Customer Reviews

WYRM (Bantam Spectra Book)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Last Sunday I read a surprisingly entertaining book by Mark Fabi titled WYRM. Possible the best way to describe it would be as a cyber-thriller, but it has far more elements than that. With the expected artificial intelligence, Internet and technology references, there is also a strong smattering of fantasy role-playing, Lewis Carroll, Monty Python and a plethora of modern cultural references.

WRYM is the story of Michael Arcangelo, a computer-virus hunter. While checking into a possible virus at a chess tournament, Michael is first exposed to a virus of unheard of proportions. An Internet-wide virus is out there and it may have developed intelligence. It may also have bought into the idea that the Millennium will bring about the end of the world.

Michael assembles a crack team of programmers, cyber-theorists and technicians to try and stop the virus Wrym from causing a global disaster. Through role-playing and some other techniques they draw nearer to the heart of the problem until a final all-out war involving the global hacker community ensues while Michael tries to make the final move toward victory.

I only had two minor problems with this book. One, Fabi does not know where the term bug came from. Secondly, I wonder at the wisdom of including a character referred to as Al in a story that uses the term AI as heavily as this one does. Other than that, this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The book lures the reader in quite subtly. I didn't really realize it until two-hundred pages had gone by. The next thing I knew, I was four-hundred pages further along and the book was ending.

This book makes so many references and in-jokes that it could almost be considered a SILVERLOCK for the computer generation. But even if you do not recognize every Python reference, recognize every famous programer or catch all of the other cultural and scientific references, you will still be able to enjoy this book.

The title and cover art caught my eye initially, having never heard of Mark Fabi. The wyrm is a central theme expressed many times over in various forms. The story isn't only for compter nerds; I pride myself on knowing only enough about computers to write papers and use the Web, and it didn't detract from the book. The fantasy aspect becomes engrossing, so much so that when it switches back to high-tech it sometimes threw me for a moment. There are surprises here and there, and a happy ending, which can be expected in the Millenium-scare genre. Overall, I'm glad I own this book and I'll be rereading it every few years.

(Oh, and eventually I'll photocopy the crossword and see if I can do it myself...)

You, the reader of these reviews, will mostly see two types of reveiw: Good or terrible. That's because this book is aimed at a particular audience. Namely, computer nerds. To those of you who are computer literate, in the areas of tech stuff and games, this is a great read. It's comical, adventurous, full of little one-liners that generate more-than-your-average-one-liner laughter. It switches from real-reality to virtual reality, which at some points elevates the book, and at others points gets really annoying. But save the slightly unrealistic romance area of the plot, it's a great book. Again, this book isn't for everyone, but that doesn't mean only computer geeks can read it. I reccomend picking it up no matter who you are.

My friend and I picked this up intending to read thistogether... two days later I get this cryptic e-mail to READ NOW! Ipicked it up, and couldn't put it down. If you know your DA and your MUDs, computers and other things which fall into "geekdom" status, the one liners will kill you :) About half way through the book I looked up only to find my pot of coffee empty, I'm out of cigarettes and I was SUPPOSED to go to work the next hour. Ten seconds of thought later I've called in sick, made another pot of coffee and broke out the spare pack.

The intermittent play on "geek" ideas and stereotypes kept me giggling and always wondering where he will go next. Put it down? Oh I so think not! Of course that employer thought otherwise.

Definitely a great read to be had, but I caution you NOT to make any plans for at least a day... and that includes online time, or time spent with the family. :)

Wyrm, by Mark Fabi, is simply put one of the best novels I've ever read. I don't say that lightly, either. Wyrm combines romance, technology (complete w/ computer jargon, and explinations!!!!), fantasy, and action. Some of the most interesting parts of the story take place INSIDE a CRPG (computer role-playing game)!!! All of the characters (which, by the way, are fanstastically developed) become characters in a RPG played over the internet, much like a AD&D game. Wyrm is an excellent book. While it is Sci-fi, it reads as quick as a adventure book. I couldn't put the thing down. Now - where's that sequel? An excellent first novel by Mark Fabi. I'd reccomend it to anyone.

Mark Fabi's first novel is entertaining, fast-paced, and more timely than today's news! His main character, Michael Arcangelo, is a professional computer virus hunter, a sort of geek detective protecting powerful, yet all too vulnerable programs from damage and destruction by malicious hackers. Arcangelo encounters a super-virus that has invaded the latest development in Artificial Intelligence, a chess program that is poised to beat the world champion. (Like I said, it's timely!) As Arcangelo discovers, the virus has entered the Internet, and poses a threat that makes the Year 2000 Problem look like a bad crossword puzzle. Speaking of crossword puzzles, the author includes a *really good* crossword puzzle in the middle of the book for his characters (and readers) to solve. I started to work on it, but "WYRM" is such a compelling story that I really could not wait to find out what happened next. "WYRM" compares favorably with William Gibson's "Neuromancer" and Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash". Fabi writes with confidence and wit, and has a delightful sense of humor. I especially enjoyed the seamless transitions from the Real to the Virtual. I enthusiastically recommend this book, and I look forward to Fabi's next effort.

This book was one of the monthly choices in our book discussion group, and I went into reading it with little expectation that I'd like it. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised and entertained, and went back to read it a second time. The book explored a variety of computer and FRP themes, and while there was some stereotyping, and some very predictable plot twists, on the whole it was an enjoyable read. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves computers and/or fantasy role playing.

Armageddon is coming in the form of a computer virus. Set in 1999, WYRM is about a virus hunter named Michael Archangelo who discovers a radical new virus while investigating a computer built to play chess. The plot thickens when Archangelo discovers the virus is more than just a virus; it's an artificial intelligence intending to inflict destruction at the beginning of the new millennium.

The story is the standard "band of good guys take on ultimate bad guy" formula, but it is a very entertaining story that handles the formula well. It switches between events that take place in the real world and in a role-playing game. There is a heavy emphasis on computers, MUDs, and viruses, but Mark Fabi makes sure he doesn't lose any readers along the way. The story flows smoothly and Fabi takes the time to explain the technology and computer jargon used in the novel, so readers who aren't very knowledgeable of computers won't get lost.

WYRM doesn't break new ground in the genre. The issues brought up in the book could also be found in more detail in William Gibson's Neuromancer or Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. WYRM is by no means a bad book. It is a very entertaining story that pleases from the very beginning to the end.

Don't get me wrong, this is a great book. I really wish there was a d*** movie, or at least a sequel. This book got off to a quick start, and it was a good, meaty start as well. The romance was a bit... advanced, to put in a word. The psycological concepts made a lot of sense, and I can't resist the temptation to read a book with a good fantasy part. This book had a lot of action, and a lot of great imaginings to it as well. Example: I usually rate a book on how well I feel that I could fit into the story. Believe me, if you try hard enough you can find yourself in this story. BUT BE WARNED!!! THIS BOOK CAN DESTROY YOUR SOCIAL LIFE!!! I remember the time I heard about MUDs. I didn't know what they were, so one day on the Internet, I searched on Yahoo for MUD. A list came up and I played on one. I found one so interesting that it took up quite a bit of my social time. I was obsessed. I have proof that I was too: one day one of my friends came up to me and said, "David, do you actually have a life?" because of this. So give a bit of thought to MUDs before you play them, unless it's only as a hobby. Anyway, this book is great for anyone interested in Greek mythology, fantasy Hack n' Slash, AD&D, RPGs, computer hacking, virii, the Internet, and apocolyptic predictions.

Final thoughts: A must read.

At first I was a little sceptical about this book (especially because of its title), but once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in four days!! The reason probably lies in my interrest in hacking (not to be confused with cracking), role-playing games, fantasy, and other such things. I also liked the phylosophical and psychological ideas mentioned in the book, I even wrote many of them down :-)

I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in hacking, role-playing, fantasy, AI, and even psychology and phylosophy.