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The Silence of Six
“What is the silence of six, and what are you going to do about it?”
These are the last words uttered by 17-year-old Max Stein’s best friend, Evan: Just moments after hacking into the live-streaming Presidential debate at their high school, he kills himself.
Haunted by the image of Evan’s death, Max’s entire world turns upside down as he suddenly finds himself the target of a corporate-government witch-hunt. Fearing for his life and fighting to prove his own innocence, Max goes on the run with no one to trust and too many unanswered questions.
Max must dust off his own hacking skills and maneuver the dangerous labyrinth of underground hacktivist networks, ever-shifting alliances, and virtual identities — all while hoping to find the truth behind the “Silence of Six” before it’s too late.
These are the last words uttered by 17-year-old Max Stein’s best friend, Evan: Just moments after hacking into the live-streaming Presidential debate at their high school, he kills himself.
Haunted by the image of Evan’s death, Max’s entire world turns upside down as he suddenly finds himself the target of a corporate-government witch-hunt. Fearing for his life and fighting to prove his own innocence, Max goes on the run with no one to trust and too many unanswered questions.
Max must dust off his own hacking skills and maneuver the dangerous labyrinth of underground hacktivist networks, ever-shifting alliances, and virtual identities — all while hoping to find the truth behind the “Silence of Six” before it’s too late.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2014
About the author
E.C. Myers
111 books382 followersE.C. Myers was assembled in the U.S. from Korean and German parts and raised in Yonkers, NY by his mother and the public library. He is a graduate of the Clarion West Writers Workshop and a member of the prolific NYC writing group Altered Fluid. In the rare moments when he isn't writing, he blogs about Star Trek at The Viewscreen, reads constantly, plays video games, watches films and television, sleeps as little as possible, and spends far too much time on the internet. His first novel, FAIR COIN, won the 2012 Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy.
WATTPAD: http://www.wattpad.com/user/ecmyers
WATTPAD: http://www.wattpad.com/user/ecmyers
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September 23, 2014I wrote this!
June 18, 2015
“What is the silence of six and what are you going to do about?"
REACTION AFTER READING THE BOOK
Oh boy this book is so good!
I'm a pretty slow reader and I just breezed through this book like it was nothing.
It has all the elements of a book that I really like.
Seemingly realistic events
Likeable and believable characters
No information overload (Like Ready Player One)
Keeps you at the edge of your seat
A page turner
No insta-love (thank goodness!!)
The writing was good.
This book is so fucking good.
I highly recommend this.
I wish more people would read it honestly.
It's very unfortunate that some good books, like this one, don't get the exposure they deserve.
Anyways... Here's a short gist for this book.
THE GIST
Death of a friend.
Hackers.
Frame-up.
Conspiracy.
Quest for the truth.
THE CHARACTERS
Max:I really liked Max. At first, he seemed like he was a douche. I'm not going to tell you why, because it would probably be a sort of spoiler. So no. I'm not going to say. But the good thing about him was that he totally redeemed himself as the story progresses. He was a strong and admirable character. Although, I would say that he what he did with the entire thing is a bit unrealistic. He's just a high school kid being hunted down by the FBI and those other bad guys. He could only do so much, right? I mean I believe the hacker things. I believe that a high school kid could possibly hack a high security website, but to keep himself out of danger when the people who he is up against has lots of controls to anything he has access on? It would have been slighly more believable if he was a secret agent or something and not a high school kid. Hehe.
Penny: I really liked how her character was revealed. Like Max, this girl is super smart and does so good at what she does. Which is hacking. Yes. A girl hacker. She was so cool. She isn't the typical damsel in distress. And the thing I liked most about her was how relateable she is. For me at least. She was an older sister who would do anything to protect her sister, even if it meant turning away from something important.
Evan: You never get to meet this guy but you feel that you already know him. How he responds to things and how obesessive he could sometimes get with all his hacking stuff. He is very passionate in what he was doing. At first, what he did seemed a bit shady, but I learned to love the guy, most especially towards the end. It was such a surprise.
The EVIL guy: I was totally caught off guard with this. Like a lot of things in this book, the bad guy was not who I expected it to be. So that is pretty cool!
ROMANCE
No insta-love!!! THANK FUCKING GOD!
I liked how the relationship between Penny and Max was not the insta-love/insta-attraction type. You see the chemistry between them. You see how they both fit together. And the even better thing about it was, it didn't take anything from the story. The author knows what to focus on. And he focus on the right one. He focused more on the plot line that was initially introduced in the story, not the budding love story subplot.
THE PACE
It was amazing. It would keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time. There is never a dull moment in this book. Everything was fast and informative. It was like all the scenes in this book was necessary to figure out what Evan meant by "Silence of Six". This book was like a Mission Impossible movie in book format. Although, this isn't really comparable to the action that MI has, but you get what I mean right? How everything is much faster in the movies? :D
THE WRITING
I loved the writing.
Let me just start to say that the author did not think, his readers were stupid. He gives us enough information for us to understand what was going on without over-exposing us to tons of information that we don't really need at all. He lets his reader do the imagining. He lets us use our brains. No information overload.
*cough*
This is a book about hackers getting entangled with something they shouldn't be. The author used some terminologies to give us a feel of how (possibly) hackers communicate and think. He didn't just through random hacker code everywhere just for the fun of it or to impress the readers about how much he knows about hacker language or works. There was none of that. And I appreciate that a lot.
FINAL WORDS
I highly recommend this for those of you guys who are so fed up of YA dystopian and want to try a fast paced thriller about a younger hacker who is trying to figure out the conspiracy that his dead friend discovered.
Please YA authors!!! Write more original and heart pumping books!!!! I beg you. I love YA, but I am getting really slumpy with the ones that I have been reading because of the typical format that most YA books have now. I think I mentioned this one on of my older reviews too, but yeah you guys get what I mean right?
The Silence of Six is a highly recommended book for me. I would like to say that it's one of the best books I've read so far this year. And I really hope books like these would be more known than some over-hyped books that are honestly, not really that good. I'm not saying that some over-hyped books are bad, but most of them are just really over-hyped.
Anyways, yes, read this! Read this really!!!
If you guys have read this, or haven't read it... Please leave me some comments below so we can chat about this great book.
April 30, 2015
THIS BOOK WAS SO AMAZING OH MY GOD. I don't have the words to describe how much I love this book. It lived up to all of my expectations and more. It was absolutely exhilarating to read and didn't have a dull moment. Even though I don't understand hacking (although I WISH I did), that didn't stop me from loving every second of it. The book when is so many different directions that I couldn'tve anticipated, but it was so perfect and I can't remember the last time I read something that was so intricately written. 5/5 stars absolutely. I'd give it 6 if I could. Xo
October 6, 2014
“The Silence of Six” is an exciting page turner that begs you not to put it down until you know how it all will end. Built around the world of computer hacking, compromised security, and government overstepping its bounds, in this day and age it could almost be described as a horror story. I know it has left me a bit on the paranoid side.
The characters are well-developed, the plot picks up its quick pace from the very beginning, and the plot is unpredictable, which is exactly how any good thriller should be. The hacker world is also rather extensively explored, which can be both a good and a bad thing. For those with computer knowledge, it adds to the fun. For those who are able to gloss over details they do not understand and go with the flow, it does not take away from the excitement. However, for those who can get lost in details, it may be overwhelming. It is for that reason that I would not recommend “The Silence of Six” for reluctant school-aged readers.
However, should you fit one of the first two categories listed above and enjoy cyber thrillers, “The Silence of Six” is one fun and exciting read that is not to be missed.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are well-developed, the plot picks up its quick pace from the very beginning, and the plot is unpredictable, which is exactly how any good thriller should be. The hacker world is also rather extensively explored, which can be both a good and a bad thing. For those with computer knowledge, it adds to the fun. For those who are able to gloss over details they do not understand and go with the flow, it does not take away from the excitement. However, for those who can get lost in details, it may be overwhelming. It is for that reason that I would not recommend “The Silence of Six” for reluctant school-aged readers.
However, should you fit one of the first two categories listed above and enjoy cyber thrillers, “The Silence of Six” is one fun and exciting read that is not to be missed.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2015
A thrilling, mind-boggling, breath-taking novel, The Silence of Six will take you to the edge of your seat. A great novel about hacking and the cyber world. An eye-opener about privacy and politics.
“What is the silence of six, and what are you going to do about it?”
The Silence of Six started as a shocker. Oh well I don't want to mention "that shocker" but it really shocked me that I got so intrigued with this book. And, yes, it didn't disappoint.
I know what is hacking but I have no skills for that so it amazed me when I'm reading how well the characters do the hacking, almost every type of hacking. I actually thought it's kinda surreal because they can do almost all kinds of hacking but I let that thinking drift away since I'm enjoying the book and I am really hooked. It somehow frightened me too for several reasons.
The characters were well-defined, distinct and their voices felt real. The story was well-plotted. The intention or purpose of the book was clearly delivered, which is about privacy and how your information online can be used against you or used in a kinda evil-ish plan by a certain types of individual. And that the cyberworld has its pros and cons so be aware of what you posting or doing online. Think before you click as they say.
My only problem is that the characters can easily found the answers and knew what should they do and it's kinda unbelievable that they can do it in a short span of time.
“What is the silence of six, and what are you going to do about it?”
The Silence of Six started as a shocker. Oh well I don't want to mention "that shocker" but it really shocked me that I got so intrigued with this book. And, yes, it didn't disappoint.
I know what is hacking but I have no skills for that so it amazed me when I'm reading how well the characters do the hacking, almost every type of hacking. I actually thought it's kinda surreal because they can do almost all kinds of hacking but I let that thinking drift away since I'm enjoying the book and I am really hooked. It somehow frightened me too for several reasons.
The characters were well-defined, distinct and their voices felt real. The story was well-plotted. The intention or purpose of the book was clearly delivered, which is about privacy and how your information online can be used against you or used in a kinda evil-ish plan by a certain types of individual. And that the cyberworld has its pros and cons so be aware of what you posting or doing online. Think before you click as they say.
My only problem is that the characters can easily found the answers and knew what should they do and it's kinda unbelievable that they can do it in a short span of time.
Read
December 7, 2014I called this science fiction, but it's really a YA thriller. If the reader can deal with a really shocking, graphically described suicide of a seventeen-year-old at the end of the first chapter, he or she should be sucked right into this story about Max, one-time high-school smart-aleck hacker, turned popular soccer player.
A presidential debate is being held at his high school for publicity purposes. At the very end, the wifi is hacked, and all the cell phones and other tech shows a shocking vid--Max recognizes his best friend, from whom he'd drifted apart. Max receives a text from Evan seconds before Evan's vid . . .
And within a short time, Evan is on the run as some extremely dangerous people chase him down. Government or conspiracy? He doesn't know, but he has to keep moving while he commandeers tech, constantly changes phones, and physically maneuvers up and down the California central valley. He hooks up with some fellow hackers, one of whom he finally meets in realspace, as they begin to uncover layers of secrecy . . .
Well, I'll stop there. In a fairly short book, Myers packs in thrilling chases and escapes, all kinds of high tech glitz, while exploring the connection between helpful social media and just how much of our private lives are being sucked into unknown programs to be used for unknown purposes. The whole concept of privacy is rapidly changing, whether we like it or not.
Moody, tense, with interesting kid characters, this fast-paced novel was unputdownable.
A presidential debate is being held at his high school for publicity purposes. At the very end, the wifi is hacked, and all the cell phones and other tech shows a shocking vid--Max recognizes his best friend, from whom he'd drifted apart. Max receives a text from Evan seconds before Evan's vid . . .
And within a short time, Evan is on the run as some extremely dangerous people chase him down. Government or conspiracy? He doesn't know, but he has to keep moving while he commandeers tech, constantly changes phones, and physically maneuvers up and down the California central valley. He hooks up with some fellow hackers, one of whom he finally meets in realspace, as they begin to uncover layers of secrecy . . .
Well, I'll stop there. In a fairly short book, Myers packs in thrilling chases and escapes, all kinds of high tech glitz, while exploring the connection between helpful social media and just how much of our private lives are being sucked into unknown programs to be used for unknown purposes. The whole concept of privacy is rapidly changing, whether we like it or not.
Moody, tense, with interesting kid characters, this fast-paced novel was unputdownable.
January 17, 2015
How is this not more popular?! Man, if I could be half as good with computers as these teens are...
February 7, 2015
I kept jumping between 4 and 3 stars with this one because, though the novel lacks finesse in some of the technical aspects of storytelling, this was a fast-paced, thrilling and very entertaining novel that went deep (at least, it seemed deep for a computer noob like me) into hacking and the cyberworld, or at least, deeper than other YA hacking novels have gone that have left me wanting for more. But towards the end of the novel, I found this effort to be simply alright. It was admittedly entertaining, but there was something missing from the novel, some sort of soul behind it that would make some sort of lingering impact on the reader. The characters never came alive for me, the climax of the novel was somewhat anti-climactic and resolved a bit too easily, and I felt like the story, particularly the conspiracy behind it all, was too convoluted and overreaching for its own good. Ultimately, a fast-paced and thrilling read that, while lacking in depth, delivers enough entertainment to make the experience worthwhile if not lasting.
September 15, 2014
REVIEW: THE SILENCE OF SIX by E. C. Myers
THE SILENCE OF SIX is a top-notch thriller and I devoured it in one setting, unable to set it aside. Although a YA novel, it's great for us "older" readers of thrillers and mystery as well. Literally non-stop action from the very beginning, an innocent protagonist "on the run," political-corporate misbehavior, megalomaniac villains, and a backstage "hero" with Asperger' s Syndrome--a brimming cauldron of thrills, chills, and sheer excitement; plus realistic character evolution. I definitely mark this as a rereader, and I'm anticipating the author's next release.
THE SILENCE OF SIX is a top-notch thriller and I devoured it in one setting, unable to set it aside. Although a YA novel, it's great for us "older" readers of thrillers and mystery as well. Literally non-stop action from the very beginning, an innocent protagonist "on the run," political-corporate misbehavior, megalomaniac villains, and a backstage "hero" with Asperger' s Syndrome--a brimming cauldron of thrills, chills, and sheer excitement; plus realistic character evolution. I definitely mark this as a rereader, and I'm anticipating the author's next release.
December 18, 2015
So it turns out this book isn't a standalone after all, it's a series? Gotta love it when authors do that! (Usually sarcasm but in this case I am abso-freaking-lutely excited for it and CANNOT WAIT to dig into more hacking adventures! Review to come, all you need to know is that if you love mystery and fast paced books then you're gonna love this as much as I did!
Want to read
October 10, 2014OH MY GOD!!! just watched the book trailer ... it looks EPIC... Gotta read this book!
January 20, 2015
(I got an ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
3.5 stars, because the book wasn't without faults. In fact, I'd probably give it 4 stars in other circumstances—that is, if I didn't know a lot to the online world, computers in general, and hackers. Some parts I found to be too "didactic", which would be good for a reader with a less technological background, yet tended to become annoying after a while (I really don't need to be taught what a DDoS attack is). However, this is a "it's not you, it's me" kind of fault, and I don't doubt it's precisely what would help another person enjoy the story more.
The events in the last third of the book also seemed to move just a tad bit too fast, making things somewhat confusing. I guess I would have liked to see more hide and seek there? Or a different approach? It's actually hard to tell. I just know that I went "huh?" in a couple of places.
I liked the main characters, the ways they went through to meeting, and how they generally thought of clever little tricks to avoid being noticed (how to trick facial recognition software, etc.). Perhaps their relationship was a little forced, but it didn't matter that much within the flow of the story.
The reflections the book leads to when it comes to social media and their impact on our lives, were interesting as well. So many people use their real names on such media, handing out very specific information, without realising that it could be exploited. Reminding this to younger readers (middle-schoolers, the "YA crowd"...) is certainly not a bad idea at all. Anyway, the use of social media, through the giant "Panjea", was both a reminder and a wink, and I appreciate that kind of things.
Overall, it was a light, fast-paced read that could be quite enjoyable for a lot of readers. Had I been "younger" (less experienced, with less computer/online knowledge than I have now), I'd probably have given it 4 stars.
3.5 stars, because the book wasn't without faults. In fact, I'd probably give it 4 stars in other circumstances—that is, if I didn't know a lot to the online world, computers in general, and hackers. Some parts I found to be too "didactic", which would be good for a reader with a less technological background, yet tended to become annoying after a while (I really don't need to be taught what a DDoS attack is). However, this is a "it's not you, it's me" kind of fault, and I don't doubt it's precisely what would help another person enjoy the story more.
The events in the last third of the book also seemed to move just a tad bit too fast, making things somewhat confusing. I guess I would have liked to see more hide and seek there? Or a different approach? It's actually hard to tell. I just know that I went "huh?" in a couple of places.
I liked the main characters, the ways they went through to meeting, and how they generally thought of clever little tricks to avoid being noticed (how to trick facial recognition software, etc.). Perhaps their relationship was a little forced, but it didn't matter that much within the flow of the story.
The reflections the book leads to when it comes to social media and their impact on our lives, were interesting as well. So many people use their real names on such media, handing out very specific information, without realising that it could be exploited. Reminding this to younger readers (middle-schoolers, the "YA crowd"...) is certainly not a bad idea at all. Anyway, the use of social media, through the giant "Panjea", was both a reminder and a wink, and I appreciate that kind of things.
Overall, it was a light, fast-paced read that could be quite enjoyable for a lot of readers. Had I been "younger" (less experienced, with less computer/online knowledge than I have now), I'd probably have given it 4 stars.
November 17, 2014
I LOVED this book. I read it in one sitting because I literally could not put it down. I think what grabbed me was how realistic the story really is. I felt like something like this could really happen in real life. Max is a very believable and like-able protagonist, and I was on the edge of my seat rooting for him all the way through.
This review will be shorter than normal, because I went into this not knowing anything more than what the Goodreads synopsis says, and I think that was the best way. Going into it without any preconceived ideas allowed me to be swept up and shocked, and it was awesome! I love the idea of “hacktivists” - hackers who hack for a cause or good purpose; they help instead of hurt. This is how I would classify Max and Evan, as well as most of the other hackers in the story.
I rate this story as a solid 4.5 stars and I wish I could explain to you all just how much I am into this book. If you’re like me and can’t get enough, I have lots of good news! Author E.C. Myers has said he is working on a sequel (YAY!), and there is a short story called “SOS” (a prequel to The Silence of Six) free on Wattpad. You can also watch the thrilling book trailer here, as well as read Courtney’s (Max’s girlfriend) blog, Full Cort Press, here.
All I have left to say is read it, read it, read it, read it!!
This review will be shorter than normal, because I went into this not knowing anything more than what the Goodreads synopsis says, and I think that was the best way. Going into it without any preconceived ideas allowed me to be swept up and shocked, and it was awesome! I love the idea of “hacktivists” - hackers who hack for a cause or good purpose; they help instead of hurt. This is how I would classify Max and Evan, as well as most of the other hackers in the story.
I rate this story as a solid 4.5 stars and I wish I could explain to you all just how much I am into this book. If you’re like me and can’t get enough, I have lots of good news! Author E.C. Myers has said he is working on a sequel (YAY!), and there is a short story called “SOS” (a prequel to The Silence of Six) free on Wattpad. You can also watch the thrilling book trailer here, as well as read Courtney’s (Max’s girlfriend) blog, Full Cort Press, here.
All I have left to say is read it, read it, read it, read it!!
January 27, 2016
"If you know what someone does every day, you have a good shot at predicting what they're going to do in the future, maybe even before they do. And if you know that, maybe you can manipulate them into doing something else."
Con tanto hype y un book trailer tan increíble me esperaba algo mucho más wow. De todas formas, eso no hizo que no lo disfrutara. La primera mitad se me hizo muy fácil de leer y me atrapó bastante, mientras que la segunda un poquito más densa. Sin embargo, es una historia que se lee muy rápido y, si bien no conozco lo suficiente sobre el lenguaje informático que se utiliza, creo que es bastante acertado y detallado.
Pensé que este libro era auto-conclusivo pero, por lo que veo, ya tiene planeada una secuela. No creo que sea tan necesaria, ya que el final de este cierra bastante las cosas, pero quizá más adelante me interese leerla también.
November 7, 2014
I'm kind of disappointed.
I truly don't understand all the hype about this book. Did I miss something? It was okay, but it wasn't the "page-turning thriller" I was expecting. The whole story is technical talk, making it hard to follow. The plot is a decent idea, but I don't think it was executed well at all. I still don't understand what completely happened.
This boo kind of reminded me of Ready Player One - however, I ADORED Ready Player One and honestly, I would have rather reread that book than pushed through this story.
This sucks. I was really excited to read this and it just fell flat.
I truly don't understand all the hype about this book. Did I miss something? It was okay, but it wasn't the "page-turning thriller" I was expecting. The whole story is technical talk, making it hard to follow. The plot is a decent idea, but I don't think it was executed well at all. I still don't understand what completely happened.
This boo kind of reminded me of Ready Player One - however, I ADORED Ready Player One and honestly, I would have rather reread that book than pushed through this story.
This sucks. I was really excited to read this and it just fell flat.
May 19, 2018
LOVE IT!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!
September 30, 2014
Overall this book was a thoroughly good adventure / mystery that was fast paced and intriguing throughout. The story starts with out lead character losing his friend in mysterious circumstances. Through the course of the book Max follows a number of clues left by his friend Evan in order to unravel the mystery of Evan's death and life.
The book features around the topic of computers and computer hacking. There are times that the computer language can become very in-depth which I loved as a fellow geek but I was left wondering whether this would be too much for a technophobe. However, there is enough adventure and simple explanation I believe to keep anyone hooked.
Although this book has a quiet mid section typical to most books in this genre it is not as long as some novels. Overall this is an extremely engaging book that I was hooked on from the first page.
The book features around the topic of computers and computer hacking. There are times that the computer language can become very in-depth which I loved as a fellow geek but I was left wondering whether this would be too much for a technophobe. However, there is enough adventure and simple explanation I believe to keep anyone hooked.
Although this book has a quiet mid section typical to most books in this genre it is not as long as some novels. Overall this is an extremely engaging book that I was hooked on from the first page.
October 14, 2014
Myers has crafted an intense young adult book that's frightening in its plausibility. It's also the most realistic fictional account I've read of hackers and hacking. He's done his research, and the content rings true (Hollywood, take note, please). Max is a good kid, loyal to his family and friends, and the type of protagonist you want to cheer for. The characters are nuanced and complicated, hackers included. It's a very personal thriller in terms of the stakes, but it also has a lot of major stuff going on in the background: the power of the internet, the prevalence of social media and how it can be abused, and the role of the government and politics. Great stuff. I raced through the book in a day.
June 14, 2015
The Silence of the Six has a cool premise and engaging characters but it felt so technical at times that I felt like was reading a foreign language.
What's odd - is that other reviewers that are more tech/hacker savvy than I feel it wasn't technical enough and talked down to readers. So I'm not sure where that leaves me. lol
It wasn't bad and I read it in a day but I can't say I was overly interested in how it all turned out either. So many hacker names and jargon - it all became a blur after a while.
This book reads as a stand alone but also leaves a door open to a possible series with Max & Penny. Despite not being wowed by this book I would give the next one a try if it ever happens.
What's odd - is that other reviewers that are more tech/hacker savvy than I feel it wasn't technical enough and talked down to readers. So I'm not sure where that leaves me. lol
It wasn't bad and I read it in a day but I can't say I was overly interested in how it all turned out either. So many hacker names and jargon - it all became a blur after a while.
This book reads as a stand alone but also leaves a door open to a possible series with Max & Penny. Despite not being wowed by this book I would give the next one a try if it ever happens.
September 3, 2015
4.5*
I have a bit of a weakness when it comes to computer/hacker stories. I absolutely love Person of Interest and sometimes I wish my computer skills (and my patience level) would be bad ass enough to go underground and pull down sites to make a point or uncovering secure info from a super secret government *kidding of course.. well sort off* ..
I had previously been fooled when I picked up Cipher, expecting a hacker heroin only to be faced with nill action and a case of bad instalove romance.
So when I read the summary of The Silence of Six I was immediately intrigued. Could it be? A book which might actually make true on the promise of hacker action, a believable conspiracy, skirting the edge of today's issues faced regarding transparency and privacy as well as deliver on credibility but keeping it interesting enough to not put you to sleep?
I think The Silence of Six is the perfect mix of all of the above.
It starts with Max who is attending an election conference in his auditorium when through the questions a video comes through of a vigilante asking a chilling question 'What is the Silence of Six and what are you going to do about it' then committing suicide at the end. During the conference Max uncovers it is actually his best friend Evan in the video, whom he has neglected the last year in an effort to distance himself from the hacker underworld and its activities they both where dabbling in. And then the stream is prevented from leaking out.
- Dramatis Personai passed itself off as a machine mind, an artificial intelligence with a snarky teenage personality, but it was definitely a group of talented geeks. Geeks just like Evan.
Sensing there is more to this then his friend having gone of the deep end, Max decides to investigate and comes across a bread crumb trail leading him to the one person Evan has entrusted him to help uncover the truth, Penny.
- Whatever those guys wanted him for, he was now definitely a criminal. He'd just taken some innocent guy's laptop. And his pen.
Both Max and Penny are great characters. Max is a quick thinker and has awesome hacking skills but he also has flaws and insecurities he can admit to making him very easy to identify with. Penny on the other hand is a little paranoid but it's in order to protect her family, which I found admirable. Even if it meant her playing the hard ass.
- "Why is it a surprise that I'm a girl? Did I seem particularly masculine online?" "No, but... you didn't seem particularly feminine," Max said. "What does that even mean?" He massaged the corners of his eyes. "I don't know. Forget it." "You didn't seem particularly sexist online, but here we are."
The effort put into the writing and the trust developing between the two main characters can easily be spotted. It is realistic, has some truly funny moments and even though the story is certainly fast paced, it does give you the necessary background info to not get lost. Pieces start falling into place just egging you on to read more.
- "Maybe you hit Delete by accident?" Penny asked. "I'm going to pretend you didn't just suggest that," Max said.
- He arranged the sequence in different patterns, sorting them by length, built intricate matrices until it resembled a cracked-out game of Scrabble.
If I had to give any critique, it would be that the ending was not the massive bang I was kind of hoping for and that there are no sequels (yet). It leaves a slim window open and I am hoping the author will decide to delve into this in the future.
There is however a prequel called SOS (a smart reference to Silence of Six), which tells the story of Evan in the short days before his hack into the election conference. It's a great way to get deeper into the motivation behind Eva's actions and enjoy more of E.C. Myers work.
Would I recommend it?
Hell yeah! Finally a book I can gush and recommend to the wider populace, in fact I managed to get my male colleague to pick it up already ;)
For anyone that likes fast paced action, computers, conspiracy and other nerdy stuff!
November 26, 2014
The Review: http://thefictionalhangout.blogspot.c...
WHAT IS THE SILENCE OF THE SIX, AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
"These are the last words uttered by 17-year-old Max Stein’s best friend, Evan: Just moments after hacking into the live-streaming Presidential debate at their high school, he kills himself.
Haunted by the image of Evan’s death, Max’s entire world turns upside down as he suddenly finds himself the target of a corporate-government witch-hunt. Fearing for his life and fighting to prove his own innocence, Max goes on the run with no one to trust and too many unanswered questions.
Max must dust off his own hacking skills and maneuver the dangerous labyrinth of underground hacktivist networks, ever-shifting alliances, and virtual identities — all while hoping to find the truth behind the “Silence of Six” before it’s too late."
I’ve been interested in reading something from E.C. Myers ever since I heard about his Fair Coin novel when it was initially released. However, The Silence of the Six is actually the first time I’ve got the chance to read something by the author, and as it turned out, it didn’t disappoint, delivering a fantastic young adult novel that makes for a refreshing break from all the no-hope, dark, frequent love-triangle featuring dystopian dramas that young adult has been filled with ever since The Hunger Games was released. It’s similar to that of Kim Curran’s awesome Glaze, another young adult novel which I can highly recommend, and has several things going for it, and on top of the similarities with Glaze, I also couldn’t help be reminded of the awesome Person of Interest whilst I was reading the book, even if obviously they are too very different things. So it’s always a good sign when the novel not only can be comparable with one of my favourite young adult reads of this year, but also my favourite TV Series that’s currently on air.
The Silence of the Six explores a fascinating complex. Max Stein, a seventeen year old former hacker turned one of the most popular kids in school, complete a girlfriend named Courtney, finds his life turned upside down when his best friend Evan kills himself just moments after hacking into the live-streaming Presidential debate at their local high school. It isn’t long before he finds himself the target of the corporate-government, and with things looking increasingly desperate, he’s found himself constantly pushed into a corner with allies decreasing at every passing second.
The characters themselves are great, well developed and constantly grow over the course of the novel. Max gets the most notable development as the main character, but also there’s a good role for Courtney among other characters. It handles the situation realistically and really is a good book for making you think about what goes on behind the scenes, with the novel exploring the world of hackers which is something that works both in the novel’s favour and against it.
For example, someone who isn’t that big on advanced computer technology it can be a lot to stomach the details. Despite this though, the book should provide a very entertaining read, with plenty of stuff going on from start to finish. It might not quite be everyone’s cup of tea, but it was something that I really ended up loving. It got better and better as things progressed and by the end of the novel I was struggling to put it down.
The Silence of the Six is a pretty brilliant read and if you like good, mystery/thriller young adult novels set in a modern day setting then you’ll certainly get a kick out of E.C. Myer’s latest. Even if you’re not necessarily an avid reader of young adult, if stuff like Person of Interest (like I’ve already mentioned) and Watch Dogs is your sort of thing then The Silence of the Six should be right up your street. Recommended.
VERDICT: 8.5/10
WHAT IS THE SILENCE OF THE SIX, AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
"These are the last words uttered by 17-year-old Max Stein’s best friend, Evan: Just moments after hacking into the live-streaming Presidential debate at their high school, he kills himself.
Haunted by the image of Evan’s death, Max’s entire world turns upside down as he suddenly finds himself the target of a corporate-government witch-hunt. Fearing for his life and fighting to prove his own innocence, Max goes on the run with no one to trust and too many unanswered questions.
Max must dust off his own hacking skills and maneuver the dangerous labyrinth of underground hacktivist networks, ever-shifting alliances, and virtual identities — all while hoping to find the truth behind the “Silence of Six” before it’s too late."
I’ve been interested in reading something from E.C. Myers ever since I heard about his Fair Coin novel when it was initially released. However, The Silence of the Six is actually the first time I’ve got the chance to read something by the author, and as it turned out, it didn’t disappoint, delivering a fantastic young adult novel that makes for a refreshing break from all the no-hope, dark, frequent love-triangle featuring dystopian dramas that young adult has been filled with ever since The Hunger Games was released. It’s similar to that of Kim Curran’s awesome Glaze, another young adult novel which I can highly recommend, and has several things going for it, and on top of the similarities with Glaze, I also couldn’t help be reminded of the awesome Person of Interest whilst I was reading the book, even if obviously they are too very different things. So it’s always a good sign when the novel not only can be comparable with one of my favourite young adult reads of this year, but also my favourite TV Series that’s currently on air.
The Silence of the Six explores a fascinating complex. Max Stein, a seventeen year old former hacker turned one of the most popular kids in school, complete a girlfriend named Courtney, finds his life turned upside down when his best friend Evan kills himself just moments after hacking into the live-streaming Presidential debate at their local high school. It isn’t long before he finds himself the target of the corporate-government, and with things looking increasingly desperate, he’s found himself constantly pushed into a corner with allies decreasing at every passing second.
The characters themselves are great, well developed and constantly grow over the course of the novel. Max gets the most notable development as the main character, but also there’s a good role for Courtney among other characters. It handles the situation realistically and really is a good book for making you think about what goes on behind the scenes, with the novel exploring the world of hackers which is something that works both in the novel’s favour and against it.
For example, someone who isn’t that big on advanced computer technology it can be a lot to stomach the details. Despite this though, the book should provide a very entertaining read, with plenty of stuff going on from start to finish. It might not quite be everyone’s cup of tea, but it was something that I really ended up loving. It got better and better as things progressed and by the end of the novel I was struggling to put it down.
The Silence of the Six is a pretty brilliant read and if you like good, mystery/thriller young adult novels set in a modern day setting then you’ll certainly get a kick out of E.C. Myer’s latest. Even if you’re not necessarily an avid reader of young adult, if stuff like Person of Interest (like I’ve already mentioned) and Watch Dogs is your sort of thing then The Silence of the Six should be right up your street. Recommended.
VERDICT: 8.5/10
June 7, 2017
Oh boy, how much I loved this book. I do appreciate poetic writhing, I do enjoy well crafted fantasy world, but there's nothing like a geeky, computer-focused book for me. This is my genre. I feel at home here. Ready Player One, Armada, The Martian - those are few of my favourite book and I can proudly say that The Silence of Six is joining them.
It's fast to get into. The author doesn't waste any time with uselessly long introduction and the first chapter already contains the main plot twist. It throws us right into the action-packed, mind-blowing adventures of a 17-year-old hacker named Max. But you already know that if you've read the synopsis.
I've always been fascinated by hacking, though I don't have neither skills nor the patience to do anything more than make a PowerPoint presentation, let's leave alone anything more complex. But I do like to read stories articles about hackers and the Deep Web (quite disturbing, I'm not going to lie), so when I saw this book, I could not resist. It was literally calling out to me, begging me to buy it.
What I was afraid of, was the suicide of the protagonist's best friend. Not even the death itself as much as the effect it could have had on Max. I've read too many 'close-person-dying' books not to be paranoid. In situations like this, the main character mostly decides that the death of the given person was entirely their fault and whines about it half of the book. Max didn't, thank god. He wasn't oblivious to the fact the he may have helped his friend if he had been around more, but he didn't just sit around blaming himself. He took the matters into his own hands and did everything he could to make Evan's sacrifice worth it. That's what I probably like the most, the devotion and all
I'm often told that I'm an awful cynic and that I lack any sense of appreciation for romance, which is very true, I suppose. Therefore, I didn't mind the very predictable romance this book offers (if you can even call it that) in the least. This isn't supposed to focus on the romance, after all. If it was, I'd probably burn it in the fires of hell.
So... What is the silence of six and what are you going to do about it? I'll tell you what - you are going to buy it and read the hell out of it.
It's fast to get into. The author doesn't waste any time with uselessly long introduction and the first chapter already contains the main plot twist. It throws us right into the action-packed, mind-blowing adventures of a 17-year-old hacker named Max. But you already know that if you've read the synopsis.
I've always been fascinated by hacking, though I don't have neither skills nor the patience to do anything more than make a PowerPoint presentation, let's leave alone anything more complex. But I do like to read stories articles about hackers and the Deep Web (quite disturbing, I'm not going to lie), so when I saw this book, I could not resist. It was literally calling out to me, begging me to buy it.
What I was afraid of, was the suicide of the protagonist's best friend. Not even the death itself as much as the effect it could have had on Max. I've read too many 'close-person-dying' books not to be paranoid. In situations like this, the main character mostly decides that the death of the given person was entirely their fault and whines about it half of the book. Max didn't, thank god. He wasn't oblivious to the fact the he may have helped his friend if he had been around more, but he didn't just sit around blaming himself. He took the matters into his own hands and did everything he could to make Evan's sacrifice worth it. That's what I probably like the most, the devotion and all
I'm often told that I'm an awful cynic and that I lack any sense of appreciation for romance, which is very true, I suppose. Therefore, I didn't mind the very predictable romance this book offers (if you can even call it that) in the least. This isn't supposed to focus on the romance, after all. If it was, I'd probably burn it in the fires of hell.
So... What is the silence of six and what are you going to do about it? I'll tell you what - you are going to buy it and read the hell out of it.
November 5, 2014
Cory Doctorow, in a lot of ways, has the market cornered on sort of technopunk/cybersecurity issues tales, so seeing someone else enter the space and give things a shot is welcome no matter what. That EC Myers, who wrote the solid Fair Coin series, the one who made the jump is even better. That the book is actually a really solid, suspenseful tale? Further icing on the cake.
The story starts with a hack into a political debate and an on-screen video chat suicide. With a question about "the silence of six" and a reactionary government in place, a former hacker teen is dragged back into the culture to try and solve the issue as to why his friend offed himself and what the government is hiding.
There's going to be unavoidable comparisons to Doctorow's Little Brother, and they're fairly well deserved on a whole, as they are, at its basis, about the era of privacy in a world where it's disappearing fast. Where Doctorow's books invariably devolve into advocacy, however, Myers keeps it simple by presenting the sorts of apps and programs and activities a privacy-minded person would use as simple plot points rather than paranoia. It works well as it allows the story to remain just that even when more savvy readers might know where things are headed.
The downside? The pace is almost too breakneck for its own good at times, meaning the slower points feel really draggy in comparison. There's the occasional issue of the government agents both being far too competent and bumbling all at once, and I can't say the ending felt all that realistic, but in what is a book that celebrates paranoia a bit, it works in the setting.
Overall, if you're looking for lighter fare that hits upon a lot of notes we don't see too often in YA or otherwise, this one is worth a look. Certainly one of the better reads in the genre as of late.
The story starts with a hack into a political debate and an on-screen video chat suicide. With a question about "the silence of six" and a reactionary government in place, a former hacker teen is dragged back into the culture to try and solve the issue as to why his friend offed himself and what the government is hiding.
There's going to be unavoidable comparisons to Doctorow's Little Brother, and they're fairly well deserved on a whole, as they are, at its basis, about the era of privacy in a world where it's disappearing fast. Where Doctorow's books invariably devolve into advocacy, however, Myers keeps it simple by presenting the sorts of apps and programs and activities a privacy-minded person would use as simple plot points rather than paranoia. It works well as it allows the story to remain just that even when more savvy readers might know where things are headed.
The downside? The pace is almost too breakneck for its own good at times, meaning the slower points feel really draggy in comparison. There's the occasional issue of the government agents both being far too competent and bumbling all at once, and I can't say the ending felt all that realistic, but in what is a book that celebrates paranoia a bit, it works in the setting.
Overall, if you're looking for lighter fare that hits upon a lot of notes we don't see too often in YA or otherwise, this one is worth a look. Certainly one of the better reads in the genre as of late.
October 10, 2014
I received an ebook copy of this from Netgalley.
This is a thrilling change of pace from the author of the award-winning novel, "Fair Coin".
Max Stein is a former hacker who is now devoted to his high school soccer team and his new girlfriend, Courtney, a reporter for the school newspaper and a blogger. During a Presidential debate being held in his high school, the video feed of questions for the candidates is hacked and the hacker asks the candidates "What is the Silence Of Six and what are you going to do about it?" He then commits suicide. Max recognizes the mysterious STOP is his best friend Evan.
What follows is a great little suspense tale as Max is dragged back into the world of hackers both to find out what his friend knew and why he would kill himself. Max is also now wanted by the FBI in relation to Evan's death.
But he soon discovers there is far more to what is going on and his own life is in danger from sources other than the FBI. Someone in his former hacking community may be in league with the FBI or worse.
Well drawn characters and realistic situations push this above the average teen thriller. Highly recommended.
This is a thrilling change of pace from the author of the award-winning novel, "Fair Coin".
Max Stein is a former hacker who is now devoted to his high school soccer team and his new girlfriend, Courtney, a reporter for the school newspaper and a blogger. During a Presidential debate being held in his high school, the video feed of questions for the candidates is hacked and the hacker asks the candidates "What is the Silence Of Six and what are you going to do about it?" He then commits suicide. Max recognizes the mysterious STOP is his best friend Evan.
What follows is a great little suspense tale as Max is dragged back into the world of hackers both to find out what his friend knew and why he would kill himself. Max is also now wanted by the FBI in relation to Evan's death.
But he soon discovers there is far more to what is going on and his own life is in danger from sources other than the FBI. Someone in his former hacking community may be in league with the FBI or worse.
Well drawn characters and realistic situations push this above the average teen thriller. Highly recommended.
March 6, 2015
"The Silence of Six", where do I even start? I have fallen in love with this book! You have murders, hackers, ciphers, conspiracies, what is not to love? Maxwell Stien is a protagonist you really cheer for, the other characters are well rounded and very well written. Also, character development is very clear, you see the characters maturing as the story unfolds.
Myers has created a thrilling, and very engaging, young adult book - It never got boring for me, and I didn't find myself skipping anything! As a SysAdmin, I loved that the topic of computers is written in a plausible manner. I wish Hollywood would stop and take a hint from Mr. Myers.
This is a brilliant book, it doesn't just deal with the main plot, but you are left thinking about the sub-plot that makes you think deeply about the power of the internet, how much of our privacy is compromised through social media, and how much of our personal information can be used and abused - with and without our consent!
Brilliant read, definitely recommended for those who want a good thriller/mystery book.
*Copy received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Myers has created a thrilling, and very engaging, young adult book - It never got boring for me, and I didn't find myself skipping anything! As a SysAdmin, I loved that the topic of computers is written in a plausible manner. I wish Hollywood would stop and take a hint from Mr. Myers.
This is a brilliant book, it doesn't just deal with the main plot, but you are left thinking about the sub-plot that makes you think deeply about the power of the internet, how much of our privacy is compromised through social media, and how much of our personal information can be used and abused - with and without our consent!
Brilliant read, definitely recommended for those who want a good thriller/mystery book.
*Copy received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
February 10, 2015
This was a great concept, but I felt like the pacing was off. They mystery of The Silence of Six was overshadowed by just running away from the FBI. The mystery wasn't paced well and a lot of the puzzles were easily solved by Max. His greatest challenge was just not being caught, not in solving any computer problems.
What I really didn't like was how heavy handed the author got with the whole net neutrality political argument. The book was really hitting you over the head with GOVERNMENT SPYING BAD, INTERNET ANONYMITY GOOD. I get this is a book for teen who may not have ever considered these concepts before, but geez have a little subtlety please. It did get preachy at times which I didn't appreciate and I doubt teen readers will either. I get what it was trying to do, but I don't think it was fully effective.
Overall though I did enjoy The Silence of Six. It had an interesting concept with some great action scenes. However the more sophisticated political themes didn't quite hit the mark.
What I really didn't like was how heavy handed the author got with the whole net neutrality political argument. The book was really hitting you over the head with GOVERNMENT SPYING BAD, INTERNET ANONYMITY GOOD. I get this is a book for teen who may not have ever considered these concepts before, but geez have a little subtlety please. It did get preachy at times which I didn't appreciate and I doubt teen readers will either. I get what it was trying to do, but I don't think it was fully effective.
Overall though I did enjoy The Silence of Six. It had an interesting concept with some great action scenes. However the more sophisticated political themes didn't quite hit the mark.
November 11, 2014
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion.
Wowza this book was amazing in so many ways.
It's very geeky and full of hacking situations.
I really liked the fact that the main character was male.
So much mystery and suspense.
You go on a journey with Max to solve the crimes and whatever is going on.
For if you lost a best friend that started off an investigation, you need to help them finish it.
If you really like computer games, devices or I.T in general, then you will enjoy this.
If you have read Ready Player One then you will also like this.
It deserves the hype it gets.
The Silence of Six is a puzzle waiting to be solved. Dive into this book to help fit all the pieces together, and get the answers you deserve to know :)
Video review
I received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion.
Wowza this book was amazing in so many ways.
It's very geeky and full of hacking situations.
I really liked the fact that the main character was male.
So much mystery and suspense.
You go on a journey with Max to solve the crimes and whatever is going on.
For if you lost a best friend that started off an investigation, you need to help them finish it.
If you really like computer games, devices or I.T in general, then you will enjoy this.
If you have read Ready Player One then you will also like this.
It deserves the hype it gets.
The Silence of Six is a puzzle waiting to be solved. Dive into this book to help fit all the pieces together, and get the answers you deserve to know :)
Video review
November 10, 2014
The Silence of Six is a hacker thriller. It moves at a nice pace but, for a hacker story it's really light on technobabble which will make it more accessible to non-technical readers but highly technical readers will find it lacking. Full Disclosure: I'm a computer programmer. Warning to politically sensitive readers: If you think Edward Snowden is a hero, this book is for you. If you think Edward Snowden is a criminal who should be locked away, then you might find this book offensive. If you don’t know who Edward Snowden is, then may I suggest a nice book by Doctor Seuss?
http://youtu.be/2AIeJ38KdM0
http://youtu.be/2AIeJ38KdM0
March 31, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was fast paced and opened my eyes to a new side of technology, hacking. The technology aspect seemed well researched and intriguing. Also, the idea that a social media site could gain so much power and information was very plausible and believable. The one part that I had an issue with was Max's father. For a parent he seemed a little too comfortable with letting Max go on the run and get involved with such illegal activities but this didn't take away from the story for me. With murder, hacking, humorous characters, and a lot of mystery this book was a great read!
June 10, 2017
After first reading that synopsis above, this book had me hooked. The whole world of hackers intrigues me and makes me a little scared to be honest. It is amazing how much people can do with just a computer at their finger tips. What really hooked me was the book trailer that I have linked below. Usually book trailers are, and excuse my language here, EXTREME SHIT. But this one was so intense and it immediately drew me so much that I needed to get my hands on this (more...)
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