ajlweb's review against another edition
3.0
The overall concepts in this book are frightening and very interesting. The sped of which NYC collapses is believable and creepy. The characters in this book are clearly from an older generation. They mention how their grandfathers fought in WW2 while kids today are hopeless. You can tell this book is written by a middle aged white guy. The main character is always surprised when a woman does something out of gender norms from the 50s. I’m not sure if this is on purpose The only characters I felt connected to were side characters. Tony and Damon are the most relatable for me.
The end just kinda happened which was underwhelming but, in a way, realistic.
The end just kinda happened which was underwhelming but, in a way, realistic.
whaney's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! Scary, yet believable (until the end when a little bit too many coincidences). Makes one think about everything we hear and what to believe or not, as well as our reliance on technology. I'm glad I don't live in the big city!
heathersbike's review against another edition
This book is terrifying. It reminds me of Dry, another terrifying story.
Both books had a similar passage where, at some point once the tale has been told, the main character realizes that other people in the United States (and the world) have been looking at the horror just experienced in the same dispassionate way one looks at a far away famine or war. "I remembered reading about it, a few lines of text I'd skimmed one morning with my coffee before getting on with my day. Now people all over the world were doing the same about what had happened in New York, a few lines of text in the daily news cycle until the next disaster hit." (page 341)
How do we keep from being inured to horrors inflicted on everyone with us hurling through space on our one and only Earth? Without being overwhelmed? Is it even possible? Where do you even begin?
Both books had a similar passage where, at some point once the tale has been told, the main character realizes that other people in the United States (and the world) have been looking at the horror just experienced in the same dispassionate way one looks at a far away famine or war. "I remembered reading about it, a few lines of text I'd skimmed one morning with my coffee before getting on with my day. Now people all over the world were doing the same about what had happened in New York, a few lines of text in the daily news cycle until the next disaster hit." (page 341)
How do we keep from being inured to horrors inflicted on everyone with us hurling through space on our one and only Earth? Without being overwhelmed? Is it even possible? Where do you even begin?
darbar's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read. A freak storm wipes out all internet/communication. Rumors abound that it is war. Interestingly thought-out version of society's collapse. Extreme, but still pretty fun.
dawnsona's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the book. The characters were interesting, and I really did care about what happened to them. The situation they found themselves in was truly terrifying. I actually felt quite uncomfortable imagining myself being in the same situation, and wondered how I would react.
Pick up a copy and give the book a read. :)
Pick up a copy and give the book a read. :)
theunwelcometagalongs's review against another edition
3.0
So I read The Dreaming Tree and it was so awful I *had* to know what Mather's bestseller was. It is considerably better than Dreaming Tree, but definitely not a book that I liked.
1. Mather has dots of sexism against women in his novels. He has passed away so there is no real way to make him aware of it and I don't know if this criticism has ever been brought up to him. This novel does attempt to force Mike to confront these biases a little bit, so I will give Mather was making attempts even if it didnt exactly land.
2. The Dreaming Tree and CyberStorm have the same ACT III "gotcha!"plot twist, and I wonder if all of his novels include a similar twist at the end. It was less believable in CyberStorm because it came way out of nowhere, and it feels entrenched in racism without having a meaningful commentary about that entrenchment, which just makes it all feel uncomfortable. I would argue that the commentary about racism was intentional, but Mike makes no real attempts to change himself or even apologize to the Chinese couple. So we're at step one of "wow I was acting a little racist" but never got to step two of "I should do something about that"
3. The themes are hammered in. Sometimes characters monologue about a philosophical concept and it feels like Mather trying to bang into us what he wants to say. Like, we get it, cyber attacks are bad and the cities are unprepared.
4. Backup generators and other utilities needing the internet to run was the only thing I didn't buy. Internet isnt a utility and is literally known for its instability even with an ethernet cable.
5. The lockdown was cool. Watching everyone go at each other was cool. Damon and the mesh net were cool. Sarah at the end was super cool. I love supporting women's wrongs.
6. The Boradines? The Russian neighbors were the best part of the novel. They deserved more screen time. Would have loved to see them take control and really help the apt complex survive with their experience of being jewish in leningrad during the cold war era.
All in all, a mediocre novel with attempts at commentary that just fell short of being meaningful commentary for me. I can see how people would love this novel enough to make it a best seller, because it is inarguably better than Mather's other books.
1. Mather has dots of sexism against women in his novels. He has passed away so there is no real way to make him aware of it and I don't know if this criticism has ever been brought up to him. This novel does attempt to force Mike to confront these biases a little bit, so I will give Mather was making attempts even if it didnt exactly land.
2. The Dreaming Tree and CyberStorm have the same ACT III "gotcha!"plot twist, and I wonder if all of his novels include a similar twist at the end. It was less believable in CyberStorm because it came way out of nowhere, and it feels entrenched in racism without having a meaningful commentary about that entrenchment, which just makes it all feel uncomfortable. I would argue that the commentary about racism was intentional, but Mike makes no real attempts to change himself or even apologize to the Chinese couple. So we're at step one of "wow I was acting a little racist" but never got to step two of "I should do something about that"
3. The themes are hammered in. Sometimes characters monologue about a philosophical concept and it feels like Mather trying to bang into us what he wants to say. Like, we get it, cyber attacks are bad and the cities are unprepared.
4. Backup generators and other utilities needing the internet to run was the only thing I didn't buy. Internet isnt a utility and is literally known for its instability even with an ethernet cable.
5. The lockdown was cool. Watching everyone go at each other was cool. Damon and the mesh net were cool. Sarah at the end was super cool. I love supporting women's wrongs.
6. The Boradines? The Russian neighbors were the best part of the novel. They deserved more screen time. Would have loved to see them take control and really help the apt complex survive with their experience of being jewish in leningrad during the cold war era.
All in all, a mediocre novel with attempts at commentary that just fell short of being meaningful commentary for me. I can see how people would love this novel enough to make it a best seller, because it is inarguably better than Mather's other books.
remizee's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Written more like a screenplay than a novel.
kendallmk3's review against another edition
5.0
CyberStorm really put life into perspective. I look at the way I love differently and have a new appreciation for everything I own.
ajhawar32's review against another edition
4.0
This gave me the vibe of a war/dystopia novel you'd read in high school. I definitely enjoyed it and I think it did a terrifyingly good job of illustrating the disastrous horrors that could result from a cyberattack. The pacing seemed a little off towards the end..everything wrapped up very quickly but maybe I just feel that way because I wanted to keep reading.