Today I’m reviewing Daemon by Daniel Suarez. Although this book has been out for several months I’ve only really seen it advertised recently. I read the publishers synopsis I thought it was going to be another poorly written internet goes bad type of book with weak tech references and a thin plot-line so I skipped. That is until one day last week I needed a new audio book and on a whim I picked it up on Audible and gave it a listen. Now I usually listen to audio books for an hour or so a day on my walks around town. I think the first day I walked for over 6 hours because I just didn’t want it to stop! And the cycle repeated until the book was done. The unabridged audio book clocks in at 15 hours and change btw. I can honestly say I haven’t been this engrossed in a piece of fiction since I first read Snow Crash. And if you liked that book and haven’t read this yet just go get it NOW.
I don’t want to ruin too much of the plot for anyone who hasn’t read it so I’m going to be light on the details and just quote the publishers summary.
Matthew Sobol was a legendary computer game designer – the architect behind half-a-dozen popular online games. His premature death depressed both gamers and his company’s stock price. But Sobol’s fans aren’t the only ones to note his passing. When his obituary is posted online, a previously dormant daemon activates, initiating a chain of events intended to unravel the fabric of our hyper-efficient, interconnected world. With Sobol’s secrets buried along with him, and as new layers of his daemon are unleashed at every turn, it’s up to an unlikely alliance to decipher his intricate plans and wrest the world from the grasp of a nameless, faceless enemy – or learn to live in a society in which we are no longer in control. . . .
Sounds kind of cheesy eh? I thought so too but good lordy this book is not cheesy at all. In fact it’s extremely technically accurate and actually quite plausible. Some of the stuff is a little bit futuristic but only by maybe 5 or so years. Besides being a great techno-thriller it inspired me to start gaming and hacking again! 2 past-times I’ve sorely neglected the past few years. Seriously, just go get the book. It’s a blast.
Yes – an outstanding story even with technical writing shortcomings picked at by some reviewers that any first time writer can run into. Really tore me up how it ended and can hardly wait for the wrap-up book Freedom. Considerable technical insights come directly from Mr. Suarez’s background and concerns about where technology, and specifically bots, are heading. Here’s more from his last year SALT presentation worth checking out Daniel Suarez – Daemon: Bot-Mediated Reality (Video 1:20)
Here’s a more direct link to the full video Daniel Suarez – Daemon: Bot-Mediated Reality (Video 1:20)”