Breakpoint

I'm normally a big admirer of novelists who build their stories around well-researched and thought provoking concepts. The controversy at the heart of the novel (whether the converging sciences of genetics and information technology should be embraced as the next phase of human evolution or regulated to avoid the demise of humanity) is probably the most vexing issue we will face in the twenty-first century. And one cannot fault Richard Clarke for his research or insider's knowledge of global politics and the defense industrial complex. The problem is that the story and characters feel contrived, existing solely to allow the author to drive home his message. The editing of the book is also surprisingly poor for a major publisher, the show more numerous typos and grammatical errors having the unfortunate effect of undercutting the book's overall credibility.

One day there will be a thriller worthy of this subject matter. In the meantime, readers interested in exploring these weighty issues should stick with the non-fiction work of Ray Kurzweil, such as "The Age of Spiritual Machines." show less

Clarke was the counterterrorism head for Clinton and George W. Bush, until his resignation. He has written non-fiction books on government and national security.

This book, however, is a novel, and it is one that will change your view of the world. The novel sees several technologies, including nanotechnology, biology, computer science, and cognitive science, as on the verge of creating a new world in which our conceptions of what it is to be human must change. Soon we will be capable of creating advanced humans, genetically engineered and with cyber interfaces. The book brings up that perhaps the legal and ethical issues aren't being thought through carefully. What will the world be like when the rich are a distinctly different new show more species, with capabilities beyond the reach of the rest of humanity?

The plot follows attacks on much of the country's Internet traffic as well as on certain researchers and research facilities. The attacks are presumed to be from the Chinese, but retaliation has to wait to be sure of the facts. Two agents are working to follow the trail of the research and who might want to destroy these particular projects.

The characters are well-done, but it is the plot that is mind-blowing in its implications. WELL worth reading for understanding where the human race might be headed. show less

It is now the close of 2014 and I just finished reading this book which Richard Clarke expected to be predictive when published seven years ago. Clarke failed mostly because he doesn’t understand statistical reasoning. His premise is that the future causes of cataclysmic cyber/technology events will come from the least expected areas (like fundamentalist Christians rather than Muslims who have been at war with America for quite some time). So here is where I believe his reasoning is flawed: Large populations of Muslims are heavily influenced by many of their leaders to hate Americans and plan for their destruction vs. American evangelicals who are taught by their leaders to respect their county and participate lawfully in its show more democracy. While it is true that every group is vulnerable to off-shoot crack pots, Clarke predicts that Christian fundamentalists (who have no active or supported leaders who are at war with America) will be the future bad guys. The Muslims (the larger and actively at war with America group) aren’t even mentioned. Here we are seven years later and the evidence shows that Mr. Clarke got it wrong. As for the rest of his technology use/misuse concerns the subject matter is interesting the analysis poor. show less

Fast read. Interesting plot that weaves together some not so far off technology and how it might be used against society.

Richard Clark brings us a timely story about the convergence of major forces of which most are terribly unaware. I enjoyed the story and the plot was plausible. Some of the characters felt a bit forced rather than polished. Sadly, the proofreading and editing were a major distraction with incorrect grammar and spelling jumping off the page at times.

I can recommend this book based on the subject matter or as a light thriller.