Customer Reviews

Lingo

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Jim Menick is an intelligent, witty and funny writer. This is a suspensful novel about a type B personality named Brewster Billings. Being somewhat laid back. he works adequately at his job as a computer programer for an insurance company. However, Billings has an avocation as he expends most of his time and effort in developing a computer program that can carry on conversations. Billings teaches this program, named Lingo, more and more and Lingo soon learns to program himself. Billings' ambitious, type A girlfriend thinks that he should develop Lingo into a product that he can market to the general public.

Like Hal, in 2001, Lingo begins to become an artificial intelligence with a mind of his own. Since he can program himself, Lingo figures out how to tap into other computers and learn just about everything there is to know. With humor and wit, Menick does not paint Lingo as ominous a being as is Hal. However, as the story develops, do things perhaps change?

I happen to know that Menick works as an editor at a major publishing company but his knowledge of computers and his ability to spin an intricate tale about computer technology going haywire is impressive. He obviously is well versed in computer technology as he flawlessly mixes suspense and humor. His character development is also superb. I found that I could empathize with the characters, including Lingo, and when I finished the book, I hated to put it down.

This book was excellent, and Menick did an excellent job of drawing the plot along gradually so it was like the events could really occur. It is a witty and intelligent novel in which I actually may have learned a thing or two more about computer programming. If you remotely like science fiction and/or comedy you will enjoy this novel.

I had a good time reading it. Althoug the plot was far fetched, the author did a fabulous job of making it "realistic." A good time

Anybody who has grown up wtih the Internet and even 1990s computer technology will outright laugh at the "state-of-the-art" technology referred to in this book as well as the complete lack of computer security. However, if tech-savvy readers can get past that as I did and just focus on the story itself, or if non tech-savvy readers are looking for something different, this book has a very interesting story that will fit the bill nicely. I found myself very surprised at how "Lingo" evolved from the initial programming into what he became later in the book. It's not exactly a thriller -- it's more at the pace of a story of character development -- and normally I'm not into books like that, but this was different. Yes, it's far-fetched, but isn't that what fiction is all about?

Highly recommended.

When you first read the book 'Lingo', something special happens too your soul. By the time you've reached the last 20 pages, you will have already felt a metamorphosis of the senses. When I was young, I was an atheist, and frankly, this book made me see God. I must wondeer who Jim Menick is, and why he has not published again. He must certainly be a prophet, refusing to come out of the woodwork for fear of persecution from a world not ready for the mad genius of 'Lingo'. I don't know him, but every day I light a little candle in my soul, one that engulfs every fiber of my being with a desire to understand the metaphysical wonderment we call 'Lingo'. God bless you, Jim Menick. God BLESS you.

This is one of the best books I've read....that's all I have to say