Official Blurb
The People that Time Forgot is a science fiction novel, the second of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Caspak” trilogy. The first novel ended with the hero writing a manuscript of his adventures and casting it out to sea in his thermos bottle. The second novel begins with the finding of the manuscript and the organization of a rescue expedition.
My Review
This story is really more of the same, and that's not a bad thing. "The Land that Time Forgot" was a grand pulp classic and this sequel follows in the same vein.
Our hero this time ventures to the land of Caspak in search of the hero from the previous book. Once again the machines of man are laid low by the beasts of the island, as our hero flys a boat-plane over the cliffs and into adventure.
As the story of the search and survival continues we learn a little more about the strange pattern of life Caspak, the mysteries are explained a little more.
This adventure is jolly good in a classic style and the pace does not let up, it moves from danger to danger and fight to fight.
If you've listened to the prequel and enjoyed it, you should most definitely download and listen to this sequel. I did and enjoyed it, and now I'm looking forward to listening to the third part of this trilogy.
The reader Ralph Snelson gives us a great gift with his narration. He narrated the first in the series and the continuity into this sequel is a welcome happenstance.
Reading 3
Production 2
Story 2
Total : 7/9
Download from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Monday, 26 April 2010
Monday, 19 April 2010
Short Science Fiction Collection 23
Official Blurb
Science Fiction is speculative literature that generally explores the consequences of ideas which are roughly consistent with nature and scientific method, but are not facts of the author’s contemporary world. The stories often represent philosophical thought experiments presented in entertaining ways. Protagonists typically “think” rather than “shoot” their way out of problems, but the definition is flexible because there are no limits on an author’s imagination. The reader-selected stories presented here were written prior to 1962 and became US public domain texts when their copyrights expired.
My Review
Simply put this is a very good collection of short sci fi stories. Theres no theme to this collection its a random mix.
I rated three of the stories as OK, and the rest as GOOD which is the best hit rate I've had with these collections.
A Filbert Is A Nut by Rick Raphael gave me a laugh, as did The Success Machine by Henry Slesar. The Hated by Frederik Pohl was a good crunchy story with a twist and The Plattner Story by H. G. Wells pricked my interest intensely with its scientific investigative vent.
I've just mentioned a few here, but this is a really good collection and very worth your attention. If that's not enough, I'll point out that three of the stories have been read by Gregg Margarite, who's voice can make anything into candy for the ears.
Reading 2
Production 2
Story 2
Total : 6/9
Download from Librivox
Listen to the Pohl story
Science Fiction is speculative literature that generally explores the consequences of ideas which are roughly consistent with nature and scientific method, but are not facts of the author’s contemporary world. The stories often represent philosophical thought experiments presented in entertaining ways. Protagonists typically “think” rather than “shoot” their way out of problems, but the definition is flexible because there are no limits on an author’s imagination. The reader-selected stories presented here were written prior to 1962 and became US public domain texts when their copyrights expired.
My Review
Simply put this is a very good collection of short sci fi stories. Theres no theme to this collection its a random mix.
I rated three of the stories as OK, and the rest as GOOD which is the best hit rate I've had with these collections.
A Filbert Is A Nut by Rick Raphael gave me a laugh, as did The Success Machine by Henry Slesar. The Hated by Frederik Pohl was a good crunchy story with a twist and The Plattner Story by H. G. Wells pricked my interest intensely with its scientific investigative vent.
I've just mentioned a few here, but this is a really good collection and very worth your attention. If that's not enough, I'll point out that three of the stories have been read by Gregg Margarite, who's voice can make anything into candy for the ears.
Reading 2
Production 2
Story 2
Total : 6/9
Download from Librivox
Listen to the Pohl story
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Heirs of the New Earth by David Lee Summers
Official Blurb
The Earth has gone silent. John Mark Ellis and the crew of the Sanson are sent to investigate. When they arrive, they find vast alien machines known as Clusters in orbit. Fearing the worst, they land and discover that the once overcrowded, polluted Earth has become a paradise of sorts. The problem is over half the population is dead or missing and the planet's leaders don't seem to care. As Ellis works to unravel the mystery, sudden gravitational shifts from the galaxy's center indicate something even worse is in the offing. Can Ellis save the galaxy from the heirs of the new Earth?
My Review
This is a sequel. Its the third in a series. I actually joined the series with the second book ( I reviewed it here ) which I was able to do without any problem. I think this book is different. I believe that this book does not stand alone as well as the other. All of the characters were introduced in the previous book and I suspect that not knowing any of their history would prove a difficult mire to negotiate.
Anyway, onto this book! In summary, I kind of liked it. I like the world and the characters the author has created. The plot too, is also very good and kept me listening. So what didn't I like? Simply it got a bit smutty on a couple of occasions. Yeah, I'm a prude, I wish that sort of thing was left behind a closed door.
This is a driving story that develops its plot quickly and every chapter seems to drag you onwards to the goal of solving the mystery which means you might well find yourself listening to chapter after chapter all in one sitting!
Reading 2
Production 2
Story 2
Total : 6/9
Download from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
The Earth has gone silent. John Mark Ellis and the crew of the Sanson are sent to investigate. When they arrive, they find vast alien machines known as Clusters in orbit. Fearing the worst, they land and discover that the once overcrowded, polluted Earth has become a paradise of sorts. The problem is over half the population is dead or missing and the planet's leaders don't seem to care. As Ellis works to unravel the mystery, sudden gravitational shifts from the galaxy's center indicate something even worse is in the offing. Can Ellis save the galaxy from the heirs of the new Earth?
My Review
This is a sequel. Its the third in a series. I actually joined the series with the second book ( I reviewed it here ) which I was able to do without any problem. I think this book is different. I believe that this book does not stand alone as well as the other. All of the characters were introduced in the previous book and I suspect that not knowing any of their history would prove a difficult mire to negotiate.
Anyway, onto this book! In summary, I kind of liked it. I like the world and the characters the author has created. The plot too, is also very good and kept me listening. So what didn't I like? Simply it got a bit smutty on a couple of occasions. Yeah, I'm a prude, I wish that sort of thing was left behind a closed door.
This is a driving story that develops its plot quickly and every chapter seems to drag you onwards to the goal of solving the mystery which means you might well find yourself listening to chapter after chapter all in one sitting!
Reading 2
Production 2
Story 2
Total : 6/9
Download from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Saturday, 3 April 2010
The Great Shadow by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Official Blurb
Set in an English-Scottish border village during the waning days of the Napoleonic era, this adventure story introduces us to Jock Calder, whose quiet way of life is shattered when a mysterious stranger steps ashore near his home. The stranger changes forever the lives of Jock, his cousin Edie, and his best friend Jim, sending the young men into the jaws of the final battle to defeat The Great Shadow that threatens to devour the whole of Europe. Don't look for Sherlock Holmes in this well-written tale, but do expect a wonderful glimpse of life at the end of the Napoleonic era, including an exciting rendition of The Battle of Waterloo.
My Review
As you might have gathered from the official blurb this is a Conan-Doyle tale. Doyle has given us good little story here. If like me your facinated by all things Napoleonic then you'll really like the latter half of the book as it moves from sleep England to the big battle in Europe.
The story starts with a classic love story where the people involved get burned and furious, which is always a story telling dynamo, this then follows through to the battle scenes and spices up the scenes at Waterloo.
Frankly the story is well written, it is Doyle after all, and very engaging. It's not what you'd call deep, character motivations are all very straight forward and obvious.
The reading is splendid. This is well worth a download.
Reading 2
Production 2
Story 2
Total : 6/9
Download from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Set in an English-Scottish border village during the waning days of the Napoleonic era, this adventure story introduces us to Jock Calder, whose quiet way of life is shattered when a mysterious stranger steps ashore near his home. The stranger changes forever the lives of Jock, his cousin Edie, and his best friend Jim, sending the young men into the jaws of the final battle to defeat The Great Shadow that threatens to devour the whole of Europe. Don't look for Sherlock Holmes in this well-written tale, but do expect a wonderful glimpse of life at the end of the Napoleonic era, including an exciting rendition of The Battle of Waterloo.
My Review
As you might have gathered from the official blurb this is a Conan-Doyle tale. Doyle has given us good little story here. If like me your facinated by all things Napoleonic then you'll really like the latter half of the book as it moves from sleep England to the big battle in Europe.
The story starts with a classic love story where the people involved get burned and furious, which is always a story telling dynamo, this then follows through to the battle scenes and spices up the scenes at Waterloo.
Frankly the story is well written, it is Doyle after all, and very engaging. It's not what you'd call deep, character motivations are all very straight forward and obvious.
The reading is splendid. This is well worth a download.
Reading 2
Production 2
Story 2
Total : 6/9
Download from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
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