Daemon

By: Daniel Suarez

Narrated by: Jeff Gurner

Length: 15 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Daniel Suarez's New York Times best-selling debut high-tech thriller is “so frightening even the government has taken note” (Entertainment Weekly).

Daemons: computer programs that silently run in the background, waiting for a specific event or time to execute. They power almost every service. They make our networked world possible. But they also make it vulnerable....

When the obituary of legendary computer game architect Matthew Sobol appears online, a previously dormant daemon activates, initiating a chain of events that begins to unravel our interconnected world. This daemon reads news headlines, recruits human followers, and orders assassinations. With Sobol’s secrets buried with him, and as new layers of his daemon are unleashed, it’s up to Detective Peter Sebeck to stop a self-replicating virtual killer before it achieves its ultimate purpose - one that goes far beyond anything Sebeck could have imagined....

©2009 Daniel Suarez (P)2009 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“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)

Daemon: Way Ahead of It's Time

This book is really impressive especially considering it was written in 2006. Created by Daniel Suarez twelve years ago, Daemon is even more relevant today and provides us with a glimpse into our technology and greed-driven dystopian future. Today, we are just seeing the beginning of the unintended consequences of technology, the Internet and Orwellian social networking. As they say, "Orwell was an optimist" compared to Daniel Suarez, who really "nailed it' in his masterwork Daemon.

In 2018, we can readily see that governments have rapidly lost control of the narrative. Advances in technology and the rise of social media while being fully connected to each other on the net is undermining democratic societies globally and this should be clear to everyone. Damon takes this to the next level, deeper in to our dystopian future which awaits us all, but he did this in 2006. Brilliant.

Jeff Gurner's narration was also nearly flawless.

This book is a must "listen to" on Audible for anyone who loves dystopian futuristic sci fi like me!

First book of terrific two book series.

I have listened to the two books of the series more than once and enjoy each listening even more. I am sure that anyone who listens once will feel the need to listen again.

This Book Never Stops

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Only if you like to think, plan, plot and enjoy excitement

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes.

What about Jeff Gurner’s performance did you like?

Amazing amount of voices

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me wonder

Understand technology? You'll appreciate this one

Where does Daemon rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was entertaining and engrossing. Maybe an 8 out of 10.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sobel, he was the brains of the operation.

Which scene was your favorite?

I appreciate the descriptions of how the technology works to carry out Sobel's plans.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The reader could go a bit slower, especially since the content requires so much thinking and imagining. I also found the technology aspects much more believable than the human participation. But... I'd actually enjoy seeing this as a movie.

Next level cyberpunk

William Gibson started a new genre called cyberpunk, well he was right in the thick of it anyway. Suarez takes the techno revolution one step further and creates a whole new level of cyberpunk using technology we currently have, not something still in R&D. This makes it very plausible. Scary even. The presentation is amazing with Jeff Gurner using different voices for the characters bringing personality to life. On my third listen through and I'm sure there will be a fourth.

Great Mix of Tech & Action

Where does Daemon rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the tops of the audiobooks I've listened to.

What other book might you compare Daemon to and why?

As nearly as possible it's close to Neuromancer in that it deals with the technology accurately and without mistakes that pull you our of the experience. The difference is that this has more action and a quicker pace that doesn't drag in places like Neuromancer.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the attack on the government's research center kicks off and all the groundwork that the Daemon has done comes to fruition. WOW!

Ran out of gas at the end

A really good story and very thought provoking. The ending got a little too Hollywood but I'm glad I spent the time with this book.

Awesome

Started off a little cheesy but wow did it pick up. I sat in my car in anticipation. Now I must get Freedom.

Guns may kill but cars work much better.

This is what happens when a smart person writes a book, may it forever be compared and contrasted to all other works of fiction.

Great Fiction

What made the experience of listening to Daemon the most enjoyable?

Demon and its sequel Freedom TM take Sci-Fi to a whole new level. This story is fast paced and takes twists and turns that you didn't see coming.

What other book might you compare Daemon to and why?

If I didn't know better I would have thought this book was written by Scott Sigler.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Gurner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. He's a good narrator.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Hell yah!

Any additional comments?

I want more!