In this version of the brave new world, humans rely on nanotechnology to augment their nervous system with a dizzying array of programs capable of doing everything from maintaining a pokerface during a business meeting to controlling libido. Natch, bio/logics programmer and fiefcorp head is a restless man obsessed, always wanting a higher business rating, more power, more money, more of everything. Despite making a market coop that briefly launched his fiefcorp to the top of the heap, it is nowhere near enough. Natch just knows there is something more waiting in the wings and he wants it. So begins an intense futuristic tale of business, intrigue, revenge and technology as Natch ruthlessly manipulates and drives his production team while making questionable deals all to procure, sight unseen, the rights to something called MultiReal.
Margaret Surina has spent most of her life developing a product so controversial and dangerous she must carefully control how it is released as she faces death at the hands of the nervous Defense and Wellness Council. The world is poised to listen to her stunning revelations when the first ripples of an infoquake move through the data sea. The Defense and Wellness Council play down the importance of that first hiccup in the network as they pursue Margaret, ideally to kill her and the new technology along with Natch and anyone else involved. Nevertheless, Margaret has hedged her bets and made certain the new MulitReal systems are spread far and wide even as Natch finds himself outfoxed and facing unknown assassins. Of greater concern is what effect the network demands of MultiReal will have on the data sea as it could, in theory plunge humanity into to mother of all dark ages
This interesting first volume of the Jump 225 Trilogy will appeal to techno junkies. The isolated nature of the characters renders it impossible to feel any warmth or connection with them, which is unfortunate as this has the potential to be a terrific series filled with innovative concepts and enough double-dealing to keep the reader guessing. Personal motivations remain unclear as does the impact of those first infoquake ripples leaving a decidedly unfinished feel even for a trilogy.
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