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Daemon Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Daniel Suarez (Author), Jeff Gurner (Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)
4.4 out of 5 stars 5,637 ratings
In a near-future run by thousands of autonomous computer programs, a dormant program activates after a legendary game designer's premature death and launches a sinister effort to dismantle society and enforce a new world order.
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  1. Listening Length
    15 hours and 55 minutes
  2. Author
    Daniel Suarez
  3. Narrator
    Jeff Gurner
  4. Audible release date
    January 8, 2009
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penguin Audio
  7. ASIN
    B001QCZTWA
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 15 hours and 55 minutes
Author Daniel Suarez
Narrator Jeff Gurner
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 08, 2009
Publisher Penguin Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B001QCZTWA
Best Sellers Rank #10,613 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#61 in Technothrillers (Audible Books & Originals)
#103 in Technothrillers (Books)
#1,049 in Suspense (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
5,637 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's high-tech thriller storyline, with one noting its detailed understanding of technology in crafting the narrative. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its readability, thought-provoking content, and entertainment value through its gaming and techno-babble elements. Additionally, the writing quality is excellent, and the pacing is breathtaking with non-stop action throughout. However, character development receives mixed reviews, with some finding them well-defined while others say they blend together. Similarly, the technology knowledge aspect is mixed, with some appreciating its tech content while others find it heavy-handed.

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StorylineReadabilityThought provokingEntertainment valueWriting qualityPacingCharacter developmentTechnology knowledge
411 customers mention "Storyline"327 positive84 negative

Customers love the storyline of the book, describing it as a high-tech thriller with exciting scenes. One customer particularly appreciates the author's detailed understanding of technology in crafting the fictional narrative.

"...In short, this whole theme is very intriguing in the world of sci-fi, and if you are a reader who has not spent much time in this theme set, you..." Read more

"...His writing chops aren't the only thing that is so impressive. Suarez has big ideas, too: fascinating takes on globalization, government bureaucracy..." Read more

"...It NEVER slows down, the plot advances further and further, and with each chapter things get more and more out of controlled and hopelessly complex...." Read more

"...The concept is fantastic and original, the narrative is solid ... but unfortunately in the last act of this book, things start detouring from what..." Read more

297 customers mention "Readability"293 positive4 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a breathtaking novel for everybody and a great first novel, with one customer noting it's worth getting through the first few chapters.

"...These are some of the questions posed in Daemon, probably the most amazing first novel I've ever read. Suarez gets everything right...." Read more

"...All told, it's a good book, and I recommend reading it ... but the misleading first half of the book (which is fantastic) that gets followed by a..." Read more

"...It's that good...." Read more

"...Over all, this is an excellent book! Don't be afraid of reading it because of whatever hesitations you may have. It's well worth you time!" Read more

162 customers mention "Thought provoking"159 positive3 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, appreciating its obvious deep understanding of technological concepts and well-researched content.

"Rarely have I read anything more engaging or thought provoking. It feels like a guide book to the next phase of humanity… for good or for ill." Read more

"...Suarez gets everything right. His mind-bending worldwide plot is remarkably plausible, even with 2004 (the year the book was written) technology...." Read more

"...At first, things seem plausible enough...." Read more

"...They can help inform us on an important issue that potentially poses an existential threat to humanity. Suarez clearly recognizes the threat...." Read more

139 customers mention "Entertainment value"139 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and exciting, describing it as a good techno-thriller that's a non-stop thrill ride.

"...It is a page turner, well written, and fun...." Read more

"...Yes this novel is a bare knuckle, no holds barred, thrill ride from beginning to end...." Read more

"...It is outrageous entertainment!..." Read more

"...I love a good techo-thriller, and I enjoy reading about hackers and spooks almost as much as the post-apocalypse...." Read more

127 customers mention "Writing quality"91 positive36 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting it is intelligently written with excellent plot development, and one customer mentions it reads like a movie script.

"...It is a page turner, well written, and fun...." Read more

"...gets enough of the nuts and bolts across to make it believable and comprehensible even to a technology tyro...." Read more

"...it's a good book, and I recommend reading it ... but the misleading first half of the book (which is fantastic) that gets followed by a genre-..." Read more

"...The Daemon: Is presented as both simultaneously the simplest script and most complex AI at the same time...." Read more

120 customers mention "Pacing"87 positive33 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing, describing it as practically non-stop action that moves along quickly, with one customer noting it never slows down.

"...Suarez gets everything right. His mind-bending worldwide plot is remarkably plausible, even with 2004 (the year the book was written) technology...." Read more

"...It NEVER slows down, the plot advances further and further, and with each chapter things get more and more out of controlled and hopelessly complex...." Read more

"...This book is NOT slow. (spoiler alert) There is no hero. The characters you get invested in get killed...." Read more

"...personal area networking in such a smooth way, the reader never misses the development transition...." Read more

80 customers mention "Character development"51 positive29 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some praising the well-defined and good characterization, while others find them under-developed and hard to follow.

"...His characters are as authentic as the varied settings where the action plays out, and the action - it never stops...." Read more

"...I was just very disappointed in the poor execution. Non-existent character development, perverse sex and gratuitous violence that contributes..." Read more

"...The book is filled with characters, so many that after a while, I just stopped trying to remember them all...." Read more

"...Each character is well-developed with their own reasons and beliefs...." Read more

31 customers mention "Technology knowledge"21 positive10 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's technology content, with some appreciating it as a tech guy's read and recommending it for computer geeks, while others find the technology descriptions heavy and unrealistic.

"Daemon is a fast-paced cyberpunk suspense novel that stretches the status quo of technology, but not outlandishly so...." Read more

"...Highly recommended. Particularly for readers with a strong technical background." Read more

"...are better drawn than others or abandoned partway, the grasp of technology is deeper than the grasp of the inner workings of government, and it's..." Read more

"This is a book that anyone in a computer profession, (especially IT), cannot help but love! I could not put this book down until I finished it...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Drizton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Rarely have I read anything more engaging or thought provoking. It feels like a guide book to the next phase of humanity… for good or for ill.
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  • Dan Leithauser
    4.0 out of 5 stars Resistance is futile
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Daemon is another "AI takes over the world" sci-fi story set in the near future. Yes, it has been done before. Who did it first? HG Wells (who would've could've!?) Heinlen? William Gibson? The Wachowski brothers? Those observations are irrelevant to this sci-fi reader. The themes of sci-fi and it reflections of our psyche, environment, and future are usually very much the same. In Daemon, and other (current) stories like it, the near future and believability aspect are closer to home. Additionally, in every AI story there are variations on the transition and transformation to distributive authority, economic challenges, and the effects on society.

    Other stories of a similar vein and recently read (not including many more):
    Avogadro Corp: The Singularity Is Closer Than It Appears
    The Circle
    and very much recommended: Nexus

    Resistance is futile. That theme pretty much plays through on every current AI story--at least at the beginning and in the transition. Then either another revolution occurs or a synergistic state evolves. In short, this whole theme is very intriguing in the world of sci-fi, and if you are a reader who has not spent much time in this theme set, you need to start somewhere. Daemon is a great start to that adventure.

    Daemon presents us with a dead game maker leaving an AI legacy that is looking for the some kind of revolution at any cost. The objective of that revolution is not totally clear even at the end, but is certainly much clearer in the last 10 pages or so. The structure of using a game as a model for the AI comes out early in the story, and is fundamental to fun of reading it - especially if you do play video games.

    Daemon is also the first book which also includes "Freedom" as the second installment. Be prepared to buy Freedom pretty quickly, as Daemon took only a couple of days of sporadic but concentrated reading to complete, and you will absolutely want to keep reading! Suarez wisely employs the well read Crichton method of story telling--start developing a mystery with multiple stories converging to a crescendo of action and satisfying ending with a hook to the next installment. It is a page turner, well written, and fun.

    The continuing exploration of AI effects on the economy and society is the central reason to read this type of sci-fi. The transformation that takes place in so many of these stories is revolutionary and evolutionary. Who controls that revolution and evolution is the underlying theme that provides much more room for thought.

    Highly recommended!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • K. P. Badertscher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Taut, insightful cyberwarrior's technothriller.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    What if a rogue AI, a distributed process running on tens of thousands of computers all over the internet, could recruit boots on the ground from among "the disaffected, the dispossessed, the displaced, the disgruntled. Worldwide"? What if it created an organization as distributed as itself, with no centralized power structure, with individuals having knowledge of only their local comrades, with no individual knowing the whole big picture? What if it had effectively unlimited financial resources and was able to have its minions manufacture various deadly remote controlled avatars for it (and them) to use? How would corporations and governments stop such an entity? Could they?

    These are some of the questions posed in Daemon, probably the most amazing first novel I've ever read. Suarez gets everything right. His mind-bending worldwide plot is remarkably plausible, even with 2004 (the year the book was written) technology. His characters are as authentic as the varied settings where the action plays out, and the action - it never stops. His writing chops aren't the only thing that is so impressive. Suarez has big ideas, too: fascinating takes on globalization, government bureaucracy, legal, correctional and criminal organizations. There's even a dose of philosophy and moral calculus, but nothing heavy handed. His background as an independent systems consultant lends a frighteningly realistic edge to the deadly effective technologies employed by the ruthlessly efficient Daemon.

    The coolest thing about this book for gamers is that the whole system was designed by the head of CyberStorm Entertainment, the most popular fictional game company in the world. The company's WW2 FPS and fantasy MMORPG are central to the plot. Suarez is even able to weave elements of game culture into the real world, as the Daemon awards experience points to its minions for completing tasks, and rewards them with ultra-high-tech gizmos that can have almost magical abilities. It even lets them see things in "D-space," a 3D environment superimposed over the real world GPS grid, projected onto specially designed sunglasses, and complete with wireframe buildings and callouts for other Daemon followers which indicate their relative strength and experience level, just like the stuff that appears over a character's head in an MMO. That all may sound goofy and a little dorky, but it is seamlessly integrated with the world of the book and makes perfect sense in the contexts where it's used.

    I dread this book being turned into a movie, because it's just the kind of thriller that Hollywood loves, and it's chock full of just the kind of technology that Hollywood inevitably gets so very wrong. Suarez makes it all come to life so effortlessly. You never feel like you're in some technology training seminar, but at the same time, he gets enough of the nuts and bolts across to make it believable and comprehensible even to a technology tyro. The bittersweet thing about this book is that I'm sure that in just a few years it will all be quaint and dated - a snapshot of the possibilities available at the turn of the 21st century.

    I recommend reading it while it's still awesome.
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Caracalla
    5.0 out of 5 stars Man sieht seinen Computer mit anderen Augen....
    Reviewed in Germany on January 13, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    ....wenn man dieses Buch gelesen hat.

    In einer nicht allzu fernen Zukunft übernimmt ein Daemon (das ist eine Art Dienstprogramm), den ein Millionär und erfolgreicher Hersteller von Multi-Level-Internet-Spielen programmiert hat, die Weltherrschaft. Suarez beschreibt sehr anschaulich und in (halbwegs) verständlichen Begriffen den Ablauf des Dramas von den zunächst unverdächtigen Anfängen und ersten Indizien bis hin zum offenen Schlagabtausch einiger Unverzagter mit dem inzwischen mächtigen Internet-Programm. Protagonisten sind ein mysteriöser russischer Hacker, eine NSA-Agentin und ein simpler Cop.

    Suarez gelingt es, Technologien so zu beschreiben, dass man den Eindruck gewinnt, es gäbe sie tatsächlich schon. Zumindest wird man das beklemmende Gefühl nicht los, schon einmal irgendwo gelesen oder gehört zu haben, dass es das eine oder andere tatsächlich schon gibt....

    Relativ schnell wird klar, dass es im Internet keine wirkliche Sicherheit gibt. Firewalls und Sicherheitstechnologien umgeht der Daemon als ob es sie nicht gäbe, notfalls durch den Einsatz menschlicher Rekruten und mit physischer Gewalt. Da wird dann schon einmal eine ganze Einsatzzentrale in die Luft gejagt und eine komplette Innenstadt mit Hilfe ferngesteuerter Autos verwüstet. Das alles geschieht, ohne dass die breite Öffentlichkeit die Wahrheit erfährt, weil zwischenzeitlich die Regierung (der USA) erkannt hat, das der Daemon für die eigenen Zwecke eingesetzt werden kann/soll.....

    Spannend und temporeich geschrieben, gewürzt mit jeder Menge Techno-Speak und ordentlich Aktion. Danach ist man versucht, den eigenen Computer für immer vom Internet zu trennen. Wer weiß....?

    Das Sequel (Freedom TM) ist schon heruntergeladen.
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  • PD
    5.0 out of 5 stars Si te gustan los techno-thrillers no lo dudes, este libro te va encatar.
    Reviewed in Spain on August 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Primera parte de un set de dos libros escritos por Daniel Suarez. Se nota que el “Background” previo a convertirse en escritor del autor es en el mundo de la tecnología, ya que la parte tecnológica de la novela es excelente, libro que engancha des del principio.
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  • J Johnston
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Techno-Thriller Ahead of Its Time, Which Is Right Now
    Reviewed in Canada on September 13, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    WOW!

    This is one of the best stories I've ever read, regardless of genre. As a techno-thriller, it couldn't be any better!

    Suarez is a consummate story-teller. It's a fascinating look at what could be, and how some will stop at nothing to ensure that it never happens.

    The best part for me? That Suarez is also a good writer. Some authors tell a great story but can't write well. Some write very well, but the story is useless. This one has both the story and the great writing. Suarez's writing never got in the way of enjoying the story.
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  • lesoil charles
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant !
    Reviewed in France on August 13, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    One of my best read in the last two years !

    This anticipation (or is it ?) scenario packed with more than accurate "hacking" notions kept me breathless for the few days I took devouring it.

    Again with Suarez, always kind if freaky how realistic all this could be (or already is).

    It's like a larger scale version of what Doctorow described with equivalent accuracy in "Little Brother"

    A must read for all the social network junkies, wannabe hackers and clean-energy idealists out there ?(count me in).
    A must read also for all those who think all of the above are just a fad and none of their concern :-)
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  • kessyus
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kudos to the author
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 13, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting book! Cleaver story with so much real details that I feel more into it page by page. I’m halfway through the book and I’m loving it.
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