Kye in the Valley of Gold
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Product Details
Publisher: Graphics Lab 2
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Formats: Paperback, Ebook
ISBN: PB: 979-8-9887476-0-4; EB: 979-8-9887476-2-8
Trim: 8 x 10
Page Count: 64
Kyle Hurlbut
Historians will someday mark the silicon revolution of the late twentieth century as a monumental shift in human history. In this colorful, dynamic graphic novel, Kyle recounts his experience building a career in the spotlight during this critical time. After a childhood of taking things apart and exploring, Kyle found himself in Silicon Valley as a young adult, landing a job at Hewlett-Packard—right on the cusp of dramatic and revolutionary changes.
Viewed through the lens of Kyle’s tech career, Kye in the Valley of Gold shows how semiconductor innovation quickly gave rise to new and lucrative opportunities, but not without risk. This humorous insider look reveals the hard work, courage, and random luck it takes to succeed in a rapidly expanding industry.
About the Author
Kyle Hurlbut is an engineer, business person, artist, and writer of graphic novels. After working at Boeing during his college years, he saw the future of integrated-circuit technology and moved to Silicon Valley at the beginning of the Information Age. His career included software development, AI research, Web development, sales, services, and a patent in touchscreen technology. Throughout his career, Kyle continued to dabble in startups and art projects, including coding one of the first graphic novel publishing apps on the iPhone.
Kyle’s first graphic novel, Stormy, recounts his father’s adventures in the Navy and business career. His newest graphic novel, Kye in the Valley of Gold, tells the story of what it was like working in the early Wild West of personal computers, the Internet, and the smartphone, when opportunities where everywhere.
Visit the author’s website at portfolio.graphicslab2.com
Reviews
“A visual feast for the eyes. . . . Anyone who wants to understand or reflect on one person’s transformative journey of when the transistor, personal computer, and internet exploded into our lives will appreciate this book. Thanks to Kyle for capturing his life history in an elegant, beautifully illustrated novel and sharing it with the world.” —Patrick Rogers, former VP of marketing, NetApp Inc.
“Kye in the Valley of Gold offers a delightful insider’s view of Silicon Valley’s explosive growth. Kyle’s witty storytelling and vibrant illustrations capture the excitement, challenges, and occasional absurdity of the tech industry’s early years. I enjoyed his book—I’m sure you will too.” —Rosemary Brisco, president of ToTheWeb.com
“A wonderful autobiographical look at living through the key evolution of Silicon Valley and the tech industry! Phenomenal drawings enhance the experience!” —Cathy Cakebread, former Oracle product designer and consultant
“With heartwarming anecdotes and captivating visuals, this is an authentic recounting of the life journey of a Silicon Valley technologist—an experience many of us in the tech world can easily relate to.” —Deshen Yu, VP of Information Technologies
“As someone who started out as an assembly line worker at a Silicon Valley military computer manufacturer in the ’70s, proceeded to learn assembly language coding on my lunch breaks, and then returned to UC Berkeley to get a computer science degree, I can relate to Kyle’s adventures. I enjoyed the ups and downs of his many sub-careers and his insights into the inner workings of tech start-ups and corporations. He artfully presents tech history with lots of trivia and humor. His perspective on events and his own decisions over the years made it an entertaining read.” —Stephen Pacheco, retired cofounder of Squid Eye Entertainment and former software programmer for Hewlett-Packard
“Kye in the Valley of Gold combines vivid storytelling and eye-catching art to bring Silicon Valley’s tech boom to life. The graphic novel balances historical moments with deeply personal anecdotes, offering an intimate look at the industry’s rise and the lives of those who shaped it. It’s not just a history lesson; it’s a moving narrative of drive, innovation, and human connection. Whether you’re into tech, graphic novels, or compelling stories, Kye in the Valley of Gold is a must-read.” —Jason Kane, managing director of investments for Wells Fargo Advisors
“In a clever and easy-to-follow format, Kyle has a great story to share of his journey from childhood to present day. It will certainly resonate with those whose careers were both made and broken during the formative years of Silicon Valley. Highly recommended.” —Ken Peartree, former Hewlett-Packard director of HP Aviation
“An interesting approach to merge an autobiographical story with a biography of Silicon Valley. As a lifelong resident of that area and the progeny of parents who had their entire careers there as well, I think the story is relatable to many of us.” —Ryan Coleman, owner of Alliance Construction
“I enjoyed a forty-year career (between 1980 and 2020) in the high-tech industry. The author’s engaging personal story, coupled with impressive artwork, offers a fresh perspective on historical events. His insightful commentary on the industry’s evolution was both relevant and thought-provoking. I do not frequently read graphic pubs—apart from Dilbert and The Far Side. I look forward to more from Kyle Hurlbut.” —Brian Langer, founder of RFP Express, founder of EventSource.com, sales for Sun Microsystems
“Kye in the Valley of Gold offers a captivating overview of the fast-paced, challenging, and remarkable evolution of the tech industry in Silicon Valley over the past fifty years. The book takes readers on an emotional journey, showcasing the highs and lows experienced by those striving to build careers in this constantly shifting landscape. It’s both entertaining and informative—a must-read for anyone curious about the history of Silicon Valley.” —Danièle Archambault, PhD, researcher, author, educator, and cartoonist
“Like Dante’s comedy—only funnier!—Kyle Hurlbut’s graphic novel guides us through the decades of techno-tectonic eruptions that formed Silicon Valley. Like Gustave Doré’s famous illustrations of Dante—only more colorful!—Hurlbut’s vivid graphic illustrations make this techno-warrior’s very personal ‘hero’s journey’ even more appealing and instructive. ‘My takeaway,’ Hurlbut writes, ‘If you see a big tech island forming, jump in the water and start swimming toward it.’ So start swimming toward this great new graphic novel now!” —Scott Lankford, award-winning author of Tahoe Beneath the Surface