Swift

by James Follett

Swift is the satellite communication system that handles interbank transactions. It is hack-proof. Or is it? A group of determined computer experts set out to penetrate the satellite communication system that controls the transfers of billions of dollars each day.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2012

About the author

James Follett (not "Follet") was an author and screenwriter, born in 1939 in Tolworth, England.

Follett became a full-time fiction writer in 1976, after resigning from contract work as a technical writer for the British Ministry of Defence. He has wrote over 20 novels, several television scripts (including episodes of the BBC's Blake's 7), and many radio dramas. Follett was one of the 400 most popular British authors, measured by the numbers of books borrowed from public libraries in the UK, having spent 11 years in the public lending right's top two bands of authors.

Reviews

[Pramod Nair · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced techno-thriller. Since this is from early 90s the technology may be a bit outdated, but the book loaded with action and suspense.

[William A Stussie · Rating 5 out of 5]

International banking intrigue

Just how safe is money when it’s being transferred instantly by computers. How safe from hackers is it. Would the Russians help? Is everybody available to be bought. Do even good people have a price to cross the line? Everybody?

[Nancy Denton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not James Follett's best.

Unlike all the others I have read this one had too many grammatical errors and missed words. I read it anyway, filling in all the missing parts myself. It will not be one I recommend to others because of this.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good action, good plot.
Yes technology in the book is now dated, but not overly so and was almost fun to stroll down technology memory lane.

[Russell & Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read.

The technology of the time is a little dated now but the story builds well to the climax and raps up nicely.

[Lisa Desposito · Rating 3 out of 5]

poor kindle version

The story was kind of interesting, but the editing was horrific, terrible grammar, and misspelled words everywhere and incomplete sentences

[Marcia Krieger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story was interesting but printing/editing was awful - wrong words, misspelled words, missing words. Never in 70 years have I read such a poorly edited/printed book.

[Ries Marcel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading " Swift" full of suspence and hard to put aside till the last page. So good that I ordered another book by James Follett.
MR

[Andy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good!

[Sean Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follett can write thrillers. As with The Doomsday Ultimatum this kept me going and more so than that one totally kept me guessing. Yes, I admit it, "And then they overlook something so incredibly obvious that any high school kid would've spotted it right away." And I didn't spot it. I stopped reading for a while, sat in silence, pondering what "it" could be. I had all the facts, and yet I failed to click, which of course just made the ending that much sweeter.

In the foreword to my edition, Follett writes that the book is "a little dated". I see what he means, but it's firmly set in its era and all the stronger for it. I like the technology; buffer stores and line printers, phone line access to databases and microdisks. It all fits so well, that it's hard to credit some science fiction novels relied on "tapes" for everything, even decades into the future.

Well, as I've already mentioned, I didn't see the end of this one coming. The characters are all very unique, if a little cliquey and stereotypical in their accustomed wealthy lifestyles, and the action is brisk and rewarding. One of Follett's best for me.

[Steve Markham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller of the highest order indeed!

I can't sing the praises of this book enough. It was gripping and fast, with love, hope, betrayal fast boats and a lot more. What more can a reader ask for? Well, something in the plot so blindingly obvious to give it away that you don't even spot! That is what you ask for and get in this one.

Just read it!

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Opening with a very intriguing plot and continuing storyline. Was disappointed with the continual killings and gruesome death descriptions of a lot of the good guys, and many of the neutral characters as well (even a child). Most of the deaths had no bearing on what would have been four stars. An otherwise good read ruined.

[Lysergius · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very plausible tale.