[PWY]∎ PDF Gratis The Quantum Spy A Thriller eBook David Ignatius

The Quantum Spy A Thriller eBook David Ignatius

Download As PDF : The Quantum Spy A Thriller eBook David Ignatius

The Quantum Spy A Thriller eBook David Ignatius

David Ignatius, the Washington Post’s national security columnist, has written quite the spy novel whose backdrop is the ongoing war between the CIA and the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). In this case MSS develops a mole in the CIA whose work involves funding contractors engaged in the development of quantum computers, a revolutionary computing technology that allows photons (Qubits)to superposition themselves in such a manner as to simultaneously be switched on and off. Instead of the current binary system of 0 and 1, the qubit can be both 0 and 1 at the same time. There are primitive quantum computers in existence today, but once they are scaled up there is no encryption technology that cannot quickly be broken. Thus the first nation that develops such a technology will truly become the sole global super-power.

Thus the stakes are high. Ignatius’ protagonist is Harris Chang, ex-Army and now a CIA operations officer. He is tasked to find the mole. Along the way he sets up a Chinese scientist in Singapore, visits a lab in Seattle, spends quite a bit of time in CIA black sites in Washington D.C. as well as the Langley headquarters, meets up with an MSS operative in Mexico City and the book ends with a fast paced denouement in Amsterdam.

The book also deals with Chang’s ethnicity and how MSS uses that to put him under suspicion in the CIA. He maybe all-American, but to some in the CIA his loyalty is questioned.

We learn quite a bit about CIA tradecraft along the way. We also learn that the U.S. is likely at a disadvantage relative to China because there are far more Chinese students studying in America than there are American students studying in China. Simply put they know more about us than we know about them and there more than a few Chinese students studying computer science in the U.S.

Although the book is slow at times, I recommend “The Quantum Spy” for those readers interested in what the post-Cold War spy versus spy is like.


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The Quantum Spy A Thriller eBook David Ignatius Reviews

In "The Quantum Spy" (QS) Acknowledgements, author David Ignatius writes "This novel explores how the U. S. Government oversees technology." Oversees? In the first chapters, a small, West Coast high tech firm is visited by a government contact, ostensibly to review the progress of the government funded startup. After the review, the CEO is advised by Mr. Green that it is time to "go black" - time to stop all public announcements of their advances, time to step-up security, link more closely with government overseers, etc. The CEO/Founder balks, proclaiming the benefits of a world-wide sharing of scientific advances, the independence that scientists.....The intelligence agent states his case, and the CEO begrudgingly concedes.

So, what's the big deal about quantum computers (yawn)? From QS "...it would take a classical computer more than ten million years to factor a fifty-digit number, whereas it would take less than a second on a quantum computer...All (existing) codes could be decrypted and read." The reader will learn a bit more about quantum computers - they exist only on paper, and efforts have been underway to develop the hardware for years - and that's all you need to know on the subject. Naturally there is a spy vs. spy race.

And there's so much more in this great spy novel. Yes, there's a mole in a U.S. agency. A high level one, with a relative associated with the agency. There is also a high level Chinese spy caught by the Americans with his fingers in the till and some other naughty places; the Chinese want revenge. The plot moves nicely along at a delicious pace, and the story hops from Europe to Canada to Mexico and even to my hometown! And there is a grand big showdown with a nice twisty but not all-together unexpected finale. Where? That turns out to be the critical, unanswered question - how can the agency cover their asset if the meeting location is unknown? Will quantum technology help?

Wait, there's still more. David Ignatius is a serious writer, a journalist for the Washington Post, an author of nine other excellent novels, and a frequent contributor to Morning Joe (he's the adult in the group, the big picture guy). Ignatius also offers us an introspective look at Harris Chang, a U.S. Intelligence Officer. Ignatius makes a strong argument in the Acknowledgement that this story is pure fiction and little is real. But the rather depressing inner workings and relationships in the U S Agency as described here seem to be too close to our enemy counterparts. U S Agents must be focused on their self-protection not only in the field but in the office as well. There is also a theme of how American citizens of a different skin color and foreign roots assimilate and are viewed by others. This comes up many times, hitting us with a not so gentle reminder of how difficult we make life for some of our fellow citizens. Not just in certain regions of our country but in one of our more respected intelligence agencies. Harris Chang "But I began to see that to my American colleagues, I will always be Chinese. That is the first thing they see. The color of my skin."
Another winner by David Ignatius! Unputdownable, riveting, enthralling -- I could go on and on. I admire David's weaving of contemporary affairs, history and an imagined future into his thrillers. His characters have an edge to them; his narrative flows smoothly. As with his earlier espionage novels, I didn't want "The Quantum Spy" to end. Now I must wait for David's next book...
David Ignatius, the Washington Post’s national security columnist, has written quite the spy novel whose backdrop is the ongoing war between the CIA and the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). In this case MSS develops a mole in the CIA whose work involves funding contractors engaged in the development of quantum computers, a revolutionary computing technology that allows photons (Qubits)to superposition themselves in such a manner as to simultaneously be switched on and off. Instead of the current binary system of 0 and 1, the qubit can be both 0 and 1 at the same time. There are primitive quantum computers in existence today, but once they are scaled up there is no encryption technology that cannot quickly be broken. Thus the first nation that develops such a technology will truly become the sole global super-power.

Thus the stakes are high. Ignatius’ protagonist is Harris Chang, ex-Army and now a CIA operations officer. He is tasked to find the mole. Along the way he sets up a Chinese scientist in Singapore, visits a lab in Seattle, spends quite a bit of time in CIA black sites in Washington D.C. as well as the Langley headquarters, meets up with an MSS operative in Mexico City and the book ends with a fast paced denouement in Amsterdam.

The book also deals with Chang’s ethnicity and how MSS uses that to put him under suspicion in the CIA. He maybe all-American, but to some in the CIA his loyalty is questioned.

We learn quite a bit about CIA tradecraft along the way. We also learn that the U.S. is likely at a disadvantage relative to China because there are far more Chinese students studying in America than there are American students studying in China. Simply put they know more about us than we know about them and there more than a few Chinese students studying computer science in the U.S.

Although the book is slow at times, I recommend “The Quantum Spy” for those readers interested in what the post-Cold War spy versus spy is like.