Synopses & Reviews
It was the end of World War II. FDR's New Deal had redefined American politics. Taxes were at an all-time high. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had created a fear of total annihilation. The rise of secret government agencies and sanctions on business had many watching their backs. America's sense of freedom was diminishing . . . and many were desperate to take that freedom back.
Among them was a great dreamer, an immigrant who'd pulled himself from the depths of poverty to become one of the wealthiest and most admired men in the world. That man was Andrew Ryan, and he believed that great men and women deserved better. So he set out to create the impossible: a utopia free from government, from censorship, and from moral restrictions on science, where what you gave was what you got. He created Rapture—the shining city below the sea. But this utopia suffered a great tragedy. This is the story of how it all came to be . . . and how it all ended.
Synopsis
In this prequel to the bestselling video game series, Bram Stoker Award-winning author John Shirley tells the story of the rise and fall of the utopian city, Rapture.
About the Author
John Shirley considers himself a scientist interested in educating himself and others on the use of software tools to analyze and present scientific data. He has developed software and documentation while consulting for companies that include Digital Equipment Corporation, Concurrent Computer Corporation, Inset Systems, NASDAQ, and Tandem Computers. John's work has included the development of C programs to demonstrate not only the use of DCE remote procedure calls but also multithreaded programming, an application interface for the GEM graphics environment, and storing scientific data. These projects have spanned many operating systems, including OSF/1, UNIX, MS-DOS, and VMS. John earned a B.A. from Alfred University with a dual major in Mathematics and Geology, an M.S. in Geology from Miami University with a specialty in Structural Geology, and an M.S. in Computer Science from Pace University. Prior to consulting, John's career included six years in the oil industry as a geophysicist and international explorationist. His work included the analysis of seismic data from New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Norway, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the United States. John also worked as a software engineer developing programs for scientific instrument manufacturers. John lives in Newtown, Connecticut, where he maintains a consulting business specializing in documenting and demonstrating complex software.