Digital Fortress

By: Dan Brown

Narrated by: Bruce Sabath

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Before the multi-million, runaway bestseller The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown set his razor-sharp research and storytelling skills on the most powerful intelligence organization on earth—the National Security Agency (NSA)—in this thrilling novel, Digital Fortress.

When the National Security Agency’s invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant, beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage…not by guns or bombs but by a code so complex that if released would cripple U.S. intelligence.

Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but for her life. It is a battle for survival—a crucial bid to destroy a creation of inconceivable genius that threatens to obliterate the balance of world power…for all time.

©1998 Dan Brown (P)2004 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

"In this fast-paced, plausible tale, Brown blurs the line between good and evil enough to delight patriots and paranoids alike." (Publishers Weekly)
"Digital Fortress is the best and most realistic techno-thriller to reach the market in years....A chilling thrill a minute." (The Midwest Book Review)
"Exciting...will rivet cyber-minded readers." (Booklist)

Unabridged good but what was removed in this one?

I listened to Audible's first publication of this book by Blackstone Audiobooks read by Patrick Cohen a few years ago. I enjoyed the book very much. That story was 12 hours and 52 minutes long. What was taken out of this version I do not know.
Judging by the sample I heard of this version the narration in this version is superior to the Blackstone version but if the sample was taken from the beginning of the book then this version is lacking a lot. It is a good thriller and I would recommend the book. I'm not sure about this version as I didn't listen to it and I'm not inclined to buy the book again to find out but the unabridged version kept me entertained for a while.

Clever Book

Keeps you interested from beginning to end.

Predictable

It was easy listening. But a little predictable. This book had a great twist. In all it was ok.

POOR NARATION

Book is good it is the naration that is horrible, the narator talks with a lisp and distracts from the book. I not stand the constant S's added to every word HATE THE NARATOR

Good mystery

Great to listen to the audio books while traveling for hours in the car. Dan Brown provides the right amount of suspense.

Good job

They did a good job reading the story and making you feel like you were there with the characters.

AThriller

Found it quite entertaining all the way through. Kept me interested all the way on a long ride home

Disappointing

After reading The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons this book was very disappointing. I read the other reviews warning as much first, but noted that The DaVinci Code also had similar reviews, so I figured I'd take my chances. It couldn't be THAT bad.

Overall, I'd say it was a very average book. The narrator's voice sounded almost electronically simulated. For anyone who watches the series 24 and is fed up with the stupid "Kim Bauer" plotless plots to fill time, about half of this book is the same thing.

I'm curious what was left out this "abridged" version because it did read fine. I don't know if I could have handled it being any longer!!!! Then again, maybe what was left out could have made it more enjoyable.

Pretty much average

Nothing spectacular here. Didn't seem to give you as much research learning as do Brown's other works. I enjoyed it overall, but it just didn't grab me. I had a high level of dislike for the reader. He was flat and annoying, especially with his role play voices - the worse I have ever heard.

Do not listen to them!

Those people, that give the book bad reviews aren't looking at the fact, that most people listen to audiobooks for fun, not to find as many plot holes as possible. This book may not have such a deep plot as Angels and Demons, but somehow it kept me listening. And I couldn't stop until I finished. And then, I listened to it again. By the way, this version has a way better narration, than the unabridged one.