Unholy Domain (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: command chip, wallet computer, laser pistol, Dianne Morgan, First Minister, David Brown (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in the year 2022, Ronco's techno-thriller continues the premise established in his first book, PeaceMaker. In 2012, the PeaceMaker virus, supposedly designed by madman software expert Ray Brown, shut down the Internet, resulting in worldwide devastation. Since this cataclysm, the government has curtailed new technology. Those who would see the government limitations overturned are known as Technos; opposing them is a group of dangerous religious extremists, the Church of Natural Humans. Several events have brought these two warring factions head-to-head: the creators of illegal technology, the Domain, has decided to take over the government, and Ray Brown's son, David, has undertaken an investigation in an attempt to clear his father's name. The basic idea is interesting, but there's something more than a little of the adolescent about the entire enterprise, from the constant sexual references regarding every female character ("She wore skin-tight jeans, which showed off her tight, round butt as she walked past") to such lines as: "She enjoyed a drag of her cigarette, which felt robust and full." This is the second volume in a proposed trilogy.
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From Booklist

In 2012 a computer virus called PeaceMaker rips through the Internet, plunging the world into an economic depression. The already nasty division between technophiles and technophobes turns violent, and a decade later, the two factions are at war. On one side, the radical Church of Natural Humans is dedicated to destroying technology that threatens to replace human beings; on the other, the Domain sees technology as the world’s salvation (and its own path to world domination). Stuck in the middle is university-student David Brown, son of the man accused of unleashing PeaceMaker on the world. The novel wants to be a gripping, near-future technothriller about young David’s crusade to prove his father’s innocence, but it only partially succeeds. The premise is thought-provoking, but the execution is a little sloppy; for example, a Church watcher, at one point, wears a gas mask to avoid being spotted by a Domain probe able to detect human respiration. But wouldn’t cutting-edge technovillains design their probes to search for temperature variation, movement, and other signs that someone’s lurking around? Such gaffes aside, this is a solid futuristic thriller. --David Pitt

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Dan Ronco (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601640218
• ISBN-13: 978-1601640215
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,048,128 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why robot?, June 7, 2008

By	Amanda Richards "Modest to the extreme" (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This futuristic story pits technology against religion in an all-out bloody war, ostensibly to save the human race. The thing is, both sides have dark secrets that they'd rather stay hidden from the world, and now one uniquely talented young man is threatening to expose them all to clear his father's name.

It's 2012 -
A year of great scientific progress
Except of course for the virus
Which cripples computers
ALL the computers
ALL
OF
THEM!
Killing more than a million people
Who couldn't get food,
Water,
Gas,
Heat
Or e-mail

It's 2022 -
A year of economic depression
Some believe that the answer
Lies in Artificial Intelligence
Human-like robots
THAT
CAN
THINK
And spectacles that are
voice-activated
to give you the news
on the go

It's 2022
A year of the Church of Natural Humans
Who believe that technology
Is the tool of Lucifer
And are prepared
TO
KILL
EVERYONE
Who dares to support
Artificial Intelligence
As they have no right
To play GOD

In between, there's David Brown, son of the man who has been vilified for creating the virus, but after receiving a delayed transmission e-mail from his late father, David now thinks otherwise.

David has a unique talent when it comes to AI, and once he sets his mind to proving his father's innocence, he stirs up the vipers on both sides, and the result is an action-packed, page-turning read.

The dialogue doesn't always flow smoothly and the female characters are sometimes (ahem) overly developed, but these are minor hiccups in an otherwise well crafted story that may yet prove to be prophetic.




Amanda Richards, June 7, 2008

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars entertaining futuristic cautionary thriller, April 9, 2008

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 2012, the PeaceMaker virus destroyed the Internet; causing pandemic catastrophes as so much of the world was tied to cyber space with millions dead as a consequence. Over the next decade since this debacle destroyed the global economy, the government has banned the development of new technology outside of what the Feds create. The Technos strongly object to the taboo while the Church of Natural Humans want all technology outlawed.

The Domain has developed new illegal technology with the intention of a coup d'etat to take control of the government; the Church wants to expand its hold on the government. These two groups are ready to take their cold war hot. At the same time David Brown, the son of software guru Ray Brown, the person universally blamed for unleashing PeaceMaker, wants to prove his dad is innocent of these charges. He does not care one iota about the power struggle.

The second PeaceMaker tale (see THE PEACEMAKER) is an exciting follow-up warning to the premise that the destruction of the Internet will lead to many direct deaths and a global collapse exponentially worse than that of the Great Depression. The story line is fast-paced, filled with plenty of action as David (apropos first name) is a human sharing space with two five hundred pound battling gorillas. Although the rampart sexism seems unnecessarily comical and ergo out of place UNHOLY DOMAIN is an entertaining futuristic cautionary thriller.

Harriet Klausner

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling, Violent, Ultra-realistic - the best techno novel in years, May 8, 2008

By	Art Tirrell "author of The Secret Ever Keeps" (www.ArtTirrell.com) - See all my reviews

It's 2020. The Church of Natural Humans has condemned all technology and its army is conducting open warfare against the "technos," who it sees as the devil incarnate. After a devastating virus named Peacemaker knocked out the net and almost destroyed the world economy, the world's governments have outlawed the development and distribution of technology, creating a huge black market which is now run by powerful mobsters.

Into this violent climate comes David Brown, son of the notorious creator of Peacemaker. When David, who's been raised hating his father, receives a time-delayed e-mail from the man proclaiming his innocence, he knows he must investigate. Unfortunately for David, it's an investigation those who know the truth will do anything to stop.

A tight, tense, fast-paced knockout of a novel, Unholy Domain chronicles a pivotal moment in the future; the first true blending of man and computer. It's a great read. Highest recommendation.

Art Tirrell is the author of "The Secret Ever Keeps" a dashing adventure novel set on the shores of Lake Ontario.

"Simply put...the best underwater scenes I've ever read." - reviewer Meg Westley.