Behind the Screen: Hacking Hollywood [Hardcover]

I bought this book after hearing the author speak on a radio program. I enjoyed it; the story was fast paced and had me captivated throughout. I don't know much about the computer world but I liked getting a glimpse of it since the main character is an Internet expert. This is a good read for when you are in the mood for something light but entertaining.

A very patchy read in which the first act/third is completely directionless with no plot. Use the search inside Amazon feature for the first page if you want to read one of the most awkward main character introductions ever in literature. I should have tossed the book when I read that first page.

The novel seems to be an outlet for the author to live out his fantasies (which he probably dreamed of while sitting at his computer desk job). These fantasies include being propositioned by two attractive ladies for a threesome and flirting with a high school girl while dating her mom.

The author does have knowledge in the area of computer security, but doesn't even know that the I-10 runs east and west or much worse, doesn't have any knowledge if simple character and story development.

Should have never wasted my money and time on this terrible book. Would give it zero stars, if Amazon would let me.

This is a techno-fiction work and is Mark's first novel. It is a blend of sex scenes, some quite innocent, lots of kissing and some getting a bit on the extreme side such as Ray and Travel Chick at the Bellagio in Vegas. It is a little bit too steamy for me since I normally do my reading on the plane, I fly about 20 hours every three weeks.

There is a nice information security technology weave, in fact, it is the first time I recall reading a fictional work talking about take a class from the SANS Institute. They also mention the CISSP. I particularly enjoyed the numerous examples of using intrusion detection type technology to monitor the email use of employees at DesertFinancial.

Having been in the monitoring business for much of my life, I thought that part was well done. Also, if a reader should learn one thing from reading the book it is that just about everything you do on a computer can easily become public knowledge.

The protagonist is Johnathan Davis, who is called John throughout the book. There is drama, and it builds nicely leading to a murder plot. And of course. since this is a novel, I cannot tell you the ending. It is great to see a book with an information security focus and I hope Mark keeps writing. If this had been done as a adult comic book, it would have been five stars with the right illustrator.
Tips for the future:
- Keep working on character development. Mark, before you write your next book, do some character sketches to really help your characters come to life. You are consistent with your characters, that is great. But I found myself unable to visualize them. Now granted a lot of the communication is by email ( great work on the email ), phone, and instant message, but it helps me to know the hair color, the style of dress, what they smell like and such.
- Engineer your ending. At SANS we say, know your intro and your outro, before opening your mouth. The intro worked, certainly gets the reader's attention and even though we leave the two abruptly, you weave them in later. However, the book seems to climax before the climax. If sex is a big part of things save Tara and John's consummation for later and then make use of all the pent up desire you have been building, my guess is that would be the time to get graphic.
- Consider writing a short story, if it is educational and not too steamy we could even help you publish it.

Bottom line, fun read, looking forward to your next novel; keep pounding on that keyboard.