Tech consultant for Olympia, Lacey, And Tumwater

Book Review: Daemon and Freedom By Daniel Suarez

Daemon

Have you ever watched one of those really bad NOT SO original movies on the Syfy channel? Ever seen the ones where a computer program takes over the world? Ok, now imagine someone gets it right. No, seriously gets it right. Imagine the story is really well written, the tech is done so well that even a geek learns new stuff about technology, and the story ends in a way that you never imagined. That is this book.

With this review I can’t even tell you who the villain is and who the hero is or it will ruin the book for you. I pretty much can’t say anything other than you must read this book! I hear that rights to the book have been sold and a movie is planned for 2012. This worries me as there is no way Hollywood can make a respectable movie of this book. They will second guess themselves until the things that make this story so great are removed. Then people will see the movie and think this book sucks. It happened with The Golden Compass and now the amazing trilogy of His Dark Materials will never se the light of day. How bad did they screw up His Dark Materials? The same talentless hacks went on to do Twilight. Not joking. Look it up. So when this movie comes out do not judge this story on that movie. Read this book before they even start filming please! It is available in audio book form. This is the way I read it. I work a job where I don’t need my brain for 4 hours a day. So I listen to audiobooks so I don’t get bored.

Freedom

Anyways, about the book. Matthew Sobol, a legendary computer game design wizard dies of cancer. He sets up a computer program that runs in the background. This is called a Daemon. It scans news headlines for his death. As soon as the program knows he is dead it sets things in motion. It creates other programs that move money, recruit operatives to do his bidding, kill, and pretty much organize a hostel take over of the planet. It uses blackmail, intimidation, and people’s own desperation to control them. I know all that sounds pretty damn cheesy by it’s self, but trust me that after that the real story unfolds. I can’t tell you how this story separates from the standard or it will ruin it for you. In the end you will re-think what is important. It may change your religious, political, and personal beliefs. It is just that good. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Why do I think this book is a must for every band in Hard Rock And Metal?

Crush It

So I don’t read a ton of books. I have a book beside the toilet that I read a few pages from every time I end up in that location for a few minutes. It has taken me years to get even half way through. I have too many things to do to spend the amount of time most guys do in there reading. When I was in school I was like a crack head though. I used to drive the librarian nuts. I was in there all the time looking for my next fix. Over my 3 years I spent at one school I read pretty much every story they had to offer. In 3rd grade I had a kid tell me I couldn’t read the entire volume of Encyclopedias the teacher had in the classroom. I said “I bet I can!” So I did. No joke. I read every page. Yes I was even nuts as a kid.

So despite my insane lack of time, I really miss books. Well I found a great new dealer. It’s this website called Audible. It is owned by Amazon. They do audio books. I remember the first time I heard about audiobooks. It meant a huge stack of cassette tapes. A book was just one book, so I kept with the print version. Now audiobooks mean one file on a tiny media player. So I have started listening to my books instead. It has let me bring back my former addiction. My first purchase from Audible was a book I had heard about from several people. Now let me first say that I think that motivational speakers are a bunch of annoying parasites who are more full of crap than television preachers stealing grandmas Social Security check. But Gary Vee is not really a motivational speaker. I despise motivational speakers, but yet I found him inspiring. I think that is because he is just a guy who tells a good story and has had an interesting life. The book Crush It has been called a motivational book by many, but I think that discredits the book and devalues it. It is just a guy that was born into a very poor immigrant family. His dad came to America expecting streets paved with gold. Instead he ended up being a stock boy for a liquor store. He then worked his ass off until he had used the contacts and knowledge he gained from that job to open his own store. By this time a very young Gary started helping dad with the family business. Gary has now taken over the family business and turned it into something so powerful it is changing the wine industry. He signed a 10-book deal with HarperStudio for over $1,000,000 and I think that this book is just the beginning.

Now I have only listened to the audiobook and I have to say that I have zero interest in the print version. Why? I think the audiobook is the better deal.
Gary goes “off script” constantly while doing the audiobook. Does he do that in the print version? I don’t think so since that is the script. The audio has things in it that are missing from the print. So even if you get the print, buy the audiobook and do a “read along with Gary” thing. Otherwise you are missing out.

Now many might wonder what the hell some wine guy has to do with a blog that talks about music, music industry, and advice for bands. Well, a lot! Because the book makes the point that it is all about passion. It is about how to focus your passion into a profitable business. If you don’t think that has to do with your band and it’s struggle to succeed than please stop reading this blog. If you can’t make that connection than you will never get it and you will never make it. Every musician that reads this blog must go buy a copy of this book “Crush It! Why Now is the Time to Cash in on your Passion,” now! Just stop, go buy this book, and when you are done tell me I’m wrong. I dare ya!

CLICK HERE to buy the book!

To Gary Vee: Thank you for your inspiration. It is a big part of why my passion and life long dream has been turned into HeavyAsHell.com Can I get a phone interview? Also, ever thought a Metal podcast would want to interview you?