Daimones
Daimones book cover

Daimones

Paperback – October 5, 2012

by
Price
$11.68
Format
Paperback
Pages
330
Publisher
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1478347101
Dimensions
6 x 0.75 x 9 inches
Weight
1.15 pounds

Description

Massimo Marino is an author with Booktrope Publishing LCC and Member of SFWA - SF & F Writers of America Find Daimones at amazon.com/Daimones-Trilogy-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0134E5Q0M Finalistxa0in Science Fiction - National Indie Excellence Awards 2014 Finalistxa0in Science Fiction - National Indie Excellence Awards 2014 Hall of Fame in Science Fiction 2013 - Quality Reads UK Bookxa0Club Hall of Fame in Science Fiction 2013 - Quality Reads UK Book Club Winner of PRG 2013 Reviewer's Choice Award in Sci-Fi Series Winner of PRG 2013 Reviewer's Choice Award in Sci-Fi Series Winner of PRG 2012 Reviewer's Choice Award in Sci-Fi Winner of PRG 2012 Reviewer's Choice Award in Sci-Fi 5-stars NYT international best seller Author Jennifer Blake 5-stars NYT international best seller Author Jennifer Blake 5-starsxa0NYT international best seller Author Luba Brezhnev 5-stars NYT international best seller Author Luba Brezhnev Voted #1 in Aliens First Contact #2 in End of the World, behind "The Road" and in front of "The Stand" #3 in Apocalypses and Distopia, behind "The Stand" and inxa0front of "The Hunger Games" in Goodreads Listopia Judge, Writer's Digest 21st Annual Self-Publishing Book Awards "Massimo Marino's Daimones is a compelling story that shows the full range of the human condition through otherworldly examples. [...] The what-ifs in this story will leave readers with bone-chilling concerns. This book is sure to have readers yearning for more from this author.xa0[...] The quality of the materials rivals that of the most successful books on the market. [...]" Structure and Organization: 4 stars Grammar: 5 stars Production Quality and Cover Design: 5 stars Plot: 4 stars Character Development: 5 stars. 5-star Reviewed by Christopher Dagg for Readers' Favorite "Daimones" by Massimo Marino is an apocalypse book with a difference. [...]This is a good book. It is attractively written and the language flows well. "Daimones" explores some difficult themes. [...]The main character in the book had the space to develop as their roles changed in the new world. Yet the plot didn't tire but shifted gear to an exciting finish. The evocation of the rich and expensive city of Geneva surrounded by commuter towns in France is especially well done. A great read; well done Massimo. Daimones Trilogy, book one. Marino has "done a great job of putting together a story that is compelling and offers a glimpse into a realistic world that soon becomes something more. The elements of the plot allow the reader to explore human condition as well as a paranormal existence. It's clear that the book has been professionally edited. The story offers a consistent flow, continuity in scene purpose, and progression of events. The characters are well developed and Dan is a solid, yet complex, main character that anchors the story." -- Greenleaf Book Group, LLC "'Tis the good reader that makes the good book; in every book he finds passages which seem to be confidences or sides hidden from all else and unmistakably meant for his ear; the profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader; the profound thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until it is discovered by an equal mind and heart."xa0~Ralph Waldo Emerson The Prologue starts withxa0a list of events happened in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Excerpts are from newspapers articles around the world.xa0You can search for each of the news articles on google. Also, comments from "officials" are verbatim. Similar strange animal deaths continue unresolved.The story, on purpose, starts with the confusing life--and manifest lack of information--of characters that, as with the vast majority of us, live their life focusing on a very little world around themselves. Then something happens, and the "heros" arch starts.The novel, to the more shrewd reader, describes what our world is: we focus on money, we are not looking at what happens around us, we already live in the apocalypse. Our real life world tells us we live in a spiritual apocalypse.------------------------------- xa0 xa0 xa0 xa0Why on earth Earth becomes Eridu in the "Daimones Trilogy"?Every name in the trilogy bears a symbolic meaning.Eridu was long considered the earliest city in southern Mesopotamia, and is still today argued to be the oldest city in the world. Located 12 km southwest of Ur, Eridu was the southernmost of a conglomeration of Sumerian cities that grew about temples, almost in sight of one another. In Sumerian mythology, Eridu was originally the home of Enki, who was considered to have founded the city, later known by the Akkadians as Ea. His temple was called E-Abzu, as Enki was believed to live in Abzu, an aquifer from which all life was believed to stem.Eridu, also transliterated as Eridug, means "mighty place" or "guidance place". From the Inside Flap Dan and his family awake one day in a world where everyone else is dead but nothing points to a cause. Initial searches for survivors give nothing and, in panic, the family turns their house into a stronghold. Acting as in a war zone, they find Laura. She manages to win the hearts of everyone and Dan's too. Dan's child hallucinations provide the answers to the humankind extermination: An older power controls the fate of men, and a few selected face the ultimate quest: a painful genetic transformation and work toward the rebirth of a new human race, or the oblivion and death in isolation. Judge, Writer's Digest 21st Annual Self-Publishing Book Awards - "Massimo Marino's Diamones is a compelling story that shows the full range of the human condition through otherworldly examples. The what-ifs in this story will leave readers with bone-chilling concerns. This book is sure to have readers yearning for more from this author.xa0I like the packaging of this book. The front cover is definitely eye catching and compelling. The story blurb on the back offers just enough to whet a prospective reader’s desire to open the book and start reading. The quality of the materials rivals that of the most successful books on the market.xa0The prologue is masterfully crafted.xa0First person narrative enables readers to get into the skin of the characters. Marino does an excellent job of making the people in the story sympathetic. Dialogue rings true to each character." Structure and Organization: 4 stars Grammar: 5 starsxa0Production Quality and Cover Design:xa05 stars Plot: 4 stars Character Development: 5 stars. Massimo Marino is a scientist envisioning science fiction. He spent years at CERN and The Lawrence Berkeley Lab followed by lead positions with Apple, Inc. and the World Economic Forum. Massimo currently lives in France and crosses the border with Switzerland multiple times daily. "Daimones" is your entry into the death and re-birth of the human race.xa0If interested in more details about Massimo Marino, please see his full profile on Linkedin: ch.linkedin.com/in/massimomarino link text Read more

Features & Highlights

  • The death and re-birth of the human race.
  • Winner of PRG 2012 Reviewer's Choice Award in the Sci-Fi Genre.
  • Winner of PRG 2012 Reviewer's Choice Award in the Sci-Fi Genre.
  • Vetted by AwesomeIndies.net & IndiePENdents.org
  • Vetted by AwesomeIndies.net & IndiePENdents.org
  • Winner of Best Science Fiction Hall of Fame 2013 - Quality Reads UK Book Club
  • Winner of Best Science Fiction Hall of Fame 2013 - Quality Reads UK Book Club
  • Finalist in Science Fiction - National Indie Excellence Awards 2014
  • Finalist in Science Fiction - National Indie Excellence Awards 2014
  • ---Watch the book trailer at: youtu.be/gqqn0YtPrrw"Nothing prepared us for the last day."Death has swept away the lives of billions of people, but Dan and his family were spared. By whom, and why?Surviving, to give meaning to their lives, and looking for other survivors lead Dan to discover the truth about the extermination of the human race. The encounter with Laura, a young and sexy girl of Italian origin, raises ethical and moral questions that had never touched the Amentas family before.Other survivors force Dan to confront his past to find answers to the many questions.The past and the present come together and upset the fragile balance, physical and mental, which allowed the Amentas to find a new meaning to their existence. Dan discovers his final role in a plan with million years roots, and the survivors have to choose a future that has no past, or remain in a past with no future.A post-apocalypse whose dystopian roots are million years old. Ancient aliens, a galactic struggle, the control of unique resources, meld to dictate the fate of the humankind.Read how it starts in "Daimones" and continue to see the conflicts unfold into "Once Humans" PA novels are often about cataclysmic events, survivors fending off dangers at every page, zombie attacks, aliens destroying everything for inscrutable reasons, or as a fulfillment of a religious prophecy. Daimones is nothing of the sort. The exploration of human relationships and their importance, of personalities and memories, moral and emotional issues, as well as the mechanics of everyday survival for this family, are at the heart of the tale. Confusion, sadness, and fear mix into Dan's mind. Death is all around the globe, yet Dan and his family remain untouched. All evidence points to them being the only people left alive on Earth...they are not. We are led to feel the disbelief, the anguish, the grief, the frantic search for other survivors through Dan's first-person narration. "[...]this is no book to be read casually and closed with a smile. It is one of those books that will leave you wondering about the human race, survival, apocalypse, the future and of course, relationships!"

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(125)
★★★★
20%
(83)
★★★
15%
(63)
★★
7%
(29)
★
28%
(117)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Compelling, intriguing, thought-provoking

I was excited to read "Daimones" after I read the synopsis. It immediately caught & held my attention. The book definitely made me think about how I would react in the same situation. I liked that the characters didn't resort to violence; after the discovery of the Moirai, I knew why they didn't. I'm still not sure how I feel about Dan throwing his marriage vows out the window when he took Laura as his 2nd wife (?). It's led to much discussion between my husband & I. Also, I was kind of surprised that Dan wasn't a bit angry about his wife & daughter not having the same life-span as he does. That would make me angry. At the same time, my husband points out to me that I am a practical person and that I would see the sense in accepting a "Laura" and also realizing that there is nothing I could do about the life-span issue, so I might as well just cherish the time we do have. Anyway, like I said.. thought-provoking. I loved this book, will definitely read it again, and am excited to read the next book. Can hardly wait to see what happens next, where it all leads to. Yay!!! :D
13 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Not a typical end of the world book

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*

I flew through this book! The action started very quickly and from that point on things progressed nicely. I liked the moral dilemmas Dan had to go through and when the reason for all the destruction is given, it is quite interesting indeed!

As a huge fan of science fiction I feel this book is a must read for all who claim to be fans of that genre. It has a great plot and premise that push the story in ways that just take a normal "end of the world as we know it" story to a new level.

Dan is a great character to follow as he seems like a typical man, who has a family and just wants them to be safe. I found myself wanting to know more about him and worried for him when danger seemed near. He is a great well developed character to follow in these novels.
12 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

What happened to the human race?

Daimones is the story of a man named Dan and his wife and daughter living near Geneva Switzerland. The story does a good job introducing them and their lives as they read about various incidents in the news about flocks of birds dying and other animal groups dying in various areas wondering what is going on. Then they wake up one morning to find the entire area around them dead but not animals. Neighbors, Friends, colleagues, seemingly everyone appears to have suddenly died during the early morning rush to work in their homes, cars, buses... The story continues to unfold as they search for others, prepare for survival and wonder what happened. This is a very good story, well written that I couldn't put down over the Christmas holiday season. I was drawn into the story and wanted to learn what was going on. Fortunately I also had the other 2 books in the Trilogy and continued on with them. Definitely recommend to any SciFi lovers.
9 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

You Will Either Love it Or Not Like it at All

First of all, in my opinion, the best review of the book is by Amy Edelman from Indiereader. She pretty much sums it up.

I would place this book in the same category with Cloud Atlas and Zone One by Colson Whitehead as far as they read like a literature writer interloping into a genre they have no business being in. For true post-apocolyptic or sci-fi fans, I don't think this book is for you. If you want a slow moving "cozy?" type of read, go for it.

Try a sample, if you get bored don't bother sticking with it because it's not going to get better for you.
7 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Great Start!

I was really glad to win this book, my thanks to the author!

Dan is a socially aware character with a tendency toward honesty and frankness that translates to outspokenness in the workplace. He seems familiar and likeable. Once certain events happen in the exposition, it is surprising that the family did not react more emotionally to the stresses around them, but I detected a strong sense of bemusement and detachment as the events unfolded.

Ironically the main character links his survival skills to things he has learned from Hollywood, at the same time that I found myself thinking this would make a good film; the author has a very visual narrative style that nonetheless allows the reader to fill in the blanks. I found myself thinking I would make different provisional decisions but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.

At first contact with other survivors it seems hopeful that Annah will have a future to look forward to, but hope quickly dies and I found myself breathlessly reading late into the evening to see what happens next. The ending did feel a bit rushed but as I understand it there will be more books set in the Daimones world, which I hope will flesh out the last chapter in more detail. This is a great start to the trilogy. Without ruining the plot, I will say that I have added Massimo Marino to my list of authors to watch and look forward to his future work.

************* Spoiler Alert**************

I know writers have often explored the idea of polyamorous relationships. As a woman, it would never happen in my house. I know the author was laying the foundation for the premise of rebuilding society, but I would have preferred more weight placed on the discussion, on the decision and explanation to Annah. This raised a lot of unanswered questions that I hope will be covered in the coming books, including why Dan was chosen.
6 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Author should have listened to his editor!

The parts of this book that I liked, I really liked. But the parts I didn't . . . I found myself skipping whole passages filled with nonsensical digressions that did not move the story forward at all. Why was so much space wasted on these displays of minutia, instead of being used to give us more of the plot? Apparently, because the author chose to ignore the suggestions of his editor, and the book suffers greatly as a result. Such a shame as it could have been a pretty good book.

Also, I realize that this book was (badly) translated from another language, but that didn't bother me at all -- in fact, I found the strangeness charming. But why was the protagonist described as being American, when he clearly was not? I also felt the ending was rushed, and I would have liked more detail regarding the "transition." Instead of being shown -- we speed a lot of time being told what happened after the fact, and not in great detail.

All in all, very uneven, and sadly, I won't be reading the rest of the trilogy.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

a decent postapocalyotic story

Good: story
Mediocre: character development
Poor: the ending just sort of happens... little desire for another story, but a desire for the author to have expanded on what happens after Dan realizes what happens

I liked reading this story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys post apocalyptic stories.
I think how the author linked the main character'S past to the events unfolding in the story was loosely tied together.
Although I didn't see the reality in the development of relationships between the main character and his family, I think it is interesting to ponder and can be used as a very good conversation starter.
The ability to ignite discussion is the earmark of a good book and a good writer.
Lastly; I think the end of this book goes too fast, the first 3/4 of the book (possibly the first 7/8...) spans 5 months and is spent developing the character anD building up to ... 4 pages of what happens over the next 4 years....
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Mehhhh...

What a disappointment! Started out well, thought it might be an original thought or concept, but, alas, not a chance. Typical, formulaic, hackneyed... May as well throw in trite. Based on this, I won't bother with the other two.

Related Books