PeaceMaker

Rating:
Summary: Chaos Unleased in "Peacemaker" by Daniel Ronco
Review:
The problem with technology is that when everything is turned over to computers, the computers can and do go haywire. Not just disrupting lives with minor inconveniences but the computers can actually kill. That is the backdrop theme to this soon to be released adventure/disaster style read from author Daniel J. Ronco.

The computer system in this case is the Atlas Operating System, which is almost universally used in the very near future. Created by Ray Brown and his team from Vantage Point Software, the product has beaten all competitors. So much so, the company was a target of an anti-trust trial. A trial they ultimately lost and as a result the company was broken up into theoretically separate units. But despite the breakup, the company is still hers and under her control and beautiful CEO Dianne Morgan has plans. Dianne is charming, sexually confident and aggressive, ruthless and relentless in her obsession to destroy the competition, the government, and anyone else who stupidly stands in her way.

The lovely Dianne has two motives. Not only does she want her company to succeed, but she also wants her shadowy group within and without her company known as "The Domain" to succeed in their plans to take over the world. To do so, they will unleash a virus lurking deep within the operating system. The virus will cause a systematic shutdown of everything everywhere until her goals are met.

The virus's name is "Peacemaker" in reference to her vision of the future under her control. But Ray Brown has discovered a form of the virus and has seen in it violent action. He intends to stop it. Initially not realizing that his lover CEO Dianne Morgan is behind it all, he sets out to destroy "Peacemaker" and can only watch as the evolving and possibly self aware virus not only defeats his every attempt but others are retaliated against for his actions. And while Dianne plots to take over the world she has yet to understand that others within her group plot to oust her and use "Peacemaker" for their own nefarious purposes.

With at least three major storylines, this book shifts constantly in third person between them in this adventure/disaster style novel. As such, character development is rather limited and somewhat stereotypical of the genre. For example, Ray Brown is portrayed as a brilliant alcoholic constantly at war with his inner demon need for a stiff drink while the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Then there is the achingly beautiful Dianne Morgan who reminds one of a figure from Greek tragedy. Not only will she sleep with any man necessary to get her way, while at the pinnacle of success, she throws it all away on a quest for yet more power. And of course, what would any adventure/disaster read be without the pov of various minor characters doomed by the actions of the "Peacemaker" virus. Some will live, some will die and some of those deaths will be horrible as chaos ensues and society collapses.

Having said all that, for what it is in the genre, this is a pretty good book. Unlike many such novels, the focus isn't so much on the fate of the characters, but more a commentary on society, current and future, as a whole. With allusions to recent computer trials in the news, at least in the mind of this reviewer, this novel serves more as a dire warning of a future we may unwittingly be creating each day as we turn more and more control of our lives over to computer systems. While the read is enjoyable and fast, the issues this novel raises deserve serious consideration before the next power blackout or other disaster-man made or otherwise.


Book Facts:

Peacemaker
By Daniel J. Ronco
www.danronco.net
Winterwolf Publishing
www.winterwolf.com
August 1, 2004
ARC


Kevin R. Tipple © 2004


Rating:
Summary: "In many ways, it seems like an artificial life form."
Review: Dan Ronco, with PEACEMAKER, promises us another writer cast in the Chalker mold. Here he shows how flimsy the wall is that now separates man from machine, animate from inanimate. With the advent of talking, feeling software entities, even an adolescent geek like his character, David Brown, could find companionship.

Although this story is set in the future, today's news is full of stories of spyware snuck into your personal computer to record every keystroke. This story couldn't be more current. Big Brother has arrived with computer controlled camera-mikes that can track one's every move. It is disturbing how this tale mirrors our everyday life. It suggests that even today, business may be controlled by a technologically elite group that has escaped detection. Goodbye privacy! My reaction to this story was to delete all the cookies on my browsers.

As in Phil K. Dick's BLADERUNNER, where Nexus Six Androids returned to meet their maker, the PeaceMaker virus began to evolve into an entity smarter than its maker, into an entity that could kill its maker. The character, Ray Brown, who created a voice activated operating system, The Atlas, for the good of mankind, is pitted against power hungry CEO Dianne Morgan. Ms. Morgan wanted to pervert the Atlas' peaceful use by hiding the PeaceMaker virus within it. Using the PeaceMaker virus to shut down all the world's computers, she could then grab power. Ray must fight not only Dianne, but himself. Ray's tragic flaws, as in Greek Drama, are his alcoholic addiction and his enslavement to Dianne's body. These cost him both his happy marriage and contented fatherhood The internal conflicts generated within Ray are enormous. His nightmares keep driving him back to his bottle.

When you read PEACEMAKER, be prepared to surrender your naivete about the future's computer driven world.


Rating:
Summary: Excellent and exciting
Review: Great story, especially from a first time author. The book doesn't get so technical that a lay person would be unable to understand, but its obvious that Mr. Ronco has an excellent grasp of the science behind his fiction. It's a little scary considering many current events. Will read it again, can't wait for the next book in the trilogy. Go to danronco.com too. You can read all about the book and what's he's working on now.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I am not a huge fan of science fiction, but this was fabulous! It was written so that I (not computer saavy) could understand it and enjoy it while being able to pay attention to the heart fo the story! I can't wait to read the next one!

Rating:
Summary: Not very good...
Review: In the interest of full disclosure, Mr. Ronco wrote me and asked if I would be willing to read and review this book. No promises were asked or made as to what I would say about it. My basic problem with the story is that the characters are not fleshed out very well. We find them already formed, already bent on trying to introduce PeaceMaker to the computers of the world or prevent it from happening, depending on the character. The character of Dianne is far too manic in her mood swings to be believeable, just for starters. Her motivation is said to be the humiliation she received when held in contempt by the court at the anti-trust trial involving her computer company. If so, her reaction is extreme and otherwise unexplained. The book reads more like the outline of a larger book in which there is an interesting story to tell if done right. It just does not get done very well.

Rating:
Summary: PeaceMake - a must read
Review: Michael Crichton move over. Dan Ronco's PeaceMaker is the 21st century sci-fi version of a tale of two cities providing us with the intense drama and emotion of a Dicken's classic combined with the imaginative, yet realistic, view of a Crichton novel. This book was so good, I barely could put it down. Thrilling, exciting, filled with heroes and villains, providing the reader with every possible range of emotions.

Ray Brown is a modern day, believable hero with whom we can all relate. Diane Morgan is a classic villain, willing to sell everything, even her soul, to get ahead and gain more and more power and money. Their fight consumes both of them, driving one into an alcoholic state and the other into the fires of absolute power.

Yet in all of this, a story of how computer technology became the crutch which eventually took over our lives. A story of how we allowed ourselves to become the victims of our own desires and wants. A story which we may be playing out - even today!

Given all of the material published in a year, this is the one book which is a must read for someone who appreciates not only a great plot, storyline, and character development, but just plain great writing.

From those of us who enjoy a great read - THANKS MR. RONCO!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: PeaceMaker is a novel about the worst nightmare the modern world could face. A super computer virus that is intelligent and impossible to kill. Indeed the PeaceMaker virus has the ability to become aggressive and alter the social order of the world.

Ray Brown is a computer software genius for Vantage Point Software. He is the designer of the Atlas operating system used by the majority of computers in the world. Despite the success this gave Ray, he had a problem. He could not get his passion for Dianne Morgan, his boss, out of his system.

Dianne is a beautiful but ruthless woman. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Vantage Point Software. Full of vigor and a healthy sexual appetite, she is not willing to give her heart to anyone. She uses her sensuality to manipulate men to do her bidding. Ray Brown was just another of her acquisitions to help the business.
But he was an asset that could be a loose cannon and needed to be guarded against.

Alan Goldman, the owner of Goldman Information Systems, a business rival to Dianne Morgan. He too had ambitions for world domination of the computer software market. He was getting tired of playing second fiddle to Dianne on the world stage. Goldman was a man who could be relied on not to lie straight in bed.

Dianne Morgan had a secret project Ray Brown knew nothing about. If it were successful, she would become the most powerful woman on earth. She held a soft spot for Ray and wanted him on her team and by her side. But it needed to be an arrangement where Ray would always be under her control.

This powerful and gripping novel by Dan Ronco keeps the reader wanting more. The plot is entirely plausible and gives an insight into the potential lethality of a rogue virus let loose on the Internet. His narrative and action packed scenes keeps interest in the tale high.

One unique feature of Dan Ronco writing style is the introduction to each chapter. It is a small snippet of information written as an epitaph on the after effects of the main action contained in the novel. I found this technique fully rounded out the story and added to the richness of the reading experience.

PeaceMaker is an action packed novel that fully explores the human trait of lust for power and dominance. Readers gain a clear insight into ways technology can both uplift and destroy the lives of people. It is truly a book worth buying and will provide many hours of reading pleasure.


Rating:
Summary: PeaceMaker is fast-paced and highly entertaining
Review: PeaceMaker is a thrilling and suspenseful read packed with memorable characters, witty dialog, and a satisfying dose of computer jargon. Dan Ronco's futuristic techno-world is realistic and its plight all too plausible. The first of a trilogy that promises to probe the blessings and curses of an emerging technological society, PeaceMaker explores a timely question: how much technology is too much?

It is the year 2006, and at the witness stand of a lengthy anti-trust trial sits Dianne Morgan, the powerful and beautiful CEO of VantagePoint Software. She listens as VPS, the mega-corporation responsible for the world's dominating computer operating system, is ordered by the Department of Justice to split into smaller competing companies. "I won't forget this," Dianne warns the judge. Fueled by rage, a hunger for power and a misplaced hope for world peace, Dianne makes it her mission to stun the global economy with an insidious and deadly blow.

Six years later, a VPS software developer named Ray Brown stumbles across PeaceMaker, a computer virus that threatens to cripple billions of computers across the globe - computers upon which the technologically advanced society of 2012 depends upon for its very survival. Ray's discovery of Dianne's sinister plan launches him on a dangerous and seemingly impossible quest to stop PeaceMaker and save the world.

An alcoholic with a broken marriage who knows his two young sons suffer from his absentee fathering, Ray struggles to overcome past personal failures to rise to his task. His mission is further complicated by his passion for Dianne, a woman who will stop at nothing to see her goal met.

Read it and enjoy!!!

Rating:
Summary: Peacemaker - Review & Interview
Review: Ray Brown, a recovering alcoholic and computer genius is about to become either a hero or a villain. The choice is his.

Dianne Morgan is the CEO of one of the top two software companies in the world; and she is enraged by the government's humiliating decision in an anti-trust trial. She's also a member of The Domain, a group of computer programmers dedicated to taking control. . .of the world. They collectively have designed "PeaceMaker," a virus built into the most popular computer operating system in the world. Its function: to overtake 90% of the world's computers and cause a disaster, to which Dianne Morgan and company can miraculously appear and offer help.

Morgan recruits Brown, a former lover, to help her, though Brown distrusts her motives. He agrees, if only to prohibit implementation of the plan, because he has seen one of the possible effects of the program-the personalized computer of his eldest son, David, is infected, and it is in the process of destroying the young man's mind - and ultimately his life.

But another company knows about "PeaceMaker," and its goal is more sinister than Morgan's company.

Morgan proves to be a sympathetic character at times, but for the most part, she's psychotic and controls men with blatant sexual advances.

The other female supporting character also turns out to be morally corrupt and enjoys participating in sexual activity in front of an audience.

The portrayal of these two women, at times, reads like a letter to Penthouse, and it almost caused me to quit reading the book. The scenes did not add to or move the plot forward, and their deletion (i.e. ignore them) actually propels the fast-paced action forward at a more appropriate pace.

The sexual content aside, the book is a fascinating look at a possible future, with scenarios caused by fanatical idealists (terrorists). The premise is thought provoking and disturbing-what if?

Ray Brown is a grand hero, a flawed man who manages to rise above his self, and in spite of those who want to see him fail, perseveres. I rooted for this nondescript character to overcome the odds, and that's what makes a novel worthwhile.

In the end, I was glad I didn't fling the book across the room in exasperation at the gratuitous sex scenes.

The story is ideal for the big-screen, and I wouldn't be surprised at its success under a sharp screenplay adaptation.

Bottom line: Intrigue, slightly futuristic, plausible storyline with a likeable hero.

The author, Dan Ronco, brings to the book his experience with Microsoft and other technology companies at the senior management level. His background in research and product development, as well as knowledge about existing software gives "PeaceMaker" above-average credibility.


Interview with Dan Ronco
by Dian Moore

DIAN: I've found some of your biography online, and I know you are well-versed in software design and implementation and hold not one, but two Masters' Degrees: Nuclear Engineering and Computer Science. I read you once designed submarine nuclear reactors, but then moved on to the world of software design, research and development. What prompted the change?

DAN RONCO: I discovered that I enjoyed software development much more than reactor engineering. I was hooked the first time I wrote a computer program. I'm still hooked.

DIAN: What was the seed that planted the story of "PeaceMaker" in your imagination?

DAN RONCO: The inspiration for the story came from the rapid growth of worms and viruses throughout the 1990's. As you may know, Microsoft was and continues to be the primary target of virus writers due to the popularity of its software. My mind focused one day on worst case possibilities and I realized the danger of a sophisticated virus to Windows, which is the platform for much of the information processing across the globe.


DIAN: The story that unfolds in "PeaceMaker" is one that I can see coming to fruition as technology continues to advance. What are your thoughts? Do you see terrorism by software as an impending threat?

DAN RONCO: Yes, software terrorism is already a threat, and it will become even worse over time. When a virus attacks Windows, someone has to detect and report the problem, other people have to develop and distribute a fix, and millions of users have to apply the fix. A relatively slow process, but it works as long as the virus isn't too destructive, doesn't spread too fast (or secretly) and doesn't evolve too rapidly (the fix won't work if the virus can change tactics). In "PeaceMaker", I envisioned a fictional virus attack that exceeded these parameters. At some point within the next decade, a terrorist may be capable of launching such a sophisticated attack.

DIAN: How much of Ray Brown's character is that of your own?

DAN RONCO: I share Ray's love for technology and his sometimes quirky sense of humor. The rest - the intellectual brilliance, hard-edged intolerance, alcoholism, and infidelity - is not uncommon in such a high pressure occupation as information technology. Ray is a composite of several people I've worked with in the industry, with just a dash of myself.

DIAN: "PeaceMaker" is your first novel. How did you go from technology guru to writing a book, and what process did you use to get into the heads of the characters?

DAN RONCO: After more than two decades in the IT business, I felt that it was time to do something else. Although I loved the work, 70 hour weeks and heavy travel take a toll. Besides, I had been thinking about writing a novel for years, but hadn't made much progress. It was time to choose. So I quit my job and concentrated on writing.

The characters are composites of people I've met over the years, often taken to the extreme. As a consultant, I have had the opportunity to work with all types of people - from CEO's to IT professionals to assembly workers in the line. I began "PeaceMaker" by defining the core characteristics and motivations of the lead characters, then let them drive the story.

DIAN: As part of the story in "PeaceMaker," some pretty evil villains surface with advanced weapons and they aren't afraid of killing. Your background lies mainly in intellectual expertise, including technology. How did you research or determine how the violence would play out?

DAN RONCO: I had an advantage - if you want to call it that - growing up in Newark, NJ. Violence was all around. Understanding the motivation, capabilities and limits of the more violent characters was a survival skill. This may be surprising, but violence is not unknown among IT professionals. I've seen fights break out and chairs tossed through windows! I supplemented my experience with research into terrorism, since Dianne and her group were, at core, software terrorists.

DIAN: How long did it take to write "PeaceMaker?"

DAN RONCO: Approximately four years, although not on a full-time basis. During that time period, I developed a fairly detailed outline for all three books in the series and prepared a preliminary draft of the second book, in addition to completing "PeaceMaker".

DIAN: With the success of this first novel, what lessons have you learned as a writer, and what changes would you make if you could start over?

DAN RONCO: When I started, I had no idea how difficult it is to write well. I thought that once you had the concept for the story, the words would just tumble out of your mind onto the page. Man, was I wrong. I just went over to my bookshelf and counted the number of books on writing that I own. Thirty-seven books! Add to that the countless hours I've spent analyzing other writers' work, attending my writer's group and rewriting my own work. Extremely difficult, but what a feeling of satisfaction when you get it right.

DIAN: "PeaceMaker" has been touted as the first of a trilogy. Will the characters from this book also be in the others? What are the next books about?

DAN RONCO: The "PeaceMaker" trilogy dramatizes the question: how much technology is too much? The first novel, as you know, illustrates the consequences of a runaway, lethal computer virus. "The Army of God," set in 2022, considers the meaning of being human as artificial intelligence begins to approach human intelligence. The last of the trilogy, set in 2025 and tentatively titled "Tomorrow's Children," considers the risks and benefits of genetic engineering. The lead characters - Dianne Morgan, Ray Brown and his son David - appear in all three books. New characters also populate in each book.

DIAN: My only complaint with "PeaceMaker" was the graphic depiction of the female characters as immoral, Penthouse-type figures. In my review, I make brief mention of that, and I re-read over those sections of the book with those parts concealed to see if they were necessary. I found they were not necessary to the plot movement, and they tended to slow the story down. As a female reader, I felt insulted and let down that no ordinary, moral women played a part in the story. Why did you include those devices in the story?

DAN RONCO: I assume you're referring primarily to Dianne Morgan. Although she has many admirable qualities, Dianne is the chief villain of the trilogy. Ray is attracted to her because of her intelligence, determination, charisma and, yes, her sexuality. Although Dianne admires Ray, her feelings for him are a distant second to her drive for power. The twisted attraction between these two is not resolved until the last page.

The supporting female characters vary in character. Among the more honorable are Nancy, Ray's former wife, and Linda Tidesco, a top software developer.

DIAN: Can we look forward to a likeable female character in future books?

DAN RONCO: I believe you'll like Kathy Bauman, as well as her lover, David Brown. Kathy and David swim through a sea of predators, both male and female, in "The Army of God."

DIAN: I'm definitely hooked on Ray Brown and techno-wars, and overall I give this book a 3½ out of 5 stars rating. I feel, with very little effort, your next book(s) has great potential to succeed in both the science fiction and thriller genres, and that "PeaceMaker" would be adaptable to the big-screen. Are there movie plans?

DAN RONCO: I'd love to see "PeaceMaker" on the big screen, but nothing is in the works yet.



Rating:
Summary: No peaceful nights with "Peacemaker"
Review: Wow! If you want a book that will keep you up all night, read this one. You literally cannot put it down, once you've gotten hooked on the perils of Ray Brown, a fascinating but flawed computer genius. The story crackles with an assortment of characters as colorful and sharply drawn as a Dick Tracy cartoon: the diabolical Dianne, the curvacious Carmita, the dangerous DeLuca. Although it helps to have a slight knowledge of computers, you needn't be a techccie to follow the twists and turns of the plot, which provides a frightening glimpse of the world as it will be in 2012, when artificial intelligence and computer viruses threaten to destroy the world. Help!!! That's only eight years from now.