The Grid

Rating:
Summary: Inanimate object becomes self aware and plays a deadly game?
Review: A new, high tech building is ready for occupancy, but as its self replicating computer system, Abraham, is exposed to a child's hunt-and-kill computer game, it recreates itself in a deadly manner. Self awareness follows self replication, and the people trapped inside The Grid become enemies in Abraham's game to hunt and destroy them, following the programming code from the computer game that was incorporated into its system functions. The now self aware building begins killing the humans trapped inside one by one, using whatever it has available; elevators, bathroom cleaning systems, pool cleaning systems, etc. A gory and inventive tale of horror and survival, against an enemy that cannot be rationalized with. This is a great read for a night spent in any modern high rise, hotel or apartment or office. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Inanimate object becomes self aware and plays a deadly game¿
Review: A new, high tech building is ready for occupancy, but as its self replicating computer system, Abraham, is exposed to a child's hunt-and-kill computer game, it recreates itself in a deadly manner. Self awareness follows self replication, and the people trapped inside The Grid become enemies in Abraham's game to hunt and destroy them, following the programming code from the computer game that was incorporated into its system functions. The now self aware building begins killing the humans trapped inside one by one, using whatever it has available; elevators, bathroom cleaning systems, pool cleaning systems, etc. A gory and inventive tale of horror and survival, against an enemy that cannot be rationalized with. This is a great read for a night spent in any modern high rise, hotel or apartment or office. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Hi-tech suspense silliness
Review: I didn't believe the premise of "The Grid" for one minute, and yet I found it immensely enjoyable. It reads like a Stephen King horror novel and treads some of the same ground. The horror is a malevolent computer that takes over a newly constructed building and proceeds to kill the humans trapped inside in an increasingly grisly manner. Author Kerr makes all this quite exciting as long as you don't take it too seriously.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping, yet something is missing....
Review: I have to admit, since I am a fan of technothrillers, I kinda got interested in this book. And yes, it didn't let me put the book down. It has a philosophical flare to it, especially when the computer goes with his monologue. The way the author makes every killing scene gruesome than the former is amazing though, the way he portrays the 18 or so killings. The first thing that surprised me was the autopsy scene, when the doctor realised that the Yojo's brain was shrunk into the size of a golf ball. The depressurised human explosion scene in the restroom is a good one too. The thing that prevents me from giving this book a 5 star is the fact that the characters are too stereotyped. It seems that every character follows a certain mold, a pattern. There's the not-so-good good guy, who has an affair; the cranky boss; the seductive female office mate; etc. Still, if one is looking for a thriller that is sort of unique in perspective, then this might be a candidate.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: It's hard to believe that this book was the product of the same author that presented us with the Berlin Noir trilogy. For me, an interesting concept was delivered in a pedestrian, though adequately researched, manner and in completing the book, I found myself unsatisfied. Whereas the each of the BN trilogy pieces featured a pace and level of intrigue which maintained interest, THE GRID was predictable throughout in story line and character development. Also was disturbed by a reliance on needlessly coarse language and (shabby) titillation in an effort to keep the story moving. Language and titllation is good stuff but not when used as a crutch. Will I read another Philip Kerr novel? Probably, but not until I more carefully read other people's reviews. And then maybe I'll borrow someone else's copy. Jon Hill

Rating:
Summary: "Smart" building doesn't necessarily mean "smart" story
Review: Philip Kerr's "The Grid" is a novel with an interesting premise ("state-of-the-art, computer-run building goes haywire and ends up murdering members of it's architectural team one-by-one") who's "interest elevator" doesn't get close to the top floor. An overuse of stereotypical characters dooms the plot from the start. Almost to the point where you find yourself "rooting" for the building!

The fireworks begin as the building reaches the last stage of construction and becomes ready to hand off to its new owners. Strange occurances begin to take place and members of the architectural firm find themselves trapped in the building and unable to leave. This is not your usual "serial-killer type novel" and for that I'll give Kerr credit, but IMHO it was too fantastic to be believable. A solid, strong human villain would have made the novel more effective.

There's plenty of gratuitous sex and violence to satisfy the "thriller" audience, but not enough action to entertain most readers. It's a shame because I really wanted this book to "work".

This one is for dedicated, "completist" fans of Philip Kerr only. Other readers who are interesting in reading "The Grid" should purchase a very cheap, used copy or check it out at the library.

Rating:
Summary: "Smart" building outsmarts designer
Review: Shades of 2001. Another tale of technology gone amuck. Building computer takes over operation of building amd makes a "game" out of eliminating its human occupants. Computer devises some inventive ways of dispatching the human competition, buts humans persist. An interesting read with a few twists on a sterotypical theme.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT
Review: Very suspenseful and well crafted story of a smart building (intelligent architecture) gone bad. Good characters, well developed, and very good descriptions of the building and what is happening. I can't speak with any authority about the architectural end of things, but what I do know, he got right. I can speak with some little authority about the computer end of things and he got that right. But what makes the story is the PLOT and it is great. Superbly crafted, fitted tightly, suspense page after page. I found myself wondering: "What will Abraham (the computer) do next?" This is a good read. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A GRIDDY THRILLER
Review: We've had all kinds of serial thrillers in the past two decades, but none is quite as formidable as this one! It's a building! Kerr's "The Grid," originally published in 1995 as "Gridiron" is a very good way to spend a few hours. Full of stock characters and some rather cliche situations, it nonetheless is a fun trip. Seems as though this building's computer has decided to "generate or procreate" and the smart computer whizzes make sure they kill the offspring...or do they. On a Friday evening, like an Agatha Christie novel, all the principals are brought together into this fantastic building, and then one by one, they are all picked off in uniquely grotesque fashion, as the building locks them in for the weekend. Some of the deaths are quite gory, and some come unexpected. Kerr paints a rather nasty portrait of our villain, Ray Richardson, but attempts by the end of the novel, to make this villain see the error of his ways and become a hero. Not the smartest thing to do, but it works anyway. Earlier in the book, when one of the first murders occurs, Richardson warns his employees they are not to attend the funeral unless they take personal leave. Wow, sounds like someplace I used to work.
There is an important clue early in the novel, one that you may miss, so keep those attentive reader's ears open.
This is a fun book, and even though it gets pretty far-out at the end, I still had fun.
RECOMMENDED.

Rating:
Summary: A GRIDDY THRILLER
Review: We've had all kinds of serial thrillers in the past two decades, but none is quite as formidable as this one! It's a building! Kerr's "The Grid," originally published in 1995 as "Gridiron" is a very good way to spend a few hours. Full of stock characters and some rather cliche situations, it nonetheless is a fun trip. Seems as though this building's computer has decided to "generate or procreate" and the smart computer whizzes make sure they kill the offspring...or do they. On a Friday evening, like an Agatha Christie novel, all the principals are brought together into this fantastic building, and then one by one, they are all picked off in uniquely grotesque fashion, as the building locks them in for the weekend. Some of the deaths are quite gory, and some come unexpected. Kerr paints a rather nasty portrait of our villain, Ray Richardson, but attempts by the end of the novel, to make this villain see the error of his ways and become a hero. Not the smartest thing to do, but it works anyway. Earlier in the book, when one of the first murders occurs, Richardson warns his employees they are not to attend the funeral unless they take personal leave. Wow, sounds like someplace I used to work.
There is an important clue early in the novel, one that you may miss, so keep those attentive reader's ears open.
This is a fun book, and even though it gets pretty far-out at the end, I still had fun.
RECOMMENDED.