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The Fear Index
- Narrated by: Christian Rodska
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
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Summary
His name is carefully guarded from the general public but within the secretive inner circles of the ultra-rich Dr Alex Hoffmann is a legend – a visionary scientist whose computer software turns everything it touches into gold. Together with his partner, an investment banker, Hoffmann has developed a revolutionary form of artificial intelligence that tracks human emotions, enabling it to predict movements in the financial markets with uncanny accuracy. His hedge fund, based in Geneva, makes billions.
But then in the early hours of the morning, while he lies asleep with his wife, a sinister intruder breaches the elaborate security of their lakeside house. So begins a waking nightmare of paranoia and violence as Hoffmann attempts, with increasing desperation, to discover who is trying to destroy him. His quest forces him to confront the deepest questions of what it is to be human. By the time night falls over Geneva, the financial markets will be in turmoil and Hoffmann's world – and ours – transformed forever.
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Overall
- Nils
- 08-10-11
Unpleasantly close to the present
As always, Robert Harris is a masterly writer. The language never gets in the way of the reader - or listener - but creates and maintains the atmosphere of authenticity so characteristic of his other titles.
In this book the threat of imminent financial collapse is the backdrop - a bit too close for comfort. He uses Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species to kick off the suspence. Quotes from the same work introduce each chapter. Not surprisingly the theme is fear but not the usual and superficial kind of horror stories.
Well-researched and convincing. Well-plotted.
Kudos to Christian Rodska as narrator. I especially enjoyed his perfect switch between the American main character and the accents of the other nationalities: Nigerian (just three words, but convincing!), Polish, French-Swiss, and Dutch.
An enjoyable experience.
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15 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Nicholas
- 23-12-11
Very Disappointing
I'm a big fan of Robert Harris and I think he's a masterful writer. So it's mystifying how he could write this drivel that reads like a poor imitation of a Michael Crichton novel. There are definitely hints of his usual descriptive panache (the only reason I didn't give it only a single star) but it's not enough to sustain a very weak storyline full of plot-holes and characters that never fully develop. In the end, it's a waste of time and potential readers should focus on Harris' other works.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Kirstine
- 28-10-11
Engaging story: could do without the Darwin
I've enjoyed a number of Robert Harris' books and in the Fear Index he hasn't lost his touch in creating an engaging thriller that keeps you listening. Hedge funds being no more than betting on the stock market is certainly a topical backdrop to an inventive, if at times implausible, story. Sci-fi meets crime fiction.
I could have done without the grafting on of supposed parallels with Darwin's evolutionary principles that often seemed forced.
Christian Rodska is an admirable narrator.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Penny
- 20-10-11
Another Great Book
Robert Harris has never failed me yet. This book is an addition to the long list of his titles that I have enjoyed. I was initially worried that it might be a bit 'dark' but it was just a thoroughly enjoyable read - and right up-to-date!
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3 people found this helpful
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- Stuart C. Taylor
- 29-07-22
Laughably poor writing
Great literature this is not. It's an airport pulp novel. Full of cliches, stock two-dimensional characters and show-off plot exposition dialogue. The female characters are ciphers and the men are all thrusting, aggressive stereotypes. The narrator almost seems to be parodying the abysmal writing by employing some of the ripest, hammy acting ever recorded. However, it's quite a fun story and the author gives the impression of understanding a fair bit about the financial world and how it may develop.
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1 person found this helpful
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- F. O. Bonney
- 19-05-21
Classic Harris
If you enjoy Robert Harris, you'll like this. It's fast-paced, and full of action and mystery. Rodska does a great job keeping up the tension. (It would make an excellent movie!)
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1 person found this helpful
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- Roderic
- 10-11-13
Pretty good read, though not Harris's best
Any additional comments?
I found some aspects of the plot clumsy, but overall it was very entertaining. A strong idea, developed quite well.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- Stephen
- 06-11-11
Superb, intelligent thriller
The beginning is unsettling and gripping, the ending is disturbing. Harris has again written a thoroughly intelligent thriller, this time grounded in the world of finance, hedge funds and computers. He succeeds because the novel has a lot of truth in it from his thorough research (and the research never overshadows the plot), he has cleverly given it a tight time-frame, and he has layered it with philosphical and scientific ideas which bring a further richness to it. And the icing on the cake; it is read by the wonderful Christian Rodska.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mrs
- 21-11-23
Idea of AI taking over the world
Liked narrator and reference to Darwin etc . The momentum built strongly as the story continued
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- Joan
- 24-05-23
The Fear Index
Very good novel. The fact that Mr. Harris has written about AI and what can happen if things are left unchecked, twelve years before ChatGPT makes the novel all the more relevant. Another great novel from an excellent writer.
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