Hacker fiction timeline, and Binary Release reveal
Welcome to the June issue of Hacker Chronicles!
Sorry for the late arrival. Just like two years ago, a trip to Sweden visiting family got in the way of sending this last weekend.
In this issue, you get photos of the newly minted Binary Release of Submerged (I got the proof print), and a chance to order a signed copy if you didn't back when it was announced.
I'll also share two photos from my trip which relate to locations and characters in my novels!
The June main feature is a timeline of hacker fiction I built to present at the recent Security Fest conference.
Enjoy!
/John
Writing Update: Binary Release Reveal
I know many of you are waiting for your signed Binary Release copy. I got the proof copy. I wanted it to be dark as the ocean floor, and it is. Check it out!
The sprayed bottom edge featuring an optical cable reading Binary Release.
The sprayed side edge featuring a knife on the ocean floor.
The sprayed bottom edge with the book standing up.
I've decided I can handle numbering, signing, and shipping a few more of these. So if you didn't order already, reply to this email by end of Sunday June 15 and say you want one. It's $65 for shipping in the US and $85 outside the US.
Photos of Things Related to My Novels
While in Stockholm, I visited Evert Taube's Terrasse where West and Kiss sit together in Identified:
Evert Taube's Terrasse in central Stockholm, facing Riddarfjärden.
At the Security Fest conference in Gothenburg, I saw none other than Robert Malmgren, the inspiration for Robert in my novels:
Wefie with Robert and John in blue LED light.
Neal Stephenson on AI
Just a quick reading tip. Neal Stephenson recently wrote on his Substack about participating in a panel discussion on AI. The post has his opening remarks and some comments from the subsequent discussion. Well worth a read!
June Feature: The Hacker Fiction Timeline (from Security Fest 2025)
Last week I was invited to give the opening keynote for the annual cyber security conference Security Fest in Gothenburg. Such a great event and I'm grateful for the chance to talk about fiction to an audience which typically comes for technical, work-related presentations.
Photo by Mattias Jidhage.
Photo by Robin von Post.
The Timeline
Longtime readers of this newsletter will recognize a lot on the timeline since it's what I've building up to here in my reviews.
It took quite some effort to assemble it all, but I'm happy I now have it and can expand from here.
The hacker fiction timeline 1945-1970.
The hacker fiction timeline 1970s.
The hacker fiction timeline 1980s.
The hacker fiction timeline 1990s.
The hacker fiction timeline 2000-2005.
The hacker fiction timeline 2006-2012.
The hacker fiction timeline 2013-2017.
The hacker fiction timeline 2018-2025.
Signing Books
After my keynote, I set up a signing table and sold and signed my novels.
It's hard to judge how many books you'll sell and you don't want to bring a box of tens of books home unless you're driving. Unfortunately, I ordered too few books and sold them all, including my two demo copies. People waiting in line to buy and then getting nothing feels bad.
But it was great to interact directly with so many new readers!
Photo by Robin von Post.
Conference Reflection: The Grave Reality of War in Europe
One thing I felt at the conference, both in conversations with attendees and in looking at the sponsor booths, was the present threats and conflicts in Europe. The invasion of Ukraine, of course, but also the hybrid attacks in multiple European countries. I could sense that what used to be conversations on how to fight criminal hacking against businesses was now much more a question of national security and defense.
The question came up how this grave reality may affect movies and novels. Fiction so often reflects the fears and aspirations of its time. Just look at Colossus – The Forbin Project from 1970 which I reviewed in my February 2022 newsletter issue. That novel was written with the nuclear arms race top of mind but also with the fear of all powerful super computers. Same thing with the classic hacker movie WarGames.
I do expect current real life enemies to make their way (back) into fiction.
Book Tips I Got
I had several attendees engage with me on the books and movies I talked about. A couple gave me tips on books that I went ahead and ordered:
Currently Reading
I'm still reading Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe by George Eliot. I've found it hard to make progress with the mid-1800s language, print fading in my 1920s copy. and a rather slow story.
I've started reading The Dragon Lord by Peter Morwood in parallel.