daniel suarez ( born december 21 , 1964 ) is a us information technology consultant-turned-author .

he initially published under the pseudonym leinad zeraus ( his name spelled backwards ) .

daniel suarez ( author )

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daniel suarez voted for influx as best science fiction in the final round of the 2014 goodreads choice awards .
today i am joined by daniel suarez , author of tech thrillers and near future sci fi . i learned about daniel through his book daemon , and was instantly hooked . daniel’s ability to weave believable characters with white knuckle plots , sprinkled with a little bit of “what if” leaves you exhausted but satisfied at the end .
daniel suarez is the new york times bestselling author of daemon , freedom™ , kill decision , influx , and change agent . a former systems consultant to fortune 1000 companies , his high - tech and sci - fi thrillers focus on technology - driven change . he lives in los angeles , … more about daniel suarez
what if human civilization is more advanced than you know ? in his latest scifi thriller new york times bestselling author , daniel suarez , depicts a world where the future has already happened . . .
daniel suarez has done it again . once again he explores the possible ramifications of new technology , this time dna editing . an excellent book . .
daniel suarez is the author of five books , including daemon , freedom ( tm ) , and influx . his latest book , change agent , depicts a near - future world where genetic editing technology has become commonplace . daniel talks to leo laporte about his writing process and how he develops characters . for the full episode , visit urltoken
“biopunk has been waiting for its william gibson , to bring a whole new vision of the future . . . and daniel suarez has done it . ”
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from the new york times bestselling author of daemon comes a terrifying glimpse at the next phase in drone warfare .
daniel suarez is the new york times bestselling author of daemon , freedom™ , kill decision , influx , and change agent . a former systems consultant to fortune 1000 companies , his high - tech and sci - fi thrillers focus on technology - driven change . he lives in los angeles , california .
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 .
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
new york times bestselling author . . . babblegenuinely arresting . . . required reading for journalists , politicians , . . .
daniel suarez on twitter :
finally ! i ' m thrilled to say change agent is now on sale ( u . s . / u . k . / canada ) . urltoken
daniel suarez is the author of five books , including daemon , freedom ( tm ) , and influx . his latest book , change agent , depicts a near - future world where genetic editing technology has become commonplace . daniel talks to leo laporte about how he writes , how biotech like crispr is poised to create the next industrial revolution , and what it will be like when your steak is grown in a vat instead of raised in a pen .
the path from story idea to bookshelf is different for every writer . author stories podcast brings books to life for the reader by shining a light on the creative process .
– karen m . mcmanus new york times bestselling author of one of us is lying
“ . . . suarez’s fiction is closer to reality than most people think . ”
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 technology - driven change . he lives in los angeles , california . - - this text refers to the hardcover edition .
i fell in love with daniel ' s writing and work starting with daemon and have been a huge fan of his ever since .
“with cinematic flair , daniel suarez spins a wholly new , original science fiction scenario : that there is nothing so evil as well - meaning people trying to stop technology . his tale is a high - concept thrill ride . ”
new york times bestselling author . . . babblegenuinely arresting . . . required reading for journalists , politicians , academics , and anyone who listens to them . —steven pinker , author of how the mind works we are awash in predictions . in newspapers , blogs , and books ; on radio . . .
while not the best from daniel it tells a good picture of the future of genetic engineering . no spoiler but the finale could be improved
as any anagram enthusiast ( or mirror gazer ) will have deduced , the author ' s real name is daniel suarez . wired tracked down the 43 - year - old database consultant at his home in glendale , california . why the pseudonym ?
part of it is that i have a day job , and i wanted to keep the two worlds separate ,
he says .
also , a google search returns any number of daniel suarezes , but as far as i can tell i ' m the only leinad zeraus .
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 , he has designed and developed mission - critical software for the defense , finance , and entertainment industries . with a lifelong interest in both it systems and creative writing , his high - tech and sci - fi thrillers focus on technology - driven
daniel suarez , 43 , doesn’t look like a harbinger of doom . but his new novel , daemon , paints a bleak picture of a society in which technology , far from being the great enabler , becomes the problem rather than the solution .
nyt bestselling author . writes high - tech / sci - fi thrillers : daemon , freedom™ , kill decision , influx & change agent . * tedglobal speaker .
the author stories podcast illuminates the story behind the story . hank ' s exploration into the process of writing - - the challenges , rewards , and heartbreaks - - brings an added layer to the novel that only serves to deepen the reader ' s experience .
– fiona davis bestselling author of the dollhouse and the address
“suarez continues his popular technothriller , and daemon fans will be well be pleased with the exciting conclusion . ”
“a natural at making future shocks seem perfectly believable , suarez delivers his most entertaining high - tech thriller yet . ”
books to read . influx was just as good as all the others , wish i picked it up sooner . i think he ' s my favourite author who isn ' t patrick rothfuss .
like michael crichton , the author he is compared to on the cover , daniel suarez has his sights on the forefront of society and technology . he takes cutting edge ideas and wonders
what if ?
,
how exactly ?
, and
then what would happen ?
, and writes down the fictionalized results . suarez isn ' t trying to be
literary ,
he is writing thought experiments on current hot - button issues . in his previous book , kill decision , it was about drones , in this one , it ' s anti - gravity - - among other technology th
i interviewed suarez about influx , the real reason that technological innovation has slowed down and why he has reservations about bitcoin .
i very much enjoyed my interview with hank garner for the author stories podcast . the questions were incisive , fun and entertaining , and we shared many laughs . i enjoyed being able to talk about the writing process . great accent , too , and one i appreciated having grown up in a neighboring state ! thanks for having me on !
– lenora chu author of little soldiers .
daniel suarez is a new york times bestselling author whose books include daemon , freedom tm , kill decision , influx , and change agent . a former systems consultant to fortune 1000 companies , he has designed and developed software for the defense , finance , and entertainment industries . with a lifelong interest in both it systems and creative writing , his high - tech and sci - fi thrillers focus on technology - driven change . suarez is a past speaker at ted global , mit media lab , and the long now foundation - - among many others . self - taught in software development , he is a graduate from the university of delaware with a ba in english literature . an avid pc and console gamer , his own world - building skills were bolstered through years as a pen & paper role - playing game moderator . he lives in los angeles , california . for more info visit , www . daniel - suarez . com .
i like daniel suarez ' s books . his genre is technology thrillers , and his perspective and knowledge is different from any other author that i have read . he could be a chronicler of our possible dark future . one doesn ' t expect much from this genre other than some mind - stretching ideas and a passable plot . influx has as its premise the invention of anti - gravity by a young genius , grady , and the evil rogue government entity that tries to steal it from him . the plot is right out of count of monte cris
20th century fox has struck a preemptive deal for daniel suarez ' s upcoming tech thriller influx , the hollywood reporter has learned exclusively . the book - - which will hit stores on feb . 20 via the publishing house dutton - - centers on a world in which decades of technological advances have been suppressed in an effort to prevent disruptive change .
2 . 5 of 5 stars at the bibliosanctum urltoken daniel suarez has made a name for himself when it comes to techno - thrillers , and his talent for combining science with action has garnered him much praise and comparisons to the late michael crichton . and also , let ' s not forget how much i enjoyed suarez ' s daemon duology . all of this made me pretty excited for influx , so now that i ' m done i still find myself stunned to admit i was disappointed . many theories for generating
the propulsive , shockingly plausible sequel to new york times bestseller daemon , the
greatest . techno - thriller . period .
* * william o ' brien , former director of cybersecurity and communications systems policy at the white house 2009 saw one of the most inventive techno - thriller debuts in decades as daniel suarez introduced his terrifying and tantalizing vision of a new wo
freedom ( tm )
is a beautiful and awe - inspiring sequel to daniel suarez highly successful
daemon
. having laid all the groundwork in
daemon
, suarez uses most of this book to use this foundation in order to explore a new concept of social organization based on empowering information technology . the new society emerging in
freedom ( tm )
is based on the darknet , an alternative to the internet using fast wireless meshes in order to increase the durability and availability of the network . people
it was a pleasure to be able to talk about my writing world with hank garner for the author stories podcast . hank’s questions made me think in different directions about my stories and my craft , and the common threads that might manifest through different things i’ve done . and he made me laugh as well , which is always a friendly thing on a school - day morning . thanks for having me from the other side of the world . — ashley hay , author of a hundred small lessons
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 , he has designed and developed mission - critical software for the defense , finance , and entertainment industries . with a lifelong interest in both it systems and creative writing , his high - tech and sci - fi thrillers focus on technology - driven change . suarez is a past speaker at ted global , mit media lab , nasa ames , the long now foundation , and the headquarters of google , microsoft , and amazon - - among many others . self - taught in software development , he is a graduate from university of delaware with a ba in english literature . an avid pc and console gamer , his own world - building skills
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i’m hank and i’m a writer . i write stories about life , but with a supernatural twist . i love the art of writing so much that i started a podcast called author stories . i’d love to hear from you . check out my books at urltoken
i always enjoy talking to someone who’s passionate about books and the craft of writing . hank’s podcast will introduce you to fascinating personalities , both traditionally published and indie . a great place for discovery .
– kyle mills , author of enemy of the state
in his sequel to the cult - favorite daemon , daniel suarez continues the story of matthew sobol ' s electronic
entity
unleashed on the world . like a virus , the daemon is now beginning to remake human society . but , unlike the first book , the second one is less a technology thriller than a political screed . now , i don ' t necessarily disagree with anything suarez says in this book . all my food probably * is * made from corn , and cheap food probably * is * a foundation for keeping low - wage employees happy w
suarez : i definitely , for the record , don’t believe that there is a btc squelching progress . but to me it was a fun thought for a story .
daniel suarez is a new york times bestselling author whose books include daemon , freedom tm , kill decision , influx , and change agent . a former systems consultant to fortune 1000 companies , he has designed and developed software for the defense , finance , and entertainment industries . with a lifelong interest in both it systems and creative writing , his high - tech and sci - fi thrillers focus on technology - driven change . suarez is a past speaker at ted global , mit media lab , and the long now foundation — among many others . self - taught in software development , he is a graduate from the university of delaware with a ba in english literature . an avid pc and console gamer , his own world - building skills were bolstered through years as a pen & paper role - playing game moderator . he lives in los angeles , california .
“perfectly blending nail - biting suspense with accessible science , bestseller suarez establishes himself as a legitimate heir to michael crichton with this gripping present - day thriller . . . ”
daniel suarez self - published his first novel , daemon , in 2006 . the book and its sequel freedom™ chronicled the rise of a botnet that uses self - driving cars to kill humans , crashes the stock market , and creates a new society in its own image . his next novel , kill decision , published by dutton in 2012 , was about aerial drones that could decide when to use lethal force independently of any human .
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 , he has designed and developed mission - critical software for the defense , finance , and entertainment industries . with a lifelong interest in both it systems and creative writing , his high - tech and sci - fi thrillers focus on technology - driven change . suarez is a past speaker at ted global , mit media lab , nasa ames , the long now foundation , and the headquarters of google , microsoft , and amazon - - among many others . self - taught in software development , he is a graduate from university of delaware with a ba in english literature . an avid pc and console gamer , his own world - building skills were bolstered through years as a pen & paper role - playing game moderator . he lives in los angeles , california .
* * grand prize winner of the 2017 nautilus book award * * are you struggling to deal with conflict in your life ? in negotiating the nonnegotiable , harvard negotiation expert daniel shapiro introduces a groundbreaking method to bridge the toughest divides—whether with family members , . . .
“the characters ( even the not - strictly - human ones ) are vivid , the pacing is perfect , the villain is capital - e evil , and the author’s near - future world is so well developed that you completely buy even his wildest speculations . a magnificent tour de force . ”
what happens when the decision to kill in battle can suddenly be shifted from human to machine ? america is under attack by drones programmed to seek out and execute targets , and special ops soldier odin is trying to stop the carnage with the help of linda mckinney , a scientist whose research on ant societies has been preempted by the unknown enemy to run the marauding drones . techno - thriller author suarez goes beyond the new york times best - selling daemon to get at some big issues .
a scientist and a soldier must join forces when combat drones zero in on targets on american soil in this gripping technological thriller from new york times bestselling author daniel suarez . linda mckinney studies the social behavior of insects—which leaves her entirely unprepared for the day her research is conscripted to help run an unmanned and automated drone army . odin is the secretive special ops soldier with a unique insight into a faceless enemy who has begun to attack the american homeland with drones programmed to seek , identify , and execute targets without human intervention . together , mckinney and odin must slow this advance long enough for the world to recognize its destructive power . but as enigmatic forces press the advantage , and death rains down from above , it may already be too late to save mankind from destruction .
dr . strangelove for the modern age . to be clear , this is not a reboot of stanley kubrick’s brilliant 1964 film . however , kubrick was mentioned and there are many similarities – apprehension of new and dangerous technology , rogue government agencies , and tension involving a new world order versus maintaining the status quo . there is even an eerily similar scene reminiscent of slim pickens’ infamous bomb ride . daniel “i know i’m the coolest writer since william gibson or neal stephenson” suarez blen
i was a fan of the authors stories podcast long before i was lucky enough to be a guest on the show . hank never fails to deliver interesting and entertaining interviews that shine a light on what it’s like to live the life of a working writer regardless of whether or not you’re on the bestseller lists . it’s one of my top go - to shows for author interviews and i can’t recommend it highly enough to both writers and readers who want to see another side to their favorite authors . everyone should check it out .
– c . steven manley author of the paragons trilogy and the brace cordova series
daniel suarez discusses his latest work ,
kill decision .
from google books : unmanned weaponized drones already exist—they ' re widely used by america in our war efforts in the middle east . in kill decision , bestselling author daniel suarez takes that fact and the real science behind it one step further , with frightening results . linda mckinney is a myrmecologist , a scientist who studies the social structure of ants . her academic career has left her entirely unprepared for the day her sophisticated research is conscripted by unknown forces to help run an unmanned—and thanks to her research , automated—drone army . odin is the secretive special ops soldier with a unique insight into the faceless enemy who has begun to attack the american homeland with drones programmed to seek , identify , and execute targets without human intervention . together , mckinney and odin must slow this advance long enough for the world to recognize its destructive power , because for thousands of years the
kill decision
during battle has remained in the hands of humans—and off - loading that responsibility to machines will bring unintended , possibly irreversible , consequences . but as forces even mckinney and odin don ' t understand begin to gather , and death rains down from above , it may already be too late to save humankind from destruction at the hands of our own technology .
it ' s rare and lovely to get interviewed by someone who both knows their subject inside and out while being so adept at drawing knowledge ( and laughs ) from the person they ' re interviewing . i kind of want to move in with him .
– dave rudden author of knights of the borrowed dark
written by daemon author daniel suarez , change agent is supposed to be a workmanlike beach read that presents big ideas through a fast - paced plot . it ' s set in 2045 , in a world where gene therapy and designer babies are commonplace . protagonist kenneth durand is one of the people in charge of shutting down black market clinics that offer unauthorized improvements like super - strength or intelligence , instead of fixes for genetic diseases . after durand agrees to look for a gene therapy criminal kingpin named marcus wyckes , he ' s attacked by an unknown , syringe - wielding assailant . when he wakes from a coma five weeks later , he learns that wyckes can change living humans as well as embryos , and he ' s turned durand into his doppelgänger — hoping to fake his own death by getting durand killed .
so suarez did what any self - respecting geek would do , and turned to the internet for a solution . he decided to self - publish the book through lightning source , a us - based print - on - demand service which plugs in to a number of online retailers , including amazon . “it was ideal , ” says suarez . “all i had to worry about was marketing , not packing and labelling . ”
gizmodo :
daniel suarez has earned not one , but two spots in our reading room . these techno - thrillers not only use every bit of jargon from the hacker’s cookbook , and a fair amount of william gibson and neal stephenson to boot , they also feature deadly autonomous motorcycles with spinning katanas instead of handlebars . a worst - case - scenario tale of computer takeover , daemon was one of the most talked about high - tech thrillers in recent times , but it ended with a cliffhanger . thankfully , its sequ
there are many technologies at play in this novel and suarez made great use of them for some good suspense and actions sequences using them . the only small gripe i had with the novel is that the technologies work
i like daniel suarez ' s books . his genre is technology thrillers , and his perspective and knowledge is different from any other author that i have read . he could be a chronicler of our possible dark future . one doesn ' t expect much from this genre other than some mind - stretching ideas and a passable plot . influx has as its premise the invention of anti - gravity by a young genius , grady , and the evil rogue government entity that tries to steal it from him . the plot is right out of count of monte cristo . . our hero is unjustly imprisoned . he languished in solitary . a mysterious neighbor in another cell makes contact . mysterious neighbor engineers our hero ' s escape . our hero sets out for revenge . in influx though it is all about the technology , which , in this book , suarez doesn ' t even make seem plausible . grady , as a character , has a checklist of attributes : genius ? check . loves freedom ? check . resourceful ? check . defeats the villain ? check . gets the beautiful girl at the end ? check . the parts of this book that thrilled me were the descriptions of how it feels to fly around in an anti - gravity suit . these are made for the movies . in fact this whole book reads like a movie script . if you like tom clancy or michael crichton , chances are you ' ll like daniel suarez . if you like erudite , stylish sci - fi , pass by in haste . find neal stephenson ' s books instead . especial anathem . you won ' t be sorry .
daniel suarez : i’m not sure i would say that it’s a change of direction . let me revisit how you describe what i do . i actually love technology . i worked for 18 years as systems analyst in technology . if we are going to be addressing the very major problems that you see before humanity , it is going to be technology that’s going to rescue us , basically . we are going to have to think our way through this and that’s going to involve obviously a lot of people and all these conflicting ideas .
but suarez isn ' t just taking on one big idea , he ' s meticulously building a world , complete with new cryptocurrencies , crowdsourced surveillance methods , and other moderately interesting extrapolations of present - day technology . this often means dragging the action to a standstill to prove he ' s done his homework . change agent fixates on the minutiae of payment processing , security authentication , and display technology with more verve than action sequences or character development . if daniel suarez had written marathon man , it would be a novel about choosing the best long - distance running attire . meanwhile , the book’s anemic , redundant prose ruins tense moments . when a character names a villain while quaking in terror , the narrative assures us that “the man was greatly feared” a paragraph later .
another great tech - thriller by daniel suarez . after reading daemon a book i could barely put down , freedom its follow - up , and kill decision a decidedly wicked view at drones i was looking forward at more .
influx
delivers in the techno and science part . the thriller is not as evident until later in the book . but its there when its needed . the ideas posted by the book about technology being dangerous is interesting in its own . i would have liked more exploring there . the book would rate a 3 . 5 stars and i am giving the extra . 5 for entertainment value . this is a story that is hard to describe without giving away too much . but you can really see how interesting the idea of technology being regulated and the reasons really is . the book starts strong gets bogged down a little but finishes relatively well . using ultimate weapons always makes me a bit ambivalent about plot issues . here it fits but you will need to read to opine . good book and i am looking forward to the next story by daniel suarez .
there are certain things you learn to expect from a daniel suarez novel . it will be fun . it will be steeped in technology . it will remind you that he is paying closer attention to emerging issues than you are .
influx
does not disappoint on any of these expectations . it is a bit of a departure in that it has more of a science fiction bent than his previous books . i was curious how someone so grounded in the technology of today and the near future would fare looking further out . he does just fine
first off , i love daniel suarez ' s books . i read and loved daemon under his nom de plume leinad zeraus , and gobbled up freedom ( tm ) and kill decision . this book , influx , was no different . while not quite as packed with tantalizingly plausible technology as his previous books ( freedom made me lust after its tech , kill decision terrified me with its plausibility ) , influx is a consistently fun ride into a future that could actually be right here with us now , with us blissfully ignorant . or not . no ma
another great tech - thriller by daniel suarez . after reading daemon a book i could barely put down , freedom its follow - up , and kill decision a decidedly wicked view at drones i was looking forward at more .
influx
delivers in the techno and science part . the thriller is not as evident until later in the book . but its there when its needed . the ideas posted by the book about technology being dangerous is interesting in its own . i would have liked more exploring there . the book would rate a 3 . 5 st
i was lucky to get an advance copy of this to read and of course i couldn ' t put it down once i opened the first page . once again daniel suarez tells a story that while labeled fiction , is close enough to be possible that it scares you . your first reaction is to think that it could never happen and then the more you read and the more you think you start to realize just how real it could be . if an agency existed to regulate what innovation humans were allowed to have , would that much power go to the
first off , i love daniel suarez ' s books . i read and loved daemon under his nom de plume leinad zeraus , and gobbled up freedom ( tm ) and kill decision . this book , influx , was no different . while not quite as packed with tantalizingly plausible technology as his previous books ( freedom made me lust after its tech , kill decision terrified me with its plausibility ) , influx is a consistently fun ride into a future that could actually be right here with us now , with us blissfully ignorant . or not . no matter which side of the
tends to believe in conspiracy theories
line you fall on , this is a great high tech thriller and a great book . still love suarez , can ' t wait to read whatever ' s next from him .
gizmodo :
daniel suarez has earned not one , but two spots in our reading room . these techno - thrillers not only use every bit of jargon from the hacker’s cookbook , and a fair amount of william gibson and neal stephenson to boot , they also feature deadly autonomous motorcycles with spinning katanas instead of handlebars . a worst - case - scenario tale of computer takeover , daemon was one of the most talked about high - tech thrillers in recent times , but it ended with a cliffhanger . thankfully , its sequel , freedom , is just hitting stores .
ironically , the very mechanisms of which suarez is so understandably wary are also the very tools by which his book came to be . although daemon was released earlier this month , it has actually been around for far longer than that .
his career as an author began with a pair of techno - thriller novels . the first novel , daemon , was self - published under his own company , verdugo press , in late 2006 . it was later picked up by the major publishing house dutton and re - released on january 8 , 2009 . his follow - up book freedom tm was released on january 7 , 2010 . the wall street journal has reported that walter f . parkes , who produced the 1983 film wargames , has optioned the film rights to daemon with paramount pictures , but the rights likely reverted to suarez on 8 december 2012 .
the epiphany for suarez came in the late 1990s when he was writing a program called weather master , which created weather patterns for fictional worlds . he sold the program online , offering users a free 30 - day trial before they had to buy the software . payments were automatically swept in to an account , which suarez left unchecked for several months . when he finally did remember to see how much money had accrued , he was struck by the strangeness of the situation .
the first place i go for the story behind the stories . always a great interview , whether i ' m on the other side of the mic , or tuning in to one of the dozens of authors that i look up to . hank garner and his team have rounded up the most exciting voices writing today .
– hugh howey new york times bestselling author of wool
efficiency , says suarez , is all well and good , but there’s a fundamental need to balance it with a robustness and resilience that means society can benefit from the interoperability of systems without ever becoming entirely reliant on a single set - up .
whenever i read / listen to a techno - thriller , there is this anticipation of what the technology at work is and how it has become this terrible thing that must be defeated or survived for the rest of the book . that anticipation almost always delivers but some books slow down after that reveal happens . there was a moment or two with influx that i thought that could happen but daniel suarez did a great job of keeping parts interesting that could have been pretty dry . it does mention the prison in the description of the book and i didn ' t know if i was in store for a
it ' s a nifty concept , a kind of alternative history tale embedded in our own world . it lets suarez have fun with intelligence agencies as they try ( and fail ) to bring btc to heel . there ' s also hard sf delights in seeing which inventions have already occurred - strong ai ! antigravity ! human lifespan extension ! suarez also gives btc a fun villain in its leader , a power - crazed guy with a dry ( perhaps accidental ) sense of humor . a very good dystopia boss .
a new york times bestselling author rights optioned by netflix in 2045 kenneth durand leads interpol’s top genetic crime team , hunting black market labs that perform “vanity edits” on human embryos for a price and experiment on human - trafficking victims to advance their technology . the team discovers one figure looms behind it all . then , on a crowded train platform , durand feels the sting of a needle ― and his transformation begins .
suarez finished daemon in late 2004 , then submitted it to dozens of literary agents .
three actually read it ,
he says .
one thought it was too long for the thriller genre , and the other two thought it was too complex .
“the daemon activates a series of other programs that begin to leverage all these interconnections of the modern world to basically tear it apart , ” says suarez . “i’ve used very realistic technology in this book , well within the bounds of possibility . it’s a cautionary tale . ”
suarez : i’m going to be going to various locations up north and pretty much west coast . i do a very abbreviated book tours . i’m going south by southwest in march , i’m going to be on a sci - fi panel there that mit media lab is hosting .
book review ( non - fiction ) if you’re looking for an enlightening non - fiction read about our unpredictable future , check out whiplash by mit media lab director , joichi ito , and author jeff howe . the thesis of whiplash is that rapid innovation coupled with the increasing complexity of the modern world will bring an ever - increasing pace of change and leave traditional hierarchical organizations in the dust . to operate successfully in this environment , organizations need to embr
suarez : i’ve been full - time writing for a number of years . and it’s been quite a change because i used to work with teams of people on a very knotty , very complex technology problems and that was kind of cool in a way . i really miss that social element .
the fragility of the technical infrastructure that lies at the heart of daemon’s plot is of very real concern to suarez . “but i didn’t want to write a high - concept story that scares people for no reason , simply to shine a light on these fairly complex issues , ” he says .
there are certain things you learn to expect from a daniel suarez novel . it will be fun . it will be steeped in technology . it will remind you that he is paying closer attention to emerging issues than you are .
influx
does not disappoint on any of these expectations . it is a bit of a departure in that it has more of a science fiction bent than his previous books . i was curious how someone so grounded in the technology of today and the near future would fare looking further out . he does just fine , as it turns out . the technology is partially extrapolated from modern and fringe science of today , but even the bits that he has made up are clever and fun to consider . there is an increasingly cinematic appeal to daniel ' s books . this one in particular evokes such compelling images , i cannot wait to see it realized someday in film . it would be a disservice to provide any spoilers , but know that even in this fantastic futuristic setting , the point of the book is crucially relevant to our world today . but , this warning is couched within a hell of an imaginative ride that can be enjoyed on its own merits .
“we hand - picked a few people we thought would find daemon interesting and timely , ” says suarez . “we got a really enthusiastic response . ” he made an extract of the book freely available online , and soon attracted the interest of wired magazine . “from there it started to snowball , ” he says .
suarez first started penning the novel in 2002 , and when he finished the book two years later , set about finding an agent and publisher . “most said it was too long for a first novel , ” he recalls . “but i thought the message was important , and i didn’t want to cut it too much . ”
suarez believes daemon’s lengthy gestation period and slow - burning popularity have proven invaluable . “the virtue of self - publishing is that the book got a chance to find its audience , ” he says . “the way modern publishing works makes it difficult to find that amount of time or exposure in stores to grab people’s attention . ”
indeed , without wanting to give too much away , the book’s ending leaves the path clear for a sequel , which suarez says he is finishing up now : “freedom is due out early next year . i don’t want to reveal too much , but let’s just say it will definitely go in a direction that will surprise people . ”
influx is a really different kind of read . it was selected for the techno - thriller group read for the action / adventure group on goodreads , and it definitely fits the bill . the author conceived of a concept that is very novel , and i was immersed in this story . what if there is a secret group that suppresses and appropriates new technology , so that things are a lot more advanced than we think ? that ' s what happens to jon grady when he comes up with a device that can bend and manipulate gravity in a
despite his sometimes gloomy technology world - view , suarez says his intention is not to spark panic , but to “imbue a sense of urgency” in people . “i don’t want to be a cassandra , ” he says . “i don’t want to say we’re doomed , i just want to increase awareness through a thrilling story that people find interesting . ”
suarez : something i’ve always wanted to do . i have an english literature degree , and of course when i was young i wanted to be the next great american novelist . and then i just got busy doing other things . life intrudes . i tried to write a novel early on . i think i didn’t have the discipline at the time .
i was lucky to get an advance copy of this to read and of course i couldn ' t put it down once i opened the first page . once again daniel suarez tells a story that while labeled fiction , is close enough to be possible that it scares you . your first reaction is to think that it could never happen and then the more you read and the more you think you start to realize just how real it could be . if an agency existed to regulate what innovation humans were allowed to have , would that much power go to their head ? who could stop them if that happened ? i don ' t want to say anything more to spoil the book , but plain and simple anyone who loves a scientific and technology focused thriller will love this book . the beginning might be a bit painful , but you ' ll quickly be flipping the pages as quick as you can to see how it all turns out .
if suarez’s stance is simple , then his message is perhaps harder to implement . “we need to build change in to our systems and let these systems evolve as circumstances change , ” he says . “change is inevitable , but we need to do a better job of dealing with it , because when we start building huge gleaming monoliths , i think we start getting in to trouble . ”
i just felt it would be a travesty if a lot of people didn ' t read it ,
klau says . a new colleague at google , algorithm wrangler matt cutts , gave daemon a shout - out on his blog . cyberwar pundit john robb mentioned it on his site , and ito wrote that it was
believable and realistic and still mind - blowing .
brand blurbed it on amazon , saying suarez was
better than early tom clancy .
as of march , more than 1 , 200 copies had been shipped , and zeraus nee suarez is planning to release a sequel , freedom ™ , later this year .
when i finished the book ,
brand says ,
my feeling was that the sequel is not only desirable , but necessary .
i have to say , i ' m sadly disappointed . i ' ve come to rely on suarez as a ' near ' fiction writer . his previous books were largely based on manipulation of existing technology , or close future invocations . that was his strong selling point to me . the books were full of technical descriptions making the reality and feasibility of them compelling . this book . . . throws all that to the wind , and pics up a an anti - matter gun . defying gravity ? why not ! ? well . . . because it lumps you in with all the other ' amazing technology see this awesome flashing light ' sci - fi . mr . suarez attempts too much , too fast , causing the whole thing to just feel . . . anti - climactic . even the very end is . . . well it almost feels like a mistake .
i ' m not quite as optimistic as the author . yes , i have seen online sites regulate themselves nicely with popular opinion keeping trolls in line and such . do i think that would work on a societal level and do i think that this new structure would work any better than previous regimes ? no , i don ' t . there are flaws and the biggest problem with any human community is that it involves people . people are capable of doing amazing things and just as capable at being horrific and when you put them all together , you probably get some sort of weird balance , one that defies all attempts at imposing order and harmony because that just cannot exist absolutely when people are involved .
finally , he and his wife , michelle sites , also an it consultant , decided to take a page from the daemon playbook and infiltrate the internet ' s power grid . in fall 2006 , they approached bloggers whose writings on gaming , warfare , ai , and social media suarez had mined for the book . the couple formed their own publishing firm , verdugo press , and began producing copies through the print - on - demand service lightning source .
perfectly blending nail - biting suspense with accessible science , bestseller suarez establishes himself as a legitimate heir to michael crichton with this gripping present - day thriller . ”—publisher ' s weekly ( starred review ) “a terrifyingly real scenario . ”—the washington post “a confident thriller that leaves us wondering not whether its fictional premise will one day become reality , but when . ”—kirkus reviews “kill decision is an eyes - wide - open , eyebrows raised , head - shaking warning . ”—wired
suarez , a systems analyst and software developer living in california , has become increasingly uncomfortable with what he sees as the growing homogeny of our computer systems and infrastructures . “in the last 15 years of so , i’ve seen a tremendous centralisation and uniformity in all the systems in the modern world , ” he says . “it seems like in the pursuit of efficiency , we’ve given up a lot of the robustness . we’ve made our civilisation more fragile as a result . ”
sci - fi novels and techno - thrillers often go heavy on exposition . but it works best when used to describe something that ' s difficult to imagine , like a far - flung space station , or thematically important , like tom clancy’s fetishized military tech . beyond the extreme genetic modification , change agent is future - by - numbers , although it offers a few evocative ideas — like drug dealers who 3d - print custom narcotics from formulae tattooed on junkies’ arms , or a biomechanical shark used for international smuggling . i know this sounds cool , but you’ll only reach it after reading about characters taking endless minor actions on their “lfp glasses , ” which is as irritating as an author appending “with a smartphone” to every digital interaction in a contemporary novel .
suarez announced that he was writing his third novel ,
which deals with autonomous drones and next - gen , anonymous warfare
via his google plus account on 20 november 2011 . that novel , kill decision , was released on july 19 , 2012 . his next book , influx , was released on february 20 , 2014 . influx won the 2015 prometheus award . his latest book , change agent , was released on april 18 , 2017 and uses crispr as its theme .
i listened to the audio version . when i finished daemon , i was somewhat dissatisfied with the conclusion , as reflected in my review . i subsequently learned that mr . suarez could not find a publisher for daemon , so published it himself , and it became an internet sensation . i feel that freedom was better than daemon , less repetitive and even more relevant to the financial crisis of 2008 and its aftermath , including the response of the obama administration . the story moves along quickly toward a sa


ace hotel is a chain of hotels headquartered in portland , oregon .

it operates hotels in portland , new york , palm springs , panama city , panama , london , seattle , pittsburgh , los angeles , and new orleans .

ace hotel

a claim may be rejected by ace hotel & suites if it is incomplete or concerns a non - ace hotel & suites website .
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ace hotel downtown los angeles : the story of an l . a . icon
ace hotel & suites may deny claims where the difference between the competing price and the price on the ace hotel & suites website is less than one percent .
ace hotel is due to open hotels in los angeles and panama later this year .
how ace hotel is redefining cities across the u . s . - condé nast traveler
deluxe room at the ace hotel . spacious room with high ceilings , large windows and large bathroom .
ace hotel downtown los angeles : the story of an l . a . icon | discover los angeles
ace hotel & suites will compare the total room cost of a stay , and multiple claims for a stay consisting of two or more nights in the same week at the same ace hotel & suites .
universal design studio has designed the interiors for the new ace hotel , opening in london’s shoreditch this week .
the best price guarantee does not apply to existing reservations that are not booked through a ace hotel & suites website , and ace hotel & suites is not responsible for any fees associated with cancelling a reservation made through a different channel ( e . g . , a call center , a non - ace hotel & suites website ) .
the claim must be submitted prior to , or within 24 hours after , making a reservation through a ace hotel & suites website , and at least 24 hours before the standard check - in time at ace hotel & suites .
the best price guarantee will be suspended during times where the ace hotel & suites websites or certain prices are not available due to an outage , a technical issue or a circumstance beyond ace hotel & suites \ ' s reasonable control .
alex calderwood , left , an owner of the ace hotel , in the bar . bottom right , the lobby’s library - style tables ; top right , the hotel’s stumptown .
if a valid best price guarantee claim is submitted without an existing reservation , the individual making the valid claim will be contacted by ace hotel & suites and must make a reservation in the manner communicated by ace hotel & suites within 24 hours from receipt of the communication or local check - in time at ace hotel & suites hotel . failure to make a reservation in the required time period will invalidate the claim .
ace hotel & suites will convert any competing price offered in a different currency than the price made available through the ace hotel & suites website , and may deny claims where it determines that the difference between the price is due to exchange rate fluctuations .
ace hotel group ' s kelly sawdon gives a tour of the historic theatre at ace hotel , describing its origin as charlie chaplin and mary pickford ' s united artists theatre and its present - day role as a hub for live music , film and the performing arts in downtown los angeles . see the full story here : how ace hotel resurrected one of dtla ' s most spectacular theaters .
it ' s 108º in la today . the rooftop at ace hotel downtown los angeles has a pool and heatwave specials til sundown .
ace hotel & suites promises its customers that by booking directly , you are getting the best deal online . if you have a confirmed direct online booking with ace hotel & suites and find a cheaper price for the same offer within 24 hours on another website , we will match that price .
universal design studio worked with the brand’s in - house team atelier ace on the designs , and was approached by ace hotels for the project around may last year .
sawdon says ace executives considered several neighborhoods for the hotel , but decided on the up - and - coming west loop because they felt it fit their brand .
from photo shoots on the mezzanine to parties in the lobby or premieres on the main stage . the theatre at ace hotel is available for a variety of events .
the former united artists theatre and office tower now enjoy new life as an ace hotel with a beautifully rehabbed theatre , ushering in a whole new era of entertainment .
an article on jan . 30 about the ace hotel in manhattan referred incorrectly to mcmaster - carr , which supplied a lamp in the hotel . it is based in chicago , not california , and it is an industrial supply company , not a manufacturer .
ace hotel & suites has the sole right and discretion to determine the validity of any claim and will not review documentation provided by the individual submitting a claim as part of its validation process . ace hotel & suites reserves the right to deny a claim , if it cannot independently verify the availability of a competing price at the time it processes the claim .
the ace hotel chain is headquartered in portland , oregon . it operates hotels in portland , new york , palm springs , seattle and washington and this is its first offeroutside america .
until now , it was the ace that held the reputation as the most achingly hip hotel in town . even if you weren ' t staying at the hotel , the ace had the great idea to open the pool and the bar to everyone . you could spend all afternoon in the pool if you wanted to , for the price of a $ 7 mojito .
in 2012 , the building was converted into the boutique ace hotel , and the theatre was restored as an event and performance space . this project received a conservancy preservation award in 2014 .
yet calderwood insists that each ace reflects its location , not a northwest sensibility ( for example , ace hotel and swim club palm springs , california , opening in january , has a desert feel ) . “the design captures the industrial heritage of manhattan , the grittiness , ” he says .
the alterna - rag is a fitting neighbor for the ace , which opens in february . years ago , the seattle native and friends wade weigel , doug herrick and jack barron decided to create a chic , minimalist hotel priced on a sliding scale ( the low end meant shared bathrooms ) . in 1999 the ace hotel seattle opened ; in 2007 another one followed in portland , oregon .
opened its doors this spring , the eighth entry from the ace hotel group—which , if you haven’t noticed , has been on quite the tear lately . but of course you’ve noticed : these days , no one can ignore ace , even those who don’t wish to sleep in its loftlike rooms or sip artisanally roasted espresso in its artfully weathered lobbies . the brand continues to expand at a rapid clip . in the near future , if you visit a major american city—or just live in one—you might not stay in an ace hotel , but you may wind up in a neighborhood that ace put on the map .
this pet - friendly hotel also provides free rental of custom tokyobike , so you can explore downtown l . a . on two wheels – if you choose to leave the hotel at all .
you forgot south bay ! shade hotel in manhattan beach also has a great summer pool party .
we picked the ace hotel based on the price even though we were a little wary of the “shared bathroom” situation . we were soooo surprised with this hotel . the front desk staff was incredibly helpful and friendly , even at 10 : 30pm when we arrived . . . . and again . . .
ace hotel & suites may at any time and without notice terminate or restrict a person \ ' s ability to submit a claim under or otherwise benefit from the best price guarantee , if in its sole discretion ace hotel & suites determines that such person has : ( 1 ) acted in a manner inconsistent with applicable laws or ordinances ; ( 2 ) acted in a fraudulent or abusive manner , ( 3 ) submitted multiple invalid best price guarantee claims ; ( 4 ) failed to stay at ace hotel & suites hotels after receiving approved best price guarantee claims ; or ( 5 ) breached any of these bpg terms .
vip partier — $ 200 : attend the genre ball at liberty hall at ace hotel new york and a vip reception at the electric literature offices with literary libations , hearty appetizers , and prize - winning authors .
i believe they do offer an umbrella borrow service although i have only ever used it at another ace property .
the second annual genre ball will be held the friday before halloween at liberty hall at ace hotel new york . it’s the costume party you’ve been waiting for , complete with fabulous prizes ( win a free stay at the ace ! ) , delicious cocktails , dancing , free books , and famous authors wearing funny outfits and facepaint .
the chicago ace hotel is at 311 n morgan st . , chicago , 312 - 764 - 1919 . rooms begin around $ 150 for a small . go to acehotel . com / chicago for dates and rates .
void where prohibited by law . ace hotel & suites reserves the right to amend , revise , supplement , suspend or discontinue the best price guarantee or these bpg terms at anytime in its sole discretion and without prior notice .
with clairvoyant location - scouting , ace hotels and other industry players are redrawing the map of cities we thought we knew .
in the unlikely event that a lower price at ace hotel & suites is made available on a non - ace hotel & suites website ( the
competing price
) , upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies these best price guarantee terms and conditions ( the
bpg terms
) , ace hotel & suites will honor that competing price and provide the individual that submitted the valid claim one of the following : ( 1 ) an additional 10 % discount off the competing price per room per night ; or ( 2 ) a voucher that the guest can use during their stay , the amount of the voucher will be equal to the difference between the original reservation rate and the competing price .
the price you found is 12 % lower than this hotel ' s average rate of $ 244 / night .
the price you found is 12 % lower than this hotel ' s average rate of $ 318 / night .
the price you found is 14 % lower than this hotel ' s average rate of $ 177 / night .
the price you found is 11 % lower than this hotel ' s average rate of $ 246 / night .
the price you found is 11 % lower than this hotel ' s average rate of $ 238 / night .
any disputes arising out of or related to the best price guarantee or these bpg terms shall be handled individually without any class action , and shall be governed by , construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of ace hotel & suites .
bottom line ; once they have your money , the theater at ace hotel does not care about crowd safety or control , beyond lip service . if you do have an issue that requires their help , yer outta luck and there’s no accountability…
sailed out of pier 91 bu it was a short ride away which was arranged for by the hotel for $ 8 a person . we arrive at the hotel around 3 : 45 unfortunately it was 4 : 30 . . .
each room at the ace is as individual as each city’s hotels . refusing a cookie - cutter approach to accommodations , the ace makes every stay in their hotel different , depending on which room you book . choose between a variety of sizes – ranging from small , medium and large to lofts and suites – with or without a terrace and / or a kitchenette .
in advance of the reincarnated space ' s official relaunch next friday , february 14 , curbed was given a tour of the venerable venue last week by gregory randall and janet olson of chicago architecture firm grec architects , who worked on the restoration and design of the hotel and theater , along with ace ' s in - house design team ace atelier and locals commune design .
it looks as if mr . calderwood is taking the partnership’s dissolution in stride . the new york hotel , he said , “feels like ace — it feels like what we intended . ” and anyway , now he’s on to the next project , an ace in los angeles , or maybe chicago , or maybe tokyo — wherever he can meet cool artists and buy cheap lamps .
the ace is big . a relic of an earlier era , it offers plenty of room , not just in the lobby but in liberty hall , the basement bar and performance space , and in the restaurants , and the shops , and the hallways and corridors that lead between all these pockets . you can just hang out here in a way you never could at a w hotel , the embodiment of an earlier hotel - as - nightclub era . it’s the hotel as hipster mall .
when we renovate a historic building , we want to make sure to preserve the building ' s essence and its past lives . ace hotel chicago was once home to a turn - of - the - century cheese - making factory , and we were able to preserve and restore the brick facade on the historic building ,
says kelly sawdon , ace partner and chief brand officer .
prices offered on on - request websites that do not provide immediate hotel confirmations ( e . g . , asiaweb ) .
jason holley , universal design studio director , says , ‘we find it really interesting how [ ace hotels ] try and make each hotel become a genuine thread in the fabric of the neighbourhood . within their dna is this idea about responding to a locality . ’
i stayed here over memorial day weekend for a solo trip . i flew into ewr from san francisco and took the train to penn station and walked 10 minutes to the ace hotel . check in was easy , i arrived around 1am so there was no . . .
the next phase of expansion brought in a new partner , jack barron , an architect who’d contacted mr . calderwood through the ace web site . after several false starts , the four partners found themselves in possession of the blocklong run - down clyde hotel , in portland .
hello , does anyone know if the ace offers an umbrella borrow service ? it would be one less thing to pack which would be helpful .
i checked out this afternoon after six nights on a business trip . this hotel as a hotel is great i love the vibe the service the rooms the design the comfort it all rally very good . i had one of the best beds i have . . .
in - room guitars , vinyl lps and record players are just some of the in - room accouterments at the new ace hotel in chicago . you ' re free to play them all weekend ( as long you don ' t disturb the neighbors too late , or course . )
this was my first trip to seattle . i arrived for a photo shoot ( ace hotel has beautiful white walls and historic details ) - and was not disappointed . amy and her team ensured i was given a room with brick walls and plenty of windows . i stayed . . .
the estimated value of value - added amenities ( e . g . , free breakfast , use of wifi , vouchers ) offered as part of a competing price will be excluded from the price comparison , and will not be provided by ace hotel & suites when honoring a lower price .
taking over the entire ua building – which later housed texaco’s offices – the ace hotel downtown los angeles officially opened its hotel in january 2014 and reopened the theatre in february . this particular instance of their adaptive reuse is unique to los angeles and oh - so - hollywood . it’s also an exciting jewel in the crown of other revitalized and restored broadway theatres , including the orpheum , palace , los angeles and million dollar theatres .
in addition to the guitars and lps , other unusual features in the 159 - room hotel included locally written books and locally stocked minibars in each room , including chicago brands rx bars , milk & honey oatmeal , koval distillery dry gin and terry ' s toffee . each room or suite includes artwork unique to each room , created by a student of the school of the art institute of chicago on ace hotel chicago letterhead stationery .
the rosslyn hotel ( 1914 ) and its annex ( 1923 ) across the street were designed by john parkinson in the popular beaux arts style . at one time it was the largest hotel on the pacific coast , with 1 , 100 rooms and 800 baths between the two structures .
and human the ace definitely is — for better and for worse . the story of the ace is the story of mr . calderwood . and his story , as befits the age of social networking , is one of an ever - expanding circle of friends , partners and , inevitably , ex - friends and former partners .
universal design studio says that the shoreditch hotel interiors are inspired by the area’s ‘making’ history , designing a ‘contemporary take’ on traditional buildings and shop fronts .
if you choose to pay less for shared bathroom space , this hotel is quaint and small . most likely , you will . . .
i stayed at the ace hotel last year for business ( recommended by a friend ) and then a solo weekend in new york . it ' s a great midtown venue with clean and well - described bedrooms ; many of them are small but they are certainly adequate and well - appointed . i . . .
plus , if the ace hotels weren ' t on your radar already , right now they are offering great deals for summer stays at their locations around the world .
a similar metamorphosis occurred a decade later in the dead center of manhattan ( emphasis on dead ) . what we now call the nomad district , south of times square , was until 2009 an in - between zone of wig wholesalers and sidewalk patchouli - hawkers—before ace took over an abandoned hotel and , with its deep leather couches and communal workspaces , created the hottest lobby scene in town . ( the upmarket nomad hotel , a block south , followed three years later . )
though it changed hands frequently over the following decades , the united artists theater stayed active as an arts venue until 1989 , including a long stint as a spanish - language movie house , and later as the broadcast site for televangelist dr . gene scott . following a meticulous restoration of the then - vacant movie palace , ace cut the ribbon on the theatre at ace hotel in february of 2014 — and we ' ve been doing our best to honor the maverick spirit of its founders ever since .
, collaborated on the interior design . still , its industrial patina bestows a frontier cachet . head up to the ace’s rooftop pool and you can gaze over the aging brick buildings that give the area its name . beyond are the towers of the central business district , and beyond that—unseen and unheard from the ace—the neon throb of the french quarter .
. join us to celebrate the installation of the final piece of public art at the hotel ( for now ) : the nesci dome . 6pm on prairie .
on labor day of 2009 we opened our first café in new york in the lobby of our good friends , the ace hotel . that space is usually filled with a mix of artists , capitalists , vagabonds , ne’er - do - wells and beautiful people . don’t miss the incredible architectural details in this turn of the century building .
people also recognize the ace hotel by the tower on top of its roof . when it was built in 1927 , the tower actually made the building exceed the height limit at the time - no building could be taller than city hall . but because the tower housed elevator and other types of equipment , and the building permits called it
signage ,
it was allowed . the ace cleaned years of grime off the tower before its grand opening , and now its interior houses an indoor bar . upstairs is a bar , lounge , and pool area in and around that tower , accessible by an express elevator that can take hotel guests and the public directly from the street to the roof .
now known as the theatre at ace hotel , the former ua theatre is once again showing movies – both new releases and nostalgic selections , in partnership with the sundance institute , cinespia and the los angeles conservancy’s annual “last remaining seats” program . it ' s also hosted live reads and screenings like the empire strikes back and the mad men series finale .
the hotel sits on the original site of the shoreditch empire music hall , which opened in 1856 , designed by frank matcham . the hotel comprises 258 guest rooms , an event space , a 100 cover restaurant and 50 cover bar , and lounge and reception area with retail units , a bar , a café and an art gallery .
we ' re a few blocks from the morgan lake l station and within walking distance to much of chicago ' s best dining . . . . the thriving art , design and food culture of the west loop , as well as the narrative of ingenuity that underlies the city as a whole , [ have ] inspired ace hotel chicago immensely .
walking to most of the cites major attractions the hotel is a little dated but clean the staff was always very friendly and helpful the breakfast offerings were just . . .
another prominent naysayer is mr . barron , the ace partner whose ideas about “nodal points” the hotel would seem to embody . during the development , mr . barron said , his relationship soured with mr . calderwood and with gfi capital resources group , the company that invested $ 140 million in the project , to the point where mr . barron withdrew from involvement .
for the competing price to be valid , it must be a currently available lower published online room price for ace hotel & suites , the same stay dates , the same number of guests , the same room type , with a similar view and room size , and include similar or additional value - added amenities ( e . g . , free breakfast ) .
as mr . barron described it , his theory was to make the hotel a “nodal point” in the city . “the whole idea was to sell the place , not the hotel , ” he said . “you know ? we didn’t want to toot our own horns , we wanted to talk about what a wonderful place we were all in . ”
one day ( ace - related stories frequently begin with serendipity ) someone offered mr . weigel and mr . calderwood the lease on a 28 - room flophouse in the belltown area of seattle .
our visit was a short one - night stay , but the hotel is on the agenda for next time we visit . though we have always stayed closer to the city center when we visit chicago , the ace ' s cool vibe , walkable area and great amenities , from the rooftop bar to city mouse - - and especially those guitars - - has us hooked .
one night , after a few hours of hanging out at the ace , i finished my nearly perfect lamb burger at the breslin , paid my bill and caught a taxi outside . as the driver , ayman eltal , turned down broadway , he asked me , “is that a restaurant ? ” briefly , i explained the ace’s history , and mr . eltal let me in on a secret .
if you’re looking to party poolside in the heart of hollywood , this longstanding hotel is your perfect go - to . on the weekends , you’ll often find tinseltown’s it crowd at the
prices offered by opaque providers ( e . g . , hotwire , priceline ) that do not provide the name or location of the hotel until after a reservation has been made ; and
the people who throng the ace are fashionable , but not overly so ; no one appears eager to turn heads with a striking outfit or outrageous hairstyle . to do so might be to acknowledge , however subtly , that the ace — their club , their office , their living room — is a bona fide scene , whose aesthetics and business model are redefining the overlapping worlds of drinking , dining , sleeping and shopping .
for now , ace is showing it can keep adapting . in new orleans , the warehouse district had been farther along than east liberty or nomad—already home to the national world war ii museum and five of donald link’s
before we left on an alaskan cruise . it was convenient to the pier and downtown . the hotel concept consisting of couches and games in the lobby , check in at the bar . . .
the theatre reopened with a concert by english band spiritualized and has since hosted a wide range of music acts , dance performances , stand - up comedy and more . guests staying at the hotel have their pick of on - site entertainment nearly every night of the week . the theatre’s original box office has been taken over by moon juice , a juice shop that provides complimentary delivery to any of the ace rooms .
when the new ace hotel opened in early 2014 , we didn ' t just gain a super hip hotel in an up - and - coming part of dtla . we also got a jaw - droppingly beautiful 1920s movie house - turned - performing arts space , which has since billed an impressive lineup of performances , concerts , movie nights , lectures and more . the former flagship united artists theater is a 1 , 600 - seat house with a beautifuly ornate , three - story lobby . when you visit , make sure to step out from under the balcony to admire the vaulted ceiling with thousands of shimmering mirrors .
dumps out the rest of its bag of tricks : proving it can cast indie - rock stars ( in this case , colin meloy , james mercer , and corin tucker ) , but giving them deadpan , dead - end roles . winkingly alluding to local institutions ( in this case , the ace hotel ) with you - have - to - already - know exclusivity . ending on an inconclusive , punchline - less “
hello heather - i hope that you were able to book your stay with us . all of our rooms at the hotel have tv located in them along with complementary wifi , movie selection and cable .
work place . nice rooms , some noise due to the roads . but all in all a nice hotel . 20 different channels showing yoga core and cardio training , to be used together . . .
hotelier alex calderwood , who bills himself as a “cultural engineer” on his business card ( which bears his name in english , chinese and japanese ) , is unfazed by the prospect of opening a branch of his hipster ace hotel chain on a less - than - fashionable corner of manhattan : the intersection of west 29th street and broadway , which teems with bootleg fragrance shops and vendors hawking pleather belts for two bucks a pop .
some people , in fact , hate the ace — although that doesn’t necessarily keep them away . one couple told me the ace was too hip for them , but they loved the pickle - backs . “this would be a shot of whiskey chased by a shot of pickle juice , ” the young man said , observing the lobby scene with disdain . “and the pickle juice here is house - made , therefore it is the best pickle juice . ”
hotel . friendly staff . safe . great bed . great linnens . we had separate kitchen . attached extra “room” for roll away bed . ( this is not closed off from rest of room . . .
if you ' ve never been to the theatre at the ace , you absolutely must in order to the see this gothic beauty with a hauntingly exciting feel . many cool events are put on in the lobby of the theatre , but its narrowness can make you feel cramped if the place is near capacity . the actual theatre auditorium is very well kept and maintains its historic grandeur . the rooftop of the ace is a fun place to head over after any event in the theatre .
the rooftop lounge on the hotel ' s seventh floor has panoramic views of the chicago skyline , along with innovative cocktails . there is also a garden terrace
prairie ,
planted with wildflowers , that also offers downtown views .
on a stormy day in january , kelly sawdon , chief brand officer for the ace hotel group , and brad wilson , the company’s president , stood inside an old furniture store in new orleans , watching a construction worker push a sander across the floor . in two months , if all went according to plan , the space would be filled with guests and curious locals . but for now , coils of wire lay on the floor , and the thick smell of paint hung in the air .
craig greenberg , president of 21c , won’t discount the possibility of going into established sections of major cities . “but it’s a unique and extremely exciting and satisfying experience to open a hotel in a place like an old factory , ” he says . working on the fringes has its challenges , greenberg stresses . “if you’re going to an established area , it’s easier to get the required funding . ” with an emerging location , investors can be cagey : is there enough cultural infrastructure to support a hotel ?
ultimately the ace is betting that its downtown dream team can transcend a démodé enclave . “to us , it’s like we can be pioneers right in the middle of manhattan , ” says friedman . “ [ but ] i don’t want the area to become more chichi . god forbid it becomes like the meatpacking district . ” calderwood , who lives a few blocks from the hotel , agrees . “i think we’re going to be the heart of the neighborhood . this will be a living room for all the people around it . ”
this stretch of broadway has been a holdout in downtown’s decade - long overhaul . it has a unique street culture , with bustling marketplaces of wholesale jewelers and discount shops . the ace , which caters to guests who can distinguish paper from wallpaper magazine , will likely change that landscape . several upscale residential developments within a block of the new hotel are in the works , in addition to an urban outfitters . gentrification is hardly a sin , of course , but it’s a shame when signature parts of a neighborhood can’t be saved .
ace is a good value option in seattle - if you take a room with shared bathroom that is - which you should not hesitate to do as the shared bathrooms are very convenient , clean , private , near the rooms , quality toiletries , etc . the room was . . .
running barbershops satisfied neither man . mr . calderwood was busy giving parties for apple , microsoft and nike . “i’m just a barber and a tattoo pimp , ” mr . calderwood told interview magazine , which in 1994 photographed him — shirtless — at the chelsea hotel .
i have stayed at the ace in nyc twice and i love the dark masculine tasteful . super comfortable bed , great coffee shop and the restaurant and bar are great ( the lamb burger is amazing ) . staff was friendly , yet not over involved . first time i was . . .
hi dustin , thank you so much for your review . we ' re so glad you enjoyed your stay with us and got to know the area too . we hope to see you again very soon , dustin ! have a great week . xoxo , jason and the staff of ace . . .
hotel guests have full access to a private fitness center , which is tucked away on a guests - only level , and fully stocked with weights , machines and a vintage boxing bag . check out its cool reclaimed wood floor , even if you don’t opt for the workout .
and there , in a lamp , you have the essence of ace aesthetics . it’s not just that it represents retro cool . it’s also highly functional — indeed , purely functional ; mcmaster - carr is an industrial supply family - run chicago firm that makes u - bolts , sprockets and 480 , 000 other products .
hotel was nice , clean and staff was friendly . . . until i had to leave in a rush and forgot to give back their paper parking pass . that wasn ' t even for a lot close to them , but a lot that is 3 blocks up the street and . . .
this little hotel has a great advantage : location , location , location . it requires an adventurous mind . to begin with , nobody to help with your luggage and a huge set of steps to climb carrying the wait , just to reach the front desk ! if it is summer , . . .
in one of our final conversations , standefer says , “i thought of something this weekend that i wanted to say to you . ” calderwood had stayed with them at their house in montauk—he calls it “their laboratory”—as a short respite from the intense final weeks of the ace’s construction . the visit seems to have been an occasion for soul - searching by both parties , not just about the hotels but about their deepest sensibilities—about who they are as designers and where , given these successes , they go next . “i’m finding that as i finish both [ the standard and the ace ] i’m very interested in each for different parts of my own psyche , ” standefer says . “there’s an escapist quality and cosmopolitan quality to the standard . it’s more the zoolander model , a fantasy . in the other , i find myself . i got into that ace room , and it creates a platform to be you . i don’t feel like you’re escaping , but you feel comfortable . and that’s a very interesting difference to me . ”
this approach is hardly new . it’s been honed over two decades , ever since mr . calderwood , described as an easy - to - like social butterfly by those who know him , from bellevue , wash . , befriended wade weigel , who was hosting parties at seattle’s decrepit , formerly grand np hotel .
venture outside of roy choi’s greenhouse restaurant commissary and you can sip on cocktails and munch on plates poolside . while the restaurant certainly can keep the pool area low key , on weekends you’re more likely to find raucous pool parties at the koreatown hotel . the season kicks off with bashes on sunday and monday of memorial day weekend .
one solution , which 21c employed in cincinnati , is the private / public partnership—the city teams with the brand and its investors to co - fund a hotel in order to reinvigorate an area . greenberg points to increased foot traffic in neighborhoods where 21c has opened hotels , and to rising commercial rents , as indicators of the model’s success .
the rest of the hotel was built from the ground up - - an homage to mies van der rohe , the school of bauhaus , josef and anni albers and other heroes of chicago ' s design legacy . the new build allowed us to exercise our imaginations without restraint , playing for the first time with vast open spaces and proportions .
enjoy a cocktail by the bar or hang by the pool as djs spin from 1pm to 5pm on friday , saturday and sunday . though the wet deck is primarily reserved for hotel guests , daybeds and cabanas can be reserved for non - guests with food and beverage spending minimums . kick off the summer season with parties on memorial day and june 3 .
“we don’t view ourselves as just catering to a sort of bleeding - edge audience , or a bleeding - edge hip audience , ” he said in the ace’s boardroom , where a long custom - built wood table was piled with books like “dorfsman & cbs , ” about the network’s design director . “it’s the whole combination , or mix , but i think that makes it all human . ”
which means ( and this is important for the ace , too ) that the lamp is cheap . inexpensive lamps and unpainted metal doors mean there’s more cash available for room art . and it means the rooms themselves are affordable ( in new york terms ) , running from $ 169 a night for a modest - size bunk - bed room to around $ 800 a night for a suite .
during renovations , the partners brought in their friend doug herrick to run the operation . when ace seattle opened in 1999 , they had another hit . the atmosphere ( shepard fairey , now famous for his barack obama posters , did room art ) and affordability ( rooms with shared bathrooms started at $ 65 ) struck a chord in a city reconciling its grungy roots with its high - tech wealth .
scratch hotel that palm springs has seen in the past 10 years , and people are encouraged to come and hang out at the 32 - room cedar and steel chill palace . swim in the pool , play ping - pong at the over - sized tables , eat in the airy reservoir restaurant or have a home - made lavender ice cream in the attached ice cream shoppe .
walk into the ace hotel , on the corner of broadway and 29th street , at any given time , and here is what you may find : the band jác might be playing in one corner of the vast lobby , their horn - and - accordion tunes bouncing off the century - old mosaic floor , the dark wood paneling , the 17 1 / 2 - foot white columns . in one of the red - suede sofa nooks , under a huge american flag bought at the brimfield antique show , a motley crew of friends from washington — a women’s - wear designer , a tour guide , a defense contractor — might be striking up a conversation with the british pop - soul singer edei . in the middle of the lobby , the long library - style black tables have been colonized by macbooks .
film’s golden age faded and the oil biz moved elsewhere , but the movie house remained , playing primarily spanish - language films for the neighborhood’s growing latino population . in 1989 , the televangelist dr . gene scott took over the building and installed the jesus saves sign . the cigar - chewing scott , who peppered his fiery sermons with profanity and pleas for money , died in 2005 . ace bought the property six years later .
but as the market grows crowded with uniquely decorated hotels in transitioning neighborhoods , how long can the hipster - hotel bubble last ? “instead of being the eleventh hilton - type brand downtown , you look to the fringe , ” says lauro ferroni , senior vice president at real estate adviser jll’s hotels & hospitality group . “but one limitation is there are only so many interesting sub - markets . ”
we found the area quite welcoming during our recent stay , and just about a 15 - minute uber ride from michigan avenue and millennium park ( without traffic ) . we walked on the return trip , much of it a pleasant journey along the river , which took about 40 minutes . the hotel is also a short walk from greektown , with all the dining and shopping that area has to offer .
their success has encouraged other hospitality brands to take a similar tack , putting hotels in places that might scare off mainstream developers . what ace has done for low - profile neighborhoods , the louisville , kentucky–based 21c group has done for lower - profile cities , opening art - driven “museum hotels” in places like louisville and cincinnati . four more hotels are now in the works , including one that just opened in a derelict model t factory in oklahoma city .
and if you want a break from all that hip - ness without breaking the bank ( and have some more marilyn monroe mythology thrown in ) , then the monkey tree , built in palm springs ' famous ' mid - century modern ' style , could be the place for you . this time the monroe story revolves around a trip made here by the actress and jfk back in 1962 . previous brooklyn - based owner , kathy friedle admits that there ' s no photo evidence about the actress ' s stay but the hotel ' s famous designer , albert frey , noted in a journal that she resided one weekend in room 15 , which has its own private patio entrance - perfect for body guards to monitor goings - on . the hotel later became a famous ' clothing optional ' resort , until kathy and her husband gary took it over this year .
just when you thought palm springs couldn ' t get any hotter , the hip thermometer shot through the roof . how about sightings of suki waterhouse drinking bloody marys with squid ink and truffle oil at the new l ' horizon , the most exclusive hotel palm springs has ever seen ? or caitlin jenner spied tucking into prime rib at the freshly - opened mr . lyons steakhouse , famous for its 19th century english décor dating back to the 1940s ?
while the venue ' s opening night event , a spiritualized concert , is sold out , tickets are still available for its february 20 to 22 events with la dance project , the troupe founded by star choreographer / paris opera ballet director benjamin millepied . the company will be launching its residency at the ace with a program that includes the premiere of
reflections ,
a piece featuring choreography by millepied , music by pulitzer prize - winning composer david lang , and costumes and visuals by artist barbara kruger .
the building , the first ace built from the ground up within a historical facade , was designed by grec architect in the new bauhaus style to evoke mies van der rohe ' s work at the illinois institute of technology . simple , clean lines are complemented by natural leather , wools and linens . fresh touches include laminated recycled plywood lining the elevators , for instance . and though our utilitarian - looking metal - frame bed didn ' t look especially inviting , it was surprisingly comfortable - - especially after our 51 / 2 - hour drive .
calderwood already had a name in seattle : during grunge’s heyday , he threw warehouse parties to which the flannel - clad set , including members of pearl jam , flocked . soon he was organizing over - the - top events for microsoft , among others ; next he and weigel started rudy’s , an old - school barbershop , which expanded to 14 west coast locations . a rudy’s and a stumptown coffee shop , a portland favorite , will make their east coast debuts on the new hotel’s first floor .
the flow of people is a constant : into and out of the breslin and th e john dory oyster bar , restaurants run by april bloomfield and ken friedman of the spotted pig ; past a wall covered with two decades’ worth of graffiti - tag stickers ; into and out of the boutiques opening ceremony and project no . 8 ; into and out of the brass - floored elevators — those ancient , analog devices that lead to the ace’s 260 guest rooms , where you can pile onto bunk beds or settle into a corner suite with a guitar and a turntable .
wilson , in a white construction hat , strode across the lobby , shouting over the din . “unlike other properties we’ve worked on , this one wasn’t already a hotel , so there was a lot to be done upstairs , ” he said . “but with the lobby , we’re hoping to preserve some of the original feel . the beautiful old moldings up there will stay . ” he pointed . here would be a stumptown café , the first south of the mason - dixon line ; there , a stage for visiting musicians .
on the fifth floor of the ace , in one of the 711 - square - foot corner suites at the prow of this flatiron - style building with mansard roofs and a cupola , there is a metal lamp . it is not flashy . it has an adjustable arm , and its color lies somewhere on the brass - green spectrum . nearby is a wall bearing a re - creation of artwork by the late dondi white , one of the first graffiti artists to cross over into the mainstream art world . but it was the lamp that mr . calderwood lavished with attention .
rockers also need to eat , and the ace’s trump card is the team from the west village’s wildly popular eatery the spotted pig : chef - owner april bloomfield and restaurateur ken friedman . their ground - floor restaurant will have a turn - of - the - century new york vibe , with curtained booths and a vintage , charred - oak floor—“like a place you have a brawl [ in ] , ” chirps standefer—and will serve what friedman cheerfully refers to as “nose - to - tail cooking , ” adding , “eat the trotters , eat the ears , eat the head—it’s definitely not a place vegetarians are going to feel great in . ”
the mondrian hotel , west hollywood’s luxury boutique getaway , is home to the ever - popular skybar , a pool and bar that offers one of the best views in l . a . from may 26 to september 1 , angelenos can head to the rooftop for the ultimate weekend pool party , plainly dubbed dj day club at skybar . let loose and lounge poolside every saturday from 1 to 6pm to spins from resident djs while toasting to the freaking weekend . plus , be on the lookout for upcoming pool parties like the returning wicked paradise , which will hold court at skybar with sets from neon indian , classixx and more .
the catch is how cutting - edge they are—how hugely fashionable—at this precise moment . roman & williams is arguably the year’s hottest design team—a flimsy honor if ever there was one . standefer and alesch did gwyneth paltrow’s apartment ( in lavender ) and kate hudson’s house . in 2007 they replaced philippe starck’s famous lobby at the royalton . this spring , they completed the interiors for two of new york’s most prominent new hotels : andré balazs’s glamorous new standard , and the ace , the first east coast outpost of the eminently hip seattle brand run by alex calderwood . and then there is this quiet , little brick apartment house at the edge of soho , their first from - the - ground - up building and the project closest to their eccentric intent .
the avett brothers canceled the third of three scheduled performances at mcmenamins edgefield in troutdale amid a report from security that a concertgoer may be in possession of a concealed firearm .
victorian and retro - futurist costumes worn at eighth - annual meeting on saturday , july 7 in portland .
oregon democrat agrees president is right to go after unfair practices by china , but says tariffs imposed the wrong way hurt other leading trade partners of oregon .
the family of jason washington has demanded that the rest of the campus safety force disarm .
four - month project begins to improve conditions for salmon , birds and other species at urban wildlife refuge north of sellwood .
the young man ' s motorcycle impacted a car driven by a 65 - year - old gresham woman , police say .