Cyberstorm (novel)

Cyberstorm is a science fiction novel by Canadian author Matthew Mather. It follows Mike Mitchel, a resident of New York City, who is trying to keep his family together when he is thrust into new problems of staying alive. A massive snowstorm strikes the East Coast of the United States during an unknown cyber attack from unknown source(s). Mike Mitchel must work to keep his family and friends safe as the winter storm and the cyberstorm drag on.

Plot

The novel is set in current day New York City, New York. The main character is Mike Mitchel a successful businessman living in New York City married into a family of wealth and power. He lives with his wife and his son in Manhattan. His next-door neighbor and close friend Chuck who is a prepper who has bugout location outside of New York City.

At the start of the book life is normal as normal can be for Mike and his family. However, things start to fall apart for the world. When logistic systems for the main shipping companies are infected with a virus that bring their operations to a standstill. Then the cell phone services goes down; the news starts reporting the bird flu has been reported. Then the power goes out, and people start to panic.

Mike walks in on Chuck and his wife talking about leaving New York City to their bugout location in the woods. However, without taking their friends, this is something that Chuck's wife will not do.

At this time, Mike's son is not feeling well, and Chuck offers to allow their driver to take them to a hospital. When they try to seek medical help the find most of the hospitals in the city are being flooded with people who are sick and they are unable to get into several hospitals. When they do find a hospital, they can get their son into they are unable to see a doctor. The couple goes back to their condo to wait it out.

The families have to deal with he problems of living in a large city that depends on daily shipments of goods and food to live. Even with Chucks prepping skills both Chuck and Mike find it necessary to gather supplies before things get too bad. The find a store where other New Yorkers have broken out the window and are taken items they need. However, in a twist of the normal looting seen this is described as polite looting. People are not pushing and shoving each other they are working together to make it. Chuck and Mike decided they should grab some items. The carry as much as they can then Mike has come up with a great way to store what they are carrying and come back for it later. Mike uses a geocaching app on his phone to store the supplies in snow banks.

As the winter storm drags on with power being out, the building heating system being out and only limited information people start to get worried. A group of people that live in the building find they need work together to find the basic needed for life. They need to find water and food plus keep warm. As the storm rages on the conditions get worse for the people.

Film adaptation

A movie adaptation is currently in development.^[1]

References