@neeasade Clavell's Noble House and Tai-Pan are good schlocky fun -- especially Hong Kong in the 60's with the water rationing and bank failures.

@z3bra Stephenson's Cryptonomicon and Diamond Age rock, and Anathem is good as something to think about / adjust one's lifestyle.

Hacking in film or fiction seems to be in a deplorable state. Like we get all excited when something even remotely legit is covered (OMG Trinity command-line ssh hack!!!!111!)