Killobyte

By Piers Anthony

Book Overview

In the virtual-reality computer game Killobyte, wheelchair-bound ex-cop Walter Tobin is a hero--and he can have the use of his legs restored. Diabetic Baal Curran is a beautiful princess--and she can forget the illness that drove away her boyfriend. But the game takes on a sinister reality when Walter and Baal are trapped in the system.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399137815
• ISBN13: 9780399137815
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 20.0" x 20.0" x 20.0"

Customer Reviews

Grand Fantasy Adventure With A Heart And Soul

"Killobyte" wouldn't have to be anything more than what it's described as on the back - a near-future hyper-realistic virtual reality game where players can play almost any role, until a hacker brings into the game the possibility of real death to the players - and succeed marvelously as an exhilirating adventure story and prime fodder for any number of dreams and fantasies. But, being written by Piers Anthony, it also adds in some extra dimensions for even more reward. First, the VR-adventure themes - players play 'online' with and against any number of other players (and bear in mind that this was written in 1993, when things like the Internet were still in their infancy), choosing from a vast array of scenarios - High Fantasy type with dragons and sorcerors and dashing knights and beautiful maidens; Science Fictional settings; 'real-life' political intrigue/military settings - just about anything you can think of - and select from a host of loosely-defined 'roles' within their scenario, then go on to custom-make the specific attributes of their character. Players can log in and out of their scenario and come back in inprogress, but if killed ingame must start a new character. For any fan of video games, adventure/fantasy movies, and the sexier possibilities in Virtual Reality role-playing, this guarantees a great novel provided it's written well, which this is. But there's more - first of all, though it's evident that the majority of Killobyte-players are 'normal', reasonably well-adjusted people whose excursions into the VR world no more mean that they can't enjoy the real world, any more than people who watch a lot of movies or read a lot of books can't enjoy numerous other aspects of life; the two lead characters - Waler and Baal - are indeed hampered by limitations that severely hamper their ability to partake of the 'real' world. And their backstories are given, providing insight into and generating real empathy for the characters. Baal, for example (this isn't giving anything away, it comes up early in the book) is both severely diabetic and hypershy. This is one thing I love about Anthony's writing: like Stephen King and Dean Koontz he includes characters with physical and/or mental ailments as main parts of the cast - sometimes it's not a main point, just a 'just-happens-to-be' kind of thing; other times it's a significant part of the character. But even when it's significant in the character and the story, it's always made clear that the affliction (or disability or whatever you want to call it) is FAR from the sole characteristic that makes up the person. This is true of Koontz's and King's books as well. Piers also frequently includes characters of different races, belief systems, ethnicities, and the other things that unfortunately tend to divide people, into his books. Here, for example, the Druze religion is briefly brought into things, an actual religion that I had never heard of before reading "Killobyte".

Quick, easy, enjoyable

Having avoided Piers Anthony since junior high school (16 years or so ago), I was first exposed to him through Killobyte. As a graphics programmer, this book is awful and very, very, very wrong. As a fiction reader, though, this book is complete, well written, and a delight to sit and pour through.Killobyte's characters, Walter, Baal, and Phreak, are perfectly described, their actions, their pasts...they all seem congruous and well-thought. The action is quickly paced and often funny. Fans of computer gaming will find it especially enjoyable to be immersed in this fantasy world of gaming, even one that is so very unlikely. You will read this book at one sitting, and end up wanting more, guaranteed.

an excellent read

One of the best books I've ever read. Following Baal and Walter through perils, both virtual and in reality, was a joy. I would reccomend this book to any reader.

Just got to love it!!!

I just read Killobyte and i loved it. I was hooked from the start. I read it in two days and i barely ever just sit and read. I was sucked into the plot from the start. I'm really good with computers and I could probebly do what Phreak does if I wanted to, so I could understand what was going on but i didn't have to concintrate on what I knew to understand the book like some other sci-fi books I have read. My mother is diabetic so I knew what was going on to Baal. Just read the book and make comments about wanting a sequel.