Trading Reality

Power and Money #2

by Michael Ridpath

The excitement of million-dollar deals meets the daring of cold-blooded murder in this shocking financial thriller. Mark Fairfax is a young, gifted London bond trader with a high-paying job, a stellar track record and a beautiful girlfriend. His older brother, Richard, owns FairSystems, a small company poised to do for the virtual reality world what Bill Gates did for personal computers. But one dark night Richard is brutally murdered in his workshop. Mark immediately steps into Richard's shoes -- and his life. Through cunning and luck, Mark struggles to keep his brother's business afloat and to discover the secrets behind his death. Until Mark himself becomes the target, moving ever closer to his brother's fate.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Novels, Finance, Suspense

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Before becoming a writer, Michael Ridpath used to work as a bond trader in the City of London. After writing several financial thrillers, which were published in over 30 languages, he began a crime series featuring the Icelandic detective Magnus Jonson. He has also written five stand-alone thrillers, the latest of which is The Diplomat’s Wife, published in February 2021. He lives in London.

And if you want a free copy of his novella, The Polar Bear Killing, and to sign up to his quarterly newsletter, just click this link: http://eepurl.com/dlzgFH

Reviews

[Remo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sin ser yo muy the thrillers, me llamó la atención el hecho de que el protagonista fuese trader de bonos (algo parecido a lo que yo hacía en ese momento). La novela es del 96, por lo que la parte tecnológica que describe sobre trading ya era vieja cuando lo pillé yo, y además el grueso de la novela va sobre las vicisitudes de dirigir una empresa tecnológica (que es lo que hace el hermano del prota). En cualquier caso, la leí hasta el final y me entretuvo, así que sin queja.

[Arnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...

[Dace ჯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the book was published in 1996, it was interesting to see where the author saw the future of virtual reality.
The outdated ideas about virtual reality actually did not disturb me too much, actually I did not find them so outdated. I don't know much about the applications of VR nowadays except for the games & entertainment. Even in these times of remote work, we still do 2D meetings on Zoom. I kind of felt who the culprits will be, the author gave some clues throughout the book, still the plot was quite nicely span. This book was not so much about trading as about running a high-tech start-up with a revolutionary technology and this theme was also well researched and presented in my opinion.
Overall, it is a decent thriller.

[Estibaliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 y medio para esta novela que, de tener que ponerle una etiqueta, yo definiría sin la menor duda como thriller empresarial. Muy amena, casi adictiva por momentos, la introducción en el argumento de los entresijos del funcionamiento de los mercados financieros y el mundo empresarial es sin duda una de las aportaciones más interesantes de la historia, en especial por la forma que tiene el autor de darnos acceso a dicho mundillo: uno realmente se apasiona con las intrigas y politiqueo interempresarial y, además, llega a comprender sin mayores problemas su funcionamiento. Gracias por hacernos sentir inteligentes :P

Respecto a la parte de la realidad virtual, que en la propia contraportada se destaca como la mayor baza de la novela, creo que queda en un plano secundario y tengo ciertas reservas sobre el uso de este recurso en la parte final de la historia. Además, tengo que decir que el desenlace me parece bastante previsible en más de un aspecto... pero no importa, igualmente la lectura ha merecido la pena.

[Luca Ambrosino · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★½ ⇨ 7½

[Lena Durian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darling gave me this book to read and I did like it but I wish I read it before ROBOTS TOOK OVER SOCIETY!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!! Seriously tho they r freaking out over VR and it’s like I just spoke to my phone to set a timer so I’d remember to move the mouse so my teams didn’t make me on the away status when I’m wfh. I think we r past this. BUT WITH THAT SAID ITS NOT HIS FAULT HE WROTE IT IN THE OLDEN DAYS WHEN THEY RODE HORSES!!!! And I actually liked the protagonist which is a first. HOWEVER I GUESSED THE MURDERER LIKE STRAIGHT AWAY BUT KISSSSSSS I LIKED IT I LIKE THE AUTHOR I JUST WISH HE WOULD PREDICT THEFUTURE BETTER 3 STARS WOULD HAVE BEEN 4 IF I LIVED IN THE MEDIEVAL SOCIETY AHHHHHHHHHHH

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2/2.5 ⭐ : stock trading is confusing for me. Disregarding that - overall as a book - 3.5/4 (if u understand)

Read as part of reader's digest (kinda forced to)

Was complicated and confusing for me. Loads of stock things (which I don't understand) also when I read it the first time I was quite young.... also wasn't interested in virtual reality so went into this book with the odds against. also skipped past the 'romance'

I liked the shareholder voting and the end - plot twist - using virtual reality to expose and conclude was very fitting.

----
" but I could see her mouth. she was smiling"

karen. crazy. betrayal.

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed that this was much less financially focused than Ridpath's earlier book Free To Trade, however it is nonetheless a pretty decent read, unfortunately it does suffer from being written about cutting edge computer hardware & software in 1996 which makes the story both nostalgic and a bit absurd as to where the author thought virtual reality was going.

Overall though it's a reasonable murder/mystery novel which much like Free To Trade keeps the mystery going until the end with several false leads and a concealed villain which is eventually revealed.

[Samuel Dubik · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are many books that are old but somehow relevant. Well you can´t say that about Trading Reality. It was written in 1996 and you can feel it when you read it. Autor has no idea about technology, yet he tries to predict the future of it, not very succesfully. Plot is pretty interesting and if you get into it you won´t put the book down. But it is very predictable and the ending feels rushed and doesn´t really make any sense. Despite my bad rating I woud recomend this book if you are looking for something really bizarre

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The current Goodreads average of 3.78. I read it over 24 hours and I have a feeling that this improved my perception of the book’s merits or otherwise. It is a very clever mix of high finance, emerging technology and thriller. The protagonist is one I found myself empathising with and I guessed one of the villains very early on, but that did not spoil my enjoyment. The writing is sharp, with only the odd unnecessary digression, and ensured that I will add more of Michael Ridpath’s books to my never ending to read list.

[Yuri Makovetskiy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leí tu comentario sobre el libro y estoy de acuerdo: la tensión constante, esa mezcla de peligro y decisiones que cambian todo, me enganchó de principio a fin. Es curioso lo mucho que acontecimentos extremos pueden recordar nuestras propias partidas pequeñas, ¿no? Y me vino bien tomar un respiro después de cerrar la última página: justo fui a Pin Up https://pin-up-online-mexico.mx/
para relajarme con algo más ligero, aunque sigue la temática de juego, pero sin tanta carga. Me pareció una buena forma de equilibrar: primero la intensidad del relato, luego el disfrute más tranquilo.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Fairfax is a young successful trader. Happy in his job and relationship. When suddenly his brother gets killed. Brother leaves a struggling company creating virtual reality. Mark travels to Scottland to help. Very nicely done. Something to learn about the industry. Not Erdman level though.
He falls in love with the female geek of the company. So it is good luck that his girlfriend turns out to be the murderer. 7/10

[J.B. Siewers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, suspenseful and fluid. Burst of slippage when it comes to believability and spaced connections though. Bond trader, start up technology company and Scotland/London gave good immersion. . A bit too obvious on the twist but reading about technology from a 1998 view was so cool. My god we came a long way. But the foreshadowing of the progression from that infancy to today was remarkable!

[Anne Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping thriller about virtual reality

I found this book well written and fast paced. The world of computer startups is presented in a compelling way. I only have it 4 stars because there were certain elements that were predictable from early on and I found some aspects of the female characters to be rather stereotyped. Never the less I shall be reading more of this author's work.

[Martyn Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the past, developed in the now

Although the setting is in the past development, it is the reality of now. Well written with lots of twists and turns. Never knew who the killer was until the very end. Michael is truly a devious writer in as much as he holds the reader in as much suspense as possible without them losing interest in the story. Keep on rocking

[Anirudh Bharadwaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narration makes you read non stop and keeps the suspense of the murder and the persistence of saving the organisation. One of the nicely written books with the adaption of the futuristic tech, money and trade.

[Monzenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's schlock that's up my alley, basically. The plot is not that groundbreaking, the characters are all right, that climax was a bit interesting. I can't deny how involved I became with the trading parts though, so I'd still call this a satisfying read.

[Vera Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

WRONG EDITION on show, as Audible have all this series. And I'm enjoying them properly now. I have listened to some of Mr Ridpaths, and I think he is a very good writer, with the jeopardy and escapism that I find compelling.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I only read this in a Readers Digest Select Editions, I was hard pressed to put it down.

[Govind · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trading Reality

Good narrative. Virtual reality bondscape sounded interesting. However, plot appeared loose and the end unconvincing. Overall so so, but readable.

[Dhani Sugeng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great intro but flimsy end

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

exceptionally good

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first saw this book in a combo of four novels, piqued my interest, made my day worthwhile then, gave me company; I would like to relive those time.

[Shankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Suspense story and language is good and Best Books of this Author are recommended

[Armin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leute, die gerne Bücher lesen, deren Helden entweder permanent in Lebensgefahr schweben oder zumindest alle paar Seiten in einer massiven Schießerei stecken oder wenigstens auf der Flucht vor einem fiesen Psychopathen oder einem übermächtigen Geheimdienstapparat sind, werden mit den Krimis von Michael Ridpath nicht glücklich werden.
Seine Ich-Erzähler geraten allenfalls ein- oder zweimal kurz, aber nicht allzu ausgiebig in Lebensgefahr. Dafür sind die Mörder in der Regel sehr nahe stehende Menschen, die denn auch keine Superkiller anheuern können, sondern allenfalls ein paar dilettantische Grobiane, die den Helden und seine neue kettenrauchende Freundin samt Auto in einem Schottischen Loch versenken wollen. Echt Erstickungsängste bekommt der Leser von „Tödliche Aktien“ in besagter Seenotszene nicht unbedingt, auch wenn Mark Fairfax als Lebensretter seiner neuen Liebe ans Limit seiner Lungen geht.
Das Spannungspotenzial dieses Wirtschaftskrimis entsteht aus einen doppelten Whodunnit und der Betriebsblindheit des Helden, der nach dem Tod seines genialen Bruders einheitlich nur nach Schottland fährt, um dessen chronisch unterfinanzierte Softwareschmiede möglichst gewinnbringend zu verkaufen, um wieder an seinen gewohnten Arbeitsplatz in der Londoner City zurückzukehren. Denn dort ist er mit dem ebenfalls von Fairsystems entwickelten Analysewerkzeug„Bondscape“ den Kollegen meilenweit voraus.
Doch als er endlich dahinter kommt, dass Fairsystems mit seiner Virtual-Reality-Kompetenz für Microsoft dasselbe bedeuten könnte wie einst Bill Gates für IBM, tobt bereits eine gewaltige Übernahmeschlacht, in deren Verlauf sich vermeintliche Freunde als Gegner entpuppen, die auch nicht vor Mord zurück schrecken. Bei der Aufklärung des in der Realität nicht mehr beweisbaren Mordes an Richard Fairfax in der Schlussrunde in der virtuellen Wirklichkeit kreuzen sich klassischer Whodunnit mit dem Computerzeitalter.
Alles in allem ein typisches zweites Buch, beim Versuch gewisse Fehler des „Spekulanten“ zu vermeiden, bei dem Börsenkrimi und Mordkomplett qualitativ doch sehr weit auseinander klafften, lässt sich Ridpath bei der Entwicklung seiner Geschichte und der Familienangelegenheiten doch ziemlich viel Zeit und wird gelegentlich auch etwas umständlich.
Mit seiner Prognose, dass Virtual Realtiy auf jedem Windows-Rechner zum Alltag gehört, ist Ridpath immer noch seiner Zeit voraus, den Wieder-Aufstieg einer zwischezeitlich außer Kurs geratenen Softwareschmiede aus Palo Alto, die ihre Geräte selbst herstellt, hat er dagegen richtig vorher gesagt. Deren ziemlich hinterhältiger Chef, der auf den Konkurs von Fairsystems spekuliert, um sich die Beute zum Ramschpreis unter den Nagel zu reißen, hat rein optisch wenig mit Steve Jobs zu tun, auch wenn alle anderen Faktoren passen.

[Πάνος Τουρλής · Rating 3 out of 5]

Καλό θριλεράκι, στα χνάρια της αγγλικής λογοτεχνίας-θρίλερ. Μαθαίνουμε για την εικονική πραγματικότητα και για τα υπέρ και τα κατά της χρήσης της. Πόσο χρήσιμη μπορεί να είναι για το κτίσιμο του σπιτιού της και πόσο επιβλαβής αν ξεχαστούμε μέσα στον κόσμο αυτόν και έτσι δυσκολευτούμε να ξαναζήσουμε στον πραγματικό κόσμο. Ένα μεγάλο μειονέκτημα είναι οι πάμπολοι όροι που χρησιμοποιεί (κυρίως χρηματο-οικονομικοί, μιας και ο πρωταγωνιστής είναι μεσίτης ή κάτι άλλο που δεν κατάλαβα). Ειδικά στο 1ο κεφάλαιο έχουμε βομβαρδισμό. Και δευτερευόντως τους τεχνικούς όρους. Δηλαδή αν αγνοήσει κανείς αυτά τα εμπόδια ίσως απολαύσει ένα καλό κι αξιοπρεπές θριλεράκι. Με φόντο τη Σκωτία και τις διεθνείς συνεργασίες της εταιρείας εικονικής πραγματικότητας μας αποκαλύπτονται τα μυστικά που κρύβονται πίσω από το χρηματιστήριο αξιών και τη δίψα για λεφτά. Μια εταιρεία που αξίζει πολλά όταν προωθήεσι στην αγορά το μυστικό της σχέδιο και φυσικά αυτό δεν συμφέρει κάποιους, που εποφαθλμιούν να την αγοράσουν πάση θυσία. Μου άρεσε το τέλος και ο τρόπος που παραδέχεται την ενοχή του ο ένοχος, μέσω της εικονικής πραγματικότητας συναντάει το θύμα του!Και στο δωμάτιο είναι μαζεμένοι όλοι οι ύποπτοι, κάτι που χρησιμοποιεί κατά κόρον η Αγκάθα Κρίστι. Άρα έχουμε κάτι αξιοπρεπές για την παραλία (αν μη τι άλλο).

Στα ελληνικά από τις εκδόσεις Bell το 1998 (Εικονική πραγματικότητα: ώρα μηδέν).

[Hayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

She was alright. Bit technical and didn't realise it was the second book in the series. Bit unrealistic with Karen just being an absolute psychopath in the end, but amusing

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Whodunnit-type Thriller...

This book can be described as a modern whodunit murder mystery with thriller and technological elements thrown into the plot line. The brother of a bond trader in London is murdered and the bond trader turns into CEO and entrepreneur when he takes over his brother's company. The company was on the verge of a technological breakthrough in Virtual Reality and this technology plays a major role as the story unfolds. Suspense mounts towards the end as the protagonist has to deal with managing the company, keeping it afloat and learning about the technology, while he also tries to discover who murdered his brother at the same time. His life is not made any easier by attempts at hostile take-overs, attempts on his life and terrorism. To top it all, he also falls in love with one of his new employees! The author brings the book to a masterful conclusion when all the suspects are gathered in one location, as in true classical whodunit fashion, and the technology is employed to force the murderer to expose him/herself. The story flows well and the book is very difficult to put down.

[Ken · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this novel to be entertained, and to learn a bit about Virtual Reality or gain some new insights into the European Bond Market, but learned nothing new about either subject, and found the story to be only a bland and lackluster murder mystery.

Since the book was released in 1998, the global investment markets and the entire digital world has changed so dramatically that almost nothing factual from that era is relevant today. And, a 'whodunit' set in either of these worlds must consist of a top-notch plot-line, and it certainly didn't occur in TRADING REALITY.