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 great read for near future fans

Listening to this really got me thinking about the possibilities that are just around the corner. Wilson does a good job of showing the fears that technology can bring but also giving a view of the humanity that will survive even as technology becomes even more integrated into our lives.

Solid story

Any additional comments?

After reading Wilson's Robopocalypse I was looking forward to a new book from him. This book is really good but doesn't have the spark that makes it a great book like Robopocalypse.

It is an interesting book and i would recommend it.

It's ok

I really expected more from the book the setting for the world is great and the Novel starts off strong. However, it losses steam mid way and just starts to drag. In short is it a BUY, TRY, OR PASS ? I'd say its really a Pass.

A Great Surprise

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

I was looking for an easy to listen story while I was working. What I got was a story that was great to listen to while working, and at times took my attention away from work.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The lead character has a great journey. The story takes you to different places and makes the story very full.

Any additional comments?

I wish I would have written this review sooner, in that manner I would be able to give better details. What I can tell you is that I am glad I own this because I am going to listen to it again.

Well worth reading

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

Haven't read this in print version.

Any additional comments?

While I wasn't terribly impressed with the story per se, I find that Daniel Wilson's portrayal of how the masses can be manipulated to be quite relevant to what is happening in our society today in terms of fear mongering by elitist and money powered groups. History is replete with examples of what happens in this story. Regrettably, such history is yet again repeating in my opinion.

Pretty Good Read

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

Fast-moving, tight, somewat predictable.

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

Yes, was hard to stop listening when driving.

Any additional comments?

A little predictable, but a good story, well read and kept my attention.

Exciting world wasted on vapid characters

Even though the concept of this book is solid, and even things such as in-universe news articles and briefings are engaging, I was extremely frustrated by the time I was done reading. This book is pretentious in that it expects me to accept the main character's naivete and excessive use of purple prose. Add to that an uninteresting love interest, a VERY AGGRAVATING homeless man who only exists in one chapter, and clichéd villains with ill-defined motives (these are just the most glaring problems), and I have no business recommending this book to any fan of the sci-fi genre. Also, the audio is occasionally scratchy and unprofessional​ sounding.

Like eating Junk Food & Regreting Doing So

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A well developed fleshed out plot would have helped a lot.

What was most disappointing about Daniel H. Wilson’s story?

It had no depth. The story was rushed and implausible. This is the second book I've read by this author and both were good but poorly executed plots.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Robbie Daymond?

Yes he was okay.

What character would you cut from Amped?

They were all shallow.

Any additional comments?

I won't waste any more of my time commenting about such poor writing.

Boorish

I was expecting the invention of, and evolution of, android like robots, that posed interesting and challenging issues to a society advanced enough to have invented them and that would, eventually, threaten the social order and challenge the survival of the human race. I expected the premise of this book to be focused on the way an intelligent, informed, and advanced society might manage to endure, and overcome, what would evolve into the superior intellect, and power, of a machine of their own making.

Instead, I got a story populated with boorish, vindictive, redneck, bullies, spouting four letter abuse and bent on mayhem; like dogs barking at bears.

The protagonists were no more interesting, or intelligent, than the barking dogs and seem to have no redeeming qualities; they are all the above, except that they are super charged, possessing superhuman powers; due to high tech implants in their brains. The odd thing is that the inventor seemed to have failed to incorporated intellect in the device. Somewhere about chapter 15 these two forces face off in a "no contest" confrontation.

There were a few interesting revelations in the beginning, as the author attempts to develop his characters and set the scene, but then, rather suddenly, the reader finds himself in the middle of redneck country and this ludicrous situation.

The story line lacks nuance, the writing is; in my opinion, sophomoric; with no surprises, the characters are uninteresting and there is nothing compelling about the story; which is simplistic and might appeal to teenage boys, but not to anyone who is interested in how robotics might affect the human condition or how the human race might fail to recognize the slow, insidious evolution of such a technology until it was too late.

I continued to listen until chapter 17, at which point the protagonists love interest began to show interest in him; just as expected!

A great disappointment.

Boring predictable story and long pauses

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Better reader that doesn't have awkward long pauses between sentences and a better story line that isn't so predictable,

What could Daniel H. Wilson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Rewrite from the begining

Would you be willing to try another one of Robbie Daymond’s performances?

NO

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Amped?

So, so much

Any additional comments?

I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for something, anything cool to happen and it just wasn't there. One would think electronically modified humans + fictional story = cool but nope. Some people can see better, some are a little smarter, and a select few have military programming but don't get all excited all they can do is fight better and not even like Matrix fighting either.