John Brunner
Del Rey, Reissue edition (October 12, 1984)
ISBN 0-345-32431-5
1975
Download PDF (1.41Mb) (You need to be registered on forum)Robert Slade: ... The "tapeworm", as it is referred to in the book, comes in very close to the end. It is a creation of the hero (a computer genius, naturally) used as a tool to end the secrecy and oppression of the ruling elite. The world of the "Shockwave Rider" (the United States of the not very distant future) has a universal information network. Audio, video and data channels are all tied together, and anyone can request information about anything from any terminal. The elite, of course, get the information, the masses get sanitized info and propaganda.