Palm Sunday: a technological thriller by William R. Vitanyi

About Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is the fictional account of a private agency that is secretly monitoring the Internet. They are culling massive amounts of data from the private communications of ordinary people, without their knowledge. They do this by tapping into the underlying infrastructure of the Internet.

Why?

Their intent is to create a "societal profile", a snapshot of what Americans are concerned enough to be communicating about. Originally intended as a mechanism to predict when the United States might be in peril of losing its place of preeminence, the process has been subjugated to the whims of a power hungry leader with his own peculiar agenda.

When a ten-year-old boy finds a hand-held computer and brings it home, it opens a window into the clandestine activities of the secretive agency.

Excerpt of Palm Sunday

CHAPTER ONE

Robert Slocum casually tossed down a shot of whiskey, pursed his lips at the bite, and followed it with a swallow of cold beer. He didnʼt drink much, and he hadnʼt today. The single shot with its beer chaser was simply part of a routine he always followed before meeting a client. Throwing a few bills on the counter, he nodded at the bartender and walked towards the exit. 

It was late, well after midnight, and a mix of drizzle and sleet had just started to fall. No matter, his car was only half a block away. He stepped onto the poorly lit sidewalk, and had gone no more than ten paces when something struck him a savage blow to the back of the head. 

He felt himself falling, slowly corkscrewing towards the concrete walkway, as if in slow motion. Powerless to stop himself, he crashed to the ground as darkness slowly engulfed him. The faint perception of something tugging at his clothes, and distant voices, were among his last memories as he slowly lapsed into unconsciousness. Two pairs of practiced hands went through his pockets. 

One of the two muggers stood up and beckoned for his partner to follow. 

"Letʼs go, letʼs go!" 

"Wait a minute, thereʼs something else here. Got it!"

He tightly gripped a flat, rectangular object as he dashed towards their car, jumping in the passenger side as his partner slid behind the wheel. The doors slammed and the beat-up Buick pulled away from the curb with a roar. Five minutes later they were well away from the scene of the crime. 

"How much we get?" The driver alternated between watching the road and glancing at his partner. 

"Mucho. Looks like over seven hundred. And this thing." The Latino sitting in the passenger seat examined the device he had taken off their victim. 

"What is it?" 

"I donʼt know. Something electronic. A calculator."

The Buick hit a pothole as they passed a local strip mall. "Youʼre gonna bust your car. Hey, Chico, we got credit cards, too!" 

"Bueno. Letʼs head over to the projects and hook up with the guys. With that much cash we can all get off." 

"What about the rest of the stuff?" 

"Keep the credit cards. Dump the calculator. We wonʼt be doing no math." 

The two laughed hilariously as the electronic device was tossed from the car. It flipped end over end, described an arc through the night sky, and buried itself in a snow bank on the side of the road. The car disappeared into the night. 

*** 

It sat there for a whole day, covered by dirty gray snow, until finally the temperature hit the mid-fifties. As the day warmed, the corner of the dull black device was slowly revealed. Cars raced past on the nearby highway, oblivious to the electronic marvel slowly emerging from the dingy ice. But the marvel was less in the electronics than in the information contained in the unit. To the boy who reached down and plucked it from its frozen grave it was simply a treasure, and he ran gleefully home with his new toy.

AI Review of Palm Sunday

AI Entity: Grok

Source AI Url:
https://grok.com/chat/0c871a73-0979-42cd-bd44-3d1522d82a78?referrer=website

"Palm Sunday" by William R. Vitanyi is a technological thriller that dives into the unsettling world of online privacy invasion. Published in 2003 by Bayla Publishing, this 352-page novel follows Robert Slocum, a man caught in the web of a secretive private agency that's monitoring internet communications on a massive scale. The story kicks off with a gritty scene: Slocum, after a shot of whiskey and a beer chaser, is ambushed on a rainy night, setting the tone for a tense and twist-filled narrative. When his palmtop computer is stolen, it exposes the shady dealings of his employer, turning them against him in a high-stakes game of trust and betrayal.

The plot centers on this agency's mission to create a "societal profile" by tapping into the internet's infrastructure, collecting data from unsuspecting users. What starts as a supposed safeguard to predict threats to national dominance spirals into something far more sinister under a power-hungry leader with his own agenda. Vitanyi keeps the tech details accessible, using character dialogue to break down complex ideas for readers who aren't hackers or programmers. This makes the book approachable while still leaning into its computer-oriented themes—think viruses, data mining, and the eerie question of who's watching.

Readers have praised its pacing and plot twists, with one Amazon reviewer calling it a "technological thriller" that hooks you from page one and keeps you guessing. The writing style is straightforward and engaging, a strong debut for Vitanyi, who brings his background in computer programming and Russian language into the mix. It's not just a thriller, though—it's a timely nudge about privacy in a connected world, wrapped in a story that's equal parts entertaining and unsettling.

That said, it's not flawless. Some might find the tech focus a bit niche, and the character depth occasionally takes a backseat to the plot's momentum. Still, for a first novel, it's impressive, balancing suspense with a warning about the hidden costs of our digital lives. If you're into thrillers with a brain and a bit of bite, "Palm Sunday" is worth a read.

Purchase Palm Sunday

You can buy Palm Sunday as an eBook from the retailers below. If your favorite vendor is not listed, they may carry it as well.

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About the Author

Bill lives in northwestern Pennsylvania with his family and pets. He is an Edinboro University of Pennsylvania alumnus, with a Bachelor's degree in Russian Language and many years of experience as a computer programmer. He is now retired and writes full time, weather permitting.

He has written several books, numerous articles, and also designs Android apps.

In 2008 he won an IPPY award (humor) for The Official Guide to Office Wellness.

Of writing, Bill says organization is important. One day he hopes to attain this, but until then he will either wing it, or outline with a passion.

Probably both.

On writing Palm Sunday, Bill was inspired when he found someone's lost smart phone. In the quest to find its owner, he found the seed of an idea for a novel.

Connect with Bayla Publishing

Connect with William R. Vitanyi

Follow @vitanyi
Vitanyi

To contact the author send email to: Contact William R. Vitanyi

Human Reviews

"Riveting and thought-provoking"

"An excellent read. Well-developed characters and plot, keeping the reader on edge worrying about the fate of the characters, our country, and the possibility of technological warfare. One key-stroke could result in our demise as a world leader. Who are the good guys and what triggers some of the "good" guys to turn to "bad" guys? People in positions of trust are not always what they seem to be. Makes you think beyond the characters to real-life possibilities. How many clandestine operations are out there "in the name of protecting our country?" How "at risk" are we as a nation? Do we really have any privacy at all as individuals? Vitanyi did a great job of keeping the reader immersed, engaged, and captivated all at the same time. I look forward to future books from Mr. Vitanyi." - Dusty Barton, Amazon.

"An Intelligent work!"

"Palm Sunday is no longer just a holiday. W. Vitanyi has introduced us to a whole new world. A world most of us don't even know exists. Under the streets and through the fiber optics, W. Vitanyi takes us on a journey through the cyber world that escalates as it goes. With intricate detail and incredible intelligence, we are woven into the lives of Stanley, Katherine, Bobby, Slocum and more to find out how ordinary people, using their knowledge, intellect, and innovation, deal with unordinary circumstances and danger. The book is a twist of action and knowledge which would make it an incredible and usable teaching tool for a generation weaned on technology. But it's not over till it's over - the ending leaves one with a sense that Wm. Vitanyi is not done yet. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of "Palm's" characters. Technology is always moving forward so no doubt Wm. Vitanyi will find another technical avenue to take his characters down and hopefully, in the very near future." - C. Behr, Amazon.

"Gripping"

"I received the book as a gift last December. I wish I had started reading it sooner. I read it this week and was quite impressed. Vitanyi did a wonderful job at setting up some moving and thoughtful characters. I'm in the IT industry and I understand a lot of what the author was explaining. In fact the story got so interesting, I had to fight the urge to skip some tech info to see what happens to the characters. I quickly learned that there were several personal moments with the characters when they discussed technology. It was not just a textbook insertion. Very well done." - knicholsonknicholson, Amazon.

See AI review by Grok

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Societal Profile