Influx

By: Daniel Suarez

Narrated by: Jeff Gurner

Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

What if our civilization is more advanced than we know?

The New York Times best-selling author of Daemon - "the cyberthriller against which all others will be measured" (Publishers Weekly) - imagines a world in which decades of technological advances have been suppressed in an effort to prevent disruptive change.

Are smartphones really humanity's most significant innovation since the moon landings? Or can something else explain why the bold visions of the 20th century - fusion power, genetic enhancements, artificial intelligence, cures for common diseases, extended human life, and a host of other world-changing advances - have remained beyond our grasp? Why has the high-tech future that seemed imminent in the 1960s failed to arrive?

Perhaps it did arrive…but only for a select few.

Particle physicist Jon Grady is ecstatic when his team achieves what they've been working toward for years: A device that can reflect gravity. Their research will revolutionize the field of physics - the crowning achievement of a career. Grady expects widespread acclaim for his entire team. The Nobel Prize. Instead, his lab is locked down by a shadowy organization whose mission is to prevent at all costs the social upheaval sudden technological advances bring. This Bureau of Technology Control uses the advanced technologies they have harvested over the decades to fulfill their mission.

They are living in our future.

Presented with the opportunity to join the BTC and improve his own technology in secret, Grady balks, and is instead thrown into a nightmarish high-tech prison built to hold rebellious geniuses like himself. With so many great intellects confined together, can Grady and his fellow prisoners conceive of a way to usher humanity out of its artificial dark age?

And when they do, is it possible to defeat an enemy that wields a technological advantage half a century in the making?

©2014 Daniel Suarez (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"You'll hear a lot of reviewers compare Suarez to [Michael] Crichton, including me for his previous book Kill Decision. And Suarez deserved the honor in the truest sense...he had achieved a truly Crichton-level of storytelling. But with Influx, Suarez becomes the master, and Crichton is the one who is honored by the comparison." (Stephen L. Macknik, Scientific American)

"[Influx is] done with the dazzling sophistication, the play of ideas, the hints of a new understanding almost within our grasp that characterize sci-fi in the cybertronic age." (The Wall Street Journal)

“With this terrifying thriller, Suarez provides further support for the proposition that he’s a worthy successor to the late Michael Crichton… Suarez once again mixes science and fiction perfectly.”(Publishers Weekly, starred review)

enjoyable from begginning to end

Very good listen. Kept me interested from beginning to end. I highly recommend it. The plot is very tightly woven.

great story

Suarez doesn't disappoint here. its a riveting adventure from start to finish. the characters are rich, the world is dense and feels lived in, the tech is cool as hell. Jeff Gurner does an amazing job with narration and handles countless characters with ease I never rellay got lost with who was speaking. the audio effects aren't over done and give the story just the right amount of flare. excellent audio book. if i had a caution its that Suarez can get a bit long on technical descriptions and "sci-fi speak" that i really can't know where fact ends and fiction begins. im sure itll wind up being annoying for some. but if your into that sorta thing mixed with some misery, action, and tons of imagination and this your kinda story.

Cutting Edge & Very possible & relevant TODAY!

One of the best stories I've heard in the last year. It would make an AMAZING FILM! Attention Messers Spielberg, Cameron, Bay, & Jackson!!! Hop on this train to OSCAR CITY!!!!

Stunningly gripping and powerful

I read lots of sci-fi, but I don't think I've ever read anything else by this author. I was kind of shocked at how good this book was. The narrator's performance was top notch as well. I wouldn't be surprised if this gets made into a movie at some point. Wow.

Excellent!

This book was an excellent read. Great storyline, great drama, an excellent use of future technologies. Anyone who likes technologies, computers, or sci-fi novels should read this immediately. More so, a wonderful performance!

Still Engaging

Suarez's style is always engaging. Unfortunately, I found my interest in this story to be less than previous works. Part of the genius of Suarez's previous works was "plausibility". This story never seemed to have that component, which made it less compelling. Its a fine romp, but has less to say than previous works.

A Must Listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Very much so. This was my first venture into Daniel Suarez and I was not disappointed. Do not listen to the negative reviews. Especially those who say this book is too outlandish or that his use of technologies is too far-fetched. Those two aspects fit right in with this story. I am a tech-lover and this book gripped me and never let go. It was very hard to put down once I started. If you are a techie and love action and suspense this is a must listen for you.

What other book might you compare Influx to and why?

I can't really compare this to any other book other than another one of Suarez's, Daemon, which I just finished. But if you liked Daemon, this is a win-win for you, or if you like this then Daemon should be next on your list.

Which scene was your favorite?

**Potential spoiler ahead**

As macabre as it may sound the scenes in the detention center/prison were some of the most riveting to me. The depths at which the description of the cell and the treatment of the prisoner took me to new depths of cringing. It was devilishly genius in its design and implementation.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

**Potential spoiler**

As I said about the prison scenes those really mad me cringe. The torture which he went through was unimaginable.

Any additional comments?

I bought this book months ago and put of listening to it while I finished a few other books in other series. I wish I had jumped on this as soon as I got it. While I don't share many reviewers opinions that this the new "Michael Crichton" this was a gripping and fast action. I did feel that it took a bit to get going but once things started happening they didn't stop. You do have to suspend reality a bit in order to really enjoy this book. But if you are a sci-fi lover you'll feel right at home. Sure some of the tech if far-fetched but hey people would have said that same thing about technologies we use daily 10 years ago.

Just OK

It seemed so very far fetched ... also the bad guys were one dimensionally hateful and the hood guys do not scoutish...I purchased this because of the many great reviews...makes me suspicious of the reviews

All around great book!

Everything I want in a sci-fi story. Great story, cohesive, cutting-edge of current exploration, fun, great narration! Highly recommend for audiophiles!!

Do you trust the Government

This is close to sci-fi , which i don't like, however this book open up the mistrust in the government, and made me think how much more are they not telling us. very interesting story. Not your typical espionage book, but with an open mind , you should enjoy.