Daemon
by Daniel Suarez · first published 2009
67% recommend31% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
Fast, engaging near-future techno-thriller about a distributed AI that reshapes society, with plausible tech ideas such as autonomous vehicles and AR; suits software people who like Stephenson-style fiction.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Already an underground sensation, a high-tech thriller for the wireless age that explores the unthinkable consequences of a computer program running without human control—a daemon—designed to dismantle society and bring about a new world order. Technology controls almost everything in our modern-day world, from remote entry on our cars to access to our homes, from the flight controls of our airplanes to the movements of the entire world economy. Thousands of autonomous computer programs, or daemons, make our networked world possible, running constantly in the background of our lives, traffi
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Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
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Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss I am not a fantasy fan in general, but this is my favorite story of all time. The story within a story within a story, characters, world just about perfect. Daemon - Daniel Suarez So little of the SciFi I read is memorable. This book explores SO many topics in memorable ways that I am blown away.
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books of all time, and why?” ↗…need to reimagine interfaces to the world around us, even the virtual worlds (VR/AR/MR) around us. Voice input, AI, hand sensing technologies could make for new ways for changing the worlds. The book Daemon by Danial Suarez and his eSpace holds much promise. I have been experimenting with those idea in a new VR world I have been working on for a few years.
on “Logitech announces a development kit for using keyboards in virtual reality” ↗Reminds met of the book series Daemon by Daniel Suarez [0], only there they use nonlinear acoustics to get this effect (if I remember correctly). Nice books, nice ideas by the way. Edit: They call it Hypersonic Sound System, not nonlinear…
on “New Technology Uses Lasers to Transmit Audible Messages to Specific People” ↗…it is also highly regarded. 5. Pat Cadigan - I haven't read any of her stuff yet, but she is on my short-list of authors to start reading. Gets recommended a lot in these circles. 6. Daniel Suarez - Daemon and Freedom were really good. 7. Vernor Vinge - I'm only part of the way through A Fire Upon the Deep now, but so far so good. His works are also usually highly recommended amongst HN'ers. 8. Bruce…
on “Neal Stephenson reacts to Facebook name change” ↗Closer to Daniel Suarez, Daemon & Freedom. http://www.amazon.com/DAEMON-Daniel-Suarez/dp/0451228731 This fiction starts the autonomous corporation from a vide game. The second book shows society's evolution to cope with the new corporation.
on “Autonomous corporation “The DAO” has become the biggest crowdfunded project” ↗Daemon by Daniel Suarez (a database engineer) definitely deserves a place on this list. It starts with the death of a famed and wealthy game engine programmer due to brain cancer... and develops from there.…
on “Hard comp-fi reading list” ↗Anyone read the book Daemon by Daniel Suarez? Sometimes it feels like we're heading in that direction, where each person has a reputation score, and everyone can see it.
on “What Is Social Cooling?” ↗If you like Snow Crash, I definitely recommend checking out Daemon (and its sequel FreedomTM) by Daniel Suarez. Just found them recently, and they're fantastic.
on “What is the single most influential book every programmer should read?” ↗> That book (along with a small handful of others) made near-future scifi my favorite genre. Any other suggestions? Which others? If you've read Daemon and Freedom (TM), maybe you've already read Kill Decision, also by Daniel Suarez. It's about autonomous, swarming drones used in the military. Daemon is a better book though IMO. There's Hieroglyph:…
on “How Magic Leap Is Creating an Alternate Reality” ↗…Michael Knight, summoning KITT with his watch. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BxHbwy5CMAAk8eA.jpg If you're looking for a cool novel with self-driving vehicles featured prominently in it, I highly recommend "Daemon" by Daniel Suarez. It's a techno-thriller written by an actual software security expert, where a computer virus takes over the world. Everyone I've recommended it to has enjoyed it. (EDITED for clarity.)
on “Summon Your Tesla from Your Phone” ↗Daemon by Daniel Suarez is pretty good http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6665847-daemon
on “Ask HN: Anyone recommend any good hacker themed books for my hols?” ↗_Factorman_ by Matt Ginsberg, is a thriller based on the premise that a researcher solves P=NP. https://www.amazon.com/Factor-Man-Matt-Ginsberg/dp/099975711... Daniel Suarez' Daemon and the sequel Freedom(TM) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1524741892
on “Ask HN: Techno Thriller Book Recommendation” ↗Fiction: Attack Surface - Cory Doctorow Non-Fiction: Engineering General Intelligence Vol 2 - Ben Goertzel Honorable Mention - Fiction Daemon - Daniel Suarez Freedom - Daniel Suarez Billy Summers - Stephen King Elsewhere - Dean Koontz Honorable Mention - Non-Fiction: We See It All - Jon Fasman Integrating Rules and Connectionism for Robust…
on “Ask HN: What was the best book you read in 2021?” ↗DAEMON by Daniel Suarez.
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗Daemon by Daniel Suarez, it really reminded me of Stevenson's work, highly recommend it! http://thedaemon.com/ Also loved Microserfs and JPod by Douglas Coupland.
on “Ask HN: Recommend any good business/hacker fiction?” ↗