There's nothing that gets my attention like books that stimulate my intellect and open my mind to contemporary issues that I was ignorant of. In other words, enlightenment is the key for me to enjoy reading a book.
This was my state of mind when I picked up Digital Fortress by Dan Brown from a local bookseller who deals in fairly used books. I admire Dan Brown as a terrific writer who has never failed to stimulate my mind.
My introduction to his style of writing was The Da Vinci Code. It was quite unlike what I expected as I was thrust into the exciting world of Robert Langdon. It turned out that the Robert Langdon character is a series and I had missed the first one - Angels & Demons. Well, I hope to read it someday soon. The next time I visited the bookstore, I found Digital Fortress and did not think twice before buying it.
Plot
Digital Fortress is a standalone suspense thriller of 510 pages published in February 1998. The fast-paced narrative kept me glued to the novel all day long. It was that captivating!
Beyond the themes of ancient symbology, codes, conspiracy theories and cryptography that is common with Dan Brown's books, this one incorporated some action scenes which made the novel more appealing. I was all about solving the mystery!
The suspense begins when an unbreakable code was fed into NSA's supercomputer called the TRANSLTR. This necessitated the Commander, Trevor Strathmore, to call upon Susan Fletcher, NSA head cryptographer, to resolve the situation or risk the release of highly sensitive and confidential information to the American public.
The brilliant cryptographer with the aid of her commander and fiance battled to save their lives and break the code amidst the web of secrecy and lies. You would not believe the brains behind the unbreakable code unless you read it.
Review
Like I earlier said, it's a fast-paced narrative that delved into a lot of cryptography, codes and advanced computer technology. I did enjoy reading it even though I did not understand half of some of the computer terms used. I am not a computer geek but it was enlightening to learn some things.
However, some technology 'geniuses' have criticised Digital Fortress as being incorrect and technically flawed in some parts.
I know that what may appeal to one person may be uninteresting to another but this book is certainly a winner for readers who enjoy fast-paced, suspense thrillers with a bit of action and focused on highly advanced technology. You won't be bored!
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