Interface

By: Neal Stephenson, J. Frederick George

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 25 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

From his triumphant debut with Snow Crash to the stunning success of his latest novel, Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson has quickly become the voice of a generation.

In this now-classic thriller, he and fellow author J. Frederick George tell a shocking tale with an all-too plausible premise. There's no way William A. Cozzano can lose the upcoming presidential election. He's a likable midwestern governor with one insidious advantage - an advantage provided by a shadowy group of backers. A biochip implanted in his head hardwires him to a computerized polling system. The mood of the electorate is channeled directly into his brain. Forget issues. Forget policy. Cozzano is more than the perfect candidate. He's a special effect.

©2005 Neal Stephenson & J. Frederick George (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Nominee - Best Thriller/Suspense Audiobook, 2011

"As he deftly conveys the authors' chilling dramatization of the national political process, Wyman's voice sounds fresh and contemporary but seasoned with enough maturity to render him a believable newscaster. The authors' and narrator's storytelling skills mesh perfectly in a thriller of the sort that keeps one sitting in the driveway long after arriving home." ( AudioFile)

Superlative Listening Experience

Any additional comments?

Initially this book appeared to go into an inordinate level of detail over what appeared, at first blush, to be the merely trivial and unimportant. Thus the movement of the storyline appeared almost frustratingly slow. Then, as I adjusted to its pace I began to realise that the author was providing this detail for very clever reasons as he slowly unfurled what was to become and immensely complex, rich and rewarding tale. In the end, it was an exquisitely well-crafted and absorbing book and I could not speak highly enough of the narrator. He narrated the background story line beautifully and, almost as importantly, delivered magnificent characterisations, moving effortlessly between the voices of the very different characters as be bought them all to life. A very enjoyable work from masters of their crafts.

Brilliant!

I love Neal Stephenson and this may be his best book I have listened to.
It is not be so convoluted like Cryptonomicon and Baroque trilogy (loved all of these tremendously) and may have some parallels with the Diamond age.
For me this is the essence of all I love about N.Stephenson's books

Great timing, ballanced ... Great!

Meh.

It was alright, but it was much too long for a payoff that left a lot to be desired.

Classic Stephenson to read during any election year

A story of oligarchic power where high-tech meets The Manchurian Candidate via the military industial complex.

I enjoyed this story

Technology, politics, shadowy historic organizations, mind control, murder, intrigue. Solid plot and premise that never gets old. The question is always how sneaky they’re going to be about it.

Written in 1994 and *way* ahead of its time...

And the narrator has some serious tallent. Don't start if you have anything to do :)

Once again, Neal Stephenson nails it!!

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

Great presentation! Narrator did a super job...

What about Oliver Wyman’s performance did you like?

His presentation of all the characters

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

Yes!

Any additional comments?

Another awesome and detail focused story. Neal takes several dissparate story lines and moves them gracefully together as the story is told!!!

Great Story for Our Time

Given the state of the USA, this is a interesting and insightful book. Highly recommended .

A bit dated but good

A bit dated ( with regards to both technology and politics) but an entertaining story nonetheless.

Clever and somewhat anachronistic

The story of using emotional profiles of the American people to elect the president. It relies on clever technology that gives instantaneous feedback on people's responses and allows it too be used to stimulate the candidates mind. The characters are well drawn. There are several unexpected twists.
There was a similar story written on the sixties that primed a candidate with selective data from each electoral district as he campaigned there. I don't recall three end of that book.
Interface was published at the dawn of the she of public Access to the internet. Smartphones were barely imagined.
Stephenson wrote the book with his uncle. They created a thought provoking book. The didn't imagined the 2020 invasion of the capital.