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Daniel Suarez

Daemon Kindle Edition

by Daniel Suarez (Author), Quercus (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

1,644 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Daemon

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A man is found brutally murdered - and the only possible perpetrator happens to be dead. As more killings follow, it becomes clear that mass carnage is being planned and organised from beyond the grave.

The Daemon - a lethal and seemingly unstoppable computer program - is responsible and murder is the least of its capabilities. Masterminded by a twisted genius, the Daemon inhabits the systems on which society depends. In a world where everyone and everything is online, nothing is out of its reach. And as we are all connected, there is no escape...

Explosive, action-packed, terrifyingly relevant, Daemon redefines the high-concept thriller for the information age.

Print length

642 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Quercus
Publication date

January 7, 2010
File size

761 KB
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Books In This Series (2 Books)

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Daemon

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Daniel Suarez

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Originally self-published, Suarez's riveting debut would be a perfect gift for a favorite computer geek or anyone who appreciates thrills, chills and cyber suspense. Gaming genius Matthew Sobol, the 34-year-old head of CyberStorm Entertainment, has just died of brain cancer, but death doesn't stop him from initiating an all-out Internet war against humanity. When the authorities investigate Sobol's mansion in Thousand Oaks, Calif., they find themselves under attack from his empty house, aided by an unmanned Hummer that tears into the cops with staggering ferocity. Sobol's weapon is a daemon, a kind of computer process that not only has taken over many of the world's computer systems but also enlists the help of superintelligent human henchmen willing to carry out his diabolical plan. Complicated jargon abounds, but most complexities are reasonably explained. A final twist that runs counter to expectations will leave readers anxiously awaiting the promised sequel. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From Booklist

The homicidal computer program in this action-packed, cyber-thrill debut—originally self-published under a pseudonym by software developer Suarez—makes HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey seem as benign as the voice in your car’s GPS. The untimely death of brilliant computer-game-designer Matthew Sobol causes a software program, the eponymous Daemon, to be released onto the Internet, where it quickly propagates and begins to carry out his convoluted plans for humanity. The Daemon recruits disaffected techno-savvy slackers as its minions, steals cutting-edge technology (including remote-controlled motorcycles equipped with deadly rotating knives) from classified government databases, manipulates financial markets to raise the funds for its nefarious schemes, and cleverly uses the media to thwart the authorities (some of whom are just as villainous as the Daemon). This thrill-a-nanosecond novel is certainly faithful to the techno-traditions of the late Michael Crichton and should delight not only readers of the “science gone awry” genre but general adventure readers as well. Too bad it’s not being published in the summer; Daemon would certainly have qualified as a beach-read blockbuster. --Michael Gannon --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Review

“Daemon does for surfing the web what Jaws did for swimming in the ocean...both entertaining and credible...an impressive debut novel.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“A chilling yet entirely plausible story of technology gone awry.”—St. Petersburg Times

“Fiendishly clever...an almost perfect guilty-pleasure novel.”—The Dallas Morning News

“A riveting debut.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This thrill-a-nanosecond novel is certainly faithful to the techno-traditions of Michael Crichton and should delight not only readers of the 'science gone awry' genre, but general adventure readers as well.”—Booklist

“Suarez's not-just-for-gamers debut is a stunner.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Greatest. Technothriller. Period. Suarez presents a fascinating account of autonomous logic-based terrorism, incorporating current and anticipated technologies to create a credible and quite clever story.”—William O'Brien, Former Director of Cybersecurity and Communications Policy, The White House

“Daemon is the real deal—a scary look at what can go wrong as we depend increasingly on computer networks.”—Craig Newmark, Founder Craigslist --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From Bookmarks Magazine

For now, Daniel Suarez will have to be content with the inevitable comparisons to Michael Crichton and Neal Stephenson; in the publishing world, there are certainly worse fates. To be sure, Suarez's ability in Daemon to push all the right buttons regarding technology and its potential for misuse suggests a writer with a bright future. If word-of-mouth publicity is any indication (there's already strong demand for the sequel, which is due in 2010), the rigors of self-publishing are already a distant memory for Suarez. Daemon is genre fiction meant to be devoured, not savored. "Henry James fans may shudder," the Dallas Morning Newspoints out, "but the result is an almost perfect guilty-pleasure novel that passes briefly through a pulp-bound larval stage before morphing into the Big Action Movie it was meant to be."
Copyright 2009 Bookmarks Publishing LLC --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1:// Execution

Reuters.com/business

Matthew A. Sobol, PhD, cofounder and chief technology officer of CyberStorm Entertainment (HSTM—Nasdaq), diedtoday at age 34 after a prolonged battle with brain cancer. A pioneer in the $40 billion computer game industry, Sobol was the architect of CyberStorm’s bestselling online games Over the Rhine and The Gate. CyberStorm CEO Kenneth Kevault described Sobol as "a tireless innovator and a rare intellect."

What the hell just happened? That was all Joseph Pavlos kept thinking as he clenched a gloved hand against his throat. It didn't stop the blood from pulsing between his fingers. Already a shockingly wide pool had formed in the dirt next to his face. He was on the ground somehow. Although he couldn't see the gash, the pain told him the wound was deep. He rolled onto his back and stared up at a stretch of spotless blue sky.

His usually methodical mind sped frantically through the possibilities—like someone groping for an exit in a smoke-filled building. He had to do something. Anything. But what? The phrase What the hell just happened? kept echoing in his head uselessly, while blood kept spurting between his fingers. Adrenaline surged through his system, his heart beat faster. He tried to call out. No good. Blood squirted several inches into the air and sprinkled his face. Carotid artery . . .

He was pressing on his neck so hard he was almost strangling himself. And he’d been feeling so good just moments before this. He remembered that much at least. His last debts repaid. At long last.

He was getting calmer now. Which was strange. He kept trying to remember what he’d been doing. What brought him here to this place. It seemed so unimportant now. His hand began to relax its hold. He could see plainly that there was no emergency. Because there was no logical scenario in which he would emerge from this alive. And after all, it was his unequaled talent for logic that had brought Pavlos so far in life. Had brought him halfway around the world. This was it. He’d already done everything he would ever do. His peripheral vision began to constrict, and he felt like an observer. He was calm now.

And it was in that cold, detached state that he realized: Matthew Sobol had died. That’s what the news said. And then it all made sense to him. Sobol’s game finally made sense. It was beautiful really.

Clever man . . .

Published by Dutton, a member of Penguin Random House.

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Daniel Suarez is the author of the New York Times bestseller Daemon, Freedom™, Kill Decision, and Influx. A former systems consultant to Fortune 1000 companies, his high-tech and sci-fi thrillers focus on the impact of technology-driven change. He lives in Los Angeles, California. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From AudioFile

The world we live in is almost entirely controlled by daemons, high-tech computers. Matthew Sobol was the man responsible for a large number of these daemons, a genius who could never enjoy his success and eventually took his own life. But when his obituary appears online, an unknown daemon reactivates--and sets out to destroy everything in its path. A taut techno-thriller, this novel unravels at a frantic pace, but narrator Jeff Gurner never struggles to stay ahead of his listener. Gurner sounds like a young, intelligent entrepreneur, much like the ill-fated Sobol. However, Gurner never gives in to the intensity of the story, instead getting better in his straightforward delivery as it plows forward. The result is a novel filled with twists that seem to shock the narrator as much as they do his listener. L.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Review

“Suarez’s riveting debut would be a perfect gift for a favorite computer geek or anyone who appreciates thrills, chills and cyber suspense.…A final twist that runs counter to expectations will leave readers anxiously awaiting the promised sequel.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Greatest. Techno-thriller. Period. Suarez presents a fascinating account of autonomous, logic- based terrorism, incorporating current and anticipated technologies to create a credible and quite clever story. Experts have long feared the Internet doomsday scenario; the Daemon is arguably more terrifying.”
—William O’Brien, Director of Cybersecurity and Communications Policy, The White House

“Daemon is the real deal—a scary look at what can go wrong as we depend increasingly on computer networks.”
— Craig Newmark, Founder Craigslist

“[Daniel Suarez] is the best author of tech fiction since Bruce Sterling and Neal Stephenson. Buy everything he writes.”
— John Robb, futurist & Author of Brave New War

“Daemon is better than early Tom Clancy...The tech is invoked with inside knowledge, the writing is better, and deeper issues are explored with greater imagination.”
— Stewart Brand, Founder Whole Earth Catalog & co-founder the Long Now Foundation

“An exciting book that will force you to think about where we are heading as a 'wired' society. It will keep you guessing. You will not want to put it down, and you will not want it to end. It doesn't get much better than that.”
— Steven Winningham, Former CIO, Gap Inc; EVP, Virgin Entertainment Group

“Daemon is to novels what The Matrix was to movies. It will be how other novels that rely on technology will be judged.”
— Rick Klau, VP FeedBurner

“A thought-provoking novel that presents real technologies in a new and terrible light. It's a hard book to put down.”
— Tom Leonard, Lead AI architect Half-Life 2 (Valve Software)

“Someday, we may be defending our systems against automated threats that aren't just dumb viruses—and the ideas in Daemon will move from the fiction to the nonfiction section.”
— Jim Rapoza, eWeek (Ziff Davis)

“A first-class story that raced, twisting, to a conclusion that left me dying to read Mr. Zeraus's next offering. This book will change the way you look at our society.”
— Wurzel Parsons-Keir Co- founder, Continuous Computing

“Good storytelling can be one of the best ways to wrap your head around the implications of the technological changes we are immersed in. But that depends on finding storytellers who combine talent for story with a willingness and ability to understand the pertinent technologies. Zeraus qualifies. Daemon is highly recommended.”
— Jim McGee, Ph.D - Harvard Business School, Director, Huron Consulting Group

“Daemon pulls you in and doesn't let go. You might think you know where the story is going, but believe me: you don't. This book will surprise you countless times, and it will stay with you long after you finish it..”
— Frank Gallego, Lead 3D Visual Effects Artist, Digital Domain

“Thought-provoking and scary — even more so if you know information technology. I recommend Daemon highly.”
— Beata Kernan, Chicago Computer Society

“Suarez has accomplished a feat I've not seen to date in a novel written by a technologist: he creates characters I care about. The technology is first rate, plausible, and timed in the very near future.”
— Wes Peters, BSD News

“Daemon is the technology story of our time. [Daniel Suarez is] a fantastic storyteller with an eye for technical detail that goes unmatched. Think Michael Crichton but with even more research under the hood.”
— Eric J. Olson, Buzzfeed

“Suarez's view of gaming and technology is what every gamer hopes for. Daemon is a great read that takes you on a wild and crazy techno ride. You won't be able to put this book down!”
—Chuck Fullerton, Founder and CEO, C W. Fullerton Institute of Analysis

“The imagination Mr. Zeraus shows in assessing the current technological landscape is impressive. As I made my way through each chapter, I began to realize this was no typical hacking story. Daemon is worthy of your short list.”
— Donald C. Donzal, Editor in Chief, The Ethical Hacker Network

“I’ve got to say that I LOVED Daemon... I can’t wait for the sequel.”
— C.C. Chapman, VP New Marketing, Crayon --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0038QN2AS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quercus (January 7, 2010)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2010
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 761 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 642 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #867,353 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #42,322 in Science Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #69,757 in Science Fiction (Books)
- #117,062 in Literature & Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
1,644 ratings

About the author

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Daniel Suarez

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DANIEL SUAREZ is a New York Times bestselling author whose books include Daemon, Freedom TM, Kill Decision, Influx, Change Agent and Delta-v (April 23, 2019). A former systems consultant to Fortune 1000 companies, he has designed and developed software for the defense, finance, and entertainment industries. With a lifelong interest in both IT systems and creative writing, his high-tech thrillers and realistic science fiction focus on technology-driven change. Suarez is a past speaker at TED Global, MIT Media Lab, and the Long Now Foundation -- among many others. Self-taught in software development, he is a graduate from the University of Delaware with a BA in English Literature. An avid PC and console gamer, his own world-building skills were bolstered through years as a pen & paper role-playing game moderator. He lives in Los Angeles, California. For more info visit, www.daniel-suarez.com.

Customer reviews

5 star		68%
4 star		22%
3 star		5%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Kobaj

What did I just read?

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2020

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Tl:dr;

I sat down with this book after a rave review from a friend and was ready for a realistic technological murder mystery. And the first few chapters definitely started out alright. It had this wonderful Ready Player One vibe going for it. And then the plot b-lined off a cliff and careened into a canyon. It may have been the worst book I've read in the last 5 years, given I've only ever been motivated to write such a negative review once before in that time frame.

## The characters.

Are so flat and stereotypical its not even funny. You've got GI Joe, Barbie, Asian Scientist Woman, and Old Detective. But just for fun, lets call out these few in particular...

Brian Gragg: is just despicable. And I don't mean in a "guy you love to hate" sort of way. He is literally just bad. I think he is meant to appear psychotic and deranged so that we clearly know who the "bad guy" is in the book. Ultimately giving us some catharsis when he's beaten at the end. Maybe even add a little bit of flare, for us to realize at the last second he was just misunderstood and we've made a big mistake. Nope. He's just "evil" and in fact he isn't beaten. Instead He is rewarded and somehow given power, fame, money, and control. Its a strange choice to put so much focus on this unlikable character and then do nothing with it.

Charles Mosely: The token black guy. Yep, its as bad as you think.

The Daemon: Is presented as both simultaneously the simplest script and most complex AI at the same time. That is, it can only understand binary "yes" or "no" input and works based on scraping RSS feeds, yet at the same time can navigate and control thousands of autonomous vehicles with near millimeter precision racing 100 miles per hour through a busy city. Tip to the author, that's not how to make a round character. That's just being inconsistent. At least the daemon has a goal. Kinda. Destroy and rebuild society - you know, exactly what a deranged computer game designer would want from the world. It accomplishes that goal by murdering thousands, destroying the lives of thousands more, and to top it off pretty much enslaving all the rest of humanity. We are actually expected to be rooting for the virus at the end of the book, I know. I couldn't believe it either.

## The plot.

There is a computer virus. It is bad. None of the good guys can stop it. But maybe its actually a /good/ virus. Whoa ho ho, surprise! The end. That is precisely the extent of story line. There is no mystery to uncover, nor any part of the book that leaves you guessing on the edge of your seat. There is no complexity in the interaction of characters, nor any reason they would be working for/against one another. The cause and effect of events are incredibly limited in scope. Overall what a bore to get through.

One of the defining factors of this book is how "realistic" its supposed to be. How our own society could be overrun by a rampant computer virus written by a genius. That our consumption of 24-hour news streams, or lauding of video games, or dependence on the internet will be our own downfall. But I couldn't buy into the belief for even 5 minutes. Sure, our current technology landscape has weaknesses, but come on.
- People aren't going to just start killing each other at the first sign of trouble, people actually /don't/ want civil war.
- The FBI/CIA/DOD all working together aren't a bunch of dawdling idiots, they could come up with better solutions than "just turn off the internet."
- "Because the stock market would crash" is not an acceptable answer to the (repeated question) "why can't we stop the daemon?"
- Video games don't train you to be a covert assassin or teach you how to manufacture explosives.
- Encryption can't be cracked like /that/.
- Driverless motorcycles can't wield katanas like ninjas.
That last one actually happened. The last third of the book really jumps the shark.

There are so many dumb plot points I could go into as well, but I wanna focus on my favorite. In the final chapters there is a metaphor of rebirth. Dunno if you caught that. You know, after detective Sebek /died/ and then was /reborn/. And the daemon appears in front of him like a god. Just making sure that wordplay didn't go over your head. The chapter was titled rebirth too, in case it wasn't clear. This is the turning point, when one of the main characters (psst, and the reader!) are supposed to realize the truth of everything. Lay it on thick. Maybe that will make it more convincing. Wait, it won't? Oh.

## The author.

Did he do /any/ research at all before writing? I mean, I can excuse some of the technical blunders if he has a background in the military, or visa versa, or whatever. But this reads like someone who has watched too much TV decided they wanted to write a book. Immediately they sat down in front of a word processor, pumping out page after page, until about 4 days later with no sleep they finally finished and shipped it off to a publisher. Which, okay, fine, have some fun and write what you want. But don't try to sell it off as a realistic technology murder mystery, if it has none of those elements!

Last and probably most importantly, this book is clearly full of dog whistling. The "natural" hierarchy of society. The Nazi sympathizing. The focus on the economy as power. Racism, sexism, and fascination with guns. The author tries to hide it by making the characters, gasp, atheists. But wow there is a lot buried in there that speak volumes about what this author thinks - and it isn't pretty.

## Wrap up

There is so much more wrong with this book. I didn't even get into the red herrings regarding Russia, the fascination with drugs/hypnosis/mind control, or the dumb "romance" sub plots. But unlike this book, I know when I've gone on too much. So all in all, don't bother reading.

23 people found this helpful

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A Listener

Technical story is very good and thought out, but characters are too flat

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2018

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The technical details are very well researched, thought out, and realistic, but the characters are very flat and remind me a bit of the type of characters in a 70s cop TV show. Unfortunately I could not care about them, with the laudable exception of Agent Roy "Tripwire" Merritt during his ill-fated stay at the mansion. Well, coming to think of it, Brian Gragg was a well-developed character, although obviously no one can care about *him* :-).

I stuck with the book for quite a while, and then one day I realized I hadn't opened it for longer than a month... that's when I realized I wasn't going to finish it.

10 people found this helpful

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Jim C

Good Premise, poor execution

Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2018

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Had I stopped reading this book at about the halfway mark, I would have given it 4 stars, maybe even 4 and a half. Good premise. Many of the things were plausible and I could go with that. AI has made great advances from the days I worked in it. But then, the last part of the book just got crazy. First, it was how much destruction can we put in. It was like one of the movies where they put in as much carnage, destruction, crashes and explosions as the budget will allow. Action. Then, hundreds of cars that can be directed to seek out individuals and kill them. And all of this preplanned by the ultimate gamer who died early due to cancer. Read the first half of the book and then quit. You'll have a good read and miss all the foolishness.

9 people found this helpful

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Al Singh

A+ for originality

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2015

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Five stars are really not enough for a book like this. The plot and character development are not outstanding, but the story idea is so original that it alone is worthy of a Hugo or Nebula award. There are plenty of science fiction scenarios about a computer taking over the world; this story explores the more realistic and plausible scenario of not an actual computer, not an actual artificial intelligence, but simply a cleverly written program that can infect the world's computers and take them over. It's also a story that makes you stop and think about how every aspect of our lives is now impacted by computerized technology, and how easy it is for rogue actors to control that technology and thus control us. If that happens, will we resist, or will we submit to the Daemon? Before you answer, consider the technology that controls your bank account, your medical and employment records, your very identity. You might be surprised at how quickly you surrender to the Beast.

17 people found this helpful

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Bluemoon

Clever, fast... ...and flawed

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2018

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Here is technologically elaborate story by a reasonably good writer, which is marred, in my opinion, by a climax so over-the-top as to be ridiculous. Readers can make up their own minds, of course, but I would say the story could have retained its integrity far better if Suarez had resisted the urge to pen another Mission: Impossible-esque Hollywood finale that eclipses much of what went before. Will I read the sequel? I haven't decided yet... P.S. Ok, now I've decided: Having read the meager "sample" granted by Amazon, I have to say thumbs down on the sequel. Oh well...

8 people found this helpful

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justin

this book is not for you. it is about you

Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2016

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Daemon is a great read, grounded in real technology stretched to a foreseeable horizon. Suarez clearly knows his way around modern computer systems and never relies on the wizardry as science so often seen in modern post-cyberpunk cyberpunk.

This book reads like a darker, more grounded "Ready Player One", soaked in the modern era rather than the eighties. It asks a lot if the reader, first and foremost to care that bits are agency in our society but also to contemplate the morality of automated decisioning and the abdication of control we often take for granted.

All summed, the story has its cliches and hickups but they are more a comforting spoon of sugar to help swallow the fact that Daemon is, in many ways an allegorical tale of the world we are building. This book is not for you. It is about you. It is about a plausible direction the world we are building could go.

More importantly, it is fun.

9 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Grim_Tidings

When technology grows beyond its function...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2017

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This book was a complete surprise, an excellent read. When I read this originally the technology described was in early stages of development and had limited use in the modern world, but now loads of it used to this day.
The book was almost foretelling events to come!
The story was interesting and kept me reading, which I found especially impressive as I usually read high/ epic fantasy.
If you are into modern style SciFi and technology novels I do recommend this, even if you aren't this is worth a read or at least a try.

3 people found this helpful

Valeria D

Disappointed again...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2019

Verified Purchase

Again, I was surprised by the condition of this book which came in the same package as my previous purchase. Very disappointed - especially as the other ones I had just received from Brit-Books were in such good condition - as again it was not as described and was in a scruffy state with very creased covers. As with my previous purchase, this was intended to be a Christmas present but giving a book in such a bad state would have been an insult, so have had to buy something else. Disappointing, as I had always had good service from this seller in the past.

Gwaa Zi

Superb page turner for geeks

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2014

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book (and the sequel), I was gripped from the first chapter.

The first three quarters of the book use current-day technology, with a lot of the gadgets, AI scripts and plot devices being very plausible indeed. They're used in refreshingly novel ways too - sci-fan fans will have seen some of the ideas before but there is an abundance of fresh ideas too.
The plausibility can be demonstrated well by some of the predictions already coming true - the recent emergence of Google Glass being an obvious example. Did Suarez invent the concept of augmented reality linked to the web? Of course not, but the use of such devices within the context of this technothriller is smoothly done.

Do you have to be a geek to enjoy this book? I'm pretty sure you don't - but gamers and readers with more than a passing interest in IT are likely to get more out of it. The way Artificial Intelligence is portrayed for example, is dealt with using current state of the art (at least earlier on), rather than the more usual super AIs of sci-fi set further into the future, which is refreshing.

Towards the later chapters, modern-tech takes a back seat and some of the gadgets and powers of the Daemon border on the silly (I can't see the Razorbacks being in any way practical for example) but by this time you're having far too much fun to care. Partly this is because of the exciting and thought provoking plot, but it's helped immeasurably by interesting, amusing and engaging characters.

This is a book that adopts a biting, cynical view of the Western US-centric world, which will either ring very true or potentially offend depending on your sensibilities. Either way, it will make you think, which is always laudable.

By the way, there are no problems with the Kindle formatting. I shouldn't really have to say this, but sadly it's not always the case even with modern books.

I don't know if I will review the sequel, but in case I don't, I'd give that five stars too - favourite characters get even more interesting and the ending is truly satisfying (how often can you say that?!).

2 people found this helpful

DMZ92

Captivating Start With OTT Ending

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2017

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This was an interesting story and started off very captivating, there were however several techie speak sentences which were not explained and assumed you knew what TCP/IP was for example. But it's not too tech heavy to maybe confuse non-tech readers. I found the last section to be a little bit far fetched to an otherwise good storyline. The story however does not end so you will need to continue on to the sequel books.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Incredibly Immersive

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2017

Verified Purchase

The plot is amazing and the themes explored are quite interesting. The technological descriptions were great, and I loved the fact that the book remained tech-focused to the end. Towards the end it started to feel like science fiction, but I think it suited the plot, so I did not mind it. People who are not tech-savy should be prepared to have to lookup concepts used in the book, since a lot of times the author assumes the reader has knowledge of the technology or event being described. I did not find this as a disadvantage, but other people might.

The only thing I did not like were the cliches - a lot of the interactions and scenes in the book felt overused already, like pulled out of a boring TV series.

Overall a very interesting concept, realised in a captivating way.

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