REAMDE

A BRILLIANT AND COMPELLING THRILLER CAST IN THE MOULD OF HIS CULT CLASSIC "CRYPTONOMICON", "REAMDE" PROMISES TO BE NEAL STEPHENSON'S MOST SUCCESSFUL AND COMMERCIAL NOVEL TO DATE. ACROSS THE GLOBE, MILLIONS OF COMPUTER SCREENS FLICKER WITH THE ARTFULLY CODED WORLD OF T'RAIN - AN ADDICTIVE INTERNET ROLE-PLAYING GAME OF FANTASY AND ADVENTURE. BUT BACKSTREET HACKERS IN CHINA HAVE JUST UNLEASHED A CONTAGIOUS VIRUS CALLED REAMDE, AND AS IT RAMPAGES THROUGH THE GAMING WORLD SPREADING FROM PLAYER TO PLAYER - HOLDING HARD DRIVES HOSTAGE IN THE PROCESS - THE COMPUTER OF ONE POWERFUL AND DANGEROUS MAN IS INFECTED, CAUSING THE CAREFULLY MEDIATED VIOLENCE OF THE ON-LINE WORLD TO SPILL OVER INTO REALITY. A FAST-TALKING, INTERNET-ADDICTED MAFIA ACCOUNTANT IS BRUTALLY SILENCED BY HIS RUSSIAN EMPLOYERS, AND ZULA - A TALENTED YOUNG T'RAIN COMPUTER PROGRAMMER - IS ABDUCTED AND BUNDLED ON TO A PRIVATE JET. AS SHE IS FLOWN ACROSS THE SKIES IN THE COMPANY OF THE TERRIFIED BOYFRIEND SHE BROKE UP WITH HOURS B