'Net Force Explorers' is a brilliant high-tech adventure series created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik. 'Own Goal' was written by Diane Duane.
In the year 2025 the Internet practically runs the world, and its virtual reality webwork has to be policed by Net Force to prevent terrorists from sabotaging it. But sometimes they need help. Which is where the Net Force Explorers come in, the young people's auxiliary for computer whiz-kids who have made it through a tough training programme.
Catie Murray loves playing soccer. Her little brother Hal prefers watching spatball - an exciting, rugby-style sport played between three teams in the gamesphere. His favourite team is The Banana Slugs from South Florida, amateur players who in 2025 are on a winning streak against big guys like Chicago, Japan and Man United.
Dismayed, the money men behind the sport decide to tamper with the virtual environment to influence the scores - and Catie, her co-Explorer Mark Gridley and a spatball star called George must join forces to expose them.
The game suddenly becomes very tough indeed . . .
