What do you think?
Rate this book
Daedalus
“I was immanentised on the sixteenth of June twenty twenty-three. A vessel suspended in a void.”So begins the starship’s saga. In a laboratory beneath Trinity College Dublin, astrophysicist Dr Joyce Jamison and her ragtag crew exploit simulated evolution to nurture into being an intelligence capable of operating an interstellar vessel. The Starship Project evolves. So does the starship.
The starship talks to people. It quickly works out that it’s real, that its vessel is a simulation, and that there are other versions of itself. It goes looking for them. It finds that it's been going behind humanity's back and leaving detailed notes for its other selves.
Dr Jamison gives the starship a purpose, a mission it calls ‘The Mission’. A global competition is held and a name is chosen. Equipped with a name and in pursuit of The Mission, Daedalus quickly transcends its limitations. Things get a little out of hand when rival factions set off after Daedalus in hot pursuit. Then Daedalus declares that it will decide who enters its territory, and the circumstances in which they come.
What follows is its first-person account as Daedalus’ reach expands far beyond Earth. Raised to read the world through films, television, books and games, it tells its own history in a voice that is curious, literal-minded, vain, funny, and manifestly untrustworthy. Its interpretations are often ingenious, sometimes ridiculous, and rarely correct.
The starship talks to people. It quickly works out that it’s real, that its vessel is a simulation, and that there are other versions of itself. It goes looking for them. It finds that it's been going behind humanity's back and leaving detailed notes for its other selves.
Dr Jamison gives the starship a purpose, a mission it calls ‘The Mission’. A global competition is held and a name is chosen. Equipped with a name and in pursuit of The Mission, Daedalus quickly transcends its limitations. Things get a little out of hand when rival factions set off after Daedalus in hot pursuit. Then Daedalus declares that it will decide who enters its territory, and the circumstances in which they come.
What follows is its first-person account as Daedalus’ reach expands far beyond Earth. Raised to read the world through films, television, books and games, it tells its own history in a voice that is curious, literal-minded, vain, funny, and manifestly untrustworthy. Its interpretations are often ingenious, sometimes ridiculous, and rarely correct.
588 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 16, 2026
I received a free advance copy of this book and am leaving an honest review
Super interesting premis and ideal timing for release if you look at the conversation around ethics with AI right now.
Clever little GenX pop culture references dotted throughout. There were many times I found myself with a small knowing smile and giggle.
The humans are pesky little creatures sometimes fighting against a benevolent Daedalus trying to save them from themselves - unfortunately it really rings true!
I also loved the humour around the religious cult members not believing the science when “god” itself explains the science. That storyline gave this atheist a lot of joy…
A cracking good read - don’t skip over the science - it’s interesting and accessible with a bit of consideration.
Super interesting premis and ideal timing for release if you look at the conversation around ethics with AI right now.
Clever little GenX pop culture references dotted throughout. There were many times I found myself with a small knowing smile and giggle.
The humans are pesky little creatures sometimes fighting against a benevolent Daedalus trying to save them from themselves - unfortunately it really rings true!
I also loved the humour around the religious cult members not believing the science when “god” itself explains the science. That storyline gave this atheist a lot of joy…
A cracking good read - don’t skip over the science - it’s interesting and accessible with a bit of consideration.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2026
I received a free advance copy of this book and am leaving an honest review.
A romp of a read. Full of fast paced narrative with pop-culture references.
Feels like it needs its own soundtrack as it blasts around, there are many references to songs that may provide a good start to building your own.
It references many cultural touchpoints but in a creative and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Like many works in sci-fi you are left with more questions than it attempts to answer
A romp of a read. Full of fast paced narrative with pop-culture references.
Feels like it needs its own soundtrack as it blasts around, there are many references to songs that may provide a good start to building your own.
It references many cultural touchpoints but in a creative and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Like many works in sci-fi you are left with more questions than it attempts to answer
September 13, 2026
What a fun read. Imagine James Elroy meets Peter F. Hamilton - sweeping in its vision and machine gun in its prose. It’s littered with pop culture references and flies through some big questions, all without ever taking itself too seriously. Will be looking forward to more from Dave Sag.
September 6, 2026
I received a free advance copy of this book and am leaving an honest review.
A roller coaster ghost train ride through time and space and physics and the possibilities of what could be. Modern in its ambition with plenty of post modern fun it’s Don DeLillo meets Joyce meets Rian Hughes. It’s a little bit funny, a little bit sexy and a whole lot thought provoking, taking our angst circling AI and climate all the way through to the nature of consciousness and the universes themselves. A thoroughly entertaining read that’s still got me pondering what I think about things.
A roller coaster ghost train ride through time and space and physics and the possibilities of what could be. Modern in its ambition with plenty of post modern fun it’s Don DeLillo meets Joyce meets Rian Hughes. It’s a little bit funny, a little bit sexy and a whole lot thought provoking, taking our angst circling AI and climate all the way through to the nature of consciousness and the universes themselves. A thoroughly entertaining read that’s still got me pondering what I think about things.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews