In The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, we watch Salander surpass her hacker-teacher, Plague, and get into all sorts of technological mischief, all in the name of truth and justice. Internet and computer technologies are critical to uncovering Teleborian's crimes, and also to Salander winning back her freedom. Without her nifty Palm Tungsten T3, she'd be almost completely isolated and helpless against her enemies. The rest of Team Salander, from the Constitutional Protection Unit to Milton Security to the Hacker Republic, all use the latest technology, including hidden cameras and other security equipment on their quest to prove Salander's innocence. Overall, the good guys seem to be well-armed with modern technology, while the bad guys, not so much.
Questions About Technology and Modernization
- Do you think the hacking schemes described in the novel sound realistic?
- Can you find examples of computer technology being used for bad purposes?
- What kinds of technology do the "bad guys" use? Are they technologically behind Salander and her allies?
- How is computer technology important to the work being done at the Constitutional Protection Unit?
- How are print and broadcast technologies important to the novel?
- What's up with Blomkvist printing his book on Salander instead of putting it online? Why, in such a high-tech book, use this old-fashioned technology? Especially since the Section could potentially disrupt the printing process?