I grew up as a huge Mitnick fan, and I still am. He was vilified and used as the poster boy for all computer hackers, phreakers, and the lot - unfairly I think. Takedown was one of the most dry and dull books I've ever read, and John Markoff should be ashamed of himself. Read Mitnick's book, Ghost in the Wires. So much better.
I've read all three (_Ghost in the Wires_, _Takedown_ and _The Fugitive Game_) and all three were interesting in their own way. The first was from Mitnick's view, the second from the FBI/Shimomura's point of view (and man, does Shimonura come across as a jerk). The last is really from neither (or both) but does tend to fill in details not mentioned by the prior two.
Ah, I've not heard of The Fugitive Game. I will read it. It's not that I think Shimomura is a bad guy or anything, it's just...the writing is very dry for me.
I was in prison at the same time Mitnick was (but not at the same prison), and in about 1997, Justin Petersen (Agent Steal) showed up at the prison I was at, and we got to know each other well. He's one of the other main figures in The Fugitive Game, and he said this book was probably the most accurate of the several books about the Mitnick/Poulsen/Petersen story. I read the book in prison one night and I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
Like the other comment in this thread, I've read all three and think The Fugitive Game is my favorite. It was definitely an enthralling read. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend The Watchman, also by Littman, but about Kevin Poulsen.
