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Version Zero

David Yoon (Goodreads Author)

3.83 · Rating details · 29 ratings · 16 reviews

A lightning fast and scorchingly observant novel of the moment, Version Zero is a thrilling, humorous adult debut from the brilliant mind of New York Times bestselling author David Yoon.

Reboot the present. Save the future.

Max, a data whiz at the Facebook-like social media company Wren, has gotten a firsthand glimpse of the dark side of big tech. When he starts asking quest ...more

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Published (first published May 25th 2021)

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Average rating 3.83 ·

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· 29 ratings · 16 reviews

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Jan 18, 2021 Sylvain Neuvel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Imagine a world in which the entire Internet is controlled by a handful of shady CEO’s. Oh. Right. Well, imagine someone doing something about it. Imagine a high-speed, edge of your seat adventure with stakes higher than you can measure. Imagine it told in David Yoon’s unique and singularly engaging prose. That’s VERSION ZERO, an addictive, brain-hacking exploration of the tech-run world we live in, and a rollercoaster so fast it will blow your hair off.

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Jan 24, 2020 Kristen marked it as to-read · review of another edition

huehuehuehuehuehuehue
gimme

...more

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Aug 21, 2020 Tory rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020, arcs, mindbenders

If "Black Mirror" were funnier, you'd have "Version Zero"! This book, set in the very (VERY) near future, poses some serious questions about ethics and modern morality, but it's written with a great sense of humor and fast-paced action, is incredibly (sometimes horribly) relatable, and leaves the reader guessing. The fun action is perfectly balanced against the dark side of technology, and David Yoon's voice is witty, fresh, and authentic. I'd highly recommend this for anyone who dug "Ready Play ...more

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Mar 09, 2020 Jules added it · review of another edition

Read as manuscript - will defer review until finished copy is published.

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Jan 09, 2021 Chandra rated it liked it · review of another edition

2.5/5 stars. This book was a mixed bag for me. Sometimes it was way too on the nose, at other times it was clever. Sometimes it was really exciting, but a bit later it would become super predictable. I can understand why other people might dig the book, it just didn’t end up being my jam. Im also definitely left with some disappointment as I like the authors first book so much (granted it was a completely different genre).

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Jan 26, 2021 Elaine rated it it was ok

Shelves: kindle, netgalley, sci-fi-mumbo-jumbo

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Version Zero.

I haven't read the author's YA books but I know he's popular.

** Minor spoilers ahead **

I don't usually read thrillers based in Silicon Valley because I know the techno babble will go right over my head (and it did), but I was intrigued about a story centered around how three misfits work together to take down an establishment based on greed, privilege and status.

When Max, a talented programmer in a Facebook-like company, brings his ethical ...more

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Jan 27, 2021 zaheerah rated it it was ok

Shelves: arcs, net-galley, review-copy, great-but-not-for-me

*I received a copy via the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.*

After questioning his employers, data technician Max finds himself fired and blackballed across the industry. Taking his insider knowledge, he gathers his friends in a daring plan to rip the curtains off the stage and make a stand. When they receive a mysterious invitation from a reclusive tech legend and access to his technology, their plans go further than they cou *I received a copy via the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.*

After questioning his employers, data technician Max finds himself fired and blackballed across the industry. Taking his insider knowledge, he gathers his friends in a daring plan to rip the curtains off the stage and make a stand. When they receive a mysterious invitation from a reclusive tech legend and access to his technology, their plans go further than they could ever expect. But what is the cost and is it worth the risk for Max?

I’ll apologise for this review in advance because like my reading experience, it was a jumbled up mess. There were so many moments that were quite thrilling, but in the end, Version Zero was not the one for me.

Where do I begin? I guess the setting and plot. Version Zero takes place in reality similar to our, same significant events. There are five major media companies; names are familiar enough that it doesn’t take much to know who represents which major corporation. I have to admit I didn’t understand what was going on in the beginning. Yoon introduces a pecking order that doesn’t seem to have any relevance to the book, a tidbit to make it seem more science fiction when the story could have quickly done without such information. The story didn’t work for me. Despite what appears to be an eventful plot from the synopsis, the story was messy and underwhelming. Reboot the present. Save the future. Version Zero tried very hard to be a book about human life online, and how we’ve given up privacy in the age of digital information. I was invested in the anger Max felt about these top percenter who hide from accountability on their platform, the hate that is a constant cycle that moves from site to site, taking innocent lives. I feel like it wasn’t as nuanced as it could have been and fell victim to the simple “internet bad, the time before good,” debate.

I could have forgiven this book for its flaws if the characters were remotely interesting. I wasn’t sure if the characters themselves knew what they were doing. Max, our protagonist, is our down and out, data technician who is fired when he mentions how uncomfortable he is with Wren (think Facebook) and their plans to gain more of their user’s information. There was a part of Max that I liked, the man who wanted to do good by his family, make something of himself. Every time he spoke, I could not feel any passion for the other stuff he says. The best way I could describe his voice is empty. He recruits his best friends, Akiko, and her boyfriend, Shane, in his plans to reboot the internet. It goes well, gaining the attention of Pilot Markham, a key figure in internet history, who disappeared off the face of the earth and wants to help in their fight. He’s joined alongside teen Brayden and together forms their group. I wish I knew what the hell was happening in this strange dynamic. Max harboured a crush on Akiko, partakes in emotional cheating and Shane is just there to be pure muscle and be weird. Pilot Markham was fascinating; to say the least, he’s responsible for most of the book’s thriller parts. I don’t understand how Max was willing to accept him into his plan, considering what you learn about his background. It just screamed red flags, and you would have thought Max would have picked up on it. Brayden, this poor child, why was he even there? Nothing meshed well, and everyone just contradicted each other in the worst way.

Overall, I wish I could saying something more positive that you could take away from this review. I tried to give it a chance. Max and his friends might have changed the world, but this project failed to spark any real interest in me. ...more

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Jan 09, 2021 YY rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-2021, tbr-2021

This was such a fun read! It's like Black Mirror but with a lot of heart and humour injected into it. If you're familiar with Silicon Valley and start-up culture, you'll appreciate the satire. ...more

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Mar 02, 2021 Margaret Schoen rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is a review of an ARC from Edelweiss.

Max works at Wren, a social media company that's basically Facebook, coming up with new and brilliant ways to trick users into giving up more data. When he learns that some of what Wren plans to do with that data is more nefarious than he thought, he rebels, teaming his best friend, coder and fellow Wren employee Akiko, and her boyfriend, pool cleaner Shane. When the trio hooks up with reclusive tech billionaire Pilot Markham, things get more intense, an ...more

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Jan 15, 2021 Nick rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: eidleweiss

***Review e-ARC provided by Edleweiss***

This is a fast read and I would attribute that to much of the narrative being taken up with explanations (accurate enough) of how the real-life Internet works. A quick perusal of some other GR reviews confirms my hunch that this style is way too facile for some readers. I went with it, though, because the characters are well-drawn and author, David Yoon has created an original set of circumstances for this thriller. In the world right now, we are talking a ...more

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Dec 26, 2020 Melise rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

This is a story about a young man who is employed by a major tech company to develop games that will allow the company to gather personal information about the users, which the company then sells to advertisers. He becomes disenchanted with the process, and, along with a small group of friends, decides to try and educate the general public about how their information is (ab)used. This decision causes him to lose his job, and brings him to the attention of the people who run the major tech compan ...more

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Mar 07, 2021 Susie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So, from 9% straight through to the end. I’d say I dug it! And goddamn! Did it throw a WTactualF right in the end?!? Hell yes it did.

So, I went in thinking of the David Yoon who wrote Frankly in Love. And what I got was, like, SO. NOT. THAT. But I loved it. The tech world is not something with which I have much familiarity, but I feel like a bit of a vet in the industry from having experienced this read! There was just so much to get outta this story, too. The surprise of Brayden, the sociopath ...more

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Aug 10, 2020 Cari rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I did not realize this would not be out until May - I am bummed that it will be so long until we can share it with patrons. This is a timely and smart book - I absolutely love Yoon's unique prose, which I think is the novel's greatest strength. I also loved the characters. But many readers will also be drawn in by the high concept - a group of individuals with tech know-how who set the goal of breaking the Internet. So many thought-provoking insights, and it definitely makes me think twice about ...more

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Dec 14, 2020 Angie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I was so excited for this book because it ticked so many of my sf boxes, and I enjoyed the author's young adult novel. Sadly, it didn't really work for me, it felt too cartoonish and unnuanced, escpecially the ending. Do go read Frankly in Love, though--it's fantastic. ...more

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