Supervirus |  | Author: Andrew W. Mitchell
Publisher: Turtle Rock Books
Category: eBooks
In Stock
Rating:  47 reviews
Sales Rank: 1,057
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B0039IT2FY
Publication Date: February 10, 2010
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Product Description
A youth with a powerful mind amazes and terrifies the stock market and the National Security Agency. Dispatched to locate him, a group of elite operatives stumbles across his monumental creation, and an unlikely hero emerges in a struggle that could mark the beginning of a new era.
"An important moment in history is like a beam of light. Some people see it and rush to it like moths. Other people just happen to discover that the beam of light is shining upon them."
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 47
 Ingenious Page Turner February 25, 2010
tuxcat (Boston)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
This very engaging thriller about artificial intelligence is smart without being pedantic. The suspense builds steadily - the movement between the diverse characters and various locales always keeps us interested and involved. The author effectively draws on his obviously vast technical knowledge, however it's always fascinating, never intimidating. This would make a great movie - I haven't completed my casting yet, however I have already given the role of Flannigan to Laura Linney. And, perhaps most fittingly, the final paragraph - it's perfectly whimsical and sweet, and should be included on every 'Top Ten' list of best closing paragraphs ever.
A Glimpse of Our Future? February 16, 2010
Barnum (Midwest)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
Darwinians, move over. We need to rethink the next phase of evolution, if the possibilities in this book become even fractionally true. A techno-thriller that provokes much thought, Supervirus asks important questions about how we might inadvertently be shaping our own future on this planet. My favorite character is Willard, a stubborn, beer-drinking, die-hard Eagles fan who finds himself assuming the role of an uneducated, unlikely and unwilling hero...kind of. Science, politics, psychology, philosophy, puzzles, action and humor--this is a fun read. And the cover design is awesome.
Sharply-crafted March 29, 2010
Signore Dash (Vienna, VA, US)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
A friend recommended this to me and although its sci-fi cover gave me pause (not my genre) it ended up being a fantastic and novel read. From page 1 you know you're reading something different, which is a great start. It moves fast yet avoids almost every cliche you get with action/thriller books. It's really hard to categorize; I'd say more like a thinking-person's thriller. There's nothing formulaic here - you know from the start that something is going to happen but it's unlike anything I've read. The writing is crisp and delightfully spare. The characters are drawn in just the right medium depth. Mitchell doesn't bloat his page count with pointless back stories; he gives you only what you need. That, alone, is a reason to read this. Archly funny in places, Mitchell doesn't mind letting the reader know he's on the jouney with them. And the end! Courageously done, it almost makes you want to call him and thank him (if he weren't a Philly fan). It was a fun and yet provocative read by a discilpined new writer. Can't wait for his next.
A Super-Read! February 24, 2010
E. Clemens
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
What a read! This is a thriller about artificial intelligence -- gripping and thought-provoking. Mitchell's insight into the digital world is deep, and his evocation of artificial intelligence -- how it might evolve spontaneously from a blend of algorithm and accident -- feels surprisingly real. He looks many steps ahead, and then shows how those steps might arrive sooner than we think, and fly by at bewildering speed. How will organic life and human consciousness differ from, and relate to, what comes next? I read this book in one sitting, but have been thinking about it for weeks. And I'm dying to know what happens next! (On the off chance that Mitchell happens to read this review, let me take this opportunity to beg for a sequel!) You will enjoy this book!
IT BEGINS! February 22, 2010
maffu
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
Supervirus is a suspenseful science fiction novel that specifically deals with issues of artificial intelligence. Fans of the concepts behind the Terminator series of movies will likely find something to enjoy in this book, though similarities with those movies exist only on the most superficial level - actually there's essentially only one similarity, that of 'what happens to the world as advances in artificial intelligence occur?' It should be said that the author deals with this concept in a manner that provides a much more multifaceted, rich, and artful experience than the aforementioned blockbuster movie enterprise. However, this is not to say that the book sacrifices concerns of entertainment for those of art [if you'll forgive the false dichotomy for the sake of argument]. Indeed, the story contained in Supervirus could be made into it's own gripping sci-fi/action film. Despite the potentially heady concepts involved, the book is a brisk, highly entertaining read. The author has created characters who are interesting, varied and original without resorting to any tiresome 'getting-to-know-the-character' devices; ultimately, aside from the page-turner nature of the plot, those characters are what makes Supervirus succeed as a book. The decisions they make throughout the story provide rich commentary on the human condition, which is especially impressive and thought-provoking given the very nature of what happens in the book. Were I one of these characters, thrust into the climax of Supervirus, I think I know what my decisions would be. At least I'm pretty sure I think I'd know...
Showing reviews 1-5 of 47
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