Kill Decision

By: Daniel Suarez

Narrated by: Jeff Gurner

Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

The shocking techno-thriller that cements Daniel Suarez's status as the heir to Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy - a terrifying, breathtaking, and all-too-plausible vision of the world's near future.

Unmanned weaponized drones already exist: they're widely used by America in our war efforts in the Middle East. In Kill Decision, best-selling author Daniel Suarez takes that fact and the real science behind it one step further, with frightening results.

Linda McKinney is a myrmecologist, a scientist who studies the social structure of ants. Her academic career has left her entirely unprepared for the day her sophisticated research is conscripted by unknown forces to help run an unmanned - and thanks to her research, automated - drone army. Odin is the secretive Special Ops soldier with a unique insight into the faceless enemy who has begun to attack the American homeland with drones programmed to seek, identify, and execute targets without human intervention.

Together, McKinney and Odin must slow this advance long enough for the world to recognize its destructive power, because for thousands of years the "kill decision" during battle has remained in the hands of humans - and off-loading that responsibility to machines will bring unintended, possibly irreversible, consequences.

But as forces even McKinney and Odin don't understand begin to gather, and death rains down from above, it may already be too late to save humankind from destruction at the hands of our own technology.

©2012 Daniel Suarez (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Well worth a credit.

If you could sum up Kill Decision in three words, what would they be?

Modern. Gripping. Accurate.

What other book might you compare Kill Decision to and why?

Any good techno-thriller such as the Tom Clancy books.

What does Jeff Gurner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great character acting and good pace.

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

Not a particular moment I can identify. What moved me is that fact that drones are not the future any longer. Drones are now.

Any additional comments?

Good book well worth the price or a credit.

Liked it did not love it like Freedom and Daemon

Would you consider the audio edition of Kill Decision to be better than the print version?

n/a

What did you like best about this story?

The thought provoking ideas of drones and where it could go.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Gurner – was your favorite?

Characters were all good with the exception of McKinney but that had more to do with the character than his performance.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Better than the book

Any additional comments?

Weaker than Freedom and Daemon but good because Mr. Suarez's books are intelligent and technologically possible. The McKinney character was nauseating. Her logic did not make sense and and she was WHINNEY! I did not want to put down at times but her character in the begining made me want to shut it off.

WHEW! - What a ride.

Absolutely loved the ride! the author is fast paced the story gripping and a little too plausible for my tastes! Jeff Gurner is beyond talented. i heard the Leo Laporte suggested it form another reviewer and I figure I had nothing to lose. I just ordered his previous books, can't wait to get started!

Daniel Suarez does it again!

Would you listen to Kill Decision again? Why?

I would definitely listen to Kill Decision again. Actually, I am re-listening to his first two books right now.

What did you like best about this story?

I think Suarez is a master of synthesizing current trends in technology and culture, and then placing them in a time just a bit over the horizon.

What does Jeff Gurner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has great presence and brings a sense of immediacy to the book.

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

Neither...but I was extremely entertained.

Recommended if you like spy novels

This was a new author for me in my favorite genre. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and will read more if his work. The only things that distracted me were (1) the weird, unexplained sound effects at the beginning of each chapter, and (2) the strange accent the reader used for one of the main characters. He sounded just like a funny little character in one of my daughter's favorite Disney movies, although the name of the character and movie escapes me at the moment. It made it hard for me to take the character in this book seriously since the Disney character was a wise-cracking sidekick, but unless you are an avid Disney fan, this likely won't be an issue for you. I intentionally omit the name of the character in the book so as not to influence any readers who might not hear this likeness for themselves. That aside, this was a suspenseful, well-researched, "spy" novel that only required a slight suspension of logic to make the plot work. (Sadly, it's probably more plausible than I want to admit.) I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the spy genre. Happy Reading!

Good, but not as great as Daemon and Freedom

Since his first two books are in my top 10 list, I was incredibly optimistic about this new novel from Daniel Suarez, and ended up purchasing both the Kindle book and the Audible audiobook. Unfortunately, while it was good, it was nowhere near as good as Daemon and Freedom.

Essentially, it's a similar near-term tech thriller. Sci-Fi, but nothing which doesn't exist today, or at least nothing which couldn't exist today. Unfortunately some of the tech in this is just silly, and some is basically trivial descriptions of current systems. There were some potentially-interesting subplots, but they were basically ignored after being introduced.

The characters, just like in Daemon and Freedom, weren't really the strong point -- kind of two dimensional, although not really cliche. There were some glimmers of hope from secondary/minor characters.

Ultimately, this would be a great summer blockbuster movie; great enough that people will clamor for a novelization of the movie based on a book...

scarey view of the future with robots

This book has taken a fair amount of facts and woven a tale of what can happen. The micro copters exist. Swarming is being worked. Insect cultures are understood. And all of this technology is coming together with Moore's law. This book should help trigger the debate on how robots are used and under what conditions, they are made autonomus! read this book and get others to read it...this is closer to today than you think.

Action packed, but a little bit predictable

Fast paced and riveting. It plays out like a movie. I couldn't stop listening. But... Kind of predictable.

Great story consistent fast paced throughout

This story was very well told, fast paced but easy to follow. It's very easy to get wrapped up in the story and forget what's going on around you.

Good Book.

Slow starting but ends very nicely. A good techno thriller. Makes you wonder what the world of drones is gonna turn into.