Rating: 4 stars (Spotlight Review)

What if it was possible for every bit of technology in the world to be somehow interconnected? What if it was possible for the majority of said technology to respond to cuing produced by high level, exceptionally anticipatory artificial intelligence algorithms? What if it was possible for a single person - with the help of a few oblivious employees - to create such artificial intelligence algorithms, issue them forth, and set into motion a political and economic Armageddon? When computer gaming mogul Matthew Sobol succumbs to a lengthy battle with brain cancer, these scenarios take on a nightmarish reality. Nearly all of humanity finds itself at the mercy of technology and a dead man's whims.

If this is bringing back flashbacks of the SkyNet premise from the Terminator movie franchise, then you have the right general concept (albeit, a wholly different execution). In essence. technology has become so pervasive and seemingly indispensable, we're pretty much screwed if anything ever goes horribly awry with it. (Remember the Y2K panic? Enough said.) Daemon sheds light on how one could, theoretically, take down large nations and economic empires through things as innocuous as World of Warcraft and automated telephone prompters. The technical aspects of the book, and the scenarios described, are at least moderately plausible with today's technology and the anticipated outcomes of current innovation. As well, the descriptions of various characters representing the novel's "gaming culture" archetypes seem reasonably accurate, and do a good job of demonstrating the nearly junkie-like qualities of MMORPG players.

While I do feel that Daemon is a pretty solid work and capably justifies its cult following, I'm taking a moment to mention my dislikes. The first thing that come to mind is that much of the book read coldly, and gave me the impression that Suarez wrote his first novel after reading too much Grisham, Koontz, Clancy and Crichton for an extended period of time. It feels like it was set up from the very beginning to be one of those interminable "series" books that have no end in sight. Seeing the blurb in the back regarding the upcoming sequel only supported this feeling. (Note: I do not have an issue with book series. There are many fine ones out there, and some of them are interminable - i.e., Piers Anthony's "Xanth" series. However, I don't enjoy feeling like that's exactly where things are headed from the very moment I pick up the 448 page hardcover that is first in the series. Surprise is a good thing.)

The entire feel of the book screams mass-market, but Suarez is over-estimating his target audience if he is seeking wide acclaim outside of geek culture. Daemon walks a very fine line, where the majority of the concepts and terms will make little sense to most people outside of geek culture, and numerous geeks may be potentially alienated by the excessive use of technology cliches in the early chapters and some very unflattering portrayals of certain character types.
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Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: January 2009
ISBN-13: 9780525951117