Interface (original 1994; edition 1995)

The president has just announced that he wants to default on the nation's enormous debt, so a huge secret financial syndicate implants a brain control device in a presidential candidate to make sure he wins. Except trying to describe the plot of this book really doesn't do it justice, because it explores a lot of themes - the power of the media to interfere in politics, the power of money, the implications of technology that can work wonders to heal damaged brains... this is part political thriller, part sci-fi, and part satire. The characters are engaging and fun, the story is interesting and thought-provoking in a non-intellectually-taxing mind-candy sort of way, the writing is excellent. This is an all-around entertaining and fun book. ( )

Good stuff--holds up surprisingly well after ~15 years. Especially appropriate now with the election.
However, I got halfway through and realized I'd already read it. I have no idea when.

( )

I loved this book and am surprised that it hasn't been made into a movie yet. It's a well-written, gripping combination of media manipulation, abuse of power and the fight of a small band of decent people trying to overcome the big guys. With a side order of intelligent humour. I had a hard time putting it down in the last two days. ( )

Interface is a political science-fiction thriller rollercoaster in typical Stephenson-style. What that means is that while there's a very engrossing plot, you get extensively educated on some subject as you follow it. That subject being the American political system. Also there is the blatant commentary upon it that runs throughout the book, but I happen to agree with said views, so I can't see that as a hindrance.

William A. Cozzano is a hardworking, no-nonsense Republican governor who suffers a stroke just as the president of the US announces his radical and foolish plan to simply set aside the national debt and consider it absolved. This incurs the wrath of one of the world's primary movers and shakers: the Network. And what the Network (a loose shadowy conglomerate of indivuals, companies and funds) wants, the network gets. In order to restore balance to the world, they initiate a plan to gain control of the US, by maneuvering a puppet into the pilot seat. That puppet is to be William A. Cozzano and a biochip implanted directly in his brain - ostensibly to facilitate his recovery from the stroke - is to be the key to the Network's power grab. But as schemes for world-domination are wont to do, a wrench is stuck squarely where it shouldn't and as those around Cozzano attempt to undo their hold on him, all the Network's power is channeled into maintaining it. As you may have guessed, it ends in chaos. ( )

This book is really better than it should be. The descriptions of the political process are illuminating, and the way it injects the technological-fiction aspect is brilliant. The characters are convincing in the world presented in the book, even if the world is slightly exaggerated. I've read it twice and find that it is a good choice during a major election cycle if you find cynicism toward the media aspect of the campaigns interesting. ( )