Official Blurb
Deathworld is the first in a series of novels begun in 1960 and originally serialized in Astounding Science Fiction Magazine. It’s the story of Jason dinAlt a professional gambler with psionic skills who finds himself on Pyrrus the deadliest planet to be colonized by humanity. Violent weather, active tectonics, heavy gravity, abundant predators, and a hostile splinter group of colonists is only the beginning of Jason’s quest to learn the truth about Pyrrus.
My Review
This is classic Sci Fi at its very best!. Alien worlds, space ships, creepy creatures, fighting, discoveries and gambling. What more could you pssibly want from a Sci Fi novel?
Well, I suppose you might want an appealing lead chacter, whos the underdog but is likely to win through in the end. You might want a plot that doesn't sleep, that presents you one exciting scene after another. Perhaps you want to explore the strange? Well you've got all of that here, in a story that doesn't show it's age.
The lead character is a professional gambler who has an edge, he can use his mind to manipulate the dice! Yet these powers are very limited, he's not some Sci Fi wizard wandering around the worlds blasting his enemies, no, his powers are limited to rolling the dice, and a mind to rival Sherlock Holmes.
Ths is fairly short novel that is read very well and is a delightful afternoons listening. If your a SciFi fan you should treat yourself to this free treat.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Chessmen of Mars
Official Blurb
The Chessmen of Mars is a science fiction novel by the mental sword- and physical pen- wielding author Edgar Rice Burroughs. It the fifth installment of his Barsoom series. The Chessmen of Mars is a tale of wonder and excellence that follows John Carter and Dejah Thoris, along with their daughter Tara, princess of Helium, as she is sought after by Gahan, Jed of Gathol. Adventure and peril ensue as the story unfolds.
My Review
The Barsoom series of books are a steam punk type of story where heros leap around waving swords at the bad guys even when they can all lay their hands on firearms.
This story follows a familar Barsoom pattern of a journey across unknown parts of Mars and encounters with new races of "men". A woman in trouble needs rescuing and a manly sword waving hero is close at hand.
When you listen to these Barsoom stories there is never any doubt about a happy ending being around the corner but that's not the best part of the stories. It's the adventure and action that make the story worth listening to. In common with all of the other Barsoom stories I've listened to, this is a jolly good listen!
In this story the woman in trouble is John Carter's daughter who becomes lost and needs a heroic red man to come to her rescue. Which of course he does. We find at least two new martian races to complicate things and the usual collection of predator type animals to threaten everyone.
If you've enjoyed any of the other Barsoom stories and liked them, you can move onto this story with confidence.
The reading in this novel is pretty good, but there is a rather odd thing here. There are two versions of the first couple of chapters by different readers. I have no explanation for why that may be, it's odd.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
The Chessmen of Mars is a science fiction novel by the mental sword- and physical pen- wielding author Edgar Rice Burroughs. It the fifth installment of his Barsoom series. The Chessmen of Mars is a tale of wonder and excellence that follows John Carter and Dejah Thoris, along with their daughter Tara, princess of Helium, as she is sought after by Gahan, Jed of Gathol. Adventure and peril ensue as the story unfolds.
My Review
The Barsoom series of books are a steam punk type of story where heros leap around waving swords at the bad guys even when they can all lay their hands on firearms.
This story follows a familar Barsoom pattern of a journey across unknown parts of Mars and encounters with new races of "men". A woman in trouble needs rescuing and a manly sword waving hero is close at hand.
When you listen to these Barsoom stories there is never any doubt about a happy ending being around the corner but that's not the best part of the stories. It's the adventure and action that make the story worth listening to. In common with all of the other Barsoom stories I've listened to, this is a jolly good listen!
In this story the woman in trouble is John Carter's daughter who becomes lost and needs a heroic red man to come to her rescue. Which of course he does. We find at least two new martian races to complicate things and the usual collection of predator type animals to threaten everyone.
If you've enjoyed any of the other Barsoom stories and liked them, you can move onto this story with confidence.
The reading in this novel is pretty good, but there is a rather odd thing here. There are two versions of the first couple of chapters by different readers. I have no explanation for why that may be, it's odd.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Friday, 17 April 2009
Murder in the Gunroom
Officlal Blurb
The Lane Fleming collection of early pistols and revolvers was one of the best in the country. When Fleming was found dead on the floor of his locked gunroom, a Confederate-made Colt-type percussion .36 revolver in his hand, the coroner’s verdict was “death by accident.” But Gladys Fleming had her doubts. Enough at any rate to engage Colonel Jefferson Davis Rand—better known just as Jeff—private detective and a pistol-collector himself, to catalogue, appraise, and negotiate the sale of her late husband’s collection.
My Review
When I saw this audio book over at Librivox all I saw was the name of the author, "H. Beam Piper". I knew that name from a number of good SciFi audio books, so thinking I had another classic SciFi story I downloaded without reading the official blurb.
So imagine my shock when I discover it's not filled with fighting space ships but is rather set on earth in times gone by, and is a murder mystery!
Once my shock was over I settled down to listening. The story is slow paced and takes a chapter or two just deciding if there has even been a murder. That aside it has a lot going for it.
The author certainly seems to know his antique pistols and brings that to the book in spades which is just as well as it focuses on a collection of these things and is filled with characters who also know a lot about them.
The lead character is attractive to all fans of the murder mystery, he has the usual methodical approach that reveals the story and put pressure onto the prospective murderers. He reminded me at times of Columbo.
I especially liked the way the author described the other characters, from their dress to how they smoke, he manages to evoke their attitude and tone without labouring the point.
I was happy with the ending and wasn't left cold by the end result. It was a satisfying ending.
The reading was really very good. The reader paced himself very well, I'm not sure what it was but his narration let the story slip into my ear, and mind at a "comfortable" pace. The result was very good. I'll be looking out for this reader again.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
The Lane Fleming collection of early pistols and revolvers was one of the best in the country. When Fleming was found dead on the floor of his locked gunroom, a Confederate-made Colt-type percussion .36 revolver in his hand, the coroner’s verdict was “death by accident.” But Gladys Fleming had her doubts. Enough at any rate to engage Colonel Jefferson Davis Rand—better known just as Jeff—private detective and a pistol-collector himself, to catalogue, appraise, and negotiate the sale of her late husband’s collection.
My Review
When I saw this audio book over at Librivox all I saw was the name of the author, "H. Beam Piper". I knew that name from a number of good SciFi audio books, so thinking I had another classic SciFi story I downloaded without reading the official blurb.
So imagine my shock when I discover it's not filled with fighting space ships but is rather set on earth in times gone by, and is a murder mystery!
Once my shock was over I settled down to listening. The story is slow paced and takes a chapter or two just deciding if there has even been a murder. That aside it has a lot going for it.
The author certainly seems to know his antique pistols and brings that to the book in spades which is just as well as it focuses on a collection of these things and is filled with characters who also know a lot about them.
The lead character is attractive to all fans of the murder mystery, he has the usual methodical approach that reveals the story and put pressure onto the prospective murderers. He reminded me at times of Columbo.
I especially liked the way the author described the other characters, from their dress to how they smoke, he manages to evoke their attitude and tone without labouring the point.
I was happy with the ending and wasn't left cold by the end result. It was a satisfying ending.
The reading was really very good. The reader paced himself very well, I'm not sure what it was but his narration let the story slip into my ear, and mind at a "comfortable" pace. The result was very good. I'll be looking out for this reader again.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Number One with a Bullet
The official Blurb
When the top ten hitmen face off in a last-man standing contest being bet on by some of the world's richest men, the only rule is to stay alive.
Assassins are ruthless and clever killers who get paid a lot of money to make problems go away. And pretty soon one of them is going to be a hundred million dollars richer if they can eliminate all the competition, before the competition eliminates them. But for retired hitman Johnny Dane, considered at one point to be the best hired killer in the world, getting out of the life doesn't necessarily mean getting out of the game.
Welcome to the world of high-priced hitmen and the game they've been thrust into. The last man (or woman) standing not only gets the prize but will be the only top notch assassin left available for hire. One of the top ten best killers has been notoriously absent from the contest, Johnny Dane. Having left the life, he's disappeared to an oceanfront hideaway and has vowed never to return, but when the game finds him and threatens the only woman he's ever loved, Dane realizes the only way out, is to get back in.
My Review
I really enjoyed this story from the outset. The reader and the text of the story seem to have been written to appeal to me! The author has written the book in a very cinematic style even uses phrases like "fade to a beach in the sun" or "cut to inside, Dane draws his gun". The cinematic style is not limited to these cute ways of moving from scene to scene but also in the action packed content scenes themselves. Heros and bad guys make ... well, heroic moves as they battle to the death. Fights are quick and bloody, and corners are always taken with squealing rubber in a breakneck paced story.
As I was listening I was constantly reminded of the books by Matthew Reilly ( look up "Scarecrow" on Amazon. The books by Matt Reilly are known as being literally non-stop. That's how this audio novel was.
The characters are well done, and just a little over the top as they need to be when you hero is the best hit man in the world. The bad guys are like wise very villain like. Interestingly the main bad guy despite being about as evil as can be, has his motivations explained. You don't exactly sympathise with him, he's not very nice, but you do understand him, and that's a mark of good writing.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
When the top ten hitmen face off in a last-man standing contest being bet on by some of the world's richest men, the only rule is to stay alive.
Assassins are ruthless and clever killers who get paid a lot of money to make problems go away. And pretty soon one of them is going to be a hundred million dollars richer if they can eliminate all the competition, before the competition eliminates them. But for retired hitman Johnny Dane, considered at one point to be the best hired killer in the world, getting out of the life doesn't necessarily mean getting out of the game.
Welcome to the world of high-priced hitmen and the game they've been thrust into. The last man (or woman) standing not only gets the prize but will be the only top notch assassin left available for hire. One of the top ten best killers has been notoriously absent from the contest, Johnny Dane. Having left the life, he's disappeared to an oceanfront hideaway and has vowed never to return, but when the game finds him and threatens the only woman he's ever loved, Dane realizes the only way out, is to get back in.
My Review
I really enjoyed this story from the outset. The reader and the text of the story seem to have been written to appeal to me! The author has written the book in a very cinematic style even uses phrases like "fade to a beach in the sun" or "cut to inside, Dane draws his gun". The cinematic style is not limited to these cute ways of moving from scene to scene but also in the action packed content scenes themselves. Heros and bad guys make ... well, heroic moves as they battle to the death. Fights are quick and bloody, and corners are always taken with squealing rubber in a breakneck paced story.
As I was listening I was constantly reminded of the books by Matthew Reilly ( look up "Scarecrow" on Amazon. The books by Matt Reilly are known as being literally non-stop. That's how this audio novel was.
The characters are well done, and just a little over the top as they need to be when you hero is the best hit man in the world. The bad guys are like wise very villain like. Interestingly the main bad guy despite being about as evil as can be, has his motivations explained. You don't exactly sympathise with him, he's not very nice, but you do understand him, and that's a mark of good writing.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 2 April 2009
The Arwen Series 2
The Official Blurb
The Gyssyc ship is in orbit above Ulliam; the Taskforce sent to meet them has been destroyed. Captain Cook fears the worst, the Gyssyc has declared war on the Ulliam. The crew of the Arwen must figure out what happened before a second fleet arrives, the fate of three races rests in their hands.
The Arwen Season 2: Ulliam is the sequel to the Parsec award winning novella The Arwen Season 1: Regal.
My Review
This book is a sequel but it still works as a stand alone novel. I would reccomend that you start with the first story in the series if Sci Fi is your thing.
The story follows the Captain and crew of the Arwen as it arrives on the scene of massive destruction, the floating debris of an entire fleet of combat vessels floating in space above the planet Ulliam.
If Sci Fi means space ships to you, if it means adventure, if it means battles, secret missions and people dangling on the edge of disaster then this exciting novel ( and its prequel ) is designed for you.
The lead characters are nicely fleshed out and even the Aliens come across as likeable and understandable meaning that it's easy to find yourself drawn into the story. I had this story set to deliver one episode per week over at podiobooks and I was waiting from week to week for Tuesdays when the next episode would download, they just didn't come around quick enough!
The reader does a very good job and the production is professional quality.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
The Gyssyc ship is in orbit above Ulliam; the Taskforce sent to meet them has been destroyed. Captain Cook fears the worst, the Gyssyc has declared war on the Ulliam. The crew of the Arwen must figure out what happened before a second fleet arrives, the fate of three races rests in their hands.
The Arwen Season 2: Ulliam is the sequel to the Parsec award winning novella The Arwen Season 1: Regal.
My Review
This book is a sequel but it still works as a stand alone novel. I would reccomend that you start with the first story in the series if Sci Fi is your thing.
The story follows the Captain and crew of the Arwen as it arrives on the scene of massive destruction, the floating debris of an entire fleet of combat vessels floating in space above the planet Ulliam.
If Sci Fi means space ships to you, if it means adventure, if it means battles, secret missions and people dangling on the edge of disaster then this exciting novel ( and its prequel ) is designed for you.
The lead characters are nicely fleshed out and even the Aliens come across as likeable and understandable meaning that it's easy to find yourself drawn into the story. I had this story set to deliver one episode per week over at podiobooks and I was waiting from week to week for Tuesdays when the next episode would download, they just didn't come around quick enough!
The reader does a very good job and the production is professional quality.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
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