Influx

As a big fan of Mr Suarez’s earlier works, he takes his exploration of technology and its intersection with mankind to the next level, examining the impact of advanced technologies and how the unrestrained progress of the 21st century could be dragging us towards oblivion. The organization he imagines, the Bureau of Technology Control (BTC, the acronym often used for BitCoin) is as ominous as it gets, rolling together a pervasive surveillance state, “special ops”-style raids and assaults in the continental United States, and extraordinary rendition, detention, and interrogation at a unique black site.Pre-9/11, this would come off more as an examination of how our republic’s government seeks to shape the conversation and shackles for what a small cabal decides, with no accountability or oversight, is the greater good. Cold War-era themes of great power competition amongst nearly-equal organizations underscores the arms race that takes place largely outside of but in the background of the story.In the shadow of the 9/11, however, the novel feels more like an indictment of the national security apparatus. It’s fair to say that accountability and transparency are joined by a push for civilian oversight, led of all organizations by the newest department, Homeland Security (DHS). This may strike some readers as comical, given DHS’ continued efforts against transparency, accountability, or oversight from the ground level to the senior policymakers implementing programs like family separation and targeted deportation in suburban environments, which disturbingly mirror some tactical situations in the novel. The head of the fictions BTC is fearsome and driven, seeing his role as a duty that transcends international and national laws and treaties, grossly violating human rights, and concealing his programs from the lawful US government, by which he claims to be chartered. Clearly, as dots are connected, and new tentacles of the sinister BTC exposed, we are not meant to identify with this rogue organization that does what it believes is in the interest of the nation yet off-book and unaccountably.To some who read this in the federal government, it could be taken as a blunt criticism of the rendition, detention, and interrogation team, the operation of overseas “black sites”, media manipulation, global surveillance, and the perpetually-alleged suppression of life-saving/changing technologies by various “three-letter agencies”, as the author terms them at one point. I would have enjoyed a more through elucidation of the way this BTC split from its parent, its legal mandate, how the organization interfaces with the rest of the government (beyond a handful of throwaway sentences about providing intelligence), and most importantly the legal basis for its various extraordinary programs under US law. How does is surveillance authorized vis-à-vis warrants of any stripe? How can a vehicle secure diplomatic or government plates while so divorced from normal functionaries like the GSA? Do any of these shadowy operatives receive an income, pay taxes, or have a passport (not once mentioned even for a particular long-serving agent previously in the US military)?I adore Mr Suarez’s works, having read this one in a six-hour marathon, and while I have further questions, I cannot give this less than five stars for his conscientious examination of the impact of advanced technologies on humankind. His science is accurate, as real as possible, and touches on explaining even advanced theoretical concepts when it makes sense for characters to do so (since they are so often theoreticians or engineers thereof). His characters reflect a deep understanding of what makes extraordinary people in extraordinary situations tick, and his plot is once again a tightly-woven tapestry of diversity and human decency meeting the worst impulses of our kind. Bravo, sir!

Influx, the latest novel from Daniel Suarez is certain to be another smash hit. Daniel's first book, Daemon was a bestseller and foretold technologies that are only currently seeing the light of day. Modern tech like Goole's still-in-production Google Glass, and lesser altruistic advents such as the recently dismantled Silk Road. Part two of Daemon was titled Freedom™, and was another massive success. This was followed by Kill Decision which proved to be only moments ahead of its time since it dealt with drone warfare and posed a question that is becoming crucial at this very point in time: should automated systems or artificial intelligence be allowed to make critical life and death decisions?Book number four from Mr. Suarez, Influx, deals with a fictional government agency who's mandate is to police leaps in technology that are deemed disruptive. The BTC, or Bureau of Technology Control, is proactive in its efforts, striking at scientist and innovators before they can bring key innovations to market— innovations that are certain to change the world in some profound way. When such a technology comes to the attention of the BTC, the innovator behind the discovery is offered membership into the unique and secret organization. But only if he or she agrees to keep their discovery from the world and continues development while working for the BTC. But what happens when someone refuses?Enter Jon Grady, a brilliant young scientist who has just invented a gravity mirror. He's concerned. Should such innovations be kept from the world? Is the world unprepared for breakthrough technology as the BTC claims? These are questions that Jon must face before making a decision about joining the BTC. And it's this decision that forms the plot for the rest of the book.Daniel Suarez made a name for himself when he published Daemon because he wrote a tech-thriller than was unique in that it managed to get technology right. He described cutting edge current technology correctly because he, unlike many modern authors, actually understood it. Furthermore, the futuristic tech he described was also plausible and well conceived because he had a grasp on where today's technology is headed. But with Influx, Daniel takes on not only technology, but physics as well. And while I'm no physicist, from what I can tell, he's done an equally exemplary job of extrapolating the future of scientific research. For the geek audience, Influx will be another techno-thriller masterpiece.But in addition to his firm grasp on technology and science, Mr. Suarez is also a skilled and talented author. Once again, he's managed to take what might have otherwise been a bunch of techno jargon and scientific gobbledygook and put it in terms that most readers will understand. If you're a tech geek, you'll love the topics that are covered and you'll be fascinated on some of the ideas that are touched upon. But if you're just a fan of the thriller genre, there's more than enough action, adventure, thrills, and chills to keep to riveted from cover to cover. I don't expect most readers to be slowed down by the science or the technology described in this book. Mr. Suarez has done and amazing job of writing a high-tech thriller that doesn't get tripped up by the technology. Influx is, first and foremost, a great thriller.

Yes, the review title is relevant to the book :)If you can make it past 20% it gets good.Pros:An amusing supporting cast to a sympathetic main character, Jon Grady, with actual science woven into a thrilling adventure. Good commentary on the advancement of humanity and even more reason to invest in ethics and humanities to temper the dangers of tech.Cons:I almost DNFed at 20% because the starting chapters were... rough. I'm a scientist (and sci-fi geek) and even I was overwhelmed and put off by the jargon at the beginning. The lack of women (and icky way the 1 woman was described -- seriously, barely any lady scientists, kinda sad tbh) also put me off.After finishing Influx I'm glad I kept reading as my early complaints were resolved or became irrelevant as the story progressed, though the "lone brilliant but misunderstood scientist" thing always stretches the limits of suspension of disbelief for me. Four stars for irritating me until it got good.

Daniel Suarez is billed as the new Michael Crichton. While a few of his novels have come onto my radar, this is the first I have read. Based on this showing there's a great deal of promise, but the fairly derivative nature of the plot suggests that at least for now the pure inventiveness of Crichton has yet to be matched.The basic precept is this: imagine that many of the key inventions we have been patiently awaiting for the last 50 years – controlled fusion, quantum computing, reliable cloning, a generic cure for cancer – have actually been found, but are hidden from the world at large. What warped power and societal structures would that drive? It's a great precept, although here it's turned into a recognisable and predictable plot, with a heroic inventor on the run, while dark forces try to suppress inventions on behalf of the status quo. In some ways it's reminiscent of Chain Reaction, and by pure coincidence I had also just read Catalyst by Boyd Morrison, which while markedly less futuristic tells a similar tale.My other slight gripe is that this suffers in a few places from "techno-babble", short sections which appear to just be a dumping-ground for a large number of technical terms, which just about boil down to "magic". I know the author is trying to establish the BTC's technological superiority, but that's adequately done by the more detailed examples in the main flow of the text.That said, this is a clever piece, challenging preconceptions and frequently, even literally, turning them on their heads. As a techno-thriller it's well written, keeping the reader's attention fully engaged from the first page, and I will certainly be reading more of Suarez's books.

Bit surprised about the number of 5 and 4 star reviews here. Daemon and Freedom were just about good enough to warrant taking a punt on this book and the good reviews were what finally convinced me.Sadly, these proved to be very misleading. Premise of the book is interesting enough but execution is the author's main problem. The novice errors from the first 2 books are even more apparent here.I don't know how long the author took to write this but it clearly feels rushed. The characters are paper thin and his treatment of the Alexa character in particular is pretty embarrassing - she's a genetically enhanced, super-strong, super-intelligent women but she seems to get most things done by being super-beautiful and fluttering her eyelids at weak-kneed "geeks". A real missed opportunity for a promising female lead.If, like me, you're considering reading this book hoping for a progressive maturing of style that one can normally expect from an authors later work, then don't bother. You'll be as disappointed as I was.

OK the premise is bonkers!! Mind blowing super technology is actually already here in our contemporary world but kept hidden by a secret agency as we are "not ready" for this technology yet. So every time a gifted scientist discovers game changing technology, this agency intervenes and kidnaps the scientist. The book is about said scientist Jon Grady who discovers anti gravity and is subsequently kidnapped. But he doesn't give up and fights back......its a high tech thriller, you get the rest. I enjoyed it, read his other books, they're good as well.

I didn't read this book for a couple of months after buying on my Kindle because I thought it was possibly just a prisoners tale, but that is just the start of the story. One of the most gripping books I have read in a long time.

I've read nearly all of Suarez's books, and this one is definitely amongst my favourites. I can't say that at all points I completely understood the science behind it but despite that it was the usual gripping, fast paced, inspirational read that characterises his writing and for me this book was a better piece of literature. I look forward with great anticipation for future works.