Daemon: A Fascinating Book

There are virtual worlds that sit atop the physical world. You can't see them, but when you flip on your GPS on, you get a window into that world,as Popups for upcoming restaurants, roads and locations of interest appear. With a heads up display (HUD), pilots (and expensive car owners) actually see this virtual world superimposed on the real world.

Imagine that an HUD could be miniaturized into a pair of glasses. With them, you could walk around and see additional information on everyday objects and locations, much like the Layars program is now providing for Android devices.


Now suppose that both public records and confidential databases of every type, from medical records to Visa card purchasing history to credit reports, were added as layers of data available to HUD users. Then suppose a genius in the online virtual worlds business unleashes a program that attempts to become the daemon, or control system, for the real world using all of this data. And then he dies, leaving the daemon in control.


That is the premise of a fascinating book by Daniel Suarez, Daemon, and the recently released follow up, Freedom. Many of the concepts he presents are already available, and, page after page, he really had me thinking.


Daemon is not only a good read, but will really make you think about the implications of a truly networked world. It will stick with you long after you finish the book!


Available from Amazon in hardcopy or soft (and, yes, the Daemon will know you bought it unless you purchase a hardcopy with cash in a bookstore, and there’s not a surveillance camera nearby!)