New York Times bestselling author Daniel Suarez imagines a chilling future where technological advances are held hostage by the government in this thriller that perfectly blends “nail-biting suspense with accessible science” ( Publishers Weekly ). Physicist Jon Grady and his team have discovered a device that can reflect gravity—a triumph that will revolutionize the field of physics and change the future. But instead of acclaim, Grady’s lab is locked down by a covert organization known as the Bureau of Technology Control. The bureau’s mission: suppress the truth of sudden technological progress and prevent the social upheaval it would trigger. Because the future is already here. And it’s rewards are only for a select few. When Grady refuses to join the BTC, he’s thrown into a nightmarish high-tech prison housing other doomed rebel intellects. Now, as the only hope to usher humanity out of its artificial dark age, Grady and his fellow prisoners must try to expose the secrets of an unimaginable enemy—one that wields a technological advantage half a century in the making. Praise for the Novels of Daniel Suarez “So frightening, even the government has taken note.”— Entertainment Weekly “The Tom Clancy of cyber security…A hell of a fun read.”— BusinessWeek “An eyes-wide-open, eyebrows-raised, head-shaking warning.”— Wired “Ambitious.…I came away from this novel with a…new fear of computer capability.”— New York Times bestselling author Robin Cook “Fiendishly clever…an almost perfect guilty-pleasure novel.”— The Dallas Morning News “[Daniel Suarez] is the best author of tech fiction since Bruce Sterling and Neal Stephenson.”—John Robb, futurist & author of Brave New War “Greatest. Technothriller. Period.”—William O’Brien, former director of cybersecurity and communications policy, the White House Daniel Suarez is the author of the New York Times bestseller Daemon , Freedom™ , Kill Decision , and Influx . A former systems consultant to Fortune 1000 companies, his high-tech and sci-fi thrillers focus on the impact of technology-driven change. He lives in Los Angeles, California. ***This excerpt is from an advance uncorrected proof.*** Copyright © 2014  by Daniel Suarez Chapter 1          Breakthrough      I’m gonna hunt you down like a rabid dog, Sloan.” Albert Marrano clenched his teeth on an e-cigarette as he concentrated on a tiny screen. “Don’t joke. My sister’s pug just went rabid.” “You’re kidding.” Marrano thumbed the controls of his handheld game console. “Raccoon bite. They had to put Mr. Chips down. Her kids are still in therapy.” Mashing buttons on his own wireless console, Sloan Johnson sat in the nearby passenger seat. Then he let out a deep “Heh, heh.” Marrano cast a look at him. Johnson had that Cheshire cat grin on his face again. “Shit . . .” Marrano tried to rotate his player around, but Johnson’s avatar was already behind him. Double-tap. The screen faded. “You really do suck at this, Al.” “Goddamnit!” Marrano tossed the device onto the car’s stitched leather dashboard and pounded the steering wheel. “You have got to be kidding me. Worse than playing my goddamn nephew.” “That’s two thousand bucks you owe me.” “Best out of five?” Johnson powered down his device. “It’s a lousy two K. What are you complaining about?” Headlights swept across them as another car turned into the nearly empty parking lot of a gritty industrial building. “Here we go.” Marrano pocketed his e-cigarette. “’Bout fucking time.” They exited their parked Aston Martin One-77 as an older Mercedes pulled toward them. “Jesus, look at this thing.” “They go forever, though.” “You ever get stuck behind one of these on the highway? Like breathing coal dust.” He motioned for the driver to pull up to them. The Mercedes parked, and a distinguished, if disheveled, elderly South Asian man with spectacles and a full head of unconvincing jet-black hair got out. Slowly. He buttoned his greatcoat against the cold. Marrano and Johnson approached, removing their leather gloves and extending hands. Marrano smiled. “Doctor Kulkarni. Albert Marrano. Thanks for coming out so late.” “Yes.” They shook hands. “I don’t usually drive at night. But your CEO said this couldn’t wait.” “That she did.” Marrano turned. “This is my colleague, Sloan John- son. He manages the portfolio for Shearson-Bayers.” They shook hands as well. “Pleased to meet you.” “Likewise.” Marrano pulled his lambskin glove back on. “So you’re our physicist. Princeton, right?” Kulkarni nodded. “Yes, but I live close by in Holmdel. No one would tell me what this is about.” Marrano grimaced. “Not over the phone, no. Legal says they already have you under contract, so I’m supposed to remind you about your nondisclosure agreement and noncompete clause.” The elderly Indian nodded impatiently. “Fine, fine. Now what is this ‘physics emergency’ of yours?” Marrano waved his arm to encompass the drab, windowless building before them. “Tech start-up. R