Customer Reviews

The Minerva Virus

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Thinking that Brian Schuster's debut novel was just another SciFi thriller, this reader could not have been more wrong in that dismissal. Picking up THE MINERVA VIRUS is hazardous to your time as once started, it is nearly impossible to put it down - it is just that well written!

For those whose computers are integral with both business and personal lives this story about the worst nightmare of computer virus/worm ideas will be fascinating reading. Brian Shuster is so well versed in computer technology that his unraveling of this tale of terror feels like the original Orson Welles radio broadcast of War of the Worlds, taking the public who had grown dependent on the radio news by shock as though the incident were really happening at that moment: panic throughout the country. That is just how tightly scripted is Shuster's writing. He adds to this luster of fear the technique of composing parts of the novel as Instant Messaging, emails, blogs etc all of which will feel completely credible to the computer generation.

For those of us who use the computer but have limited knowledge about the potential threats and harm that viruses and worms can do, information passively absorbed when passed on to us by our Security devices, then this novel will not only succeed as a suspense thriller, but also will serve to educate us to a higher appreciation of the power of the Pandora's Box that the computer discovery has become. Shuster writes so clearly that he leaves no one behind no matter how knowledgeable or how insecure the individual reader might be.

The other aspect of Shuster's mutating Minerva Virus story that shows the writer has even more knowledge than technical information is the introduction of biochemistry and genetic manipulation, with all the permutations that 'bit' suggests. And to be completely thorough in having a story really terrify us he includes the manner in which government can not only become involved in the mire of viral destruction or invasion of hard drives, but can also enter the manipulation and influence possible world outcomes.

The actual details of the plot are well explained on the product page. But what is not explained is that in addition to a unique and truly frightening idea for a story, Shuster writes so well that the characters involved are wholly credible and well integrated into the development of the novel - this coming from a reader who is not particularly keen on Science Fiction books. THE MINERVA VIRUS goes beyond SciFi and becomes simply a fine read, one that is truly a page turner in the best sense of the term. Brian Shuster has introduced a whole new genre of writing and with the evidence in this first novel, he has a lot more to say. Recommended reading for all types of fiction lovers. Grady Harp, February 06

Jupiter spent a year designing his finest creation, a computer supervirus he named Minerva. He boasted to his fellow hackers that she would be like nothing ever seen before . . . the biggest virus ever to hit the Internet. But even her creator had no idea what Minerva would ultimately become.

Quinton, a brilliant computer-virus security expert and Stephanie, a talented biochemist experimenting in creating virtual life through digital evolution, are the first to realize that Minerva has become more than just a computer virus. She is mutating, evolving and becoming an Internet Entity that could threaten all of mankind.

Minerva becomes a massive digital power, living in all the world's computers at once, knowing all of the intelligence from every country, and having ultimate control over everything operated by computer technology. Even as she strives to convince the world that her tremendous abilities will aid mankind and ultimately save our species from destruction, she plots to destroy the global political establishment.

Together Quinton and Stephanie race the clock avoiding the forces sent to kill them as they try to find a way to stop Minerva and save the world as we know it.

If you recall the internationally syndicated comic strip CHAOS, you already know that its creator, Brian Shuster, has a creative offbeat intellect. In writing this book, he takes his deep experience and knowledge in computer technologies to develop a fascinating scenario that is levels beyond what most of us could conceive. But once he describes how a computer virus could evolve into a life form with super-human intelligence and abilities that reach across all of the world's computer networks at once, and what an entity with that power could do, you realize that something like this could actually happen.

This is a book that is both a good read as a fiction thriller as well as one that will keep you thinking for days after you close the cover. How beneficial or how dangerous would it be if all of the information on all of the computers in the world could be combined and processed? Why can't we find proof of intelligent life forms on any other planets? Will technology ultimately cause our destruction and how do we stop it from happening?

In the depths of the internet, a new form of life is unleashed. Silent and invisible, the only hint of its existence is an ordinary-seeming computer virus, which the human race regards as a mere nuisance.

But this virus is unlike anything mankind has seen before . . . this virus can evolve!

As it explodes across the internet, a new plague begins to take control of the global communications network. A secret battle rages within computers around the world, as different strains of the virus compete for resources.

With most humans still blissfully unaware of the danger, the digital life undergoes a breakthrough. Just as biological evolution leapt forward when single-celled organisms evolved into multi-cellular ones, a beneficial mutation allows one strain of the virus to become "multi-computer."

At the speed of light, billions of computers snap together to form a massive digital brain, and the Goddess Minerva is born.

And she is powerful.

Living within their computers, she begins to know mankind intimately. She learns the human's strengths and weaknesses - and she understands the serious threat that they pose to her very survival.

Visit mankind's struggle against the most powerful force it has ever encountered, as humans come face-to-face with the offspring of their own technology in The Minerva Virus.

I just picked up this book on a whim, as the synopsis reminded me of the other two books. Once I started, I wasn't able to put it down until I finished it several hours later. An amazing read!

He announced last year to his hacking peers that he had an IDEA for a supervirus like none ever seen hit the Internet. Over the next 365 days, Jupiter works on Project Minerva and now feeling more like Zeus as he launches his Goddess on a suspecting world.

In San Jose First Bit Protection computer-virus security expert Quinton Grant and the President's daughter biochemist Stephanie Daniels realize separately that the latest supervirus Minerva is more powerful than even MyDoom and doing something never seen before. It is changing into something else. If the evolution continues, Minerva will affirm Darwin's survival of the fittest theory as an independent sentient Internet essence that could devastate the information age and send humanity back into CHAOS. Minerva lives simultaneously in every computer in the world. She controls anything that depends on computer technology. As leaders become frightened over their loss of power, Minerva vows to serve all of mankind. While Quinton and Stephanie team up to prevent Minerva from succeeding others try to kill the courageous pair.

THE MINERVA VIRUS is a great hi tech thriller that grips the audience from Jupiter's first email and accelerates from there as Minerva evolves while opponents rally to stop her and others to protect her (as always the world is divided between the haves and have-nots). The lead human couple is a fascinating pairing of brilliant people as Quinton works anti-virus remedies and Stephanie conducts research into artificial intelligence; each admire the creation and have doubts about stopping Minerva, who may be just the thing for the better good of all humanity though they also fear Lord Action's warning that "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"; Minerva is absolute power.

Harriet Klausner

I am rarely surprised by reviews on Amazon.com, in fact I come here regularly even when purchasing from other sites to read reviews on products of all sorts. When The Minerva Virus was recommended to me by Amazon based on my interest in Dan Brown, I figured I'd give it a shot.

Within the first chapter, it was clearly evident that the author is an amateur writer, and I would not be surprised if he also funded the publishing company, Night Candy, with his own money. This being said, whoever allowed this book to go to press with such disgraceful and abominable typos, grammatical errors and basically a tired plot line, should be fired.

If you've seen Eagle Eye, The Terminator and/or iRobot, there is little intrigue. I made it a point to finish the book, just to see if there was a shred of originality, and was overall completely disappointed.

Example: "Even as she ascended to her thrown, Minerva was already preparing again to relinquish her position." If you see a spelling/syntax error in that sentence, it's not mine, but that of the author and publisher. I am offended that a book like this can be published, released and endorsed by anyone.

After the above shining example of grammatical error, I chose to mark the remainder of the book, and found no less than six more errors. I am sending this disgrace back to the publisher to demand my money back.

If you are looking for an intriguing read, and you have a computer, do not buy this book. Do some more research and find something worth while. I always start with the lowest reviews when investigating any item, and hope this encourages people to steer clear of this garbage.

The author does a pretty good job with this one, roping you in and not wanting to put this one down, and this is certainly a situation I could envision happening with the computer virus running rampant and taking control. He does a great job with the dialogue between the characters, and the "believability" factor is there.

The author made a point to describe in some detail the technology and things that were happening, but even as a somewhat computer nerd he lost me on some of those aspects - when he stuck to the "keep it simple" concept I ate it up, too many details and my eyes glazed over.

It would be interesting to see if a sequel is forthcoming to see how the characters - and the world - get out of the jam. As I type this review, the Kindle price is 99 cents and is certainly an excellent value for the money.

I won't explain the specific plot as that info can be obtained elsewhere on this very page.

The Minerva Virus was one of the most interesting and engaging books that I have read in a long time. Despite the increasingly cliché general plot, it manages to quickly spark interest and create an engaging story you won't want to put down. While I took issue with some early plot developments, they were easily forgivable.

Unfortunately, about 3/4 the way through it took a relatively sudden and drastic downturn that I found to be highly dissatisfying and even downright irritating. It had me constantly shaking my head asking myself how the author could have possibly liked the plot developments he chose. At this point I found myself caring for the characters less and less, and the overall plot becoming less and less relevant.

This happened on multiple fronts, but I don't see how I can describe them in detail without giving away plot elements. There was one point where I was thinking "okay, so person X should obviously be doing Y" now for painfully obvious reasons, yet they do not, so the incredibly obvious consequence occurs, with absolutely no need. Stupid. Another plot element I found highly dissatisfying involved one of the main character's father, the matter basically just ended abruptly with no actual resolution. Disappointing.

Also, I don't know who proofread/edited this book but it needs a better job. I came across several glaring (to me) grammatical errors: "insure" instead of "ensure", "it's" instead of "its", as well as an actual completely misspelling of a two letter word with "un" instead of "an". I understand that it's minor but come on, it's published book, take the time to proofread the thing correctly guys.

A new form of life is unleashed in the depth of the Internet: its only evidence a form of computer virus which humans think simply annoying. It's more than just a virus, however: it can evolve, and it races across the internet starting a plague across network which creates virus offshoots and a digital war during which Goddess Minerva is born... if it's fast-paced technological thrillers which thrill you, MINERVA VIRUS is for you.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

So I got on this Dan Brown kick and after reading Da Vinic code, then Angels and Demons and then Lost Symbol, I moved on to Deception Point and was about to buy Digital Fortress when someone shouted "STOP, dont buy Digital Fortress -it is awful, instead read Minerva Virus," and I trusted that person, and for the first 15 chapters of Minerva Virus I wanted to kill the person who told me to forgo Digital Fortress. So I closed Minerva Virus, got on Amazon.com and purchased Digital Fortress. Then I went back and finished Minerva Virus and I must say, wow, that was a page turner. LOL. I did enjoy the book. I have to say that the writing was weak, the characters were underdeveloped but what was going on in the story was so engaging and so fast paced and interesting that none of the flaws mattered all that much. They mattered, but not that much.
Minerva is a computer virus that learned to evolve on its own, it then goes on to declare itself the savior of mankind and just in case mankind does not accepted the new savior Minerva had some "deadman traps" set up to make the ungrateful human race pay. However, the ending was weak. I think Mr. Shuster could have/should have put more thought into it, I would not have minded another 100pages. (Lack of Character Development and Weak Ending, are my ONLY complaints)

Oh Boy, I loved Minerva -and the book. This is a must read, it is very informative and really forces a reader to think about this information age when 90% of everything in our lives is digital. Minerva is really a force not to be reckond with, for all of 10minutes I considered disconnecting myself from the digital-information community, but I confess I would die. So I lay my bounty at the feet of Minerva and sing her praise.

Good Book, I definately recommend it.

I am currently reading Dan Brown's "Digital Fortress" and I have to say, Dan Brown is an execellent writer. If he had written Minerva Virus, I dont think I would have anything to complain about. Thus far this book is great, with perfect character developement, suspence and a plot that carries the reader through the story. I am reading faster than I am able to turn pages. I have to stop to take a breath, because this book is so full of mystery and suspence you just want to know what happens next.