously complex, that if released it would cripple U.S. intelligence.
NSA's invicible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break and one that would cripple U.S. intelligence. Head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, is called in and battles to save the agency and the U.S., as well as her own life and the life of the man she loves.
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage...not by guns or bombs, but by a code so ingeniously complex that if released it would cripple U.S. intelligence. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Susan Flethcher battles to save the agency she believes in . Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but also for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.
One of the first Dan Brown novels I have ever read, and I have to say that I love his writing. This book is very suspenseful from beginning to end and hard to put down.
One of the first Dan Brown novels I have ever read, and I have to say that I love his writing. This book is very suspenseful from beginning to end and hard to put down.
This book is missing the dustjacket, but is in otherwise great condition!
Mass-market paperback.
When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage..not by guns or bombs, but by a code so ingeniously complex that if released it would cripple U.S. intelligence. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Susan Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but also for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.
