Line #3 Literature/TheFearIndex


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

Context Literature / TheFearIndex