Jericho Interation

While reviews for this book were ho-hum when it first came out, The Jericho Iteration deserves a re-reading in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Just as the federal government uses earthquake-ravaged St. Louis for its experiments in controlling and containing civilian populations, look at the disaster that continues in New Orleans to see how on the mark Steele was in this book written long before the levees were breached. Ten months after Katrina hit and the public schools are closed, the city government is trumped by federal agencies, and the local population slides into despair rather than action. While the sfnel element of a networked AI stands out from today's nightmare, Steele has always had an excellent eye toward political extrapolation. Give this one a read, or a re-read if you glossed over it.

The Jericho Iteration takes place in St. Louis in 2013, after a destructive earth quake strikes, leaving the city in ruins. The survivors in the city and the city itself are controlled by the ERA, or Emergency Relief Agency, planning on initiating a new government under their rule. The book is a narrative, and told by the main character, Gerry Rosen. Gerry is a reporter for a newspaper called The Muddy Inquirer. He is trying to piece his life back together when he discovers, by mistake, that his fellow reporter and friend, John, has found out important information on a project called Ruby Fulcrum which the ERA is trying to keep secret. Gerry isn't discouraged; he's used to people trying to cover things up. He doesn't realize who and what he's up against until people he knows mysteriously begin to die, and he finds himself on the run from the ERA. The Jericho Iteration is one of the best books I have ever read. It is filled with action with some humor and sadness thrown in. The beginning of this book leaves you wanting more and definately draws the reader in. The climactic moment is very exciting, and the ending wasn't what I expected. I couldn't stop reading this book until I had finished it, and even now I am reading it over. I recommend this book to anyone who likes science fiction and/or to anyone who wants an amazing story.

Steele weaves an imaginative story of government corruption and corporate intrigue with The Jericho Iteration. I wasn't completely satisfied with his characterizations of the AI. It seemed a bit too human in it's reactions, but Steele's style and tightly paced writing delivered the goods in the end.

Okay, its not Shakespeare. There are no deep human truths uncovered. Still, this book is a fun, well written page turner that I just could not put down. BTW, I have yet to read a positive review from Kirkus. Do those people actually like books? :)

After seeing how disasters are dealt with.....this book is not too far off. a good read. actual score 8.7