It’s a genre of action and drama novels. Its advent was assured by the spread of retail digital technology in the late 20th century. Military technology is its usual hook.
Contrary to received wisdom, the founder of the genre is respected British novelist Len Deighton. Bomber, 1970, associated not emerging retail digital technology of the time. Rather, Bomber featured the breakthrough technology of World War II combat aircraft. Nonetheless, Bomber broke ground for the new genre.