Frequently Asked Questions About Ghost Code
Years ago, my advisory work involved the then-nascent field of cybersecurity. The more I learned about cyberattacks and cyberwarfare, the more I realized how vulnerable the modern world could be to an unseen enemy. I thought that made a terrific premise for a thriller series.
I also wanted a different kind of hero. I didn't think the world needed another stereotypical macho male protagonist, so I created Lana Elkins—a former NSA operative, cybersecurity expert, and single mother. She's smart, tough, resourceful, and, like all of us, has a life beyond the threats she faces.
AI is evolving at an extraordinary pace, and its potential impact on warfare is enormous. I became particularly interested in what could happen if AI were deeply embedded in the information systems military leaders depend on to make decisions.
If the information is manipulated, the consequences could be catastrophic. That idea became the foundation for Ghost Code.
The specific AI system and events in the novel are fictional, but the underlying technologies are grounded in real developments in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and military systems.
As a thriller writer, I take real-world developments and ask, What if? My goal is to make the technology plausible enough that readers might wonder where fact ends and fiction begins.
The relationship among the United States, China, and Taiwan is one of the world's most consequential geopolitical flashpoints. A conflict involving them could have consequences far beyond East Asia.
It also provides a compelling setting for a story about AI and warfare. What happens when military leaders must make decisions based on information they believe is reliable—but isn't?
I did research into AI, cybersecurity, and military technology, but much of my research focused on the Chinese and Taiwanese militaries—including military bases, defense installations, weapons systems, and capabilities.
I also had to research something completely different: manga. One of the novel's central characters is deeply interested in it, and I wanted to understand that world well enough to make the character credible.
Ghost Code is the fourth novel in the Lana Elkins thriller series and takes place approximately ten years after Unholy Code.
That passage of time has changed both Lana and her daughter, Emma. Emma is now an adult with her own capabilities and an important role in the story. The technology—and the threats Lana faces—have also evolved dramatically.
No. Ghost Code can be read as a standalone thriller, so new readers can begin with this book.
But readers who start with Lethal Code, Trident Code, and Unholy Code will get to follow Lana's evolution—and see how the threats facing her have changed over the course of the series.