That's one of the most mediocre (not to say wrong) novels by bestselling author Dan Brown. Some have called "Digital Fortress" an excellent techno-thriller. Comparing this novel to the others fully highlighted the scientific side; however, I was bored with these technological digressions for a plot and a final in all disappointing. Bad pick!

I'm not sure what to believe after reading this book. I've always liked Dan Brown's books because he writes so realistically, using big words to belittle readers about how little they know.
Or so I thought.
After reading this book, I did a little snooping of my own (OK, those were big words too, I just used Google) and realised that most of the technology, computers and cool machinery did not exist. In fact, Goodreads was an excellent source of information of unhappy reviewers tearing down this book's credibility. Gee, I was really hoping that those stuff were as cool as mentioned in Digital Fortress.
But that asides, there are some historical facts and figures that ARE real, if not as cool. NSA. Cryptology. Enigma. Although I can't say that Brown's books are an excellent crash course for a myriad of whacky subjects, his writings definitely introduced readers to an entirely whole new world that most of us would have otherwise never have dreamt about.
Having that said, I can't say that Brown's writing style is my favourite. His books usually start off well, but kind of go downhill somewhat at the end. His plot developments are not the best I've come across, although how he comes up with them in the bloody first place is unthinkable. But I must say, there is a significant similarity between the plots in most, if not all, of his books. It doesn't take a cryptologist to figure it out. Now before this I've only read 3 of his books (OK that may be quite a lot already) and my recent awareness of such similarity has indeed taken out most surprises within Brown's novels.
No spoiler here, though I'm sure most of us can tell what it is by now. I would still recommend Dan Brown's books any day, despite the slight low ratings on Goodreads. I am aware that most readers claim that Brown has twisted reality to the most atrocious of levels. Thankfully, for a person with no clue about any of the topics he's ever written about so far, I have no problem with enjoying the book at all. But I'm sure that if Dan Brown were to write about something I was excellent at and passionate about - watching TV, Facebooking, sleeping - he'd be getting a thrashing from me as well.

If you love thriller novels that mix science, politics and conspiracy theories and you want to spend a great time reading a Hollywood blockbuster style book, then this is your book! ;)

Spanish version:
Si te gustan las novelas tipo thriller que mezclan ciencia, política y teorías de la conspiración y quieres pasar un buen rato leyendo un libro de estilo superproducción de Hollywood, entonces éste es tu libro! ;)

What would happen if every nation and person in the would, with a computer, could access every top secret file of the government? This is what Susan Fletcher and David Becker have to prevent in Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. With a lot of action and suspense Digital Fortress is a book for anyone who likes action.

Dan Brown wrote many other action novels. I have read all of them and this novel is just as good of a read as the rest. This novel is written in the same style as all the others. Leaving in the suspense in all his books, Dan Brown makes all his novels an exiting read.

The United States government has just bought a huge computer that can unscramble any code called TRANSLTR. A top secret government agency called National Security Agency, NSA, has purchased this computer to prevent terrorist from sending coded messages to other terrorist inside or out of the United States. Thinking the people of the US may considerTRANSLTR a breech of privacy, the government never told any one about the device.

Susan Fletcher is the head Cryptographer at the NSA Crypto facility. David Becker is a foreign-language specialist Georgetown University. Commander Greg Strathmore is in charge of the facility. There also are three other Cryptographers and many engineers who work on TRANSLTR in the facility.

Susan Fletcher head Cryptographer notices a code that TRANSLTR has been working on for Eighteen hours, and most files take less than one hour. A few days latter a strange address sends them an email. Sending the email, let the NSA figure up a way to shut down Digital Fortress. The virus that will shut downTRANSLTER and expose the main government data bank to any one with Internet access. Exposing the data bank, will put the nation at risk of attack and total chaos of the citizens.

The NSA sends in David Becker to receive the ring that has the code to shut down Digital Fortress. In the mean time, Susan Fletcher is trying to convince the head boss of the whole operation that there is a problem. David is nearly shot to death, and Susan is nearly blown to bits. Will the two succeed?

I would recommend this book to anyone. This book has got a lot of action, and is a story that leaves you wandering, what if. However, if you have a little bit of a soft stomach this novel will leave you wanting to turn away at times. This book is for any one who likes to left on the edge of there seat for the whole story, till the end.

Reading Dan Brown books is a bit like watching porn. Mildly enjoyable at the time, but not really something you'd like your friends or family to know about.

Digital Fortress starts as it means to go on, with two-dimensional characters in a whirlwind of mystery and action. The cast never evolves beyond cardboard cut-out level, but the plot does pick up through various levels of incredulity and intrigue to a climax that ends up shallow and disappointing, leaving the reader feeling cheap and cheated.

I understand why Brown is popular - the cookie-cutter formula, the "intelligent" yet criminally dim hero, the assasin and the "good guy turned mortal enemy" recipe is appealing to the masses - but can't help feeling that these books should be kept hidden on the top shelf, away from prying eyes and impressionable minds.

Είναι το βιβλίο που μου άρεσε λιγότερο από τα έξι που έχω διαβάσει του Brown. Η πλοκή σε σημεία μου φαινόταν λίγο αδύναμη ενώ το κεντρικό της θέμα, αυτό με τους κώδικες, τους κωδικούς, τους αλγόριθμους και όλα τα high tech των υπολογιστών, δεν μπορεί εκ των πραγμάτων να μου φανεί τόσο εντυπωσιακό όσο θα μου φαινόταν πριν είκοσι χρόνια που κοιτούσα το μόντεμ δίπλα από το pc μου σαν ανώτερη θεότητα. Διασκεδαστικό ως ανάγνωσμα αλλά μέχρι εκεί.

Here's the thing with Dan Brown's work, once you read one, you read them ALL!

Oh Dan Brown, how I love to hate you. It seems a universal truth that when you have run out of all of the books to read that you’ve brought with you, it is impossible to find decent reading material wherever you are.

Shamefully, I’ve actually read most of his books. I read Angels and Demons because someone recommended it to me. Though I found his writing to be extraordinarily poor, I found the story to be engaging enough to overlook that fact. I didn’t guess the ending, and it posited some fascinating ideas about history. I read The DaVinici Code because everyone was reading it and because I liked Angels and Demons. The DaVinici Code was written equally poorly, but I noticed a lot of similarities in the plots of the two novels. But it was still an entertaining read so I figured I’d forgive it. Then, on my way to Costa Rica, I realized that I didn’t bring enough books with me for the plan ride. I went to the bookstore in Charlotte, North Carolina and picked up Deception Point, yet another Dan Brown masterpiece. The plot of this book was “The DaVinci Code Goes Arctic”. That’s when I realized that Dan Brown came up with one good plot and he’s just recycling it over and over again.

Even so, faced with the prospect of Rich Dad, Poor Dad or He’s Just Not In To You, I picked up Digital Fortress. I do think his writing is getting better, but I had the ending of the book figured out within the first ten pages. I didn’t even have to read the ending first to know what was going to happen. Maybe I’ll register Digital Fortress on bookcrossing and send it out into the world.

Loved this book. I wasn't bored or uninterested at all throughout the book. The plot was fascinating. The story was solid.
Great read.

Here's my biggest problem with this book (and Dan Brown novels in general). In each of his books, the main characters are ALWAYS ridiculously good looking and abnormally smart. In this one, Susan Fletcher has a 170 IQ and is amazing and brilliant, but she's boiled down to her great legs, tits, and ass. EVERY man who encounters her thinks she's amazing and wants to sleep with her. This is the worst writing in the world. It's just so apparent this is a woman written by a man.

Now here's the other problem. As a thriller novel goes, it's pretty good. This was written in 1998 when the NSA and what they're capable of wasn't known, so it's pretty good for what it is. It's exciting and fast-paced and you're along for the ride. Ordinarily I'd give it three stars. However, the writing is so bad I can't give it more than a 2.

A Sincere Debut Novel..

عندما نتحدث عن العمل الأول للمؤلف دائما ما نجد عيوب حبكة، ثرثرة بلا هدف، حشو، شخصيات باهتة..طغيان لايدولوجية المؤلف السياسية بغباء
ولكن في حالة دان براون فالعمل الأول تم 'برمجته' بإتقان..وتلغيمه بالرموز

ايقاع متناسب مثير، معلومات غزيرة لها مكانها بالأحداث، ألغاز، شخصيات قوية 'ثلاثية الابعاد' وأحداث تحبس الأنفاس
وهجوم سياسي محايد وسليم علي أمريكا نفسها، يجعلها رواية عالمية بحق

في رواية سبقت عصرها في المعلومات حول العالم الرقمي والبرمجة وعوالم الانترنت وتاريخه

تبدأ في وكالة أمريكية سرية حقيقية، لها الحق في مراقبة الجميع لحماية امنهم..مهددة بقنبلة ما وشفرة لفكها
ستشعر أن الأمر متوقعا منذ البداية كاي فيلم هوليوودي يحترم نفسه و يتم أيقاف القنبلة بنجاح 3 ثوان قبل أنفجارها
وينتهي الفيلم بأنتصار الأمريكان الطيبيين وبالطبع الأجانب الأشرار يخسروا .. الياباني في هذه الحالة

حسنا، سبويلر ألرت ; الرواية فعلا تنتهي بهذا الشكل
سيتم أيقاف القنبلة أيا كانت قبل 3 ثواني
ولكن نجح فعلا دان براون في تقديم نهاية مرضية جدا بالنسبة لي كمصري, عربي أو كأي أجنبي غير امريكي بنظرية مهمة...من يراقب المراقب؟

It's hard to believe that it's the author's debut novel.
It may seem so 'cliché' by the beginning, a typical Hollywood movie where you know they are gonna stop the bomb 3 seconds before it BoooM , and the good Americans wins, the bad whoever foreigner loses..


Well, it actually ends that way.. yeah, kinda....but Dan Brown provides me a very pleasant satisfying ending for me as Egyptian, Arabian or whoever foreigner.

Who Will Gaurd the Gaurds?
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لا أنكر شعوري بعداء خاص تجاه أحد الشخصيات الرئيسية لمجرد أنها تظن أنها أمريكية صالحة ,وتدافع عن حقوق تنتهك حقوق الأخرين
Olympus Has Fallen 2013 وفي فيلم شاهدته مؤخرا بعنوان
لا أنكر انه بمجرد أن سمعت "الكوري الشرير" يقول أنه مجرد كوري لا شمالي ولا جنوبي ويرفض تدخل الولايات المتحدة في تقسيم بلاده بهذا الشكل لهذا أنتقم بهذه الوحشية ضد البيت الأبيض, لا أستطيع أنكار أني كنت متفق معه بشكل كبير

هنا أيضا, كنت أريد الحصن الرقمي أن ينجح , وكنت مشفقا علي الياباني الذي ظهر كعدو بالرواية..وكنت أتمني دمار جهاز المراقبة ذلك طوال الوقت

I believe I hated a main character, hoped the Japanese "so called the bad guy" wins after all, and destroy this American spying machine.
I hated this American arrogant about spying for safety and security ,while that never been used but for excuses to fight and concur countries for Oil.. for only the government's benefits.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

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,ولكن الرائع في دان براون هي المفاجأت التي تقلب الأحداث التي يقدمها دائما دائما يثير اعجابي وأن أختلفت معه في بعض الأشياء
كرواية الرمز المفقود The Lost Symbol
فالبرغم من قراءتي لتلك الرواية بعد 3 روايات أشهر له ,صار لدي تنبوء لا بأس به بالمفاجأت التي قد تحدث, ولكنه مازال يفاجئني وبقوة
وكأن له وصفة جاهزة للمفاجأت, خلطة سحرية , شفرة أثارة

The great thing about Dan Brown's novels is the twists he makes, But due to reading this novel after 3 more successful later novels I can predict his twists in this novel,Still he surprised me..
He really got a very interesting formula...very thrilling code.

Without Wax

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فمهما تنبأت , دان براون يفوق التوقعات, يفاجأني بقلب للأحداث حتي النهاية عندما تشعر وكأنك صرت تعلم كيف ستسير الأحداث

But , whatever I've predicted , Dan Brown would top it , get me an unexpected twists when I thought that I know how it'll ends..

That's the sign of him , he knows how to thrill you and to surprise you with real unexpected twists.
Like the ring, oh That Ring..

The "Followship" of the Ring

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متابعة الخاتم في أوروبا ,أسبانيا كانت ممتعة ومثيرة, بها أجواء الخلطة السحرية لدان براون من التجول في الأماكن السياحية والتاريخية, ووصفها بدقته المعهودة
وبالرغم من أني شعرت أنني سأفتقد روبرت لانجدون في تلك الرواية, ألا أن دان براون نجح فعلا في اضافة كمية معلومات رائعة عن الشفرات , بعض الأماكن السياحية بالأنلدس , القنابل الذرية, بدون شمع , العالم الألكتروني الذي بالرغم من تطوره منذ صدور الرواية لما يزيد عن 15 عاما ألا أنها مازالت معلومات متميزة

والأهم معلومات عن تلك الوكالة الأمريكية التي تقريبا لم يسمع عنها الكثير أيام النيت سكيب ,قبل ثورة الاتصالات الحديثة

Following the ring was really crazy , the code breaking, the spy ، and who spies on whom.. that thriller was really good and it got the "formula" of the touristic style of Dan Brown.

I thought I will miss Langdon so much, yet there's still touristic historical visits, blowing mind information, not just about Internet and digital codes, but even more. Like the atomic bombs and ,of course, NSA.. which I'm sure not many heard about 15 years ago ,when the novel released and it was Netscape ,when the Internet wasn't that big...

... Dan Brown proven that he is way bigger even without Langdon..

Without Wax

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بأخلاص

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Mohammed Arabey محمد العربي
From 13 Nov. 2014
To 18 Nov. 2014

The Review : 7 Jan. 2015

The Pre-Review "Preview"

From his first early novel..
Without Wax
is the sign and trademark of Dan Brown's novels, That's a fact..

No matter how do I like this novel or not -still at P.125- His work is ...
Without Wax


PS: It was in Angels and Demons or Da Vinci Code, seriously read it Sue and you'll crack this code :)

Without Wax,
Mohammed Arabey

If you have even a rudimentary understanding of cryptography – or even just computers in general – you will find it impossible to suspend disbelief, or even to stop rolling your eyes and miming little "GAG ME" gestures.