Review; Greg M. Sarwa’s debut novel, The Cattle

Author: Greg M Sarwa

ISBN: 0976620200

If you have preconceived ideas about the recently enacted Real ID Act in the

United States, I wholeheartedly suggest you read Greg M. Sarwa’s first novel, The Cattle.

Although the narrative is a work of fiction, it certainly reflects some of the

reality sweating in the US as a result of 9/11.

In 2005, the US enacted the Real ID ACT which creates a “machine readable”

federally approved identification card. Supporters of this card argue that the identification card

will help fight terrorism and will also follow the advice of some of the

recommendations from the 9/11 Commission investigation. What it boils down to is

that starting in 2008, if you live or work in the US, you will need a

federally approved card for air travel, opening a bank account, collecting

Social Security payments, or take advantage of almost any government service.

In other words, the Real ID Law would establish a national identity card. In

Also, what is alarming about these ID cards is the information that could

be stored in them. The Department of Homeland Security has the power to decide what

information will be included. This can be more than just your name, date of birth,

gender, ID number, digital photograph and address. In addition, you will use a

common machine-readable technology. This could mean that it could end up being a

magnetic stripe, or a sophisticated barcode, or even a radio frequency

identification chip Would they go as far as implanting a microprocessor in their

body?

The latter possibility is the focus of the plot of Sarwa’s novel, where one day

before the National Identification System is a reality, to hell

loose breaks. A level 3 computer technician, Brian Warburton, serving the

Department of Homeland Security and working at Chicago O’Hare Airport

discovers that when he does a final check of the complicated system he was going to

be up and running the next day putting the NIS into effect, you discover that

inexplicably it was already connected. Also, the technology you see in your

computer screen was only for those people with a level five clearance.

According to Brian, the information was supposed to be years away and should

have never been allowed-it was in his words “against the law”.

Brian had to do something with this new information and decides to copy

on a computer disk so you can warn everyone. However,

unfortunately, having completed his copy, Brian mysteriously dies, but

not before he manages to fit the disc into the luggage of Anna Tabor, a Polish

visitor who has just arrived in the United States.

Trevor Clifton, a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security in

Chicago and also working at O’Hare Airport is informed by one of his

subordinates that there was unauthorized access to the higher level of the

computer system or as it was called, Digital Gabriel. he almost goes

ballistic and immediately realizes that it could only be Brian Warburton who

I was doing the copy.

While all this is happening, journalist Jacob Reed is working on his

editorial for the next day’s issue on Homeland Security

Identification Law. He receives a phone call from police officer Ron Lacosta.

requesting that they meet immediately because he has something extremely

important to tell. When they get together, Reed receives a video cassette.

that came from one of the video cameras at the airport. Apparently, Lacosta

received the tape from a colleague before the latter died in a mystery car

Accident in the airport parking lot.

What’s on the tape and the ensuing chase between Clifton’s men and Reed occupy

the rest of the novel, in which Sarwa weaves together an energetic rhythm

Mystery thriller with the necessary elements of detection and threat.

Sarwa’s writing is peppered with vivid detail and her characters are

well drawn and distinctive. And although the novel sounds like the assembly of a

Routine thriller, the surprising ending is far from predictable. cattle is

Sarawa’s first novel and has effectively set the bait for future thrillers.