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Reviews
(click on links for complete reviews)
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"Acts of the Apostles" is a nanotech science-fiction thriller
packed with everything you would expect a hardcore geek to like. Nanotechnology
-- the design of molecule-sized machines -- may still be the stuff of future fantasy,
but the references to software code, silicon chips and DNA that run through this novel
reek of realness. It's just what you would hope for from an author who spent nine years
working for Sun Microsystems: a book with geek heroes and heroines, written by a geek,
and concerned with geek passions.
- Andrew Leonard, salon.com
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The book is purportedly about Gulf War Syndrome and its causes,
but that's only the starting point: The plot itself is believable,
for a thriller. I've described it to friends as "What Tom Clancy
would write if he were smart." The plot devices, the characters
and topics are all very familiar to the geek audience, and it's
quite refreshing to read a book that understands the mindset its
audience will have.
- hemos,
slashdot.org
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This book is totally cool on an amazing number of levels, and
it is Geeky to boot! I know a lot of us Geeks don't have a tremendous
amount of time to read fiction, but Acts of the Apostles is a
lot of fun and has enough computer-related stuff in it so that
you can read it and not feel guilty about leaving the Advanced
PERL Tricks book on your desk for a couple of days. Once you pick
this book up, you won't stop 'til you've read it all--the 359
pages seems as short as a .15 micron process.
- Sam
Evans, geek.com
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It's nice to know that there are people out there
that are more paranoid than yourself. It's great to read a book
that scares the crap out of you. Self-dubbed ‘Techno-Paranoid'
author John Sundman's novel, "Acts of the Apostles" did just that.
Acts of the Apostles is a technology thriller filled with little
nuggets of technology intermingled with a fast paced plot. From
beginning to end, I poured over every detail that was placed in
this book. And when I was done, I re-read it to see if I had missed
anything the first time around.
- JPHackworth,
NewsTrolls
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The science fiction writer who can create real, believable characters and weave a plot that
keeps you turning pages late into the night is a good find. There's plenty of them, but I'm always
glad when I run across a new one. But a science fiction writer who can do both those things, and base
them on real, believable technical knowledge, well, those are rare as hen's teeth. Neal Stephenson is
one, Bruce Sterling is another. And folks, add John Sundman to that list.
- Rusty, Kuro5hin.org
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Acts Of The Apostles is the fin de siecle techno-thriller novel. It is an incredible read. In it a
nightmare of nanotechnology and genetic manipulation of uncomfortable believability unfolds before us,
the equal if not better of any work by any seasoned big name writer in this genre. As a first novel,
its craftsmanship is quite beyond accounting. Author John F. X. Sundman has written a magnificent work
of literature, and has simultaneously made a bold ethical statement about the inexorable but blind
quest of science, the technological hubris that feeds off of it, and freedom of the individual mind
that is threatened by it.
- John Jurek, Midwest Book Review
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...the plot, while it holds everything together and keeps one turning the pages,
is actually the least interesting part of Acts. What sets it apart is the sophistication with which it
deals with ideas and technology and the depth and interest of its characters.
- Danny Yee
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This book is four kinds of good. First, it is a good fictional illustration (and anticipation) of the nanotechnology fears
that Bill Joy was writing about in his famous Wired article, "Why the future doesn't need us." [Author Sundman and Joy also share a history
of employment at Sun.] The plot? Gulf War Syndrome is the result of some nanotechnology experimentation on soldiers during that conflict...
Secondly, and more importantly, it is a pretty good first novel in the international conspiracy suspense action thriller genre (not easy to do),
although we might further class it a geek action suspense thriller, since its protagonist is a programmer. Thirdly, it is somewhat of a roman a clef,
which provides extra entertainment as you compare its fictional world with the real world. And fourthly, its a very intelligent satire as well,
reminiscent of the Terry Southern of Dr. Strangelove.
- LudditeReader.com
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The
lonely quest of a self-publishing novelist in search of reviews.
When you're a self-publishing novelist with no money and no real
distribution network, reviews mean a lot to you. Most people assume
that if your book is self-published it sucks, and certainly that
is the attitude taken by corporate media like big city newspapers
and gee-whiz high-tech magazines. If it hadn't been for more open-minded
people--who write reviews for net-zines and even their own personal
book review sites--I never would have received a mention outside
of my home town. So thanks to:
You may be able to find a mention or two elsewhere -- try using
Google to search on "Sundman Apostles."
And a big raspberry to the 50 or so people at "traditional" media
outlets who were happy to accept a free copy of the book but subsequently
couldn't be bothered to drop me a 1-sentence note to the effect
of "Sorry, Mr. Sundman, we're not going to be able to review your
book."
Thanks to all who've written reviews on Amazon, Fatbrain, etc,
and thanks in advance to any of you who will be inspired to write
reviews in future
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