Octagon (novel)

Octagon is a novel by Fred Saberhagen published in 1981.

Protagonist Alex Barrow discovers that his opponents in the science fiction play-by-mail game Starweb are being murdered.

[1] Greg Costikyan reviewed Octagon in Ares Magazine #11 and commented that "Octagon is a good mystery novel which explores a rather interesting theme: the idea that a clever programmer can manipulate records and programs in our computer-based world to his own ends.

"[1] Dave Langford reviewed Octagon for White Dwarf #68, and stated that "it's a pleasant thriller with the computer-moderated RPG Starweb getting uncomfortable as players are eliminated not by strategy but by assassination.

The villain's identity is obvious long before the story reveals it, but it's all quite tense nevertheless.