Infoquake is a good first novel about business and technology in the far future. It provides glimpses into possible philosophy and organizational culture.

The cover clearly says "Volume 1 of the Jump 225 Trilogy." I appreciate that. Now, does that mean the first novel of a three-volume saga? Or is this the first 30% of a three-volume novel? After reading this, I think the latter. I didn't feel a closure and it seemed a dozen major questions were left open. OK, it did end at the end of a stanza. If this doesn't bother you (or the trilogy has become complete), then add a star to the three above. A consequence of this is that I am not able to see how Edelman wraps up a story. (Arg! Another star lost!) We are left with a promise that things will wrap up; a character says at the end of Infoquake, "Just watch."

At the end are seven appendices. Don't panic. The writing is very good and you don't need them. However, they can be handy if you were falling asleep when some ideas were introduced or you don't want to sound stupid in discussing this novel. (If you read this novel, you will discuss it.) This material is also online (of course). Maybe the appendices will mitigate the pain of holding your breath for several months after the sudden ending; you can use them as a refresher when MultiReal comes out. Appendices can also be used to work with surprise endings since the clue of getting near the end is lost, but in this case the surprise is the sudden ending.

Many of the ideas of this novel apply to the near future, yet the tale takes place in some nebulous far future. Fortunately, this far future has rules of interaction on the network that makes this far future graspable, in a sense, like a future between near and far.

Important technology of this future is the programming of body to affect its well being, to affect the mind, and to communicate through a sort of remote presence. Natch is a good programmer and an extremely capable, ruthless businessman in this industry. Natch is not very likeable and not completely knowable, yet for some reason I care about him and wish him well. Fortunately, due to the magic of Edelman's pen, in parts, including the first, we get to ride along with his primary assistants, Jara and Horvil, and might relate to them easier. I like Horvil. (And I like the enigmatic Quell, too.)

Sociologists and political scientists don't get to do the same kind of experiments that, say, chemists do. They can't take a hundred planets and change one variable in half and see what happens. The next best thing is the SF novel. Social world building tests ideas. Does the author hold this world together by sheer will and hand waving? Or do these social billard balls behave as expected when placed on the table? Does this world "click" for the reader?

The Jump 225 world is set out for your review. There are business organizations (including grants-based organizations), standards organizations, creeds (philosophical organizations emphasizing ethics), central government and (in tension) "local" governments. Governmentalists prefer a strong central government and "libertarians" prefer the local governments. The local governments remind me of the court and protection organizations in some anarcho-capitalist fiction, so maybe the word "libertarian" applies. The word "libertarian" is also used in a second sense in describing some of these local governments, and that is probably closer to common usage (today). In this world the free market needs lots of watching. There are some tensions among all the creeds and the characters poke at those that come up. Perhaps, these compete in Edellman's mind. Religion is described in corny terms and is essentially set outside of this competition of ideas. There is a tiny soft sermon on some ideas about technology and humanity in the middle, but that is it.

I do

Libraries strong in speculative fiction will relish INFOQUAKE, a debut novel that takes place in an unusual setting: the corporate boardroom of the far future. Natch is a master of bio/logics, programming the human body - but his skills are involving him with the owner of a new technology who is determined to keep it from the clutches of another high executive. Meanwhile the 'infoquake' burst of energy is threatening all technologies in this fast-paced, engrossing saga of social change.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

"Hack the body and the mind will follow."


Infoquake, the debut novel by David Louis Edelman, is the first volume of the Jump 225 trilogy. Its a financial thriller in a cyberpunk setting. Infoquake takes place several hundred years in the future, mankind has emerged from the decimation of the autonomous revolution thanks to the work of Sheldon Surina. Surina is the father of bio/logics, digital programs that work through nanobots, or OCHRES, which are spread throughout the bodies of most humans. Competition to create and sell new bio/logic programs is fierce, and Natch is one of , if not the best in the business.

The story starts out with Natch unveiling a Machiavellian plot to ascend to the top spot on Primo's list, the Fortune 500 of the bio/logic biz. This stunt works and even earns him the notice of Margaret Surina, the descendant of Sheldon. She presents Natch with the opportunity of a lifetime. She wants him to finish and sell MultiReal a bio/logic program capable of creating a near infinite number of alternate realities. The catch is that not only does every other Fiefcorp want to get their hands on this program, so does the shadowy High Executive of the Defense and Wellness Council, Len Borda.

The book is fast paced from the start, although the action is much more cerebral than physical. Plots and intrigues abound. Edelman creates a very interesting character in Natch. He has few redeeming qualities but the reader is drawn to him none the less. The supporting cast is very strong as well. I particularly enjoyed Jara, one of Natches apprentices. Edelman creates a rich narrative of a future earth. The back of the book is chock full of appendixes, which includes, a glossary, a time line, and in depth explanations of some of the most prevalent technologies. He is clearly a master at fleshing out his concepts. The story drew me in from the start, and I'm eagerly anticipation the forthcoming volumes.

8.5 out of 10

Infoquake was a very enjoyable speculative science fiction story hypothesizing on the use of nanotechnology. Instead of using machines in the future we use our bodies along with thousands of microscopic biological agents called OCHRES. If we can alter our brain chemistry we are able to conjure whatever realities we'd like. Imagine walking down the street and summoning a program that would give you telescoping vision, or heal wounds, or increase your libido. Some programs are cosmetic and others are for basic survival. The possibilities are endless and everyone is connected.

That is the background of Infoquake, but the story is about the programmers that create these multifaceted programs. In the future the quasi government, the Defense and Wellness Council, administers the well being of its nano users and governs the corporate entities that provide the programs. The competition is fierce between the fiefcorps and blackcode attacks are always a concern, each Fiefcorp is run in a master / apprentice style. Of the up and coming Fiefcorp masters is Natch, a narcisstic but brilliant programmer that willed his company to the top rating on Primo's. Since everyone is connected by nanotechnology and virtual reality the risk of overused bandwidth, an Infoquake, and the collapse of the system is a concern for the Defense Council. The threat to the system is something that can be exploited by a rapacious programmer.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to future installments. My one criticism of the book is the story of Natch as a child, it smacked too much of an `Ender's game' improbability of childhood genius. Other than that, Edelman has done a fantastic job painting a future with detailed timelines and the history of nanotechnology (the future for us) and a handy glossary for future terminology.

After reading the rave reviews, I immediately put Infoquake on my Amazon wish list. True to the hype, Infoquake introduces some promising new ideas in the near future/cyberpunk genre. Ultimately as a novel, it left me very unsatisfied. Infoquake lacks strong action scenes, takes far too long to get going, and leaves the reader with a cliffhanger, waiting for the rest of the Jump 225 trilogy. My immediate thought was Accelerando by Charles Stross - a near future buzz-word compliant novel by a talented author that I also struggled to enjoy.

Some reviewers compared Infoquake to Dune and Neuromancer. The hyperbole in that claim was obvious to me in the first hundred pages. The first Dune novel stands alone and is a story unto itself. Infoquake is half a story at best. Neuromancer succeeds in part because Gibson knew little about computers and invented his own universe which captures the readers attention with plot and character despite a lack of technical detail. In contrast, Infoquake is packed with inventive detail but lacks the 'otherness' that I crave from speculative fiction. I've heard this genre described as 'mundane' SF, and the name fits perfectly. If this is a response to the recent wave of 'New Weird' fiction, count me out as a reader.

The back-cover blurb talks about the authors experience in dot com marketing and product development and anyone who has worked in the tech industry will recognize the familiar staples of fundraising, product demos, launches etc. I'm not sure why Infoquake is pitched as a "boardroom thriller", because it reads more like one long product marketing meeting at a four person startup. Regardless, this setting was all too familiar for me and didn't hold my interest. Although there are touches of real imagination, these were marred by concepts which read like sophomoric tech in-jokes e.g. Primos/Google, Dr. Plugenpatch/Plug-n-play etc.

In comparison, I recently read two excellent novels set in near future biotech-heavy societies. Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon and Chris Moriarty's Spin State skip the detail to draw the reader in with powerful characters, a mystery and a hard charging plot. Infoquake spends too much time trying to impress us with the setting and backstory, and it was tough just to stay engaged. Action scenes are few and far between, and those that exist are understated or cut short. As an example, the kidnapping of a central character (one of the few interesting conflicts in the entire book) is never resolved. Similarly, Natch's one-armed nemesis vanishes after his grand return and is not seen again. The central plot does not get underway until halfway through the book. I might expect this if I'd picked up the first book of a gigantic fantasy trilogy, but not in a relatively slim science fiction novel.

I'll finish with something positive. Obviously other reviewers liked Infoquake. There are some interesting concepts in here and perhaps others may not share my lack of enthusiasm for the setting and pace. Post the Jump 225 trilogy, I hope the author is planning something a little less mundane outside the comfort zone of near future Earth.