Bill, you know better than to drop the "book bomb" without giving the details man. Who wrote it, how awesome is it?
Ah, beg pardon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_Consequences_(novel)
Ross said it first, with apologies to CC for his reference to Brick Top.
I am sorry to say that the book is now somewhat hard to find. I lent my copy to a friend, but I never got it back. Perhaps someday I'll get another.