The Digital Meltdown

By: Roger Ley

Narrated by: Craig Bowles

Scientist Dr. Martin Riley hopes to solve the world's plastic pollution problem and get very rich in the process, but the bacterium Ideonella Sakaiensis has its own agenda. Riley engineers a new strain of bacteria to tackle the ever-growing plastic pollution crisis. Initially, he is hailed as a hero and awarded a Nobel Prize, but the bacteria attack all the plastic on the planet, destroy the internet and bring an end to the Digital Age.

Meanwhile, Mary Lee, commander of the International Space Station, orbits overhead, a mute observer of mankind’s struggles on the planet below. She quarantines the Station to protect her digital companions, Jackson, and Mother, but isolates herself from humanity. Mankind stands at a tipping point as the digital era ends and technology returns to the age of steam. Can humanity recover, or will this be a final extinction event?

©2023 Roger Ley (P)2023 Roger Ley

Intriguing

A take on an apocalypse with man as the force of destruction but not by military or nature, but science gone wrong because it was taken out of its parameters for use. A lot of this book is a walk beside everyday people not generals or world leaders but professors their spouses and other people anyone could walk in and have a conversation with. This is the story of everyday people in the end of the world. The book goes from the innocent start to the destruction to rebuilding and gives a complete arch for the storyline. Interesting premise and many common events and characters in todays world are a part of the book a good read.

Great sci-fi

Captivating story with realistic characters and problems. Enjoyed the dual storyline of earth and space.

The narrator was well timed and easy to listen to.

Great prequel to the Harry Lampeter books

This was a fast moving enjoyable story. Was great getting the story of how the world ended up returning to the age of steam. Definitely recommend this and the rest of the Harry Lampeter world books!

Original and Captivating!

This was my fist Roger Ley's book. This is the first book in The Cyber Crisis Series. The world building is original, and captivating. The story is told from multiple POVs. Craig Bowles did a great job bringing this story to life. Looking forward to listening to A G I: Artificial General Intelligence, the second book in the series.

Great Narrator. Read This Book 1st in H. Lampeter

A prequel to Roger Ley's steam punk, alternate reality, science fiction, Harry Lampeter series gives us the background to how culture lost many modern technological tools. I recommend you do this book first, before doing the rest of Lampeter. The audiobook is perfectly presented by Craig Bowles, whose characterizations of the books Brits is "spot on!"