1 | [[quoteright:292:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_fear_index.jpg]] |
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3 | ''The Fear Index'' is a 2011 book written by Robert Harris. |
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5 | Taking place over the course of a single day, we follow the story of Dr Alex Hoffmann, an American owner of a multi-billion dollar hedge fund company currently living in Geneva. He's on the verge of creating a powerful automated algorithmic system which will manage the hedge fund, making the company billions. However, the night before investors are allowed to see the new system, Alex's once-ordered life starts to unravel. |
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7 | It all started innocently enough; a mysterious rare first edition copy of UsefulNotes/CharlesDarwin's ''The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals'' appears through the post. However later that evening an intruder breaks into his house, knocks him unconscious and things unravel from there. |
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9 | In 2022 Creator/{{Sky}} created a 4 Episode MiniSeries based on the book. |
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11 | Note that due to the very nature of the book it's rather hard to discuss many aspects without ruining it. You have been warned. |
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13 | !!Provides Examples of the Following Tropes; |
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15 | * AIIsACrapshoot: Alex at the end sees the whole book a form of experiment, however its more likely [[spoiler: VIXAL-4]] was just trying to get rid of the only man that could possibly predict what was going on. |
16 | * AssholeVictim: Lets face it Hoffmann starts out like this. He's a multi-billionaire hedge fund manager (which most people will just translate as "banker") who comes off cold and uncaring to everybody. He does soften, slightly, as the book advances. |
17 | * BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible: Quarry, but that's just because he's trying to protect the money making algorithm. |
18 | * CluelessChickMagnet: Hoffmann. |
19 | %%* DespairEventHorizon |
20 | * BigFancyHouse: Hoffmann's house which costs sixty million dollars. |
21 | * EverythingIsAnIpodInTheFuture: Hoffmann Investment Technologies is described like this. Everything is handled on computers and sleek computer devices; to the point where having anything paper is against company policy. |
22 | %%* EverythingIsOnline |
23 | * FacialRecognitionSoftware: Used as a security measure to get in and out of Hoffmann Investment Technologies. Funnily enough it requires the person to show no emotion. |
24 | * {{Gaslighting}}: Which slowly makes Hoffmann completely unhinged by the end. |
25 | %%* InspectorJavert |
26 | * TheKillerBecomesTheKilled: The man that broke into Hoffmann's house. |
27 | %%* NeverSuicide |
28 | * NoPaperFuture: Enforced in universe. However, Hoffmann himself collects rare books. And of course all the money in the book is dealt with electronically. |
29 | * NotWithThemForTheMoney: Gabriel who is actually getting a bit sick of all the money. |
30 | * PiecemealFundsTransfer: Averted, as you would expect from a book focused around instantaneous trading. |
31 | * RippedFromTheHeadlines: The stock flux at the end of the book actually happened. |
32 | * ShoutOut: The story takes place in Geneva, [[spoiler: the original home town of Doctor {{Literature/Frankenstein}}]] |
33 | * SinisterSurveillance: Alex discovers this near the end of the book. Gabriel sees this and gets the wrong idea. |
34 | * TwentyMinutesIntoThePast: Set on the 6th of May 2010. |
35 | %%* YouHaveToBelieveMe |
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