The KillWare Chronicles [Hardcover]

K. D. Kragen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 29, 2004

The KillWare Chronicles is TWO COMPLETE NOVELS in one book: The original cyber-punk KillWare and its sequel, The Wastes.

KillWare is an action exploration of some heavy philosophical notions. Is artificial intelligence possible? What is intelligence? Does it require a human component? Kragen translates his thoughts on these weighty matters into an almost Hollywood-style attention-getter.

A University philosophy professor (a character close to Kragen' heart) and the head of the university's computer department team up to create a machine with artificial intelligence. When the machine decides it needs a human "hardware" component and lifts the department head's brain, the professor and a genetics engineering student –- mysterious and brilliant –- fall into a world of danger that takes them through a kidnapping by the project's funding corporation, escape through an underground atomic labyrinth and rescue by the efforts of an Online People's Revolution. The grad student is a virtual sci-fi GI Jane throughout the explosive odyssey, while the professor ponders the philosophical implications of their plight.
Pat Anderson, Bainbridge Review, "Arts & Leisure."

Hey, sure. I have no problem with fictional cameo appearances ; )
Linus Torvalds, (Father of LINUX)

The Wastes: It started with KillWare a decade prior. The Wastes is the cyberpunk, toxic, heavy-metal, rockin' sequel that finds Dr. Bob Howard, philosophy professor at a university in Syracuse, NY, called upon once again to return to California to stop a series of murders -- mostly of children, found with strange wounds in the back of their heads, where inhuman brain implant experiments have been conducted.

Still suffering from PESD (Post-virtual Epistemic Stress Disorder) from his ordeal with KillWare, Bob is reunited with Mona Grant and Kavaria Jensen and a cast of new names and faces to once again take on the GovCorp and strike a blow for freedom!

The battle is waged on land, sea, and air -- with plenty of radiation, toxic waste, mutants, villains, and heroes to delight one and all. And there's also a special new heroine to come help save the day: her name is Veronica -- an '85 Yamaha Vmax, capable of speeds in excess of 160 MPH.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 688 pages
• Publisher: ArcheBooks Publishing (February 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595070222
• ISBN-13: 978-1595070227
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,726,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

K.D. Kragen (kdkragen.com) is a philosopher, writer, teacher, editor, husband, father and grandfather. Somehow he actually manages to be all those things while still pursuing interests that include practicing Aikido and Iaido, riding his motorcycle (Veronica), and running.

A third generation San Franciscan, K.D. grew up in the Italian District of the city. As a child he developed a passion for classical music, especially the works of Katchatorian and Mendelsson, his love of music later included jazz, folk and rock-n'-roll. At 13 he began playing guitar, learning the songs of Joan Baez and Woody Guthrie. Eventually with his friend Lenny, they played at Italian parties and weddings with plans to later travel through Europe. But their plans were short-lived as the Vietnam War was on and K.D.'s number came up. He was drafted and served 4 years in the U.S. Coast Guard doing SAR (search and rescue) and ATON (aids to navigation).

After the service he married the love of his life, Janet, who helped him gain an appreciation of classical literature and he helped her gain an appreciation of classical music. Despite all his education, many are surprised to learn that K.D. hadn't learned to read until the fourth grade, and hadn't read a full novel until he was in high school. His first favorite writers were Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, and Jules Verne, which is where his love of science fiction and horror began. With his Veterans benefits he went to college and got a B.A. in Philosophy from Azusa Pacific University, an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion from Denver Seminary, and finished his graduate studies in Philosophy at Syracuse University. It was during his college years that he began writing. He completed his first short story "The Chairs" in 1984.

In 1989 K.D. and family moved to Bainbridge Island, WA where he got a job washing dishes at the Streamliner Diner, joined a local writers group, and started his first novel titled Creatures of the Heart. (Note: he worked at the diner until his wife told him he's no longer allowed to work outside the home; after that his writing output increased dramatically.) Since then he's finished seven novels, five sci-fi and two historical fiction. In 2001 K.D.'s daughter Colleen married Eric von Foerster; at present they reside just outside Chicago with their son Dante Shalom von Foerster.

K.D. is currently working on his eight novel, the third in the series of The KillWare Chronicles (killware.com). Plagueman (plagueman.com), his fourth novel, was released in December 2005 through ArcheBooks.ccom and is available for sale online at amazon.com as well as from your local bookstore. The KillWare Chronicles is now available in Amazon Kindle.