Amped

A Novel

By: Daniel H. Wilson

Narrated by: Robbie Daymond

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Technology makes them superhuman. But mere mortals want them kept in their place. The New York Times best-selling author of Robopocalypse creates a stunning, near-future world where technology and humanity clash in surprising ways. The result? The perfect summer blockbuster.

As he did in Robopocalypse, Daniel Wilson masterfully envisions a frightening near-future world. In Amped, people are implanted with a device that makes them capable of superhuman feats. The powerful technology has profound consequences for society, and soon a set of laws is passed that restricts the abilities - and rights - of "amplified" humans.

On the day that the Supreme Court passes the first of these laws, 29-year-old Owen Gray joins the ranks of a new persecuted underclass known as "amps." Owen is forced to go on the run, desperate to reach an outpost in Oklahoma where, it is rumored, a group of the most enhanced amps may be about to change the world - or destroy it.

Once again, Daniel H. Wilson's background as a scientist serves him well in this technologically savvy thriller that delivers first-rate entertainment, as Wilson takes the "what if" question in entirely unexpected directions. Fans of Robopocalypse are sure to be delighted, and legions of new fans will want to get "amped" this summer.

©2012 Daniel H. Wilson (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

Raves for the New York Times Best seller Robopocalypse:"An ingenious, instantly visual story of war between humans and robots." (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

"Terrific page-turning fun." (Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly)

" Robopocalypse reminded me of Michael Crichton when he was young and the best in the business. This novel is brilliant, beautifully conceived, beautifully written (high-five, Dr. Wilson)...but what makes it is the humanity. Wilson doesn't waste his time writing about 'things', he's writing about human beings, fear, love, courage, hope. I loved it." (Robert Crais, number-one New York Times best-selling author)

A better movie than a book.

Daniel Wilson starts with an interesting idea: how does the U.S. deal with citizens who have enhanced abilities thanks to brain implants ("amps"). Wilson takes us immediately to the worst possible outcome, sending the U.S. and our characters into a world where those with amps are heavily discriminated against, by citizens and law, to the point where they are on the run for their lives. Conveniently enough one of them, the son of one of the original designers of the amps, finds himself in a position to lead a revolution of One against the man and uncover the conspiracy behind it all. You can see how things can get pretty thin pretty fast. Wilson's first novel, Robopocalyse, had far more tension and a more satisfying view into the negative impact technology can have on society. This book is geared more towards satisfying the movie genre where one man makes all the difference. Meh, says the SF fan. If I'm going to play in this world, it can't just be the one guy with the best amp saving the world. It's got to be more, and Wilson comes up short in that regard. I'm willing to spend some time in this horrible world he's created, where amped people are treated with less civility than any race relation in our nation's history. But Wilson decides instead to follow the path of a single character with just enough access and abilities to save the world. Meh. Daymond's reading is spot on, and his accents are well developed and enhance the story. If you liked Wilson's first book, give this one a go but don't get your hopes too high.

I feel like I am in the story

What did you love best about Amped?

It is realistic. Discrimination is real in our society, so something like this concept is no different to anything else we have encountered in our history. The only difference is that technology is invading our lives, and that has only started for us.

What did you like best about this story?

Owen's character is the best.

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

The different voices helped created an image of the scene that is going on.

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

I could not put the book down.

Any additional comments?

Overall it will create an image that will make you want to keep reading and think you are part of the story.

revisiting with an old friend

I read this book when it first came out. I really loved the book then. still enjoyed the book now. I know that this book is one that I will definitely revisit. I like the superhero / science fiction feel of this book.

Dark, a bit depressing, too much ethics...

The concept of a cyber-enhanced mankind isn't new, so any novel using that as a lynchpin should present new ideas, or at least a strong plot to carry it along. This story, unfortunately, while well written, does not have that support to move forward, and bogs down with prejudicial ethics, so much to the point that such prejudice is essential to the very storyline. That's too bad, because in this case, there was so much the author could have done to take us on a fresh journey. Also, there has to be a great reason to take that journey, as well as a reward for taking such a journey. Too little, too late, and too depressing. The characters needed more depth for the reader/listener to invest in - Without that, it's a shallow read/listen.

That being said, the the plot became predictable, and very two dimensional. It's not a BAD audiobook, but it's obvious that it could have been MUCH better. I hope to hear more work from Wilson - And practice CAN make perfect. Just not in this audiobook.

Awesome

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

Thought provoking, exciting

What did you like best about this story?

The overall scenario of a possible future with its ambiguities and moral conflicts

Which scene was your favorite?

When the protagonist accesses his special attributes

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

maybe

Another Win for Daniel Wilson!

I am an ardent, dare I say rabid, fan of Daniel Wilson's work. I started by reading his Robopocalypse series, and then jumped on Amped as soon as it was released. Although Amped is not connected to the AU of Robopocalypse, it was an equally thrilling ride. This audio version of Amped only serves to enhance the book, Robbie was the perfect choice to narrate this novel. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Science Fiction/dystopian novels. there is heart stopping action, suspense, a well formed and researched world that is believable because Mr. Wilson is a scientist who has a great deal of experience with robotics and the discovery of new technology. Bio-tech is already a part of our society and the technology he describes is not only possible but has been slowly evolving as the next step in biomedical treatments. Brain implants are already used to treat severe conditions such as epilepsy and Parkinson-like tremors. Mr. Wilson connects the dots seamlessly to highlight a very real and possible future. Amped is a cerebral horror that in my mind is on par with Stephen King. Do yourself a favor and lose yourself in this incredibly addictive book. I am very hopeful that some producer/director will snap up this book to bring it to life on the big screen!

Excellent. Deffenetly worth a listen.

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

The Narrator did an excellent job, and I enjoy the way the story was told.

Not so "amped" about this one

Amped is a anticlimactic psychological thriller drama type of a story. I think that if you took away the science fiction aspect, this could still be a great exploration of the human condition and how most humans are afraid of what they do not understand. This audiobook really exposes how prejudices can overtake a society and how the oppressed struggle to free themselves. I did however find the audiobook dry, not a lot happening, a lot of scientific jargon that was interesting, but not sure it it was really needed. I did fully enjoy hoe each chapter ended with a snippet of a news flash or article, which really summarized the chapter in case you were unable to follow as I was more than once. After the epic Robopocalypse, I found Amped to be a let down, yet still a great narration of how twisted and cruel humans can be to one another.

Better than Robopocalypse!

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

It is AWESOME

What was one of the most memorable moments of Amped?

When the elite group of Amps goes whole hog, the way it is described is very intricate and you almost feel as if it is happening to you. The fight between Lyle and #13 (as he was called) was amazing.

Which character – as performed by Robbie Daymond – was your favorite?

Lyle. He switched into that character and played it like it was his real voice and character.

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

I did not have an extreme reaction to this book. It did however, make me think quite a bit about what direction science is heading to. Also, it depicted well the fact that despite any forward steps that man takes in health, etc. there will still be those who are ailing and those who are prejudiced against others for one reason or another.

No Michael Crighton but still worth a listen

Some have compared Dr. Wilson, a PHD in Robotics, to Michael Crichton. While they both base their books on their scientific expertise, Dr. Wilson???s story line lacks the imagination of the writer of Jurassic Park; but it is still entertaining.
Amped is a familiar story line about discrimination between super-humans and ???mere mortals,??? (X-men). Set in the near future where people suffering from physical ailments are given neuro implants that not only correct problems such as seizures, ADHD, and Autism, but make them far superior to normal humans. As the group of Amps grows, ???normal" society starts to feel at a disadvantage and passes a law restricting the rights of the Amps. This creates a conflict between the two sides and possible war.
Running from a crime he didn't commit, the hero of the story Owen Grey has a very special implant that he must figure out what exactly it does and how it works before war breaks out.
It???s a quick listen, fast paced, and the narrator Robbie Daymond does a good job; but if you???re looking for a profound concept like extracting Dino DNA from mosquitos stuck in amber, you would be disappointed.