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)

I enjoyed it

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

wanted more time

What other book might you compare Amped to and why?

?

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

no, but he is good

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

? i am not sure

Any additional comments?

This is a good one

Okay story... but just below Great!

Story is, as I said okay. The plot rushes along with each story phase told quickly and wraps up quickly to an unsatisfying conclusion. Each story element is very dubiously connected and makes the plot jump from one development to the next in some cases. Each story scene is brief moving on to the next as previously mention, but the 'going into the levels’ and the fight scenes are drawn out as if in a visual slow motion part of the ‘movie’, which made me impatient to get on with it.
Really – it is a good story to listen while on a long trip or commute. Narration is maybe the best part

Fantastic Book!

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

Robbie Daymond did a fantastic job of reading an amazing story.

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

He does of a great job of bringing the characters to life. His inflection, tone, and use of voice manipulation really brings out the story.

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

I was really at the edge of my seat listening to this. So much so, in fact that I couldn't stop listening to it.

Any additional comments?

This was great story that was read extremely well. I highly recommend it.

Fantastic Story!

I was chained to my phone and headphones for a day while listening to this book! Couldn't stop listening until it was done. It was almost as if the narrator (Robbie Daymond) and author (Daniel H. Wilson) were paired together to make an impactful and mesmerizing performance.

A future of things to come.

What a great story our science and science fiction come together to make a great story. Other understands very prejudice against the unknown. and has a better understanding against good versus evil. It was nice to see that there're still bigots in the world and they cannot change your mind.

Less than satisfying follow-up

Let me begin by saying how much I enjoyed the author's debut, Robopocalypse. In a sub-genre that has seen a number of treatments of the robot takeover of the world. that novel was more like literature. To make a comparison, if you liked World War Z, then Robopocalypse is nearly as good. That might be why I was disappointed in Wilson's sophomore effort. I expected a story with broader scope and less predictability. Unfortunately, I figured it all out by the middle of the book, which means the story never truly pulled me in. I gave it three stars because some of the characters were interesting and the premise was at least interesting. Sadly, the execution wasn't.

What technology may bring

What did you love best about Amped?

The underlying story has happened more than a few times in history and will happen again.

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

When you realize we have seen this before and how quickly mankind can be turned against another group of human beings.

an interesting view on a very possible future

the narrator wasnt my favorite but he does a good job emphasizing emotions and context. the book is a marvel of plot twists and foreseeable futures. it will have you begging for the next page

Few new ideas and questionable motives

If you are a gamer (as in video, xbox, etc.) then you'll recognize Amped as another word for Augs (Augmented) in Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Same basic plot - humans with augmented robotic abilities are shunned by a purist society, both of whose sides have fuzzy motives. The protagonist is alternately brave and wimpy and some characters sort of run together. If your're looking for a story in this "genre" you're better to play Deus Ex in "Story Mode" this book. The narrator, however, was quite excellent, bringing interest and some life to the characters. Also, for my fellow gamers out there - this is not about snowboarding (grin).

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.