Crypto
by Dan Brown
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Crypto.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 13167)
When I first read the DaVinci Code a couple of years back, I admit that it wasn't all that bad (at least for the first two-thirds or so), but in light of its content I found it significantly overrated... Upon reading this book, however, I am outright insulted that this man's success is inspiring documentaries on the History Channel...
I had the unfortunate luck to inherit this along with a box of other (and thankfully much more redeeming) books when a good friend of mine was leaving Japan. Af...more
I had the unfortunate luck to inherit this along with a box of other (and thankfully much more redeeming) books when a good friend of mine was leaving Japan. Af...more
Like this review?
yes
(5 people liked it)
1 comments
Oh Dan Brown, how I love to hate you. It seems a universal truth that when you have run out of all of the books to read that you’ve brought with you, it is impossible to find decent reading material wherever you are. In my case, I ran out of book in Ethiopia. And, unlike Tanzania and Nairobi, I was unable to find any reasonable English language bookstore. I suppose this is because unlike Tanzania and Nairobi, English is not an official language of the country. As I don’t read, nor speak, Ahm...more
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
add a comment
Read in January, 2005
There's a reason why everyone talks about The DaVinci Code and not about this book. I have no idea what that reason would be, because I thought Angels & Demons was mediocre so I never bothered to read the The DaVinci Code. Anyway, I was bored and a copy of this was sitting at the library for a quarter and I thought "WTF, mate, I'll give it a go."
The first page of chapter 1 starts with Susan Fletcher waking from a romantic dream to the ringing of the telephone:
"Susan, i...more
The first page of chapter 1 starts with Susan Fletcher waking from a romantic dream to the ringing of the telephone:
"Susan, i...more
Like this review?
yes
(3 people liked it)
8 comments
This is the first of his works that I have read. I know…I know…The Da Vinci Code is supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread, but I just wasn’t buying into the hype. My wife on the hand, has been devouring his books like, pardon the cliché, they are going out of style. It was at her insistence that I picked up Digital Fortress.
I read the back of the book and let out a sigh.
“What?” my wife asked.
“I get it. The government let’s the NSA run uncheck...more
I read the back of the book and let out a sigh.
“What?” my wife asked.
“I get it. The government let’s the NSA run uncheck...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2005
I read the Da Vinci Code first. You could call me a fashion victim if you like. After successfully ignoring the book for months every time I pass by the pile in Kinokuniya, I gave up. I bought one and read it. I wasn't impressed, to be honest. I know the book is a hit which really get people to write... several more books on related topics. These books could quickly be a genre on its own.
I was told that the book should read together with Angels and Demons which is sort of a prequel to the Da...more
I was told that the book should read together with Angels and Demons which is sort of a prequel to the Da...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2005
recommends it for:
people who prefer movies to books.
I'm not a big fan of Dan Brown. For me, at most, he's something to read when I'm bored and would rather not clean house.
But mostly he annoys me. I was very excited to read the Da Vinci Code as I'd read so many good things about it and was so disappointed when I finally did read it. He goes off on tangents that just distracted me from the story. And other times when he could simply introduce information into the story via dialogue or action, he prefers to add it in as another tangent. ...more
But mostly he annoys me. I was very excited to read the Da Vinci Code as I'd read so many good things about it and was so disappointed when I finally did read it. He goes off on tangents that just distracted me from the story. And other times when he could simply introduce information into the story via dialogue or action, he prefers to add it in as another tangent. ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
beach read
Here’s the problem: Digital Fortress has a good plot, but it’s filled with weak characters. I really liked the plot. A disgruntled NSA employee develops an unbreakable encryption program (the Digital Fortress) and threatens to give both the encryption program and the key (which is buried in the program) away on the Internet. If the bad guys gain access to the key, they will be able to communicate without fear of the NSA decrypting their messages. This throws the NSA into a panic – as it ...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
In most thrillers, "hardware" consists of big guns, airplanes, military vehicles, and weapons that make things explode. Dan Brown has written a thriller for those of us who like our hardware with disc drives and who rate our heroes by big brainpower rather than big firepower. It's an Internet user's spy novel where the good guys and bad guys struggle over secrets somewhat more intellectual than just where the secret formula is hidden--they have to gain understanding of what the secret ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
nobody
I learned that Dan Brown is a bad writer and I will never read any of his other books. I also am upset at my friend for recommending me this book.
In short, the book is a bad novel, and a very bad novel if you know anything about math / cryptography.
Not only the technical errors were appalling, but the writing style itself is mediocre.
WARNING: spoiler here.
There is a scene where the heads of NSA along with some of the smartest people on Earth were trying to s...more
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
This was an easy quick read. I started the book late Friday night and finished it Saturday evening (which is the exact reason why I don't usually read during the semester - I can't put books down). While the book was not nearly as good as Angels and Demons or the Da Vinci Code it was still a great read. Like his other novels, there are things that are simply unbelievable while most of the book just borders on believability. With my background in computers and engineering it was very easy to foll...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
Goodness.
A University Lecturer sent on a mission for "national security" and doesn't question it?
A female lead so mindless she believes everything her boss says instantly?
An attempted assasination in a packed Spanish Cathedral?
A beat up moped outracing a fast car?
How about a University Lecturer outwitting one of the best assasins America has?
Did I mention the aparently highly intelligent heroine who is in fact dimwitted and highly annoying?
Some of the worst writing you...more
A University Lecturer sent on a mission for "national security" and doesn't question it?
A female lead so mindless she believes everything her boss says instantly?
An attempted assasination in a packed Spanish Cathedral?
A beat up moped outracing a fast car?
How about a University Lecturer outwitting one of the best assasins America has?
Did I mention the aparently highly intelligent heroine who is in fact dimwitted and highly annoying?
Some of the worst writing you...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2006
i like this book better then Angel & Demons...
kali ini topik kontroversial yang diangkat oleh Dan Brown adalah masalah RUU dimana di dalam nya diajukan rancangan bahwa pemerintah berhak untuk memata2i seluruh penduduk nya atas nama keamanan nasional...
rumor yg beredar bahwa NSA sudah mulai melakukan nya dengan komputer super canggih yg bisa melacak apapun...
sayang nya di dalam NSA sendiri terjadi perpecahan pro dan kontra mengenai hal ini... karena itu sama saja tidak memberikan ...more
kali ini topik kontroversial yang diangkat oleh Dan Brown adalah masalah RUU dimana di dalam nya diajukan rancangan bahwa pemerintah berhak untuk memata2i seluruh penduduk nya atas nama keamanan nasional...
rumor yg beredar bahwa NSA sudah mulai melakukan nya dengan komputer super canggih yg bisa melacak apapun...
sayang nya di dalam NSA sendiri terjadi perpecahan pro dan kontra mengenai hal ini... karena itu sama saja tidak memberikan ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2006
¿Puede existir un código indescifrable? En un mundo en el que la información lo es todo, una simple palabra se convierte en el arma más poderosa.
Susan Fletcher, la criptógrafa estrella de la ultrasecreta Agencia de Seguridad Nacional (NSA) no puede dar crédito a sus oídos cuando su jefe, el subdirector de la Agencia, le informa de que han interceptado un código que ni siquiera la mayor supercomputadora conocida puede descifrar.
La única pista para romper el letal código parece ...more
Susan Fletcher, la criptógrafa estrella de la ultrasecreta Agencia de Seguridad Nacional (NSA) no puede dar crédito a sus oídos cuando su jefe, el subdirector de la Agencia, le informa de que han interceptado un código que ni siquiera la mayor supercomputadora conocida puede descifrar.
La única pista para romper el letal código parece ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2005
recommends it for:
Dan Brown fans or those interested in cryptography
Dan Brown's books all seem to follow the same format. The subject material changes but the rest of the story seems to fall into his own cookie cutter outline. There's the academic hero/heroine, the love interest, the assassin/stalker/killer, and then the expert or leader who seems to help until revealing his true nature as the main villain. Digital Fortress fits into this mold perfectly. Once you've read one Dan Brown book you'll notice that the story and characters are very similar i...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Reading Dan Brown books is a bit like watching porn. Mildly enjoyable at the time, but not really something you'd like your friends or family to know about.
Digital Fortress starts as it means to go on, with two-dimensional characters in a whirlwind of mystery and action. The cast never evolves beyond cardboard cut-out level, but the plot does pick up through various levels of incredulity and intrigue to a climax that ends up shallow and disappointing, leaving the reader feeling cheap and che...more
Digital Fortress starts as it means to go on, with two-dimensional characters in a whirlwind of mystery and action. The cast never evolves beyond cardboard cut-out level, but the plot does pick up through various levels of incredulity and intrigue to a climax that ends up shallow and disappointing, leaving the reader feeling cheap and che...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
This book just made me angry. Amidst all the hype, I read DaVinci Code and really enjoyed it. So I felt compelled to read Dan Brown's other books. The sad experience I had was that each time I read another of his books, I liked it less than the previous one. When I got to Digital Fortress, I hit rock bottom. It irritated me so much that I never even went looking to see if he had written any other books I hadn't read, because if the next one irritated me more than Digital Fortress, I might have g...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in August, 2007
Digital Fortress is to Deception Point as Angels and Demons is to The DaVinci Code. I've read all four books now and like the pace and the approach of each book. Chapters are really short and usually alternate between two key developing scenes. This is great for my...more
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
code breaking fans
Digital Fortress was written by Dan Brown in 1998, before coming up with his best-seller The Da Vince Code. Digital Fortress sets the action in two places: the NSA headquarters in the United States and Seville, in Spain. The plot is smart and has to do with code breaking. However, the entire novel is predictable. Chapters are very short and show no character development. Childish at times, the author does not make an attempt at approaching the central issue realistically. Also, Brown either did ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
NOT cryptologists
If you can suspend disbelief, this story is a fun ride. I enjoy the energetic way Dan Brown builds a story, but he doesn't spend enough time doing his own research. It is written with the voice of authority, making you feel the backstory is solid, but that is an illusion. His "facts" on crypto in general and NSA specifically are laughable. He seems to create facts where they are convenient. That said, I did enjoy this story. The ending was a bit contrived...with the standard Holly...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2006
recommends it for:
an idiot / someone with nothing else to read
Like a lot of Brown's books, the characters are from the stratosphere of human society. They're important people who've either been chosen for their ability to thrive in their specific environment or have adapted to it.
That's why this book pissed me off so much. A bunch of NSA analysts--some very, very smart people--would not act this irrationally. The entire thing was a joke, especially the General who was running the place. I felt like I was reading what would've happened if the NSA had...more
That's why this book pissed me off so much. A bunch of NSA analysts--some very, very smart people--would not act this irrationally. The entire thing was a joke, especially the General who was running the place. I felt like I was reading what would've happened if the NSA had...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
