Utopia

This is the most enjoyable thriller I've read in a while. With great writing, engaging characters, and a good, twisting story, it had everything I could have hoped for in a thriller. There was also a nice element of tech/science fiction that added the perfect amount of atmosphere without taking things over the top or to where I felt like I was reading science fiction rather than suspense, or where I felt lost in the details. Instead, it felt like it was used masterfully to up the ante and atmosphere, making the most of the setting of a high-tech amusement park.

Absolutely recommended for folks who enjoy fast-moving suspense with just a bit of tech.

Interesting concept, & ended up being an exciting book. While I was able to predict some of the mystery, there was plenty that I couldn't figure out up until it was revealed. I loved the integration of technology into the story, though I'm not sure how accessible it'd be to someone without some background in CS.

Outside Las Vegas, Nevada you'll find Utopia, the most advanced amusement park in the world. Built under a huge glass dome, the park is divided into four sections: Gaslight, Callisto, Camelot, and Boardwalk, all featuring the latest in robotics and holographic imaging along with some of the most amazing roller coasters and thrill rides ever conceived. When the security system in one of the most popular rides in the park fails, the management of the park starts reviewing the system that control the park's operations. They call in Dr. Andrew Warne, the developer of the Metanet, which coordinates all the robotic activities, and demand he shut down the all robots. Unknown to Andrew there's a man calling himself John Doe who plans to kill show more the patrons unless the park director turns over the program used to run the parks, a revolutionary program that could be used militarily with great destruction in the wrong hands. Now Andrew and a small group of colleagues will have to stop the terrorists before it's too late.

Utopia is a fun and fast paced techno thriller. I liked the way the author gave some of the robots interesting backgrounds, especially one called Wingnut who acted like a dog. I really enjoyed reading it and wish it was an actual amusement park because it sounded like such a fascinating place to visit (on a terrorist-free day). show less

I don’t often discard a book after reading it halfway through, but Utopia kept me hoping that something would catch my interest. I tired of this marriage of thriller and sci-fi, though. None of the characters was worth caring about, the science was uninteresting, and the plot just wasn’t strong enough to invest more of my time. After the third plot turn at which I said to myself “why would they do that?” it went into my giveaway pile.

I was really surprised by this book. Before I started it, I didn't think I would finish it, but wanted to give it a shot. 24 hours later, as I put the book down, I was really impressed. The tech talk is not so overwhelming that someone like me (not a science or techie at all) could understand the gist of that aspect of the novel. The thriller part is very good and I so did not even care that I figured out who the inside man was way too early.

The theme park, Utopia, is someplace that I would love to visit and found the descriptions of it fascinating. I could not put this book down, nor did I really want to.

I really, really enjoyed "Utopia." Because I've been to Disney World so many times, I was really able to "see" and appreciate the lengths the staff of Utopia took to build the Park's illusions. I thought the characters were solid and believable, the action and drama were well mixed, and the technology was pretty cool! While I'd read "Deep Storm" a year or so ago, I didn't go right back to Child. (Not sure why.) But I so enjoyed "Utopia" that I picked up "Death Match" at the library and will start it tonight.

Another tasty adventure thriller from Lincoln Child. He has tapped the wellspring of writing that consistently produces a novel that grabs hold halfway through until you finish. Finest kind, Maine philosopher and physician Hawkeye (MASH) Pierce used to say. This one involves a mind-bogling theme park targeted by criminals with an unfolding plot no one is ready for...but an onsite computer consultant may be able to help with.