Critical Mass Audiobook By Daniel Suarez cover art

Critical Mass

A Novel (A Delta-v Novel, Book 2)

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Critical Mass

By: Daniel Suarez
Narrated by: Jeff Gurner
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.75

Buy for $24.75

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

In New York Times best-selling author Daniel Suarez's latest space-tech thriller, a group of pioneering astropreneurs must overcome never-before-attempted engineering challenges to rescue colleagues stranded at a distant asteroid—kicking off a new space race in which Earth's climate crisis could well hang in the balance.

When unforeseen circumstances during an innovative—and unsanctioned—commercial asteroid-mining mission leave two crew members stranded, those who make it back must engineer a rescue, all while navigating a shifting web of global political alliances and renewed Cold War tensions. With Earth governments consumed by the ravages of climate change and unable to take the risks necessary to make rapid progress in space, the crew must build their own next-gen spacecraft capable of mounting a rescue in time for the asteroid's next swing by Earth.

In the process, they'll need to establish the first spin-gravity station in deep space, the first orbiting solar power satellite and refinery, and historic infrastructure on the moon's surface—all of which could alleviate a deepening ecological, political, and economic crisis back on Earth, and prove that space-based industry is not only profitable, but possibly humanity's best hope for a livable, peaceful future.

©2022 Daniel Suarez (P)2022 Penguin Audio
Adventure Fiction Science Fiction Space Exploration Technothrillers Thriller & Suspense Interstellar Thriller Technology Exciting

Critic reviews

“Hard science fiction has a new virtuoso, and Critical Mass is a fine piece of futurism, startlingly entertaining and exceptionally thought provoking.” —New York Journal of Books

"Critical Mass is a thought-provoking read, whether you’re a space nerd who eagerly followed the real-life mission to Ryugu in 2018 or a fan of the “The Expanse” wondering how the Belters might have come to be. Daniel Suarez is the 21st century champion of space we desperately need." —Wall Street Journal

"This novel has it all for readers who enjoy hard science fiction. It’s gripping, vivid, suspenseful, and filled with thrills and chills that feel credible and believable.... Overall, this science fiction techno-thriller was entertaining, convincing, and felt terrifyingly realistic. The tension was so thick I could feel it. The novel also had suspense, compelling and diverse characters, and a thought-provoking story line. This emotional rollercoaster kept me rapidly turning the pages. If you enjoy high-octane science fiction, then this may be the series for you." —Mystery and Suspense Magazine

Compelling Narrative • Realistic Technology • Exceptional Accent Versatility • Thought-provoking Concepts • Hopeful Vision
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
There are some strong ideas, technical information, and amazing concepts in this book, like all of Daniel Suarez’s books. But the story just didn’t deliver for me this time. It did get better toward the ending, but it just felt too tedious of a journey to get there with 40 chapters of set up. I just didn’t care enough about the characters, like I did in the previous book. I think it needs another edit.

Wanted to love it, but was somewhat disappointed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Throughout time,we earthlings have looked to the sky, wondering how we will move into space. this book provides a framework to creating the future --- Thank you, Daniel! looking forward to your next book!

A template for our future in space!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This sequel is not as exciting as the first book. The sources of tension and big ideas feel recycled. There's a whole chapters about cryptocurrency which was, frankly, hatable. I'm less interested in space politics, and more interested in space exploration! The only character doing hard core exploration did so outside the narrative, and this was only revealed at the end. Pretty disappointing.

Not as exciting as the first book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This story suffers from the author adding too much superfluous detail to the story. There is a tremendous amount of effort in explaining how things work in ways that don't contribute to the story or plot. It is one thing to have a well thought out world, but another to spend a large percentage of the book trying to prove it.

The plot was ok. I wasn't addicted to it, but it wasn't bad either. Despite their tribulations, I'm surprised at how well things went for them, though. This is probably my least favorite of Suarez's books (which is not saying much, as I have really enjoyed them so far). There are still plenty of interesting ideas in there.

The narrator did a good job making characters distinct and covering a wide range of accents. It was a pleasant listen.

Too much superfluous detail

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I’ve read all of his work probably 5 times, and Critical Mass will Bo no exception.

Love Daniel Suarez

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

It just feels so tangible the way the story is written. I hope I get to see the day when humans actually mine asteroids. For now, this story is a pleasure to read and is an experience better than a movie. Excellent character development and dynamics throughout. I am looking forward to book #3 with excitement.

Tangible, exciting, and worth experiencing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Went thru this one like butter too. For anyone hoping the series is over, simply not purchasing the next one is always an option. I however will be preordering #3 as soon as I hear about it. :)

Can't wait for book 3

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I love this author and as a follow up to Delta V it does a great job of expanding on the ideas and concepts while treating the character arcs with respect.

Hard to put down after you start it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Loved this story about space, and then lived it even more when the author delivered into the world of decentralized commerce powered by blockchain!

The Decentralized future of space and blockchain!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I liked this book overall. The story line was good, ups and downs, and well developed characters. Although I had a hard time getting into it at first and keep all the characters names straight along with their accents the narrator provided.

Good adventure and very developed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews