Interface

By: Neal Stephenson, J. Frederick George

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

From his triumphant debut with Snow Crash to the stunning success of his latest novel, Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson has quickly become the voice of a generation.

In this now-classic thriller, he and fellow author J. Frederick George tell a shocking tale with an all-too plausible premise. There's no way William A. Cozzano can lose the upcoming presidential election. He's a likable midwestern governor with one insidious advantage - an advantage provided by a shadowy group of backers. A biochip implanted in his head hardwires him to a computerized polling system. The mood of the electorate is channeled directly into his brain. Forget issues. Forget policy. Cozzano is more than the perfect candidate. He's a special effect.

©2005 Neal Stephenson & J. Frederick George (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Nominee - Best Thriller/Suspense Audiobook, 2011

"As he deftly conveys the authors' chilling dramatization of the national political process, Wyman's voice sounds fresh and contemporary but seasoned with enough maturity to render him a believable newscaster. The authors' and narrator's storytelling skills mesh perfectly in a thriller of the sort that keeps one sitting in the driveway long after arriving home." ( AudioFile)

Average Techno-Thriller Effort

The second book in my run up to Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle (& Cryptonomicon) was to listen to this older work. I liked this much more than D.O.D.O. Interface is a fairly straight thriller. There is a bit of an SF element in it, the technology of the brain implant, but this is no Science fiction book. I enjoyed the characterization and the foreshadowed plot. But I must say that the ending was not expected.

The Oliver Wyman narration was very good. Mr. Wyman made an extra effort to vocalize the more oddball characters, making the experience more fun.

Timely, Funny, Well Written and Well Performed

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

This book is a great read and a great commentary on our current political climate without having any overt political or ideological leaning

Scary prospects

A very interesting view of possible unintended consequences as we move into the future of combining medicine and electronics.

Freakishly Prescient

So many Simpson’s moments in this book. It’s interesting and takes its time. Best of all,the narration is fantastic - he is able to go back and forth between characters in a single conversation- brilliant.

Intriquing Concept

This book will entertain just about everyone. It's intriguing, presents some not often thought of ideas, has a great deal of humor and while touching on political aspirations, the subject is not heavy or cumbersome.

A politician high on the political list for a presidential run suffers a debilitating stroke. At the same time, medical research contemplates the ability to take over under active or inactive parts of the brain and provide the missing instructions. Tests are being done somewhat successfully on baboons.

The overall story follows several story lines that eventually come together. The medical research, the political dreams of several characters, a homeless woman looking for work and the ability to provide for her children when her husband takes the "easy" way out, an aspiring neurologist and a family with a loyal family lawyer who sometimes runs afoul of others expectations.

All together the listener is left with some interesting ideas of just how far some will go to control the will of any nation through political means.

I thoroughly enjoyed the unabridged version and was entertained for many hours.