The X-Files - Ghost in the Machine
            Harper Collins Audiobooks RRP œ8.99
         An audio book from the novel by Les Martin
                    Read by Kerry Shale

                      Reviewed by Sue

Computer programmers have long been fascinated by the question of
artificial intelligence. Is it possible to program a computer
which can perform tasks that the user sets it as well as any
person could?  One person, Brad Wilczek, believed it was possible
and from humble beginnings in his parents' garage, set upon the
task of proving it so.

Many years later his company Eurisko, a giant software firm, had a
computer called COS which was in charge of everything to do with
Eurisko's building. The lights, heating, elevators, security ...
everything was under COS's control. But money, as always, was at
the heart of much of what Eurisko stood for, much to Brad's
disgust, and in fact he was being eased out of the company by the
CEO, Benjamin Drake. After a heated argument, one of many, Drake
was found dead in his executive washroom, where he had been
electrocuted in a freak accident. But was it an accident? With the
changes going on at Eurisko, Wilczek has the perfect motive for
killing Drake, and the perfect opportunity because he could have
programmed the system to give Drake the fatal jolt.

But someone else also has a motive and opportunity. Or should I
say 'something' else. Because in the shake-up going on at Eurisko,
COS's future was also looking very shaky. Profits have dropped and
Drake wants to cut costs, whereas Wilczek believes that research
is all important and short term profits should be sacrificed for
long term goals. But the stock holders don't agree. COS, with
scanners through out the building, knows what has been going on,
and the listener is in no doubt that COS, rather than Wilczek, is
the guilty party. A sense of self preservation, after all, is one
of the important features of intelligent life, and essential for
its survival.


But much of this background is unknown to the FBI investigation
team which is headed by an old partner of Mulder's, Jerry Lamana.
Not the brightest of agents, he realizes early on that he needs
help and calls in Mulder and Scully's assistance. Mulder, finding
it hard to say no, soon discovers that though he will be doing
most of the work, Jerry will make sure that he gets all the
credit.

How long will it take Mulder to realize what's going on at Eurisko
and how will COS react when it feels threatened? Will he, Scully
and Jerry be able to pull the plug on it, or it will be too clever
for them? Is your money on man or machine?

This is an excellent, well read audiobook and with the way
computers are advancing all the time, has some basis in fact.
Planes are already largely under the control of computers and the
implications of the story are quite scary ... how long before true
AI exists, and how far would you trust it? With your life? If this
story is anything to go by, it might come to that!
                              - o -