Daemon (novel)
Encyclopedia
Daemon and Freedom™ comprise a two-part novel by the author Daniel Suarez
about a distributed, persistent computer application, known as The Daemon, that begins to change the real world after the original programmer's death.
The Wall Street Journal
has reported that Walter F. Parkes
, who produced the 1983 film WarGames
, has optioned the film rights to Daemon with Paramount Pictures
.
is activated. Its first mission: to kill anyone and anything that stands in its way. Detective Peter Sebeck is called in to investigate the death of two programmers who worked for a computer game manufacturer, CyberStorm Entertainment.
During his investigation, Peter meets and befriends Jon Ross who is a technology consultant. Unfortunately, their traditional investigation methods are useless against Sobol's Daemon program. The Daemon anticipates every move, seemingly one step ahead of anyone who tries to interfere with its operation.
The program takes over thousands of companies and provides financial and computing resources for creating AutoM8s (computer controlled driverless cars, used as transport and occasionally as weapons), Razorbacks (sword-wielding robotic riderless motorcycles, specifically designed as weapons) and other devices.
. In battling the Daemon, the government is forced into a difficult alliance with private corporations, giving rise to many private armies, some of whom are actually responsible for the attacks. The government is unaware that some corporate interests actually want the Daemon to survive - at least to use it selectively as a weapon against their rivals.
Detective Sebeck, meanwhile, is sent on a "quest" by the avatar of the late Matthew Sobol, one in which he will have to determine the role of freedom to the human race.
imprint of the Penguin Group
purchased Daemon and the rights to the sequel Freedom™ from Verdugo Press. Since purchasing, Dutton has achieved foreign rights sales worth over $1 million.
Daniel Suarez
Daniel Suarez is an American information technology consultant turned author. He initially published under the pseudonym Leinad Zeraus ....
about a distributed, persistent computer application, known as The Daemon, that begins to change the real world after the original programmer's death.
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
has reported that Walter F. Parkes
Walter F. Parkes
Walter F. Parkes is an American film producer, writer and former studio head.- Biography :Parkes has been associated with DreamWorks Pictures, which he ran from its inception in 1994 until 2005...
, who produced the 1983 film WarGames
WarGames
WarGames is a 1983 American Cold War suspense/science-fiction film written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes and directed by John Badham. The film stars Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy....
, has optioned the film rights to Daemon with Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.
Daemon
Soon after the death of Matthew A. Sobol from brain cancer, a computer daemonDaemon (computing)
In Unix and other multitasking computer operating systems, a daemon is a computer program that runs as a background process, rather than being under the direct control of an interactive user...
is activated. Its first mission: to kill anyone and anything that stands in its way. Detective Peter Sebeck is called in to investigate the death of two programmers who worked for a computer game manufacturer, CyberStorm Entertainment.
During his investigation, Peter meets and befriends Jon Ross who is a technology consultant. Unfortunately, their traditional investigation methods are useless against Sobol's Daemon program. The Daemon anticipates every move, seemingly one step ahead of anyone who tries to interfere with its operation.
The program takes over thousands of companies and provides financial and computing resources for creating AutoM8s (computer controlled driverless cars, used as transport and occasionally as weapons), Razorbacks (sword-wielding robotic riderless motorcycles, specifically designed as weapons) and other devices.
Freedom™
The sequel picks up shortly after the end of Daemon. Sobol's distributed AI has already infiltrated the computer systems of companies and many governments. While the Daemon is a technological creation, much of the work is carried out by human beings - eagerly doing their part to change the world according to the vision of Matthew Sobol. Connected by the "Darknet", these human followers create their own ranking system and economy. Meanwhile, the American political and economic system is collapsing, with the price of fuel and the unemployment rates both skyrocketing, and steady reports of violent drug gangs crossing the border from MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. In battling the Daemon, the government is forced into a difficult alliance with private corporations, giving rise to many private armies, some of whom are actually responsible for the attacks. The government is unaware that some corporate interests actually want the Daemon to survive - at least to use it selectively as a weapon against their rivals.
Detective Sebeck, meanwhile, is sent on a "quest" by the avatar of the late Matthew Sobol, one in which he will have to determine the role of freedom to the human race.
Characters
- Matthew A. Sobol, PhD a wealthy and legendary computer games designer on CyberStorm Entertainment. Dies at age 34 due to brain cancer and envisions the new world order and prepares humanity for its new future.
- Detective Peter Sebeck a serious and devoted criminal agent that discovers Sobol's game and the daemon.
- Jon Ross a Russian hacker and identity thief. Ross joins Sebeck and Philips to destroy the daemon.
- Agent Roy "Tripwire" Merritt a decorated FBI agent and folk hero of the Darknet. After being murdered at the end of Daemon by the Major, he becomes known as "The Burning Man" by the Darknet users, who respected him for his tenacity.
- Agent Natalie Philips a genius workaholic government cryptographer-in-charge of the daemon task force.
- The Major a secret DOD liaison assign on daemon task force.
- Brian Gragg aka "Loki Stormbringer" a daemon operative. One of the most powerful operatives and a cruel and spiteful misanthrope, he is hated and feared even by other Darknet members.
- Anji Anderson a daemon operative.
- Charles Mosley a daemon security operative.
Dutton purchase
On June 25, 2008, the DuttonE. P. Dutton
E. P. Dutton was an American book publishing company founded as a book retailer in Boston, Massachusetts in 1852 by Edward Payson Dutton. In 1986, the company was acquired by Penguin Group and split into two imprints: Dutton Penguin and Dutton Children's Books.-History:Edward Payson Dutton founded...
imprint of the Penguin Group
Penguin Group
The Penguin Group is a trade book publisher, the largest in the world , having overtaken Random House in 2009. The Penguin Group is the name of the incorporated division of parent Pearson PLC that oversees these publishing operations...
purchased Daemon and the rights to the sequel Freedom™ from Verdugo Press. Since purchasing, Dutton has achieved foreign rights sales worth over $1 million.
External links
- Novels' website
- An interview with Daniel Suarez on the BookBanter podcast
- Joi Ito's Review of Daemon
- Daemons: IT Keepsakes; Jim Rapoza, eWeek
- A Book Review: Rick Klau's blog, Strategic Partner Dev., Google Inc.
- A Book Review: Don Donzal, Editor-in-Chief, The Ethical Hacker Network
- A Book Review: Olsonomics by Eric Olson, co-founder TECH cocktail
- Audio review and discussion of Daemon at The Science Fiction Book Review Podcast