Double Vision [Paperback]

Randall Scott Ingermanson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2004

Rachel and Dillon are about as opposite as two people can be. She is quirky, erratic, and liberal, and he is uptight, meticulous, and conservative. But both are brilliant and on the verge of developing a quantum computer with the potential to change the world. On the eve of certain breakthrough, the sabotage begins--someone knows about their discovery, and the treachery is escalating. In the wrong hands, their discovery could destabilize the world’s economy. They have no choice but to run, but are they running from or toward the enemy? Ingermanson deftly combines action-packed suspense, intriguing scientific speculation, a bit of romance, and delightful touches of humor in this fascinating techno-thriller.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* For the inventive Ingermanson, whose previous novels have dealt with time travel (Transgression, 2000) and spaceflight (Oxygen, 2001), Double Vision is rather short on plot. A start-up software company is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, and treachery is afoot from a rival firm. In a last-minute maneuver, the CEO hires researcher Rachel Meyers to employ a Manhattan Project approach to the development of a radical new encryption system using nanotechnology. Naturally, physicist Ingermanson is superb at describing Rachel's research, not to mention making her a believable young woman. But her coworker, Dillon Richard, runs off with the novel. Dillon is a high-functioning autistic who can write code with such speed that Rachel's research actually becomes practicable. More than that (or less), he is completely literal-minded, so that he doesn't understand metaphors or how two women, Rachel and the company's bean counter, Keryn Wills, can vie for him. His unintentional humor adds just the ingredient to make Double Vision irresistible. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"A page-turner...[you'll] enjoy the humor inherent in the situations and quirky characters. Recommended." -- Christian Fiction Review

"Love, science, and intrigue come together in a wonderful combination. We rated this book five hearts." -- Heartland Reviews

"Mr. Ingermanson's style is compelling, hip, timely and unforgettable.... a novel I plan to read again and again!" -- Romance Readers Connection

"[Dillon Richard's] unintentional humor adds just the ingredient to make Double Vision irresistible." -- Booklist (Starred Review)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764227335
• ISBN-13: 978-0764227332
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,009,600 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Randy Ingermanson was both the class nerd and the class clown. He is the award-winning author of six novels and has been teaching fiction for a number of years. He is known around the world as "the Snowflake Guy" in honor of his "Snowflake method" of designing a novel. Randy earned a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of California at Berkeley and worked for many years in San Diego as a computational physicist. He teaches fiction at writing conferences across the country and sits on the Advisory Board of American Christian Fiction Writers. He also publishes the world's largest electronic magazine on how to write fiction, the Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine. Randy's first two novels won Christy awards, and his second novel, Oxygen, earned a spot on the New York Public Library's "Books for the Teen Age" list.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great romantic suspense!, February 9, 2005

By 

Diana Urban (Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Double Vision (Paperback)

Once again, Randall Ingermanson had me on the edge of my seat with his newest romantic suspense novel. His opening line, "Keryn Wills was in the shower when she figured out how to kill Josh Trenton." compelled me to read more. The cast of main characters comes from varied backgrounds that interweave in surprising ways, and I nearly forgot these were fictional people. They seemed so real that I found myself wanting to call some of them.

Dillon Richards, one of the main characters, is a brilliant engineer with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism. Ingermanson did a superb job of helping me understand what it might be like to be autistic. He also helps remove the stigma often attached to the condition by portraying Dillon as a person with real thoughts, concerns, and feelings. The supporting characters are colorful and entertaining without interfering with the story line.

Ingermanson explains the quantum tech ideas about computers so well that even a non-techie who failed physics (like me) understood the premise. The last 2/3 of the book kept me up way past my bedtime four nights in a row. The twists and turns held me in suspense, because every time I thought Keryn, Rachel, and Dillon were safe, they ended up in danger again.

His tagline on the back cover says it all. "Three secrets. Two women. One man. NO time." I thoroughly enjoyed his time-travel historical fiction books, Transgression, Premonition, and Retribution, and I look forward to his next book, whether it's contemporary or historical.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intricate puzzle, intrigue and romance. Good read!, September 25, 2005

By 

Peggy Blann Phifer "Peg" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Double Vision (Paperback)

What happens when two diametrically opposed women are thrown into the den of an autistic but brilliant physics engineer? The fun starts when Dillon Richard, a man with zero experience with women finds both of these women interested in him. Rachel Meyers is an independent spirit, a biophysicist who has developed a quantum computer that could forever change the world. She is hired to work with Dillon to combine their talents to bring this computer to market.

Keryn Wills writes mysteries. She is also part-time financial officer at CypherQuanta, the same company for which Dillon and Rachel are working. Problem is, Keryn finds herself in the unwanted position of competing against the quirky, vivacious Rachel for Dillon's attention. Yet, despite her increasing jealousy, Keryn's job is to keep Dillon and Rachel together, and focused, so they can finish the quantum computer, which their company is depending on for their financial future.

However, it soon becomes apparent that their secret project has been discovered. Dillon's lab is vandalized. Grant O'Connell, their boss at CypherQuanta is acting uncharacteristically. As financial officer, Keryn knows their entire future depends on getting this project to market. Who has learned about the quantum computer? Before long, Keryn, Dillon and Rachel realize that not only is this project in jeopardy, but their lives very well may be in danger, too. And soon they are on the run. The thing is, they don't know who they are running from. And they don't know who they can trust. Not even the government.

This is a fantastic read. I'm certainly no physicist, but no special education needed to enjoy this one. Randall Ingermanson, himself a physicist, has created an intricate puzzle and fitting the pieces together will keep you occupied to the very last. As the tension mounts, Ingermanson manages to inject some fun moments as we watch Dillon try to learn about women and understand his attraction to both Rachel and Keryn, for totally different reasons. The two are nothing alike.

DOUBLE VISION had me turning the pages trying to find a good place to stop so I could go to sleep. Hard to find one. You'll love Dillon while you want to shake him at the same time, and you'll find yourself cheering for both Rachel and Keryn, curiously swapping your loyalties from one to the other throughout the story. Good reading-and great writing!

Peggy Phifer ©2004

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Marriage of wit and genius, June 24, 2005

By 

Karri F. Compton "kc" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Double Vision (Paperback)

A physicist with a sense of humor. Go figure.

For those of us who are acquainted with Randall Ingermanson, this comes as no surprise. The reader will learn, laugh, cry, stress out, ponder, and in the end, say: "How in the world does he think this stuff up?"

Dillon, the brilliant darling of CypherQuanta, suffers from Asperger's syndrome and conflicting emotions. Keryn, the novelist/CFO, is concerned not only about her manuscript's deadline, but also about the new young Caltech Ph.D. her boss has brought in for a special project. Enter flirty Rachel Myers, who has the beauty to go with her brains. Rachel turns heads with as much success as she talks quantum mechanics.

A lucrative computer brainchild spawns a life-threatening race as CypherQuanta's employees speed against time and seek refuge from those who wish to pilfer their technology. But who can they trust? The government? Their own boss?

Even a normal brain can wrap itself around this subject matter, which is a positive for the average reader. Humorous quirks and dialogue bring a unique reality to the characters. Harrowing dilemmas propel the reader forward on a ride as wild as any roller coaster. However, unlike a roller coaster ride, there is no down side to this book!

I look forward to more from this witty genius, and recommend Ingermanson to any reader who wants to lose himself in another world. Even if it's only for the few hours it takes to wolf down the tasty book of your choice.