Official Blurb
The future is boring. Technology has solved the world's most pressing problems, leaving people with tedious work and mundane play. Jack is a Security Officer Class 5, which sounds important, but isn't. However, her banal life as a cubicle worker by day and tinkerer by night is interrupted when she discovers that her employer's computer system has been invaded.
Jack enlists the help of her only friends – her co-worker, Gilles and Adrian, an online friend she's never met – to help her track down the source of the invasion. Her investigation leads her to a shadowy group called the Red, where Jack learns that not everyone lives a life of quiet servitude.
Even though she believes that the Red are responsible for a series of gruesome attacks, Jack begins to become attracted to their worldview. In her search for the people responsible for the attacks, she confronts the leaders of the group as well as her own burgeoning sense of self-awareness.
My Review
I really can't tell you any more about the story than the blurb has given away but I can tell you that this is a near future that appeals to my geeky side.
The internet has been replaced with the everywhere-nets. People dont use computers to access the nets but rather use implants in their heads. A person walking past you on the street with glazed eyes is likely to be accessing the nets and either checking their bank details or on "the boards" chatting with friends.
People are also getting body mods, physical changes to their bodies for arts sake, fancy a pair of horns!?
The reader is good. Took me a little while to tune in to her style, but once there it is was worth the effort. She has a lilt and a way of applying tone that is both subtle and engaging.
All in all I really liked the story, the ending caught me off guard and it was a fun trip. Dont expect high action or laser guns but you will find you self in a very high tech future.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Friday, 29 May 2009
Diary of a Madman
Official Blurb
A man obsessed with serial killers becomes a murderer in search of justice.
My Review
I fear my review will be almost as short as the official blurb! Why? Simply put, I only managed to listen to about three quarters of the first chapter!
The story is bloody. It starts with a killer inflicting pain and torture on an unfortunate victim. It is a protracted, unending bloody gut churning opening chapter.
I simply could not take any more and had to turn it off!
I give no review rating as I really didn't listen to enough, but I know it wasn't for me. I neither suggest you listen to it or dont, but I am warning you :)
Download it from Podiobooks
.
A man obsessed with serial killers becomes a murderer in search of justice.
My Review
I fear my review will be almost as short as the official blurb! Why? Simply put, I only managed to listen to about three quarters of the first chapter!
The story is bloody. It starts with a killer inflicting pain and torture on an unfortunate victim. It is a protracted, unending bloody gut churning opening chapter.
I simply could not take any more and had to turn it off!
I give no review rating as I really didn't listen to enough, but I know it wasn't for me. I neither suggest you listen to it or dont, but I am warning you :)
Download it from Podiobooks
.
Friday, 22 May 2009
The Thing from the Lake
Official Blurb
To get away from city life periodically, New Yorker Roger Locke purchases an abandoned farm house in rural Connecticut, and with the assistance of his cousin Phillida and her beau Ethan Vere, he sets about fixing up the place.
Immediately however, an unseen mysterious woman begins giving him warnings during nocturnal visits to leave the house at once. Soon he begins hearing strange ominous sounds emanating from the tiny lake at the back of the house coupled with a permeation of sickly odors. An evil presence then begins to visit him during the witching hours of the late night, challenging him to a battle of wits from which there can be only one victor.
Is his mysterious female visitor there to help and encourage him to flee from the house, or is she working in tandem with The Thing From the Lake?
My Review
I grabbed this title because the title sounded rather Lovecraftian to me. The story isn't really Lovecraftian at all, it's more a ghost story type of thing.
The blurb gives you the story so I wont reiterate that, but what I can tell you is that this is a fairly slow story, but not in a bad way. It's of its age in that the story plods along , tyhe content is not high action or cliffhanger but is absorbing.
To give you some idea of how absorbing let me say that I normally listen to one chapter of a book as soon as I get home from work, well with this story I started like that but after about five I started listening to two each night. The lead character is a nice guy, and that appeals to me. The other characters are likewise believable and likeable and they fit together so that their emotive responses draw on your own while listening.
It's never terrifying, but is a good quality ghost story, very likeable.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
To get away from city life periodically, New Yorker Roger Locke purchases an abandoned farm house in rural Connecticut, and with the assistance of his cousin Phillida and her beau Ethan Vere, he sets about fixing up the place.
Immediately however, an unseen mysterious woman begins giving him warnings during nocturnal visits to leave the house at once. Soon he begins hearing strange ominous sounds emanating from the tiny lake at the back of the house coupled with a permeation of sickly odors. An evil presence then begins to visit him during the witching hours of the late night, challenging him to a battle of wits from which there can be only one victor.
Is his mysterious female visitor there to help and encourage him to flee from the house, or is she working in tandem with The Thing From the Lake?
My Review
I grabbed this title because the title sounded rather Lovecraftian to me. The story isn't really Lovecraftian at all, it's more a ghost story type of thing.
The blurb gives you the story so I wont reiterate that, but what I can tell you is that this is a fairly slow story, but not in a bad way. It's of its age in that the story plods along , tyhe content is not high action or cliffhanger but is absorbing.
To give you some idea of how absorbing let me say that I normally listen to one chapter of a book as soon as I get home from work, well with this story I started like that but after about five I started listening to two each night. The lead character is a nice guy, and that appeals to me. The other characters are likewise believable and likeable and they fit together so that their emotive responses draw on your own while listening.
It's never terrifying, but is a good quality ghost story, very likeable.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Time Crime
Official Blurb
The Paratime Police had a real headache this time! Tracing one man in a population of millions is easy—compared to finding one gang hiding out on one of billions of probability lines!
This story from 1955 has rocket ships, time travel, slaves, post-hypnotic suggestions, drugged citizens, and a complete disregard for human rights. And those are the good guys. As a look back in time at "classic" science fiction, it's an interesting snapshot of a time when tobacco was common, sexism was unconscious, and female characters were a long way from Lara Croft.
My Review
I loved this story. Quite a short story but not a moment passes when you're left twiddeling your fingers. The author is H. Beam Piper and I've reveiwed a number of his works here previously and this one fits right in with those. It's a classic sci fi piece as the official blurb says, and it's a good one.
The story involves the Paratime Police who police the various time lines ensuring that history is not mixed up and that legimate cross time business' continue to operate.
The story starts as a couple of cops are due to go on holiday but a big case of trans-time slavery comes up and the holiday has to get cancelled. We follow the investigators as they follow up the clues and question the suspects. Typical cop-crime stuff but in a sci fi setting.
The reader is the author/narrator of "Quarter Share" which I reviewed here a while back.. his narration is outstanding and a joy to listen to. I'm looking forward to hearing more from him.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
.
The Paratime Police had a real headache this time! Tracing one man in a population of millions is easy—compared to finding one gang hiding out on one of billions of probability lines!
This story from 1955 has rocket ships, time travel, slaves, post-hypnotic suggestions, drugged citizens, and a complete disregard for human rights. And those are the good guys. As a look back in time at "classic" science fiction, it's an interesting snapshot of a time when tobacco was common, sexism was unconscious, and female characters were a long way from Lara Croft.
My Review
I loved this story. Quite a short story but not a moment passes when you're left twiddeling your fingers. The author is H. Beam Piper and I've reveiwed a number of his works here previously and this one fits right in with those. It's a classic sci fi piece as the official blurb says, and it's a good one.
The story involves the Paratime Police who police the various time lines ensuring that history is not mixed up and that legimate cross time business' continue to operate.
The story starts as a couple of cops are due to go on holiday but a big case of trans-time slavery comes up and the holiday has to get cancelled. We follow the investigators as they follow up the clues and question the suspects. Typical cop-crime stuff but in a sci fi setting.
The reader is the author/narrator of "Quarter Share" which I reviewed here a while back.. his narration is outstanding and a joy to listen to. I'm looking forward to hearing more from him.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
.
Monday, 18 May 2009
The Ultimate Weapon
Official Blurb
Aliens have just been discovered! Only trouble is, the Solar System has just been discovered by those same aliens -- and they want it all for themselves. The result is a war and a desperate arms race between alien technology and human ingenuity. Who will win? What is the ultimate weapon?
My Review
A classic (1936) SF story. It has all of the classic elements except a love affair and a brawny hero. What does that leave in then, you ask? Well we have aliens, space ships, the other classic hero of a scientist working with cutting edge inventions, and of course warface in the vacuum!
It really is classic period and classic GOOD! In this fighting story, the Aliens have the technology advantage and start beating on the good guys ( us ) and leave them battered and bruised. Then the humans turn to ... super science! Only the brain of man will be able to meet the challenge!
The reader of this book, is an established narrator with great style. There are a few stutters and half misspoken words that slip through which can bring you out of the story, but they are very rare and the readers enthusiasm is so good that you'll stay on the ride.
Its a fun, exciting story read with energy and aplomb.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first chapter
Aliens have just been discovered! Only trouble is, the Solar System has just been discovered by those same aliens -- and they want it all for themselves. The result is a war and a desperate arms race between alien technology and human ingenuity. Who will win? What is the ultimate weapon?
My Review
A classic (1936) SF story. It has all of the classic elements except a love affair and a brawny hero. What does that leave in then, you ask? Well we have aliens, space ships, the other classic hero of a scientist working with cutting edge inventions, and of course warface in the vacuum!
It really is classic period and classic GOOD! In this fighting story, the Aliens have the technology advantage and start beating on the good guys ( us ) and leave them battered and bruised. Then the humans turn to ... super science! Only the brain of man will be able to meet the challenge!
The reader of this book, is an established narrator with great style. There are a few stutters and half misspoken words that slip through which can bring you out of the story, but they are very rare and the readers enthusiasm is so good that you'll stay on the ride.
Its a fun, exciting story read with energy and aplomb.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
Official Blurb
Jules is a young man, barely a century old. He's lived long enough to see the cure for death and the end of scarcity, to learn ten languages and compose three symphonies...and to realize his boyhood dream of taking up residence in Disney World.
Disney World! The greatest achievement of the long-ago twentieth century. Now in the keeping of a network of "ad-hocs" who keep the classic attractions running as they always have, enhanced with only the smallest high-tech touches.
Now, though, the "ad-hocs" are under attack. A new group has taken over the Hall of the Presidents, and is replacing its venerable audioanimatronics with new, immersive direct-to-brain interfaces that give guests the illusion of being Washington, Lincoln, and all the others. For Jules, this is an attack on the artistic purity of Disney World itself.
Worse: it appears this new group has had Jules killed. This upsets him. (It's only his fourth death and revival, after all.) Now it's war...
My Review
I'm writing this just a few minutes after completeing this audio book. I've been in audio heaven. Firstly I really dig Cory Doctorow's sci fi stories, and secondly the reader is one of my all time fave's.
For blurb above gives you the idea of the story. Need has been defeated and the same with death itself. Cory has written a great novel while exploring the implications of no hunger and no death. He shows us what many would think of as a paradise, but he shows us the drama and pettiness that is still driving the human race.
The book starts very well, with introducing the environment and characters and then promptly killing the main character. Don't fret, he gets restored from a back up into a clone! So from this odd situation he dives into the human story and this is what really drives the story. Yes they are in the future and yes they do constantly engage with high tech gear but that is not the basis of the story.
The lead character finds himself driven to carry out some rather unfortunate actions but you the reader/listener are pulled along with him, and you totally understand why. Thats the heart of this excellent story, the characters, thier adventures and their journeys in a world gone sane!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Jules is a young man, barely a century old. He's lived long enough to see the cure for death and the end of scarcity, to learn ten languages and compose three symphonies...and to realize his boyhood dream of taking up residence in Disney World.
Disney World! The greatest achievement of the long-ago twentieth century. Now in the keeping of a network of "ad-hocs" who keep the classic attractions running as they always have, enhanced with only the smallest high-tech touches.
Now, though, the "ad-hocs" are under attack. A new group has taken over the Hall of the Presidents, and is replacing its venerable audioanimatronics with new, immersive direct-to-brain interfaces that give guests the illusion of being Washington, Lincoln, and all the others. For Jules, this is an attack on the artistic purity of Disney World itself.
Worse: it appears this new group has had Jules killed. This upsets him. (It's only his fourth death and revival, after all.) Now it's war...
My Review
I'm writing this just a few minutes after completeing this audio book. I've been in audio heaven. Firstly I really dig Cory Doctorow's sci fi stories, and secondly the reader is one of my all time fave's.
For blurb above gives you the idea of the story. Need has been defeated and the same with death itself. Cory has written a great novel while exploring the implications of no hunger and no death. He shows us what many would think of as a paradise, but he shows us the drama and pettiness that is still driving the human race.
The book starts very well, with introducing the environment and characters and then promptly killing the main character. Don't fret, he gets restored from a back up into a clone! So from this odd situation he dives into the human story and this is what really drives the story. Yes they are in the future and yes they do constantly engage with high tech gear but that is not the basis of the story.
The lead character finds himself driven to carry out some rather unfortunate actions but you the reader/listener are pulled along with him, and you totally understand why. Thats the heart of this excellent story, the characters, thier adventures and their journeys in a world gone sane!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Short Science Fiction Collection Vol. 13
Official Blurb
Science fiction (abbreviated SF or sci-fi with varying punctuation and case) is a broad genre of fiction that often involves sociological and technical speculations based on current or future science or technology. This is a reader-selected collection of short stories, first published between 1951 - 1962, that entered the US public domain when their copyright was not renewed.
My Review
Well the blurb wasn't very informative so lets see what I can do to enlighten you. As suggested this is a collection of Sci Fi stories without any apparent theme od reason for putting them together as a group.
The random nature of the collection distracts me a little. As I listen to a lot of audio books I'm of a "next chapter" mindset, and you don't get that with these collections. The stories are by different authors about wildly different subjects and read by a random collection of voices.
So thats the downside. The upside is that this is fun little collection. I enjoyed all of the stories and I can especially suggest you listen to "The Golden Judge" ( not really very sci fi ) and "The Next Logical Step", both of which brought a smile to my face.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first story
Science fiction (abbreviated SF or sci-fi with varying punctuation and case) is a broad genre of fiction that often involves sociological and technical speculations based on current or future science or technology. This is a reader-selected collection of short stories, first published between 1951 - 1962, that entered the US public domain when their copyright was not renewed.
My Review
Well the blurb wasn't very informative so lets see what I can do to enlighten you. As suggested this is a collection of Sci Fi stories without any apparent theme od reason for putting them together as a group.
The random nature of the collection distracts me a little. As I listen to a lot of audio books I'm of a "next chapter" mindset, and you don't get that with these collections. The stories are by different authors about wildly different subjects and read by a random collection of voices.
So thats the downside. The upside is that this is fun little collection. I enjoyed all of the stories and I can especially suggest you listen to "The Golden Judge" ( not really very sci fi ) and "The Next Logical Step", both of which brought a smile to my face.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first story
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