Adult Sci-fi. Secret agent/ soldier/ spy is killed in action and revived by having nanobots injected into him. The Agency tries to control him with nanotechnology, set on Earth in near future. Cover: camera nest on a pole? Read 2000-2004.

[Raoul]

There are several plot lines I remember about this book:
1. Soldier/spy gets killed in action and is then revived by nanobots being injected into him.
2. The Agency running him, begins to control him using the nanobots. At first, he mentally forces the nanobots to stay out of his brain. Eventually he lets them in and finds that he has control over them, making him near superhuman.
3. The Agency controlling him is able to break all encryption algorithms and hence snoops on all electronic communications. This is possible since the Agency deciphered a signal they received from space, that contained code that allows them to break all encryption algorithms.
4. The main protagonist's boss feels that something untoward is happening in the Agency and hence tries to protect the protagonist, at the cost of his own life.

If I recall, the book's cover depicted a camera nest on a pole. The author was supposed to have a sequel in the works that would explain the alien connection.

Any of this ring a bell? I'd really appreciate any help.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

bump
(sounds interesting)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Raoul, are you still looking for this book?

[Abby]

This sounds somewhat similar to the movie "Source Code." Maybe it was based on a book?

[Feliks]

Reminds me of 'Fantastic Voyage'

[Kjell]

I am also looking for that book (actually, there was at least one sequel and then I lost track). They were definitely written after 1986 when nano first became a well-defined topic, I guess I read them around '90. Unfortunately I lent them to a friend I have since lost contact with.

The first book starts out with protagonist lying in the snow, severly wounded in the face, snowflakes falling on what's left, thinking he should die; but then realises that small machines are repairing him... A scene that impressed me deeply.

We ger to understand that there is an Assassin hunting for him, always on his track, while somewhere along the way, the story passes into space... I believe I should avoid any spoilers here

[SparksofEmber]

Kjell, you should probably start your own thread looking for this book. And add the spoilers - just flag them first like this: < spoiler >write the spoiler here< /spoiler > (just remove the spaces)

[Kjell]

I finally managed to identify this book. It is written by Jeffrey Carver, and there is a sequel:

From a Changeling Star (1989), ISBN 978-0759295957
Down the Stream of Stars (1990), ISBN 978-0553283020

[SamSpayedPI]

From a Changeling Star
Down the Stream of Stars
for Kjell's links.

[Raoul]

Hi folks. Sorry, Goodreads didn't send me notifications of updates. Kjell described the story quite well. Unfortunately, I dont think Changeling was it. The book I'm describing was set on Earth in the near future.

[Raoul]

Or maybe I'm misremembering in my old age 🙂 I'll get these books and read thru them. Thanks all

[Kris]

Raoul, thanks for the update.

Around what year did you read this book?

Who are the Agency's enemies?

I copied a few book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

[Raoul]

Thanks! I read it some time between 2000 and 2004.

The Agency felt somewhat akin to the CIA/NSA, but they had been subverted by some thing/person because of their access to privileged communications. Using that access, the Agency would also steal/develop cutting edge new technologies on their own, to further their "control".

[Kris]

Are they called "the Agency"? Based in the U.S., Europe, global, etc.?

How and where was the agent/ soldier killed?
What were and are his special skills?

[Raoul]

I think the agency was US based but had global reach. Unfortunately, dont recall the exact circumstances of the agent's first death. I think I remember his corpse being transported to some agency morgue/safe house and getting injected with nanites there.

After reviving and eventually gaining control of the nanites, I think he's able to use them to control other electronics. But that's hazy.

[Raoul]

And yes,I think they were called the "Agency". But that's hazy too, now that it's been 20+ years

[Jeremy]

Are you sure you're not thinking of the television series Jake 2.0?

(Note - I'm not being condescending, I've had occasions where I misremembered a TV/movie plot as something I'd read.)

[Raoul]

Heh, nope. Definitely a book. Never watched Jake 2.0.

[SparksofEmber]

How do the nanobots make him superhuman. Was the book new or older when you read it?

[Raoul]

The nanobots basically made him immortal and gave him control over anything with an EM field. The book was new when I read it.

[SparksofEmber]

Maybe check this list?
Nanotech_Science_Fiction