- Daemon (technothriller series)
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Daemon 
2006 original editionAuthor(s) Daniel Suarez Country United States Language English Genre(s) Techno-thriller novel Publisher Verdugo Press Publication date December 1, 2006 Media type Print (Paperback) Pages 444 pp (paperback edition) ISBN ISBN 978-0978627102 (paperback edition) OCLC Number 123420486 Dewey Decimal 813/.6 22 LC Classification PS3626.E73 D34 2006 Followed by Freedom™ Freedom™ Author(s) Daniel Suarez Country United States Language English Genre(s) Techno-thriller novel Publisher Dutton Publication date January 7, 2010 Media type Print (hardcover) Pages 416 ISBN 978-0525951575 Preceded by Daemon Daemon and Freedom™ comprise a two-part novel by the author Daniel Suarez about a distributed, persistent computer application, known as The Daemon, that begins to change the real world after the original programmer's death.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Walter F. Parkes, who produced the 1983 film WarGames, has optioned the film rights to Daemon with Paramount Pictures.[1]
Contents
Plot
Daemon
Soon after the death of Matthew A. Sobol from brain cancer, a computer daemon is activated. Its first mission: to kill anyone and anything that stands in its way. Detective Peter Sebeck is called in to investigate the death of two programmers who worked for a computer game manufacturer, CyberStorm Entertainment.
During his investigation, Peter meets and befriends Jon Ross who is a technology consultant. Unfortunately, their traditional investigation methods are useless against Sobol's Daemon program. The Daemon anticipates every move, seemingly one step ahead of anyone who tries to interfere with its operation.
The program takes over thousands of companies and provides financial and computing resources for creating AutoM8s (computer controlled driverless cars, used as transport and occasionally as weapons), Razorbacks (sword-wielding robotic riderless motorcycles, specifically designed as weapons) and other devices.
Freedom™
The sequel picks up shortly after the end of Daemon. Sobol's distributed AI has already infiltrated the computer systems of companies and many governments. While the Daemon is a technological creation, much of the work is carried out by human beings - eagerly doing their part to change the world according to the vision of Matthew Sobol. Connected by the "Darknet", these human followers create their own ranking system and economy. Meanwhile, the American political and economic system is collapsing, with the price of fuel and the unemployment rates both skyrocketing, and steady reports of violent drug gangs crossing the border from Mexico. In battling the Daemon, the government is forced into a difficult alliance with private corporations, giving rise to many private armies, some of whom are actually responsible for the attacks. The government is unaware that some corporate interests actually want the Daemon to survive - at least to use it selectively as a weapon against their rivals.
Detective Sebeck, meanwhile, is sent on a "quest" by the avatar of the late Matthew Sobol, one in which he will have to determine the role of freedom to the human race.
Characters
- Matthew A. Sobol, PhD a wealthy and legendary computer games designer on CyberStorm Entertainment. Dies at age 34 due to brain cancer and envisions the new world order and prepares humanity for its new future.
- Detective Peter Sebeck a serious and devoted criminal agent that discovers Sobol's game and the daemon.
- Jon Ross a Russian hacker and identity thief. Ross joins Sebeck and Philips to destroy the daemon.
- Agent Roy "Tripwire" Merritt a decorated FBI agent and folk hero of the Darknet. After being murdered at the end of Daemon by the Major, he becomes known as "The Burning Man" by the Darknet users, who respected him for his tenacity.
- Agent Natalie Philips a genius workaholic government cryptographer-in-charge of the daemon task force.
- The Major a secret DOD liaison assign on daemon task force.
- Brian Gragg aka "Loki Stormbringer" a daemon operative. One of the most powerful operatives and a cruel and spiteful misanthrope, he is hated and feared even by other Darknet members.
- Anji Anderson a daemon operative.
- Charles Mosley a daemon security operative.
Dutton purchase
On June 25, 2008, the Dutton imprint of the Penguin Group purchased Daemon and the rights to the sequel Freedom™ from Verdugo Press.[2] Since purchasing, Dutton has achieved foreign rights sales worth over $1 million.
References
- ^ Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. (March 18, 2009). "When Computers Rule the World". online.wsj.com. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123678059330595141.html. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ Daemon by Leinad Zeraus Acquired by Dutton
External links
- Novels' website
- An interview with Daniel Suarez on the BookBanter podcast
- Joi Ito's Review of Daemon
- Daemons: IT Keepsakes; Jim Rapoza, eWeek
- A Book Review: Rick Klau's blog, Strategic Partner Dev., Google Inc.
- A Book Review: Don Donzal, Editor-in-Chief, The Ethical Hacker Network
- A Book Review: Olsonomics by Eric Olson, co-founder TECH cocktail
- Audio review and discussion of Daemon at The Science Fiction Book Review Podcast
Categories:- 2006 novels
- Techno-thriller novels
- Computers in novels
- 2000s science fiction novels
- 21st-century American novels
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