Ulterior Motive [Paperback]

Daniel Oran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1998

As the owner of the Seattle computing firm, Megasoft, Jack Malcolm, is answering questions about his candidacy for President of the U.S., he is assassinated by the bullets of a terrorist on national television. Just weeks later, Jonathan Goodman, an employee at Megasoft witnesses a murder of another employee, and watches the killer escape inside Building 9. But did anyone know he was there watching this unfold? Determined to uncover the mystery of the assassination, Goodman and his new partner, business reporter Karen Grey, discover a major conspiracy.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When Jonathan Goodman witnesses a murder in the parking lot of Megasoft just two weeks after an assassination attempt on company founder and presidential hopeful Jack Malcom, the twists and turns of this high-tech thriller slip right into gear. Goodman, the young project manager for a much-hyped new interactive-TV software program, attempts to unravel the tangles of the mysterious killing (the body later disappears and all traces of the murdered man are erased from existence), only to find himself fighting a conspiracy that seems to encompass presidential politics, terrorism, software espionage, and more.

The lure of this book is the insight into the computer industry. Author Daniel Oran has an insider's view into the workings of Microsoft, as he was the program manager who invented the Start button and Taskbar for Windows 95. Reading this book, one can't help but substitute Microsoft for Megasoft and Bill Gates for Jack Malcom, relishing the details of how life operates behind the scenes at the software giant. This novel offers some frightening possibilities as Oran exposes how your ordinary PC could turn into Big Brother.

Despite some uneven moments, the technological aspects and potential for mishap and crime in Oran's novel are sure to foster a budding genre of computer thrillers. Anyone with access to a computer will enjoy the view Oran provides into the dealings of the tech industry; the plot will have you looking at your own computer with a suddenly suspicious eye. --Jenny Brown

From Publishers Weekly

Former Microsoft bigwig Oran's devilish debut techno-thriller is sure to seduce even computer illiterates. Project manager for a hot new software program at Seattle's giant Megasoft campus, Jonathan Goodman sees a colleague shot by a fellow employee in a company garage, a killing promptly covered up by Megasoft security. When Goodman mistakes reporter Karen Grey's business call for an inquiry about the murder, he sets in motion an investigation that drags them both in deep enough to get fired (thanks to computer-generated frame-ups). Desperate and isolated, Goodman tries to sneak in to see his mentorApresidential candidate and Megasoft founder Jack MalcolmAwith disastrous results. After a hacker boy-genius helps them uncover software clues that reveal a corporate conspiracy for world domination, Goodman and Grey embark on a gigamegaherz race to foil the plot and derail the killers. Although he avoids simplistic explications of the book's plot-driving techie advances, Oran will hook even the least plugged-in readers with his villains' Orwellian e-machinations. The romantic subplots introduce a strong, credible female character, the Seattle setting has the reliability of a roadmap, and Megasoft's goofy campus headquarters, slavish, youthful staff and life-invading technology give this dystopian thriller not just the ring of truth but the marks of an inside job. (July) FYI: After working at Harvard with behaviorist B.F. Skinner, Oran invented the Start button and the Taskbar for Windows 95.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Kensington; First Edition edition (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575663023
• ISBN-13: 978-1575663029
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,296,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This techno-thriller gets the techno part right!, June 20, 1998

By 

W. ODONNELL (Boston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ulterior Motive (Paperback)

Most thrillers that involve computer technology get it laughably wrong. They are clearly written by people who's most intimate interaction with cyberspace is through a word processor. At best they get spotty advice from geek friends which they probably ignore for the sake of the story.

Not so for Daniel Oran. He's clearly "been there and done that" when it comes to working in a software company. He hits the mark of software development culture right on: from flame wars to by-the-book user interface nazis to twinkie-eating boy hackers to black-turtleneck-clad project managers. (The only things missing are the cold half-empty latte cups everywhere.)

There are a few bugs, however. The action is somewhat contrived at times. There are a few (a very few, and far between) laughable cyber-gaffes that only programmers are likely to notice. Most important, however, the reader seems always several steps ahead of the protagonists. At each point when they finally clue in to pieces of the conspiracy, one is compelled to mutter aloud: "Like, well, duh! Obvious 3 chapters ago!"

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable light read. I look forward to future fiction from this author. It will be interesting to see what he can do with something not so close to his own life experience. (Oran is a former Microsoft employee.)

Oran has the potential to be to the software industry what Tom Clancy is to the military. I can't wait to find out.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never see a plot as thick. Ten-thumbs up if I have ten., August 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ulterior Motive (Paperback)

Finally, here arrived a comtemporary high-tech/computer-industry/intelligence based futurist fiction. There are so many micro-plots and big plots. Each player has ambitions and weakness for money and power. Still want a job at MegaSoft to become a puppy?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST I've read!! Great book, Danny., January 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ulterior Motive (Paperback)

I was also e-mailed my Danny. Being a bit pessimistic about the way I was confronted, I decided to read about the book and read the reviews on "Ulterior Motive". Looked interesting enough so I decided to buy it. I'll tell you, I'm not sorry in the least as this is one of the best first novels I've ever read. Danny writes as though he's been writing for years. Had he not e-mailed me, I may never have heard about his book.

The story tells of an employee at Megasoft who enjoys his job and co-workers totally. He and his friend, Kenny, are banging heads in a positive way in their great working relationship and close friendship. You feel their closenessas much as you fear for them when they uncover what's fishy at Megasoft. The founder, JackM, is running for president with a faithful following by his employees. You trust him. You respect him. You fear him. You ache for Jon as his wonderful world slowly slips away from him.

Ulterior Motive is a must read. You'll be very disappointed if you don't because you're missing one hell of a read and one fast paced book.