Official Blurb
The
Flying Saucers are Real is a book that investigates numerous encounters
between USAF fighters, personnel, and other aircraft, and UFOs between
1947 and 1950. Keyhoe contended that the Air Force was actively
investigating these cases of close encounter, with a policy of
concealing their existence from the public until 1949. He stated that
this policy was then replaced by one of cautious, progressive
revelation. Keyhoe further stated that Earth had been visited by
extraterrestrials for two centuries, with the frequency of these visits
increasing sharply after the first atomic weapon test in 1945. Citing
anecdotal evidence, he intimated the Air Force may have attained and
adapted some aspect of the alien technology: its method of propulsion
and perhaps its source of power. He believed the Air Force or the US
Government would eventually reveal these technologies to the public when
the Soviet Union was no longer a threat.
Donald E. Keyhoe, who
relates here his investigation of the flying saucers, writes with
twenty-five years of experience in observing aeronautical developments.
He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He flew in
active service with the Marine Corps, managed the tour of the historic
plane in which Bennett and Byrd made their North Pole flight, was aide
to Charles Lindbergh after the famous Paris flight, and was chief of
information for the Aeronautics Branch, Department of Commerce.
My Review
This audobook is narrated by Roger Melin, one of my faves over at Librivox. This is not a novel ( or at least it purports itself as investigative journalism. It follows the writers investigation into the "truth" about all of the flying saucer incident that took place after the end of WWII.
I found the whole book fascinating. The details of the cases involved, the investigative process and the reactions of those being interviewed were very well presented. I felt my own curiosity woken up by the questions the author put forwards, and I ended up as doubtful of the official position as he did himself.
There are a number of UFO theories put forwards here that are still floating around today. I also found the assumptions and the thoughts he had about space travel were made even more interesting because they were written before we actually had space travel.
Well written, well read, totally absorbing. If you have any interest in ufology, this is a must-listen.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox.
Listen to the first chapter.
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Saturday, 18 May 2013
Black Canoes
Official Blurb
None.
My Review
This is another full cast audio drama from the Seeing Eye Theater that runs for about a hour.
A potter dissatisfied with his art and being unable to replicate an ancient glazing technique flips and ends up destroying the work of months of a rampage of pot smashing. A visiting trainee potter takes his hand and leads him on an adventure.
This one is a bit "out there". The story is cohesive but it is definitely one that tries to stretch your brain. Think of it as modern urban fantasy. The woman who takes the potter on the adventure inhabits a world different from his (and ours) and she leads him on a path of discovery, mystery, adventure and sacrifice.
It's very well done, the acting believeable, the sound effects and music perfectly blended to create the atmosphere. Not really my sort of thing, but in the end I did enjoy it.
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
None.
My Review
This is another full cast audio drama from the Seeing Eye Theater that runs for about a hour.
A potter dissatisfied with his art and being unable to replicate an ancient glazing technique flips and ends up destroying the work of months of a rampage of pot smashing. A visiting trainee potter takes his hand and leads him on an adventure.
This one is a bit "out there". The story is cohesive but it is definitely one that tries to stretch your brain. Think of it as modern urban fantasy. The woman who takes the potter on the adventure inhabits a world different from his (and ours) and she leads him on a path of discovery, mystery, adventure and sacrifice.
It's very well done, the acting believeable, the sound effects and music perfectly blended to create the atmosphere. Not really my sort of thing, but in the end I did enjoy it.
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Official Blurb
None.
My Review
In this full cast audio drama from the Seeing Ear Theater we get a real treat.
When Dana is surprised by being sacked from her job, it's just the start of the strange and weird things about to happen. This is a historical sci fi drama, that might sound a bit weird, but when the story is based around time travel it has to be sci fi, right? But when that time travel keeps the main characters in the past, during the age of slavery in the southern states of america it kind of becomes historical.
This story is about a modern black woman who falls through time into the 1800's. As the story evolves, she finds that she has a mission to accomplish, although it's not one she asked for nor volunteered for.
The white slave-owners treat her as a slave and she has to deal with the culture shock that this produces.
It's very well written, well acted and the story drew me in and kept me hooked for all two hours. It was fun, exciting and intriguing all at the same time.
Once again, this is a not-safe-for-work story that contains in-character racism of the lowest order, it shouldn't be played to an unsuspecting audience.
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 9/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part
None.
My Review
In this full cast audio drama from the Seeing Ear Theater we get a real treat.
When Dana is surprised by being sacked from her job, it's just the start of the strange and weird things about to happen. This is a historical sci fi drama, that might sound a bit weird, but when the story is based around time travel it has to be sci fi, right? But when that time travel keeps the main characters in the past, during the age of slavery in the southern states of america it kind of becomes historical.
This story is about a modern black woman who falls through time into the 1800's. As the story evolves, she finds that she has a mission to accomplish, although it's not one she asked for nor volunteered for.
The white slave-owners treat her as a slave and she has to deal with the culture shock that this produces.
It's very well written, well acted and the story drew me in and kept me hooked for all two hours. It was fun, exciting and intriguing all at the same time.
Once again, this is a not-safe-for-work story that contains in-character racism of the lowest order, it shouldn't be played to an unsuspecting audience.
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 9/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part
Snow Glass Apples by Neil Gaiman
Official Blurb
None.
My Review
I've just finished listening to a dramatisation of Snow Glass Apples by the Seeing Ear Theater. I was really impressed. It's a full cast drama and very well written and acted. Just like the previous presentation from them.
This is a new look at the Snow White story. All the elements seem to be in the story, Snow White, the dwarves, the poisoned apple, the magic mirrow, yet they are not arranged in the way you remember!
This is plain and simple a monster story, and the monster is not the queen. This is a harsh, horrid story that's not safe for work. It's more Brothers-Grim than Disney.
I really enjoyed the story, despite its dark and horrific nature. Half the pleasure was finding out how the classic story had been twisted!
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 9/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part
None.
My Review
I've just finished listening to a dramatisation of Snow Glass Apples by the Seeing Ear Theater. I was really impressed. It's a full cast drama and very well written and acted. Just like the previous presentation from them.
This is a new look at the Snow White story. All the elements seem to be in the story, Snow White, the dwarves, the poisoned apple, the magic mirrow, yet they are not arranged in the way you remember!
This is plain and simple a monster story, and the monster is not the queen. This is a harsh, horrid story that's not safe for work. It's more Brothers-Grim than Disney.
I really enjoyed the story, despite its dark and horrific nature. Half the pleasure was finding out how the classic story had been twisted!
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 9/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part
History of the Devil by Clive Barker
Official Blurb
None.
My Review
I've just finished listening to a dramtisation of History of the Devil by the Seeing Ear Theater. I was really impressed. It's a full cast drama and very well written and acted.
The story is based around a court case in which the devil is on trial. If the devil is found innocent of corrupting mankind he will go back to heaven. It's filled with flash back scenes to events throughout history where the devil was involved, from the original garden through to events around WWII.
As you might expect with a Clive Barker story things get horrific at times and I don't think the producers of this show held back. The prose is quite belly-churning at times, the brutalness is very raw at times.
The devil himself is no simple one-dimensional character in this story, you tend to hear a lot of story from his own lips and the actor chosen to play him actually makes him appealing to the listener.
As stated above, this is full cast audio drama with music, sound effects etc. It's very well produced although I found this recording a little muddy.
In summary, I really enjoyed this, not safe for public listening, you'll get a few funny looks if you do!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3 (would have been 3, but this recording was a bit muddy)
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part
.
None.
My Review
I've just finished listening to a dramtisation of History of the Devil by the Seeing Ear Theater. I was really impressed. It's a full cast drama and very well written and acted.
The story is based around a court case in which the devil is on trial. If the devil is found innocent of corrupting mankind he will go back to heaven. It's filled with flash back scenes to events throughout history where the devil was involved, from the original garden through to events around WWII.
As you might expect with a Clive Barker story things get horrific at times and I don't think the producers of this show held back. The prose is quite belly-churning at times, the brutalness is very raw at times.
The devil himself is no simple one-dimensional character in this story, you tend to hear a lot of story from his own lips and the actor chosen to play him actually makes him appealing to the listener.
As stated above, this is full cast audio drama with music, sound effects etc. It's very well produced although I found this recording a little muddy.
In summary, I really enjoyed this, not safe for public listening, you'll get a few funny looks if you do!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3 (would have been 3, but this recording was a bit muddy)
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part
.
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Captain Blackwell's Prize by V.E. Ulett
Official Blurb
A romantic adventure from the days of wooden ships and iron men, CAPTAIN BLACKWELL’S PRIZE is a story of honor, duty, social class and the bond of sexual love.
In 1802 Captain James Blackwell attacks and takes La Trinidad, a Spanish frigate aboard which Blackwell finds 35,000 gold dollars and the American woman Mercedes de Aragon. On putting into Gibraltar with his treasure and his new mistress Blackwell is informed by his irate evangelical admiral of the Treaty of Amiens, denying him prize money earned by the capture and setting Mercedes at liberty. But the self-possessed American has formed a strong attachment to lusty Captain Blackwell. When she journeys with the captain to the North African coast and is taken into the Dey of Oran’s harem, Captain Blackwell must follow his own code of morality and honor to rescue the woman on whom his future happiness depends.
CAPTAIN BLACKWELL’S PRIZE is historical fiction where sword fights and sea battles are depicted alongside the manners, ideas, and prejudices of men and women from the time of Nelson and Napoleon.
My Review
Oh dear...
Well, I suppose that's not enough of a review. Actually, now I think about it, it's unfair.
When I saw this title on Podiobooks I was flooded with hope and delight. I've long been a fan of the historical drama afloat, I've read all of the Bolitho, Aubrey and Hornblower books, I love the genre.
This book opened just as I wanted, with the drama and excitement of a boarding action, cannons were fired, swords unsheathed and blood was spilt. Excellent stuff, and well written too.
But then it fell from grace. Rather than simply being a romance at sea, it fell into simple erotica and every chapter then started having a sex scene in all it's gory detail. I tried skipping the scenes as it really didn't interest me, but found that I ended up missing vast sections.
In the end it wasn't worth the effort and I quit listening.
Now I have said that it was well written, and I truly believe that. The prose and the dialogue was good. I thought that the "romance" was played through too quickly, in a they-meet-they-sleep-together kind of way. Not a lot actual romance or will-they-wont-they tension.
And so my disappointment leaves me writing a review where I can't actually give it a rating because I didn't finish it.
Reading ?/?
Production ?/?
Story ?/?
Total Score ?/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
A romantic adventure from the days of wooden ships and iron men, CAPTAIN BLACKWELL’S PRIZE is a story of honor, duty, social class and the bond of sexual love.
In 1802 Captain James Blackwell attacks and takes La Trinidad, a Spanish frigate aboard which Blackwell finds 35,000 gold dollars and the American woman Mercedes de Aragon. On putting into Gibraltar with his treasure and his new mistress Blackwell is informed by his irate evangelical admiral of the Treaty of Amiens, denying him prize money earned by the capture and setting Mercedes at liberty. But the self-possessed American has formed a strong attachment to lusty Captain Blackwell. When she journeys with the captain to the North African coast and is taken into the Dey of Oran’s harem, Captain Blackwell must follow his own code of morality and honor to rescue the woman on whom his future happiness depends.
CAPTAIN BLACKWELL’S PRIZE is historical fiction where sword fights and sea battles are depicted alongside the manners, ideas, and prejudices of men and women from the time of Nelson and Napoleon.
My Review
Oh dear...
Well, I suppose that's not enough of a review. Actually, now I think about it, it's unfair.
When I saw this title on Podiobooks I was flooded with hope and delight. I've long been a fan of the historical drama afloat, I've read all of the Bolitho, Aubrey and Hornblower books, I love the genre.
This book opened just as I wanted, with the drama and excitement of a boarding action, cannons were fired, swords unsheathed and blood was spilt. Excellent stuff, and well written too.
But then it fell from grace. Rather than simply being a romance at sea, it fell into simple erotica and every chapter then started having a sex scene in all it's gory detail. I tried skipping the scenes as it really didn't interest me, but found that I ended up missing vast sections.
In the end it wasn't worth the effort and I quit listening.
Now I have said that it was well written, and I truly believe that. The prose and the dialogue was good. I thought that the "romance" was played through too quickly, in a they-meet-they-sleep-together kind of way. Not a lot actual romance or will-they-wont-they tension.
And so my disappointment leaves me writing a review where I can't actually give it a rating because I didn't finish it.
Reading ?/?
Production ?/?
Story ?/?
Total Score ?/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Origin of Legends: Crush Depth by Jeff Lane
Official Blurb
A novella by Jeff lane called Crush Depth starts off his Origins of Legends series:
Marylou Kelsum is a young scientist about to embark on the journey of a lifetime on-board a first-of its-kind research submarine on its maiden voyage to the bottom of the Atlantic ocean.
But not long after they get under way, Marylou’s professional dream come true turns into a nightmare. A face appears, looking into her cabin porthole at the impossible depth of 5,000 meters below the ocean’s surface. And worse, she thinks she recognizes the face as that of a fellow crew member.
Crush Depth is narrated by the author and brought to life with a full cast.
My Review
This is a fun little sci fi story set not in space, but under the sea. It has a little bit of mystery, a little bit of horror, a little bit of sci fi geekery and the mix is just right. I really enjoyed the story. I can't say too much without giving away a lot, it being a novella doesn't leave a lot for me to tell you about without despoiling the whole thing. Story wise this is great, sound production wise, ahhh, that's another story.
The opening/closing credits and the narration are fine, the acting by the full cast is also pretty good. Where this falls down is the sound work. I get the impression that whoever put this together was doing their first audio drama/podcast because the actors keep either breathing on the microphones or on some occasions blowing the levels. The levels have been calmed down so you won't lose an ear drum but sadly that doesn't fix the sound where half the vocal tones are missing. It seems a real shame that this little little problem has slipped through. As I said great story, and I really hope they make a second version, with all the same people but with a little more attention to mic' work.
Reading 3/3
Production 1/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
A novella by Jeff lane called Crush Depth starts off his Origins of Legends series:
Marylou Kelsum is a young scientist about to embark on the journey of a lifetime on-board a first-of its-kind research submarine on its maiden voyage to the bottom of the Atlantic ocean.
But not long after they get under way, Marylou’s professional dream come true turns into a nightmare. A face appears, looking into her cabin porthole at the impossible depth of 5,000 meters below the ocean’s surface. And worse, she thinks she recognizes the face as that of a fellow crew member.
Crush Depth is narrated by the author and brought to life with a full cast.
My Review
This is a fun little sci fi story set not in space, but under the sea. It has a little bit of mystery, a little bit of horror, a little bit of sci fi geekery and the mix is just right. I really enjoyed the story. I can't say too much without giving away a lot, it being a novella doesn't leave a lot for me to tell you about without despoiling the whole thing. Story wise this is great, sound production wise, ahhh, that's another story.
The opening/closing credits and the narration are fine, the acting by the full cast is also pretty good. Where this falls down is the sound work. I get the impression that whoever put this together was doing their first audio drama/podcast because the actors keep either breathing on the microphones or on some occasions blowing the levels. The levels have been calmed down so you won't lose an ear drum but sadly that doesn't fix the sound where half the vocal tones are missing. It seems a real shame that this little little problem has slipped through. As I said great story, and I really hope they make a second version, with all the same people but with a little more attention to mic' work.
Reading 3/3
Production 1/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Interference by Eric Luke
Official Blurb
SOMETHING wants in. To your head. Through this audiobook.
Ethan, a digital sound engineer in Los Angeles, becomes aware that his life is unraveling when the audiobook he's listening to reveals his deepest, darkest secrets, escalating until the narrator addresses him directly, threatening to destroy him from within. Vivian, a single mother running an antique store in San Francisco, listens to her audiobook to distract herself from missing her young daughter, but is shaken when the narrative is interrupted by her daughter's voice, faintly calling for help.
Ethan and Vivian are drawn together as they fight to solve a generation-spanning conspiracy that begins with a boy listening to the Orson Welles broadcast of War of the Worlds in 1938 and evolves through the latest innovations in digital technology, unearthing the mind-bending concept of a POSSIBILITY PARASITE bent on unleashing an explosion of APOCALYPTIC META HORROR.
My Review
I caught my first wiff of this audio book over on the Audio Drama Talk forums and loved the sound of it so nipped over to Podiobooks and downloaded it immediately. It was well worth the effort and time.
As the blurb above hints, it takes one of the little moments of coincidence that we experience every day, you know, where the book your reading or the song your listening suddenly matches what's going on around you, and takes that to the next step. That idea of building on the listeners own experiences makes this drama and premise of this story leap almost to reality.
There's a whole "meta" experience to be had listening to an audio book about someone listening to an audio book that is apparently listening to them, that is so much fun. We audio book listeners are like a little community that has its own clique-i-ness. You're either in, an audio book listener, or your out, a normal person who does not listen to audio books. This audio book seems to panda to that feeling of being-in. By being a regular audio book listener you'll get more out of this audio book.
Quite apart of the "Meta" experience I can safely say that this is a great audio book. Drama, horror and an excellent plot to bind them together, with an excellent reader producing an excellent quality product make this a real treat to stick in your ears.
The creators use of minimal sound effects is just right, adding to the mood when needed. From the opening titles you'll be hooked, the creators use of sections from the original Orson Wells radio show really bring the show to life, and once again this adds to the "realism" feel of it that I was getting at earlier.
In summary, please understand this, if you don't download this book you're hurting yourself. It was a blast!
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 9/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
SOMETHING wants in. To your head. Through this audiobook.
Ethan, a digital sound engineer in Los Angeles, becomes aware that his life is unraveling when the audiobook he's listening to reveals his deepest, darkest secrets, escalating until the narrator addresses him directly, threatening to destroy him from within. Vivian, a single mother running an antique store in San Francisco, listens to her audiobook to distract herself from missing her young daughter, but is shaken when the narrative is interrupted by her daughter's voice, faintly calling for help.
Ethan and Vivian are drawn together as they fight to solve a generation-spanning conspiracy that begins with a boy listening to the Orson Welles broadcast of War of the Worlds in 1938 and evolves through the latest innovations in digital technology, unearthing the mind-bending concept of a POSSIBILITY PARASITE bent on unleashing an explosion of APOCALYPTIC META HORROR.
My Review
I caught my first wiff of this audio book over on the Audio Drama Talk forums and loved the sound of it so nipped over to Podiobooks and downloaded it immediately. It was well worth the effort and time.
As the blurb above hints, it takes one of the little moments of coincidence that we experience every day, you know, where the book your reading or the song your listening suddenly matches what's going on around you, and takes that to the next step. That idea of building on the listeners own experiences makes this drama and premise of this story leap almost to reality.
There's a whole "meta" experience to be had listening to an audio book about someone listening to an audio book that is apparently listening to them, that is so much fun. We audio book listeners are like a little community that has its own clique-i-ness. You're either in, an audio book listener, or your out, a normal person who does not listen to audio books. This audio book seems to panda to that feeling of being-in. By being a regular audio book listener you'll get more out of this audio book.
Quite apart of the "Meta" experience I can safely say that this is a great audio book. Drama, horror and an excellent plot to bind them together, with an excellent reader producing an excellent quality product make this a real treat to stick in your ears.
The creators use of minimal sound effects is just right, adding to the mood when needed. From the opening titles you'll be hooked, the creators use of sections from the original Orson Wells radio show really bring the show to life, and once again this adds to the "realism" feel of it that I was getting at earlier.
In summary, please understand this, if you don't download this book you're hurting yourself. It was a blast!
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 9/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
Thursday, 25 October 2012
The Night of the Long Knives by Fritz Leiber
Official Blurb
"I was one hundred miles from Nowhere—and I mean that literally—when I spotted this girl out of the corner of my eye. I'd been keeping an extra lookout because I still expected the other undead bugger left over from the murder party at Nowhere to be stalking me." In a Post apocalyptic world, the few people left must be strong. And must not hesitate to kill. Of course, killing another Deathlander was one of the chief pleasures and urges of all the solitary wanders in this vast wasteland. Kill and kill again. But this other was a girl and that brought up the second great urge: sex. Which was it to be today? Perhaps both?
My Review
This is a short Sci Fi story in the classic style. It's suprised me. Next to nothing really happens and yet I found myself hooked.
The whole story is more or less a monologue with the odd bit of conversation thrown in. The protagonist lays out the events and the describes everything as the story goes along, all from the first person perspective, and I found it absorbing from the outset. Radioactive dust clouds, murdering people for a living and living on the edge of survival all make for a quite unusual playground.
Now I said that next to nothing happens, physically that is. The characters talk, and the protagonist "thinks" to us, and boy does he think a lot of things. We get to understand the dangers motivations and drives of the lead character as he considers almost every option or possible meaning behinds everyone's smallest actions.
If you want a lot of action in your Sci Fi, this book isn't for you, if you're happy to hear what the protagonist is thinking in great detail you'll like this. As to the reader, he comes at the book in an upbeat almost jovial style. During the first chapter I found that a little jarring, the upbeat tones versus the rather gritty content, but I soon got over that and enjoyed the book.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
"I was one hundred miles from Nowhere—and I mean that literally—when I spotted this girl out of the corner of my eye. I'd been keeping an extra lookout because I still expected the other undead bugger left over from the murder party at Nowhere to be stalking me." In a Post apocalyptic world, the few people left must be strong. And must not hesitate to kill. Of course, killing another Deathlander was one of the chief pleasures and urges of all the solitary wanders in this vast wasteland. Kill and kill again. But this other was a girl and that brought up the second great urge: sex. Which was it to be today? Perhaps both?
My Review
This is a short Sci Fi story in the classic style. It's suprised me. Next to nothing really happens and yet I found myself hooked.
The whole story is more or less a monologue with the odd bit of conversation thrown in. The protagonist lays out the events and the describes everything as the story goes along, all from the first person perspective, and I found it absorbing from the outset. Radioactive dust clouds, murdering people for a living and living on the edge of survival all make for a quite unusual playground.
Now I said that next to nothing happens, physically that is. The characters talk, and the protagonist "thinks" to us, and boy does he think a lot of things. We get to understand the dangers motivations and drives of the lead character as he considers almost every option or possible meaning behinds everyone's smallest actions.
If you want a lot of action in your Sci Fi, this book isn't for you, if you're happy to hear what the protagonist is thinking in great detail you'll like this. As to the reader, he comes at the book in an upbeat almost jovial style. During the first chapter I found that a little jarring, the upbeat tones versus the rather gritty content, but I soon got over that and enjoyed the book.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
Sunday, 21 October 2012
Underwood and Flinch by Mike Bennett
Official Blurb
All David Flinch ever wanted was a normal life.
But when you're a member of the Flinch family, normal has never been easy.
For hundreds of years, the eldest male Flinch has been servant and guardian to the Lord Underwood. While the Flinches have changed through the generations, Underwood, a vampire, has been eternal. David had hoped to be spared the horror of serving his family's lord and master, but when he is summoned to the Flinch home in Spain by his dying older brother, he knows his luck has run out. Underwood must be resurrected from the grave in a ritual of human sacrifice, and David must be the man to do it. Because if he doesn't, an even greater evil than Underwood will rise: the evil that is David's sister.
Underwood and Flinch is an epic horror-thriller that spans the centuries. From the teeming slums of 17th Century London to an ex-pat community in modern-day Spain, this is the new novel from Mike Bennett, author of 'One Among the Sleepless' and 'Hall of Mirrors'.
My Review
I was a little tentative about starting this one. The whole urban fantasy/vampire genre seems to have bloomed out of all control, with vamps sparkling left and right and the vamps all having hearts of gold, it's starting to get a bit tired.
This book is not like that!
As the blurb says our protagonist is not the vampire, nor even a willing servant of the vampire. This books lead is very endearing. The man is a wreck, with a history that has broken his spirit and as you listen you will "feel" for him and start rooting for him through his trials and tribulations.
Of course it's about a vampire and there is therefore blood spilt, or rather deliberately bled from unwilling victims. It's gory, horrible, at time stomach churning and unsafe for work. However this gore and pain is not a constant ongoing thing but rather well paced, with high moments that set the tone for those occasions where more detail is not required. Truely, I am jealous of the authors ability to write in that style, it's not something I've been able to achieve.
The authors reading perfectly paced in just the right tone for the work. A British accent simply, put to its best purpose. His voice work is rather good and only slipped for a moment once or twice in scenes with multiple voices in use.
In summary, a very good audio book.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
All David Flinch ever wanted was a normal life.
But when you're a member of the Flinch family, normal has never been easy.
For hundreds of years, the eldest male Flinch has been servant and guardian to the Lord Underwood. While the Flinches have changed through the generations, Underwood, a vampire, has been eternal. David had hoped to be spared the horror of serving his family's lord and master, but when he is summoned to the Flinch home in Spain by his dying older brother, he knows his luck has run out. Underwood must be resurrected from the grave in a ritual of human sacrifice, and David must be the man to do it. Because if he doesn't, an even greater evil than Underwood will rise: the evil that is David's sister.
Underwood and Flinch is an epic horror-thriller that spans the centuries. From the teeming slums of 17th Century London to an ex-pat community in modern-day Spain, this is the new novel from Mike Bennett, author of 'One Among the Sleepless' and 'Hall of Mirrors'.
My Review
I was a little tentative about starting this one. The whole urban fantasy/vampire genre seems to have bloomed out of all control, with vamps sparkling left and right and the vamps all having hearts of gold, it's starting to get a bit tired.
This book is not like that!
As the blurb says our protagonist is not the vampire, nor even a willing servant of the vampire. This books lead is very endearing. The man is a wreck, with a history that has broken his spirit and as you listen you will "feel" for him and start rooting for him through his trials and tribulations.
Of course it's about a vampire and there is therefore blood spilt, or rather deliberately bled from unwilling victims. It's gory, horrible, at time stomach churning and unsafe for work. However this gore and pain is not a constant ongoing thing but rather well paced, with high moments that set the tone for those occasions where more detail is not required. Truely, I am jealous of the authors ability to write in that style, it's not something I've been able to achieve.
The authors reading perfectly paced in just the right tone for the work. A British accent simply, put to its best purpose. His voice work is rather good and only slipped for a moment once or twice in scenes with multiple voices in use.
In summary, a very good audio book.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
Monday, 19 March 2012
ASUNDER by John Mierau
Official Blurb
Twenty years after the American civil war, former slave Marcus Riggs fights for his life in a British harbor, in a world where Invaders came to enslave all of humanity.
They came. They conquered... they died.
Now, new powers battle Empires and Nations in a world torn... Asunder.
My Review
Wow. Cool. Need I say more? What do you mean, "that's not a review!"
Well as the blurb says, this sci fi story is set twenty years after the American civil war and after the invaders of H.G. Wells have passed away. So the lead characters are ex slaves caught in England by the invasion of aliens. What a great concept, that alone hooked me and made sure I was going to listen. Once it started it turned out to be action packed, and as a bonus read by a great narrator.
The heroes are caught up in a society fractured by the coming of the aliens. The British nation and empire is dissolved as warlords have set themselves up are using the alien tech' to make grabs for any and everything.
It's a conflict rich environment that is peppered with so many strange and exciting things that I was totally hooked on that side of things. The characters likewise feel real and are also filled with conflicts that seem designed to hook the reader.
Simply put, I was blown away with how great this story was, and was very sad on reaching the end. This audio book is the first in a series, and the subsequent parts are not released yet ( at least my Googling couldn't find it).
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Twenty years after the American civil war, former slave Marcus Riggs fights for his life in a British harbor, in a world where Invaders came to enslave all of humanity.
They came. They conquered... they died.
Now, new powers battle Empires and Nations in a world torn... Asunder.
My Review
Wow. Cool. Need I say more? What do you mean, "that's not a review!"
Well as the blurb says, this sci fi story is set twenty years after the American civil war and after the invaders of H.G. Wells have passed away. So the lead characters are ex slaves caught in England by the invasion of aliens. What a great concept, that alone hooked me and made sure I was going to listen. Once it started it turned out to be action packed, and as a bonus read by a great narrator.
The heroes are caught up in a society fractured by the coming of the aliens. The British nation and empire is dissolved as warlords have set themselves up are using the alien tech' to make grabs for any and everything.
It's a conflict rich environment that is peppered with so many strange and exciting things that I was totally hooked on that side of things. The characters likewise feel real and are also filled with conflicts that seem designed to hook the reader.
Simply put, I was blown away with how great this story was, and was very sad on reaching the end. This audio book is the first in a series, and the subsequent parts are not released yet ( at least my Googling couldn't find it).
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Acts of Desperation by Tim Dodge
Official Blurb
Ray Davis is newly divorced, going nowhere at a dead-end job in a warehouse, and has almost worked off the debts his ex-wife rang up. Then his underinsured brother's need for a liver transplant forces Ray to come up with a lot of money, fast. When he attempts to recover the profit he made with an old business partner, Ray discovers that the partner is dead and his investment has fallen into the hands of a drug dealer. The dealer has used the cash to buy a large supply of cocaine; he and his gun are not inclined to return the proceeds. Ray enlists a crude private eye to help him get it back, and he falls in love with Jenna, a beautiful waitress. His struggle to recover the money soon takes him deep into a swamp of crime, drugs, murder and revenge. Caught in a war between rival dealers, he comes to realize that the stakes have risen beyond the woman he loves or the money he needs to save his brother. He's fighting for his life.
ACTS OF DESPERATION is the new thriller from Tim Dodge. It combines crime, action, adventure, romance and humor into a roller coaster ride of a story.
My Review
The blurb above tells you all you need to know about the story! This is a thriller set in the modern world and features a believable protagonist in a desperate situation. I think most of us can sympathise with the lead characters dilemma, a desperate need for cash to help family member.
I really liked the lead character, he starts off seeming to be just your regular guy, but then slips into the seedy underworld, which at first seemed a little out of character, yet you soon realise that the guy is actually "that sort of guy" and it's no longer out of character. It's a very well done transition.
As with most good thrillers there is a lot of tension intermixed with action and a few good twists to keep you on your toes.
Recommended.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Ray Davis is newly divorced, going nowhere at a dead-end job in a warehouse, and has almost worked off the debts his ex-wife rang up. Then his underinsured brother's need for a liver transplant forces Ray to come up with a lot of money, fast. When he attempts to recover the profit he made with an old business partner, Ray discovers that the partner is dead and his investment has fallen into the hands of a drug dealer. The dealer has used the cash to buy a large supply of cocaine; he and his gun are not inclined to return the proceeds. Ray enlists a crude private eye to help him get it back, and he falls in love with Jenna, a beautiful waitress. His struggle to recover the money soon takes him deep into a swamp of crime, drugs, murder and revenge. Caught in a war between rival dealers, he comes to realize that the stakes have risen beyond the woman he loves or the money he needs to save his brother. He's fighting for his life.
ACTS OF DESPERATION is the new thriller from Tim Dodge. It combines crime, action, adventure, romance and humor into a roller coaster ride of a story.
My Review
The blurb above tells you all you need to know about the story! This is a thriller set in the modern world and features a believable protagonist in a desperate situation. I think most of us can sympathise with the lead characters dilemma, a desperate need for cash to help family member.
I really liked the lead character, he starts off seeming to be just your regular guy, but then slips into the seedy underworld, which at first seemed a little out of character, yet you soon realise that the guy is actually "that sort of guy" and it's no longer out of character. It's a very well done transition.
As with most good thrillers there is a lot of tension intermixed with action and a few good twists to keep you on your toes.
Recommended.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
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