Non-fiction
The Giant Black Book of Computer Viruses
The Giant Black Book of Computer Viruses is a non-fiction by Mark Ludwig. Banned for its instructional purpose and "mischievous design": "It is clear from the way that the book is organised that the information is intended to be put to use the warning on the back cover of the book is a clear invitation for irresponsible computer users to use the information."
Description
About the work
The Giant Black Book of Computer Viruses is a non-fiction by Mark Ludwig. Banned for its instructional purpose and "mischievous design": "It is clear from the way that the book is organised that the information is intended to be put to use the warning on the back cover of the book is a clear invitation for irresponsible computer users to use the information."
The surviving record is interesting because it shows how even ordinary-looking books can acquire a charged political afterlife. As a non-fiction, it can be read not only for subject matter but for the way form, tone, and circulation make a text feel dangerous, intimate, or politically usable to anxious officials.
It also matters as part of a wider censorship history in New Zealand. The present page is a dossier starter built from source-tracked ban records; the surviving note currently says: Banned for its instructional purpose and "mischievous design": "It is clear from the way that the book is organised that the information is intended to be put to use the warning on the back cover of the book is a clear. More publication history, translations, and close reading can be added later.
Overview
Why it was banned
The Giant Black Book of Computer Viruses entered censorship debates as a non-fiction associated with controversy, publication history, and state scrutiny. In the current dossier, the main state objections cluster around political sensitivity.
The earliest event currently captured here is 1998 in New Zealand, where Office of Film and Literature Classification classified, prohibited, or restricted. Banned for its instructional purpose and "mischievous design": "It is clear from the way that the book is organised that the information is intended to be put to use the warning on the back cover of the book is a clear. Banned for its instructional purpose and "mischievous design": "It is clear from the way that the book is organised that the information is intended to be put to use the warning on the back cover of the book is a clear invitation for irresponsible computer.
This entry is still incomplete: more jurisdictions, court orders, and translated justifications should be added over time.
This page is intentionally incomplete. The ban history is a starter dataset, not a final census of every jurisdiction or decree.
Counter and critical readings
Context, rebuttals, and criticism
- 100 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature Nicholas J. Karolides, Margaret Bald, and Dawn B. Sova
A compact reference on how censorship systems moved across states, churches, and courts.
- Banned Books: 387 B.C. to 1978 A.D. Anne Lyon Haight
Useful for comparing older obscenity, heresy, and political bans with modern free-speech disputes.
Ban history
Known government actions
| Date | Jurisdiction | Action | Reason | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | New Zealand | classified, prohibited, or restricted | Banned for its instructional purpose and "mischievous design": "It is clear from the way that the book is organised that the information is intended to be put to use the warning on the back cover of the book is a clear. | Banned for its instructional purpose and "mischievous design": "It is clear from the way that the book is organised that the information is intended to be put to use the warning on the back cover of the book is a clear invitation for irresponsible computer. |
Sources
Harvested references for this page
- Wikipedia: List of books banned in New Zealand reference partial
- Wikipedia REST summary API database partial
- 100 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature book partial
- Banned Books: 387 B.C. to 1978 A.D. book partial