Digital Fortress [マスマーケット]

   多くのサスペンスでは、何かを爆破する「ハードウェア」として、大型の銃や飛行機、軍用車両や武器などが使われる。パソコンのハードウェアに興味を持ち、武器を扱う能力よりも知的能力を備えたヒーローを好む読者に向けて、ダン・ブラウンが書き下ろしたサスペンスがこの本だ。ネットユーザーが主人公のこのスパイ小説では、善人と悪人が知的な機密をめぐって闘う。と言っても、単にシークレットフォーミュラ（秘密の方式）の隠し場所を探すなどというものではなく、もっと知的なものをめぐっての闘いだ。つまり、彼らはシークレットフォーミュラの真の意味を解釈する必要があるというわけだ。

   ここで言うシークレットフォーミュラとは、新しい手段を用いた暗号化のことで、そこには国際的な権力バランスを変える力がある。読み進んでいくうちに、暗号化の技術が分かるようになるのがこの本のおもしろいところの1つで、フィクションとは言え、これを読めば、クリッパー・チップやプリティ・グッド・プライバシー（PGP）のように、実際に使われている暗号技術をめぐって繰り広げられる政治的な闘争を、より深く理解できるようになる。

   ジェームズ・ボンド顔負けの、グローバルなこの作品の実際の戦場はサイバースペースで、そこで「爆弾」（新規の暗号化アルゴリズム）が炸裂する。細かく見ていけば、確かにプロットに多少の欠点はあるが、その点は、作品の巧妙さとおもしろさによって十二分に補われている。読者を飽きさせない紆余曲折、暗号化、暗号解読、そして国際政治のなかでそれらが担う役割に関する驚くべき知識がたっぷり詰めこまれているのだ。軽食を傍らに用意して、昼夜をとおして一気に読んでしまいたくなる1冊だ。（Amazon.com） --このテキストは、 ペーパーバック 版に関連付けられています。

When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant, beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage--not by guns or bombs -- but by a code so complex that if released would cripple U.S. intelligence. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.

In most thrillers, "hardware" consists of big guns, airplanes, military vehicles, and weapons that make things explode. Dan Brown has written a thriller for those of us who like our hardware with disc drives and who rate our heroes by big brainpower rather than big firepower. It's an Internet user's spy novel where the good guys and bad guys struggle over secrets somewhat more intellectual than just where the secret formula is hidden--they have to gain understanding of what the secret formula actually is.

In this case, the secret formula is a new means of encryption, capable of changing the balance of international power. Part of the fun is that the book takes the reader along into an understanding of encryption technologies. You'll find yourself better understanding the political battles over such real-life technologies as the Clipper Chip and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software even though the book looks at the issues through the eyes of fiction.

Although there's enough globehopping in this book for James Bond, the real battleground is cyberspace, because that's where the "bomb" (or rather, the new encryption algorithm) will explode. Yes, there are a few flaws in the plot if you look too closely, but the cleverness and the sheer fun of it all more than make up for them. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and a lot of high, gee-whiz-level information about encryption, code breaking, and the role they play in international politics. Set aside the whole afternoon and evening for it and have finger food on hand for supper--you may want to read this one straight through.
--このテキストは、絶版本またはこのタイトルには設定されていない版型に関連付けられています。

Digital Fortress is the best and most realistic techno-thriller to reach the market in years. Dan Brown's ability to paint in living color the gray area between personal freedom vs. National security is awesome. The story line is so good, readers will feel a chilling thrill a minute as the book makes one think who is truly the terrorist and who is actually freedom's guardian.
--このテキストは、絶版本またはこのタイトルには設定されていない版型に関連付けられています。

"In this fast-paced, plausible tale, Brown blurs the line between good and evil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike." -"Publishers Weekly"
""Digital Fortress" is the best and most realistic techno-thriller to reach the market in years... A chilling thrill a minute." -"The Midwest Book Review"
""Digital Fortress" is smart and reads with all the pace of a hit movie."" -"Larry Lasker", "Screenwriter", Wargames" and "Sneakers"
"Exciting...will rivet cyber-minded readers." -"Booklist"

From the bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code comes the gripping story of the ultimate code. It's powerful, dangerous--and unbreakable . . .

When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage . . . not by guns or bombs, but by a code so ingeniously complex that if released would cripple U.S. intelligence. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.

"A new master of smart thrills."--People

"Digital Fortress is the best and most realistic techno-thriller to reach the market it years . . . A chilling thrill a minute."--The Midwest Book Review

Read by Bruce Sabath

--このテキストは、絶版本またはこのタイトルには設定されていない版型に関連付けられています。

Dan Brown lives in New Hampshire.

--このテキストは、絶版本またはこのタイトルには設定されていない版型に関連付けられています。