Review of Worm by Mark Bowden

Worm: The First Digital World War: This is a non-fiction account written by Mark Bowden about the Conficker Worm that stalked the internet in 2008 and created the biggest botnet to date. Bowden has a wonderful ability to take the complex subject of the Internet and malware and explain it in a way that is easily understood. I read this book and actually learned something about how the Internet works. Worm tells the story of a group of "X-men" who banded together to try to confine the Conficker Worm before it threatened to take down the entire Internet. This book documents their steps to contain the worm and the worm's creators moves to outwit them and make Conficker stronger and harder to destroy. This is ultimately a story about the battle between good versus evil, which is something we can all understand. I loved this book because I actually learned about the Internet and how it is truly the greatest invention ever created. I think this book is right for anyone who is curious about the inner workings of the Internet and who doesn't want to be bored to death or who just loves a well-written story of the good guys battling the bad guys. I know that I now appreciate the Internet and those who defend it a lot more!

Review of Double Feature by Owen King

I heard about this book from a posting on Facebook, and given that was written by Owen King, Stephen King's son, I ordered it right away.   I'm an avid Stephen King fan (I've read everything he's written and loved every word) I had high hopes for Owen's debut novel.  Frankly, I was not let down.  This is an amazing read, and I was sorry to read the final words at the end.  King has a tremendous talent for making believable and realistic characters.  Sam Dolan comes across as a lost soul who is trying to find his place in the world.  I could certainly identify with this, and my heart ached for Sam in his self-induced suffering.  I wanted to shake him at times to try to wake him up to say stop with this foolishness and live your life.  Owen did a fantastic job with these characters and story line.  He grabbed me from the beginning with his easy prose and smooth writing.  The one thing that I have always enjoyed about the King tribe is that they are such avid storytellers who plunk down in your head and spin a hell of a yarn.  Owen King is proudly carrying on that tradition, yet stands by his own rights as a hell of an author.  I laughed many times in reading this book, and I immensely enjoyed the imagery he creates  It's a book about movies, and I certainly felt like I was watching one.  This is a wonderful, cynical and realistic book that as a lot of bite to it.  I look forward to his next novel.  It is wonderful to see and read that the immense talent of the King family is continuing on.