"'Wireless security' is a contradiction in terms. Like 'military intellegence' or 'jumbo shrimp.'" We that quote we are introduced to the risky and intellectually stimulating world of computer hacking through the eyes of one of the best in the buisness, Sam Wilson.
Brain Jack is one of the few dystopian novels that I’ve read that I can actually see happening in America, or anywhere in the world really. Despite the military influence sprinkled throughout the book it does not appear to be intrusive in people’s lives, nor is there some overarching dictator wringing his hands at the thought of which orphan he can starve next. Society functions just as it does in modern America, but with technological advancements that have yet to happen.
This book is chock full of computer, technology, and programming lingo. For a person who is lucky if she remembers how to put a picture into a comment on a forum, it can get a bit overwhelming at times. That doesn’t make it a bad thing though, and I think enhances the reading experience: because I’m not sure where real life ends and technological fantasy begins when it comes to these programs that Sam is writing and using to hack computers, it adds to the creepiness element once the headsets go from useful piece of technology to computer menace. Just how far ahead in time does Sam live? What technology, aside from the neuro-headsets, does he have in his America, or anywhere in the world, really, that we do not in our times?
Sam makes for an interesting character, driven more by his passion for computers than romantic love for another human. Actually, I would have preferred that the one hiccup of romance that was in there be left out, seeing as it just left me more confused as to why it happened in the first place. In fact, assuming that Sam is straight, there are hardly any female characters (read: one) for him to fall in love with. More ladies in computer science, please!
The climax was great and the build-up lasted over one hundred pages, all of exciting action and suspense sequences that reflect just how desperate Sam and his friends are to fix a disastrous situation that they had a part in influencing. It’s quick-paced, and makes you not want to put the book down.
As for the ending, I certainly don’t want to spoil too much for those who haven’t read it, but I will say this: there isn’t a civil war being raged in Libya right now because Gaddafi missed an episode of Barney. World problems, and more importantly world leaders, are a bit more complex than the ending makes them out to be. I was also left wondering what happened to some of the characters. They weren’t main, nor had a massive part in the book’s plot, but it would have been nice to know just what happened to them.
Oh yeah, Sam's British friend and co-worker, Dodge. There's not much to say about him, other than how much I loved him and his use of the word "guv'nor." More than once.
Overall, Brain Jack is a fresh take on dystopian books and societies, and is worth picking up for anybody who has taken note of just how fast Apple releases new products. Technology is moving fast, so don’t fall behind. Unless you’re Sam and his friends, that is, and in that case be happy that you did.

4/5

2.5 stars.

Overall, the story is entertaining, but not extremely believable. As a story that follows a huge battle between human intelligence and artificial intelligence, it lacked a feeling of plausibility and importance. [(SPOILERS) I especially have trouble believing that, at the end of the book, Sam would have been able to withstand all of the knowledge of every person using neuro-headsets in the world. Yet, still, he can implant ideas of human compassion into the minds of world leaders in their sleep. I don't believe it possible to wake up from all of this knowledge without a brain resembling a steaming bowl of vegetable soup. (/SPOILERS)] But it was still entertaining at many parts, and I found the action sequences particularly enjoyable.

I was disappointed with the character development. It was great in the beginning, but the characters all sort of fell back and... disappeared.

I did not like the writing at all. Falkner explains things that don't need explanation and under-explains other things (like computer coding); basically, I felt like I was supposed to be an idiot. In writing, less is often more, but I may stand corrected if I read some of his other work.
It is unnecessarily wordy. There are huge chunks that can be (and seem to beg to be) completely skipped over.

If you're into computer stuff (which I am not) and want a semi-robo-mind-control-apocalyptic novel, this is for you. If you are an English nerd, it probably is not.

"Live your life as if it matters how you live it.
Because it does."

Falkner, Brian. Brain Jack. Random House, 2009. 13-15 yrs.

Sam Wilson is a high school computer hacker living in the near future where Las Vegas has been destroyed in a nuclear terrorist attack. Online gamers get so addicted to their games that the addiction has become illegal and neuro-headsets have taken the place of keyboards – allowing the wearer to control the Internet with their thoughts. After pulling off a hack on Telecomerica, one of the world’s leading telecommunication companies, Sam is recruited by the Cyber Defense Division of Homeland Security to protect the United States from potential hacks. Sam suddenly gives up his high school life in order to become part of CDD, leaving behind his mother and his best friend Fargas who is slowly becoming addicted to the neuro video games. Neuro-headsets are taking off and are suddenly discovered by the group at CDD to be controlling all humans who put the headsets on, forming a “collective consciousness.” Soon everyone has turned on Sam, Dodge and Vienna, three members of CDD who were not affected by the headsets. Fleeing to the radioactive nuclear wasteland that was Vegas, the trio attempts to create a virus that will reverse the damage the neuro-headsets have caused. But when the virus doesn’t work, Sam has to come head-to-head with the neuro-technology in order to reverse the devastation the brain hijacking technology has caused.
Falkner creates an imaginative world where the high-tech language of hacking is in its least daunting form. Even those readers who are less than tech-saavy will find themselves becoming immersed in the cyber network where Sam lives out his reality. Computer-hacking terms and techie-acronyms galore don’t pigeonhole Brain Jack. Multiple twists and turns will entertain readers of Sci-Fi, Mystery and Suspense. Although the main characters are mainly young men, girls can find something of value in Falkner’s fast-paced writing. Brain Jack could easily be integrated into junior high and early high school curricula in tandem with other more classic dystopian works such as Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four. Readers will be left on edge contemplating how the future of technology could fatally transform society and wondering along with Sam: “Could consciousness itself be highjacked?”

Good dystopian society book, a little too technical, but still an engaging read

I enjoyed it, but I didn't really understand any of the technical stuff. If you know a lot about computer hacking and just computers/internet in general you would really like this book. But it does have a good story, and I was able to like it despite my lack of knowledge about what was happening.

Brain Jack by Brian Falkner (2009)

This book was shortlisted for the 2010 Cybils which is why (as a round 2 judge) I read it.

I can see how Brain Jack would have some appeal and could be great for teens who are into computers or are reluctant readers. That said, I personally wasn’t very impressed with the book.

I thought it was too technical. I know nothing about computers but a lot of the stuff sounded downright made up in places and in other places sounded like gibberish. It felt strange having people typing on a computer be high action and also Falkner at times made it seem like the characters were inside the computer which is jarring.

I personally was irritated when New York’s Avenue of the Americas was mentioned in the story, by a native New Yorker, when everyone who has been living here would only call it Sixth Avenue. Other elements also just felt out of place to me, like story threads that didn’t feel vital to the plot. (Examples: Vegas, Fargas, Vienna, Dodge’s dodgy tattoo ON HIS FOREHEAD.) Many of the characters also fell flat.

The prologue was poorly done and off putting. I got my copy from a friend who I’m sure also didn’t buy it. It was so strange having the prologue talk in depth about getting information from people who bought the book when I didn’t (and I’m sure a lot of people didn’t). Aside from completely disregarding libraries and borrowing books it brought me right out of the narrative since it was so not true for my experience. In tandem with the prologue I felt like the epilogue was too preachy and weirdly so. Neuro headsets don’t actually exist and the book is fiction, but then he is telling us he’ll be watching (much like Santa Claus)?

It just didn’t work for me.

Love the technical jargon and the story is actually pretty gripping. I loved reading this and didn't get bored by this sci-fi novel. Would love more stories like this. The resolution was decent and actually makes me want to read more. Wondering if there's a new book

I loved this book! Straightforward plot. Fairly well written. Fun plot with twists that I didn't expect. Continues my current obsession with dystopic young adult science fiction. This book is a revised version of Hackers that meets part of the story line/a character from the Ender's Game original sequels! Loved it.

Fast-paced, exciting plot. Sam is a likable character. I had some difficulty with the way the computer action was described - I found that confusing. Definitely though-provoking. The ending for me is unrealistic, but hey, it's sci-fi, right?