Generally, I know if Im reading a good book when I look over at the alarm clock and it says its 2 am and Im still up wondering whats going to happen next, or in this case, angry with the author.
Daemon is a techno-thriller that asks the question: what would happen if a mad genius decided to overthrow the Internet? Matthew Sobol, a genius game designer, has apparently let loose a daemon (in computer parlance, a program running behind other programs) when his obituary is released on the Internet. Suddenly, two of his programmers are killed and a series of events commences that may change civilization forever.
The authors pacing is excellent; there are no scenes or dialogue that arent central to the plot. However, the book itself has a pessimistic tone, because no matter what the good guys do, the daemon continues running. Its interesting how the author notes that the AI engine Sobol invented doesnt just challenge players in his games, it manipulates them. Throughout the book, we see people being divided into those who work for the daemon (generally, the disenfranchised, disaffected) and those who want to stop it (Peter Sebeck, Tripwire Merritt, Jon Ross/Matthew Lasseter).
It is slightly reminiscent of The Matrix or The Terminator franchises, which showed us a world where humans were no longer in control and machines had taken over. However, this daemon is far more insidious in that it uses humans to achieve its purposes. But I can only suspend my disbelief so far: Sobols plan relies on so many variables that it renders itself impossible. There is a second book, Freedom that I would like to read, but this book only gets two stars from me.
Daemon is a techno-thriller that asks the question: what would happen if a mad genius decided to overthrow the Internet? Matthew Sobol, a genius game designer, has apparently let loose a daemon (in computer parlance, a program running behind other programs) when his obituary is released on the Internet. Suddenly, two of his programmers are killed and a series of events commences that may change civilization forever.
The authors pacing is excellent; there are no scenes or dialogue that arent central to the plot. However, the book itself has a pessimistic tone, because no matter what the good guys do, the daemon continues running. Its interesting how the author notes that the AI engine Sobol invented doesnt just challenge players in his games, it manipulates them. Throughout the book, we see people being divided into those who work for the daemon (generally, the disenfranchised, disaffected) and those who want to stop it (Peter Sebeck, Tripwire Merritt, Jon Ross/Matthew Lasseter).
It is slightly reminiscent of The Matrix or The Terminator franchises, which showed us a world where humans were no longer in control and machines had taken over. However, this daemon is far more insidious in that it uses humans to achieve its purposes. But I can only suspend my disbelief so far: Sobols plan relies on so many variables that it renders itself impossible. There is a second book, Freedom that I would like to read, but this book only gets two stars from me.
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