Amped: A Novel
Summary
Publisher: Random House AudioHaving already read, but not reviewed, Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalypse some time ago, I was excited to hear that he has another “futuristic” novel in audio form. If Amped stays true to the style the Wilson developed with Robopocalypse, I feel like I am in for a serious mind screw. I love to listen to audiobooks that are set in the near or soon to be future, that seem almost plausible, to me thats what makes them frightening, humorous, depressing, awesome or the like. I am not really sure what to expect from this audiobook, will it be a full on super hero type story, or will it be more serious than that, or a serious super hero story?
Amped is a anticlimactic psychological thriller drama type of a story. I think that if you took away the science fiction aspect, this could still be a great exploration of the human condition and how most humans are afraid of what they do not understand. This audiobook really exposes how prejudices can overtake a society and how the oppressed struggle to free themselves. I did however find the audiobook dry, not a lot happening, a lot of scientific jargon that was interesting, but not sure it it was really needed. I did fully enjoy hoe each chapter ended with a snippet of a news flash or article, which really summarized the chapter in case you were unable to follow as I was more than once. After the epic Robopocalypse, I found Amped to be a let down, yet still a great narration of how twisted and cruel humans can be to one another.
This is my first audiobook experience with Robbie Daymond as the narrator. It took me a few hours to get into his main voice, but once I did I couldn’t imagine anyone else. Daymond has a very large range of voices that he uses to make the audiobook characters believable. I faults that I found with the narration were not the fault of Daymond, he did a great job for what he had to work with.
Publishers Summary
Technology makes them superhuman. But mere mortals want them kept in their place. The New York Times best-selling author of Robopocalypse creates a stunning, near-future world where technology and humanity clash in surprising ways. The result? The perfect summer blockbuster.
As he did in Robopocalypse, Daniel Wilson masterfully envisions a frightening near-future world. In Amped, people are implanted with a device that makes them capable of superhuman feats. The powerful technology has profound consequences for society, and soon a set of laws is passed that restricts the abilities – and rights – of “amplified” humans.
On the day that the Supreme Court passes the first of these laws, 29-year-old Owen Gray joins the ranks of a new persecuted underclass known as “amps.” Owen is forced to go on the run, desperate to reach an outpost in Oklahoma where, it is rumored, a group of the most enhanced amps may be about to change the world – or destroy it.
Once again, Daniel H. Wilson’s background as a scientist serves him well in this technologically savvy thriller that delivers first-rate entertainment, as Wilson takes the “what if” question in entirely unexpected directions. Fans of Robopocalypse are sure to be delighted, and legions of new fans will want to get “amped” this summer.
©2012 Daniel H. Wilson (P)2012 Random House Audio
What the Critics Say
Raves for the New York Times Best seller Robopocalypse:”An ingenious, instantly visual story of war between humans and robots.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)
“Terrific page-turning fun.” (Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly)
“Robopocalypse reminded me of Michael Crichton when he was young and the best in the business. This novel is brilliant, beautifully conceived, beautifully written (high-five, Dr. Wilson)…but what makes it is the humanity. Wilson doesn’t waste his time writing about ‘things’, he’s writing about human beings, fear, love, courage, hope. I loved it.” (Robert Crais, number-one New York Times best-selling author)
Disclosure
Audiobook downloaded from Audible.com
