‘INFLUX’ by Daniel Suarez (6 out of 10). Hardcover, 416 pages, Expected publication: February 20th 2014 by Dutton Adult.
The underlying premise of this novel is interesting. A government agency monitors scientific advances, assesses their effects upon society and, wherever a problem is perceived, keeps the development under wraps. This, inevitably, involves the imprisonment of those responsible for the invention/discovery. Furthermore, the Agency itself develops the scientific advances to a point where it is the most powerful organization on Earth.
This is a good book on very many levels. The story – a genius physicist invents a gravity bending machine, and is kidnapped by a government agency tasked with suppressing technology in order to control social change – is the coat hanger for the author to work through some fascinating technology/physics/noir science fiction. The settings, as our inventor is tortured for his stubborn refusal to cooperate…are innovative, and show that the author has thought through what may be coming from changing technologies. In our popular culture we hear rumors of technology hidden from us. Who hasn’t heard of a cancer cure, or cars developed years ago that were battery operated but not available. The author takes this to another level where “absolute power corrupts absolutely” and asks the question of whether or not we,as a human race, can be trusted with our own knowledge.
The first third of the book contains a great deal of technical description of the innovations involved; and when I say a great deal, I am not exaggerating. I have say that I found this section increasingly less interesting as I labored through. A certain degree of techno-babble is necessary to set up the premise, but does the author have to preach to the converted? If a reader isn’t already into this stuff, the excess verbiage will do nothing to attract him or her.
However, after this the story evolved into a relatively, and not unenjoyable, standard tale of little man against the oligarchs and power brokers. There are some very interesting things in this book, some exciting action, some fascinating concepts. This is a well-done thriller with some clever ideas (such as the high-power AI that grew out of a poker-playing algorithm), enjoyable characters, and nice turns of phrase. Suarez has produced an action-packed tale that seems tailor-made for filming.