Influx

By: Daniel Suarez

Narrated by: Jeff Gurner

Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

What if our civilization is more advanced than we know?

The New York Times best-selling author of Daemon - "the cyberthriller against which all others will be measured" (Publishers Weekly) - imagines a world in which decades of technological advances have been suppressed in an effort to prevent disruptive change.

Are smartphones really humanity's most significant innovation since the moon landings? Or can something else explain why the bold visions of the 20th century - fusion power, genetic enhancements, artificial intelligence, cures for common diseases, extended human life, and a host of other world-changing advances - have remained beyond our grasp? Why has the high-tech future that seemed imminent in the 1960s failed to arrive?

Perhaps it did arrive…but only for a select few.

Particle physicist Jon Grady is ecstatic when his team achieves what they've been working toward for years: A device that can reflect gravity. Their research will revolutionize the field of physics - the crowning achievement of a career. Grady expects widespread acclaim for his entire team. The Nobel Prize. Instead, his lab is locked down by a shadowy organization whose mission is to prevent at all costs the social upheaval sudden technological advances bring. This Bureau of Technology Control uses the advanced technologies they have harvested over the decades to fulfill their mission.

They are living in our future.

Presented with the opportunity to join the BTC and improve his own technology in secret, Grady balks, and is instead thrown into a nightmarish high-tech prison built to hold rebellious geniuses like himself. With so many great intellects confined together, can Grady and his fellow prisoners conceive of a way to usher humanity out of its artificial dark age?

And when they do, is it possible to defeat an enemy that wields a technological advantage half a century in the making?

©2014 Daniel Suarez (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"You'll hear a lot of reviewers compare Suarez to [Michael] Crichton, including me for his previous book Kill Decision. And Suarez deserved the honor in the truest sense...he had achieved a truly Crichton-level of storytelling. But with Influx, Suarez becomes the master, and Crichton is the one who is honored by the comparison." (Stephen L. Macknik, Scientific American)

"[Influx is] done with the dazzling sophistication, the play of ideas, the hints of a new understanding almost within our grasp that characterize sci-fi in the cybertronic age." (The Wall Street Journal)

“With this terrifying thriller, Suarez provides further support for the proposition that he’s a worthy successor to the late Michael Crichton… Suarez once again mixes science and fiction perfectly.”(Publishers Weekly, starred review)

Daniel Suarez...Need I say more?

Any additional comments?

The modern master of the cyberthriller is at it again with his latest installment "Influx". Great book with interesting premise of suppressed technology and the agency which is attempting to prevent such advancements. Jon Grady is a physicist who is responsible for the latest break thru and the target of the latest horrific containment efforts. An interesting look at "tinfoil" conspiracy theories gone mad and one man's quest for resistance from an agency whose motives are as concerning as that which they are attempting to protect society from. Great book...check it out! Then go back and read all other Daniel Suarez novels.

STORY COULD OF BEEN BETTER

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

MORE OR LESS, , THE STORY IS JUST NOT AS GOOD AS IT COULD BE

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

NOT SURE, HE READ WELL

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

MOSTLIKELY

Any additional comments?

ONLY COMMENT, AUDIBLE.COM ARE THE GREATEST FOLKS TOO DEAL WITH I'VE EVER FOUND IN MY DEALINGS OVER THE PHONE OR ON MY COMPUTER

Pretty Good

Any additional comments?

I was probably expecting too much considering Daniel Suarez' first 3 books (not that this one is in a series, but the first 3 books Suarez authored, which were outstanding 5-star reads in my opinion). Influx - while entertaining - skated too close to the "cheesy" line of Science Fiction/Technology. Some interesting notions to be sure, but they present in a weird way though the personality of the main character. I found the the main character to be less than believable and did not fit well with the science he advanced. Even considering that, it's worth a listen particularly if you are a Suarez fan.

Very good book!

I disagree with a number of the reviews that knock the book on its shallow physics and flawed technology. The book is an action story and in that regard it excels and captivates you if you let it. The characters are very well fettered out and believable. I enjoyed this book very much! I do like technical books that are closely tied to physics and such but in many cases I enjoy ones that are not even more. . This is definitely one of those. Thank you Daniel for another excellent story!

Excellent cyber thriller

I loved the use of technology and story. Well narrated and I could almost believe this to be real.

Suarez does it again.

It started off kind of slow, to me at least, but made up for it.

Always futuristic author delivers again

Every book I have ready from Daniel Suarez is futuristic. it may take place in present time but the technology has been allowed to develop further. This book plays at explaining why we have not move further in our technology. As a race human technology has advance slowing since the atomic and rocket eras. Can there really be a secret organization hiding truly advance technology from most of the world. Take a dive in this book and let it play with all the possibilities. With many twist and turns, your stayed glue until you finish it. You may find yourself listening to some sections repeatedly because of the technical nature, but can also let your self be taken on a ride. if you do go back your find that it is base on hard science and theory as we know it today. A science lover dream.

awesome!

Where does Influx rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

top! loved it! Another amazing read or listen to it! It's just another solid story!

Enjoyable!

This book started out interesting, then got weird, then got unbelievable, then got really good! You have to turn off your reality filters for this one though. Suarez goes way more sci-fi than he usually does. Once you accept this it is a fun read!

Great, interesting story

What did you love best about Influx?

The whole concept of hidden technology.

What did you like best about this story?

Spanned several years and amazing tech.

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

Not that I'm aware

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

Great story and really held my interest. Can get pretty scientific, but not too much where your eyes glaze over.