A science-fiction cyber-thriller centering around — and partially written on — a Sharp Zaurus PDA running Linux is now available in paperback from Amazon.com. Digital Life, by Kevin Milne, aims to depict real-life hacking and digital insurgence more accurately than popular… media.

Digital Life is the sequel to Z4CK, Milne's first novel, in which intrepid hacker Duncan Steele roamed a brave new world, besting techno-proles and fighting to extricate himself from a bogus murder rap, his trusty Sharp Zaurus by his side. Milne initially wrote Z4CK to offer a more accurate portrayal of hackers than popular films such as 'The Net,' 'Hackers,' and 'Sword Fish,' he said. Following its 2004 release, Z4CK was compared to such classic hacking introductions as The Art of Intrusion, The Art of Deception, and How to Own a Continent, according to publisher Open-Solutions Consultancy.

The new book picks up where Z4CK left off, with Steel facing a choice between working for the UK government, or spending years in jail. It is less technically dense, easier to read, and appeals more to non-native English speakers than Milne's first novel, the publisher says. Milne adds, “Now everyone can find out why Sec-Net was created, what destroyed the Internet in 2018, and why someone detonated a bomb in Edinburgh airport in August 2031.”

As with Z4CK, much of Digital Life was written on a Linux-based Zaurus SL-5500 (pictured at right) during Milne's train-ride to his job as a network administrator. Open source network intrusion detection tools mentioned in the book include Nmap, Nessus, Hydra, Netcat, and John the Ripper.

Milne is also a rock-climber and a champion fencer who has represented Scotland in international competition.

Availability

Z4CK was released in electronic form in August of 2004 as a free PDF download, and was subsequently released in paperback three months later.

The new book, Digital Life, became available as a free PDF download two weeks ago, and 10,000 copies have since been downloaded. It is also currently available at Amazon.com, priced at $11.

 
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