TahoeT
journeyman
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 91
Loc: The Main Line
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For the most part I enjoyed it, but there were a couple of issues that even with poetic license seem too unreal. The first one is Greg Hale being able to take a keyboard out of the NSA. With so much security going on, in such a highly classified place, it just doesn't seem plausible that he would be able to remove equipment from the site.
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Tim...
HB's B
http://www.timandvictor.com
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Mudpuppy
member
Reged: 10/17/03
Posts: 102
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Yes, I think "Digital Fortress" was definitely a warm-up for Dan Brown. I loved the computer and decryption information, as well as the peek into the NSA. I found some of the subplots -- like the sexually-harrassing, ex-hacker Greg Hale -- and the "I'm secretly in love with the hot chick" NSA second-in-command, to be rather cliched. Let there be an attractive woman in a novel without everyone wanting to get into her pants, okay?
On that theme, Dan Brown has come a long way. In "The Da Vinci Code", Sophie's appearance didn't ever become an issue for any of the characters.
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Victor
newbie
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 47
Loc: Northeast US
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I actually just started this one on the plane home last night. I'm already not loving it as much as the Da Vinci Code or Angel's and Demons, but it's entertaining. So far...
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Victor
newbie
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 47
Loc: Northeast US
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I just finished this one. I started it a while ago and put it down. I was on a business trip so I had the time to finish it on the plane.
I really, really didn't like it at all. I think Brown spun a very thin (and not very plausable) plot line around a good idea. I just didn't buy any of it.
Oh well....
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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I just finished this one. I thought that it could have been better. it had the potential, but the characters were not as engaging and it was a lot more predictable than Da Vinci Code. The information was good, though the NSA is not as unknown as the Priory of Sion or the Illuminati...
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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CurlyQAngel
stranger
Reged: 02/08/04
Posts: 4
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I just fininshed this book too and I liked it, though it's not one of my favorites. I agree that the characters weren't as fun and engaging as the other books and I wish that there was more information about them. The book was interesting however, and I liked all the computer and coding information, though some things were a bit cliche. Dan Brown has come a long way however and it's great to see how he's done that.
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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Definitely. Plus i think one of the reasons this one is not as popular is that th NSA is more well known *now*. It was published in the early 90s, though, so maybe it hadn't been as popular then, before Clancy, Sheldon, King and etc., all wrote about it.
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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Bulldog_LC
stranger
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 5
Loc: New Hampshire
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I just finished reading this book last night. As with Deception Point, I found many things predictable, and some things far-fetched (but for different reasons).
I haven't read The Davinci Code or Angels & Demons yet, but at least in the 2 DB books I have read, it seems to be a common trend to have the good guy turn out to be the villian. This is an old formula, and I picked up on it very quickly in both books.
Also, maybe I'm just a science or WWII history geek, (although I've never considered myself to be one) but I found it agonizing to keep reading as they were trying to crack the code for the pass key. As soon as they had all the strings of letters, I had it figured out. It was after I figured it out that I picked up on the three finger thing. I think it would have been better if the code were more difficult to crack.
As a whole, I didn't think it was a bad read, but I don't see myself recommending it, either. I liked Deception Point much better, even though I found that one fairly predictable and far-fetched as well.
It has been suggested that if I found these books predictable, that I would likely find the rest of DB's books predictable as well. For those who have read the rest- Do you think this is true?
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AAnnAArchy
Gifted Procrastinator
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 643
Loc: Las Vegas
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<<It has been suggested that if I found these books predictable, that I would likely find the rest of DB's books predictable as well. For those who have read the rest- Do you think this is true?>>
I haven't read Deception Point, but I think you'll like the information in Angels & Demons (my favorite) and Da Vinci Code enough that'll make the storyline not as important to you. Yeah, Dan Brown seems to have a formula, but in Angels & Demons I didn't care in slightest because the historical information was so interesting.
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DaVinciRulez
stranger
Reged: 02/29/04
Posts: 1
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Quote:
Bulldog_LC said:
Also, maybe I'm just a science or WWII history geek, (although I've never considered myself to be one) but I found it agonizing to keep reading as they were trying to crack the code for the pass key. As soon as they had all the strings of letters, I had it figured out. It was after I figured it out that I picked up on the three finger thing. I think it would have been better if the code were more difficult to crack.
I thought the same thing, i mean, i'm in middle school and i figured it out before them
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There are three kinds of ppl in the world, ones who can count, and ones who can't.
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WKShadow
Beloved Angel
Reged: 06/02/04
Posts: 79
Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC
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I totally agree that it was a "warm up", as you say. It was an enjoyable read, and I figured out without wax after it was first mentioned. Ok, so not the biggest deal of the book, I love spanish and new an english word for ear wax was cerumen. Without, sin... wax, cera.
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WKShadow
Beloved Angel
Reged: 06/02/04
Posts: 79
Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC
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angels and demons and dvc are his best yet. Of course, I haven't read one book, but it is supposed to be better than df.
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WKShadow
Beloved Angel
Reged: 06/02/04
Posts: 79
Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC
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I don't usually like those other authors, but I'm liking this genre, I might check them out.
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langdon_lover
journeyman
Reged: 10/11/04
Posts: 66
Loc: England UK
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i just finished this like half an hour ago. it wasnt as great as the DVC and A&D, but it still made a good read. i also got straight away about the elements in the atomic (or whatever they are lol) bombs. considering they are extremely smart people and i am only a 17 year old, they should have got it sooner
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NeverEnding
journeyman
Reged: 09/27/04
Posts: 56
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I acutally thought this book was better than dvc though i havent read A&D though i am planning to.
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"Beware of the man whose belly does not move when he laughs."
Some Asian person
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ThatGirl
stranger
Reged: 11/24/04
Posts: 15
Loc: California
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I'm glad I read DaVinci code first because it is sort of DB's saving grace. Having enjoyed that book so much, I dove into Deception Point. That one was pretty good. (I hadn't really checked as to in what order they had been written, or when. Now that I just finished Digital Fortress, I can see a real progression in the develoment of this author.) Digital Fortress held no surprises, IMO. Everything was predictable. The whole ring scenario was just plain annoying!
I'm going to start Angels and Demons today. I hope it's better!
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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its similar, in plot structure, to the others, but its definitely one of the better ones
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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littleladybug2
stranger
Reged: 01/28/05
Posts: 3
Loc: NSW Australia
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poor you, you managed to read the two least interesting of his books, i really hope that doesn't put you off reading 'The DaVinci Code' or 'Angels and Demons' because they are far more unpredictable (and better) than the two you have read. Bye.
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drbryankkruta
stranger
Reged: 02/06/05
Posts: 2
Loc: USA
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inside the cover there is a code laid out could you share it with me somehow I am working on one of Dan's puzzles and havent been able to get the book yet. 
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God searches the heart and mind all things good or evil and gives us accordingly.
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Momcilo4c
stranger
Reged: 06/23/05
Posts: 1
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I just finished this book today and the numeric code on the back of the book is killing me. Can anyone help?
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spyder
stranger
Reged: 08/03/05
Posts: 3
Loc: Bangalore, India
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This is regarding Greg Hale takin out the chip from the keyboard for recording the character strokes of the keyboard!!! i'm confused with this, is it practically possible and how did the security allow him to take the keyboard out of NSA??? someone plz throw some light !!!!
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Langdon
stranger
Reged: 08/16/05
Posts: 24
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Yea im not crazy bout it either. Im not thru w/ it but im not all dat xcited bout it thus far.
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8549176320abc
enthusiast
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 219
Loc: UK
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Translation? Please!
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Governments offer us safety for our freedom. It is by seeing this safety as false that we are freed.
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Dazzle
addict
Reged: 04/02/04
Posts: 484
Loc: UK
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Langdon, I think you are testing everyone's patience with your insistence on speaking unintelligibly.
It's an excellent illustration of how immature you are.
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AAnnAArchy
Gifted Procrastinator
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 643
Loc: Las Vegas
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Dazzle, that was posted before we had our little talk with Langdon.
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Langdon
stranger
Reged: 08/16/05
Posts: 24
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yes i have been shown the errors of my ways.
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Dazzle
addict
Reged: 04/02/04
Posts: 484
Loc: UK
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soz, dat iz kewl den!!!!!!!!!
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Michelangelo
journeyman
Reged: 08/22/05
Posts: 66
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LOL.
Yea that code was killing me two thought it have might have been something to do with the periodic table but got half way through and realised there isnt a element with the atomic number 126 
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whyte
stranger
Reged: 09/08/05
Posts: 22
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this one's definitely the best among the 3 DB novels ive read recently. havent read A&D yet.
the only thing I "dont like" in DF is the too much of a "coincidence" thing for DAVID in SEVILLE where everything seemed to have been "placed" orderly.
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Michelangelo
journeyman
Reged: 08/22/05
Posts: 66
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Angels and Demons is i think the best
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gotodengo
stranger
Reged: 12/23/05
Posts: 6
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I wouldn't read anything else by Dan Brown now. I read this because I'm interested in the subject matter. From page one it was like watching a car crash; messy, but you just have to look.
I wouldn't trust Brown to speak accurately on any other subject as he has failed to so completely with Digital Fortress. At least here I am aware of errors; with subject matter I'm unaware of I could end up thinking all sorts of untruths.
I guess this is the problem with fact-based fiction. If the author can't be bothered to check out pertinent facts, the overall effect is hokey, ineffective, distracting, and gives the impression that where the author is inaccurate, he simply said 'oh, well I'll just make that up. My dad's a math (yuck - mathematics, NOT math, please) teacher; they'll take it as read'.
Unless you do all the research that Brown should have been doing, how do you know, for instance, that 'The historical information in Angels and Demons' is accurate? It's a flawed and irresponsible source.
I'll be sticking to the more reliable (and far superior) Neil Stephenson.
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EVDebs
enthusiast
Reged: 07/10/05
Posts: 272
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gotodengo, Don't be so hard on DB ! Fiction is at a disadvantage to reality in today's world.
Read Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your Every Move With RFID, by Katherine Albrecht and Liz McIntyre.
http://www.spychips.com/
The technology is a bit more advanced and miniaturized with radio tracking devices RFIDs these days.
Besides, DB got into writing with Digital Fortress it says because of the NSA and a student's project from what I've heard. DB then interviewed some NSA types and he was off to the races in his writing career.
I still read his stuff, errors and all, but haven't touched DaVinci Code yet (Prior de Sion is a hoot !). The movie will definitely create a francise. I just hope that he reads this cultofdanbrown.com website and realizes the potential for educating the public that his work has due to the reading-addiction he's fuelled.
Let's hope the NSA hasn't been spying on him too much or given him some bad info lately !
Edited by EVDebs (12/27/05 05:22 AM)
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