Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
G.P. Putnam's Sons (1996), Edition: Reprint, 352 pages
Description
Fiction. Thriller. HTML: John Sandford, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Prey novels gives suspense an ingenious twist as he takes readers into the mind games of two irresistible con artists plotting the perfect sting... Kidd is a computer whiz, artist, and professional criminal. LuEllen is his lover, and his favorite partner in crime. Their playing field in on the cutting edge of high-tech corporate warfare. This time they've been hired by a defense industry corporation to destroy its business rival through computer sabotage. If Kidd and LuEllen can pull it off, they'll reap millions. It's the sting of a lifetime. One false move and it's a lifetime sentence. As the takedown unfolds, everything goes according to plan. But their string of successes turns into a noose when the ultimate con artists find themselves on the wrong end of the ultimate con....… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member readafew
Kidd an artist and LuEllen the golfer are close freinds that have a penchant for trouble. Kidd is offered a job, to good to pass up. Kidd's other profession is computer programmer/hacker. He is hired to ruin a companies competitor.
He's playing in the big leagues and any mistake could be the last
He's playing in the big leagues and any mistake could be the last
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one Kidd ever makes. With everyone playing for keeps has he backed the right horse? Show Less
LibraryThing member UnderMyAppleTree
This is the first book in the Kidd series. It was written in the late 1980's and the technology is a bit dated unless you can remember when 2400 baud modems were cutting edge. Nevertheless, it's a good story and I enjoyed it anyway.
I didn't find the the Kidd novels until the mid-2000's. So I
I didn't find the the Kidd novels until the mid-2000's. So I
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pretended I was back in the 80's and the book was great! Show Less
LibraryThing member claude_lambert
The fool's run is the first in a series of Sandford's books involved with computer hacking and industrial spying. The series comprises The Fool's Run, The Empress File, The Devil's Code, The Hanged Man's Song.
Because the Devil's fool is old: it was written in 1989 - some of the technology is old
The two protagonists, a hacker and a thief, are offered money to stop the progress of an airplane company which has stolen secrets from another one. But has it? They do the dirty work, they think it is justified, then they found themselves in danger for their lives.
It testifies to the talent of Sandford that you find yourself rooting for the hacker and the thief!
This has a lighter tone than the Prey series, it is a welcome change: like a real recreation. And the next book is even better.
Because the Devil's fool is old: it was written in 1989 - some of the technology is old
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too. If you don't know anything about computers, it does not hurt, and if you know more, it is a memory trip: I have not seen anybody complain about that. In fact the book has aged well. The two protagonists, a hacker and a thief, are offered money to stop the progress of an airplane company which has stolen secrets from another one. But has it? They do the dirty work, they think it is justified, then they found themselves in danger for their lives.
It testifies to the talent of Sandford that you find yourself rooting for the hacker and the thief!
This has a lighter tone than the Prey series, it is a welcome change: like a real recreation. And the next book is even better.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Anheiser has a simple proposition for Kidd: take down a corporate competitor by any means necessary. The offer comes with a pile of cash if Kidd's willing. It's a lot of cash. But it's a new and dangerous territory Kidd's charting, and greed is a dangerous thing.
Solid, enjoyable, and still fun to
Solid, enjoyable, and still fun to
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read even if the technology's out of date at this point. Show Less
LibraryThing member rocketjk
This is the first entry in John Sanford's "Kidd Novels" series, and my first John Sanford novel of any kind, as well. I enjoyed it. It is a thriller about industrial computer crime. As the book was written back in the late 80s, so we still in the relatively early days of computer networks, and it
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is fun to be reminded of those times. The characters are taking part in an elaborate computer fraud, but they often have to go looking for phone booths. Not that this is a very deep novel, of course, but it was interesting to get a backwards look at that point in time, the nexus between the old world and the new in many ways. Basically, though, just some good fun reading. I'll probably get to the next two books in this series sooner or later. Show Less
LibraryThing member WhitmelB
Up to Sanford's best even though writing under a nom de plume. Computer hacking in the early days of home computers and what could be done then.
LibraryThing member Kaethe
Hackers, the tarot, a Sneakers-sort-of plot. It all makes for an entertaining story.
LibraryThing member Tatoosh
Long-time readers of John Sandford's Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers series may not be aware that Sandford actually introduced Davenport and another character originally known only as Kidd within a couple of months of each other. Fool's Run, the first Kidd novel, and Rules of Prey, the first
My interest in the Kidd series has gradually increased as I enjoyed the brief appearances of Kidd in several books in the Davenport series. Then Kidd and his wife Luellen appeared prominently in Silken Prey. That further increased my interest in the characters to the point that I decided to dip back in time and read the four-book Kidd series.
It is hard to compare Fool's Run, written 27 years ago, to the contemporary novels featuring Davenport and Flowers. It is not surprising that in this first offering Kidd appears to be a somewhat less well-developed character than Davenport and Flowers. The plot of Fool's Run is rather slow moving and the book lacks the secondary characters that enrich the Davenport (e.g., Flowers, Shrake, Jenkins, and Letty Davenport), and Flowers (e.g., Johnson Johnson and Davenport's supporting cast) series.
Kidd is an expert computer hacker who is willing to engage in illegal activities if the price is right and the job does not offend his moral sensitivities. His persona as a computer hacker offers numerous possibilities but the problem with such characters is the tendency of authors to ascribe magical powers to them. This is especially true of Bobby, an even more accomplished hacker that Kidd consults for critical information, and Dillon, a mysterious hacker who works for the firm that hires Kidd. Bobby is so accomplished, we are told, that even the NSA has failed to discover his identity. Dillon seems similarly accomplished although his character is scarcely developed. Sandford makes no effort to describe how they o obtain the information they provide nor how they gain entre to the numerous supposedly secure computer systems they access.
After a meeting with a mysterious billionaire, his beautiful, sexy assistant, and Dillon, Kidd agrees to take on a project that involves burglary and industrial espionage. Kidd recruits LuEllen (Luellen in the Davenport novels), an expert burglar, and Dace, a former reporter with superior skills at researching print media and creating a public relations campaign. The task and Kidd's approach to the problem are mildly entertaining, but achieving the goal brings on an unexpected turn of events. His employers have misrepresented themselves and suddenly the lives of Kidd, LuEllen and Dace are in danger.
Despite this interesting plot, several weaknesses are apparent. Perhaps most disappointing is the failure to develop the LuEllen character. Kidd recruited her as an expert burglar but Sandford depicts her as having a limited skill set. Her primary approach is to take a wrecking bar and break in the door. LuEllen relies on cocaine to prepare herself for each burglary and to handle her post-burglary emotions. Personally, she comes across as unpolished and possibly uneducated when compared to Kidd, who is depicted as intelligent, organized, and rational. The two do not appear to be professionally compatible.
Kidd's frequent use of Tarot cards is another plot device that does not work for me. It added nothing to the plot and it interfered with the flow of the story. Especially at the end of the book when Kidd is supposedly developing a strategy to escape from the conundrum in which he is ensnared, his frequent consultation of Tarot cards come across as boring, inconsequential filler.
In closing I should mention that the depiction of LuEllen in Fool's Run and Luellen in Silken Prey are completely different. The latter plans a complicated burglary carefully and demonstrates great resourcefulness when an unexpected interruption occurs. Perhaps there will be growth in the LuEllen character in the remaining books in the Kidd series.
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Davenport novel both appeared in 1989.My interest in the Kidd series has gradually increased as I enjoyed the brief appearances of Kidd in several books in the Davenport series. Then Kidd and his wife Luellen appeared prominently in Silken Prey. That further increased my interest in the characters to the point that I decided to dip back in time and read the four-book Kidd series.
It is hard to compare Fool's Run, written 27 years ago, to the contemporary novels featuring Davenport and Flowers. It is not surprising that in this first offering Kidd appears to be a somewhat less well-developed character than Davenport and Flowers. The plot of Fool's Run is rather slow moving and the book lacks the secondary characters that enrich the Davenport (e.g., Flowers, Shrake, Jenkins, and Letty Davenport), and Flowers (e.g., Johnson Johnson and Davenport's supporting cast) series.
Kidd is an expert computer hacker who is willing to engage in illegal activities if the price is right and the job does not offend his moral sensitivities. His persona as a computer hacker offers numerous possibilities but the problem with such characters is the tendency of authors to ascribe magical powers to them. This is especially true of Bobby, an even more accomplished hacker that Kidd consults for critical information, and Dillon, a mysterious hacker who works for the firm that hires Kidd. Bobby is so accomplished, we are told, that even the NSA has failed to discover his identity. Dillon seems similarly accomplished although his character is scarcely developed. Sandford makes no effort to describe how they o obtain the information they provide nor how they gain entre to the numerous supposedly secure computer systems they access.
After a meeting with a mysterious billionaire, his beautiful, sexy assistant, and Dillon, Kidd agrees to take on a project that involves burglary and industrial espionage. Kidd recruits LuEllen (Luellen in the Davenport novels), an expert burglar, and Dace, a former reporter with superior skills at researching print media and creating a public relations campaign. The task and Kidd's approach to the problem are mildly entertaining, but achieving the goal brings on an unexpected turn of events. His employers have misrepresented themselves and suddenly the lives of Kidd, LuEllen and Dace are in danger.
Despite this interesting plot, several weaknesses are apparent. Perhaps most disappointing is the failure to develop the LuEllen character. Kidd recruited her as an expert burglar but Sandford depicts her as having a limited skill set. Her primary approach is to take a wrecking bar and break in the door. LuEllen relies on cocaine to prepare herself for each burglary and to handle her post-burglary emotions. Personally, she comes across as unpolished and possibly uneducated when compared to Kidd, who is depicted as intelligent, organized, and rational. The two do not appear to be professionally compatible.
Kidd's frequent use of Tarot cards is another plot device that does not work for me. It added nothing to the plot and it interfered with the flow of the story. Especially at the end of the book when Kidd is supposedly developing a strategy to escape from the conundrum in which he is ensnared, his frequent consultation of Tarot cards come across as boring, inconsequential filler.
In closing I should mention that the depiction of LuEllen in Fool's Run and Luellen in Silken Prey are completely different. The latter plans a complicated burglary carefully and demonstrates great resourcefulness when an unexpected interruption occurs. Perhaps there will be growth in the LuEllen character in the remaining books in the Kidd series.
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LibraryThing member JohnWCuluris
Published originally under Sandford’s real name, this novel features Kidd, a computer genius (in 1989) who is recruited by a civilian defense contractor to destroy a rival company over industrial espionage. A solid novel on its own, it is also interesting to look back at the “modern computer
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capabilities” of the day. Show Less
LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Hacking in the 20th Century by an expert. Dated, but still quite interesting as Kidd is hired to take down a business rival. He creates a rather unique team and is quite successful in fulfilling his contract. However, his focus changes as a pair of hitmen try to take him and his team out.
Subjects
Awards
Minnesota Book Awards (Finalist — Mystery — 1991)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1989
Physical description
352 p.; 4.25 inches
ISBN
0425155722 / 9780425155721