Official Blurb
Originally published under the title Beyond Thirty.
The novel, set in the year 2137, was heavily influenced by the events of World War I. In the future world depicted in the novel, Europe has descended into barbarism while an isolationist Western Hemisphere remains sheltered from the destruction. The title Beyond Thirty refers to the degree of longitude that inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere are forbidden to pass.
My Review
This is a Edgar Burroughs story but is a little different from his usual fair. How is it different, well, I'm not sure I can tell you, I can't put my finger on it.
It does follow the usual heroic focus, such as found in the Carter or Tarzan books but I guess this is it, the Hero starts off quite heroic but does not seem to live up to that title. Yep, thats it.
When the hero starts investigating the world "beyond thirty" he seems to become more passive, more of a passenger than a driver.
The world beyond the 30 is a land of barbarians, who seems to have lost the technology they used to have. It's not quite a fall back to the world of dinosaurs but wild animals have bred!
Overall it's an interesting story, but not quite up to the action and adventure of his other works. Certainly worth a listen if you like this kind of adventure, but I fear you might be disapointed if you've listened to his other books.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Undertakers Moon ( Excerpt)
Official Blurb
Croatoan Publishing has released the limited edition hardcover of Ron Kelly's Irish-Werewolf novel, "Undertaker's Moon". Here's a free download of the Audio excerpt produced and narrated by Wayne June.
My Review
I was pointed to this short little story by a podcasting friend who had interviewed the reader. It's a self contained excerpt from the book that forms a little short story all of it own. Its presented here as a promo for the book. The story is split into four, five minute sections. Really(!) the reader has a voice made for horror and fits this bloody "tail" perfectly.
So, this is a dark horror tale with a ton of blood that you can listen to in under half an hour. I'm not going to rate it, only because it's an excerpt, and I don't want anyone to mix up my rating of this excerpt with a rating for an audio book. I can tell you that I love the readers voice and the story was good too.
If your not adverse to a bit of horror, dig in!
Download from here.
Listen to the first five minute segment
.
Croatoan Publishing has released the limited edition hardcover of Ron Kelly's Irish-Werewolf novel, "Undertaker's Moon". Here's a free download of the Audio excerpt produced and narrated by Wayne June.
My Review
I was pointed to this short little story by a podcasting friend who had interviewed the reader. It's a self contained excerpt from the book that forms a little short story all of it own. Its presented here as a promo for the book. The story is split into four, five minute sections. Really(!) the reader has a voice made for horror and fits this bloody "tail" perfectly.
So, this is a dark horror tale with a ton of blood that you can listen to in under half an hour. I'm not going to rate it, only because it's an excerpt, and I don't want anyone to mix up my rating of this excerpt with a rating for an audio book. I can tell you that I love the readers voice and the story was good too.
If your not adverse to a bit of horror, dig in!
Download from here.
Listen to the first five minute segment
.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Conquest Over Time by Michael Shaara
Official Blurb
Pat Travis, a spacer renowned for his luck, is suddenly quite out of it. His job is to beat his competitors to sign newly-Contacted human races to commercial contracts...
But what can he do when he finds he's on a planet that consults astrology for literally every major decision - and he has arrived on one of the worst-aspected days in history?
My Review
Here's a short novel in the classic sci fi tradition. Set in a future where new "human" races are discovered almost daily as the terran empire spreads, where everyone speaks english and most worlds are even earth like in their development.
It's not serious sci fi, as you may have gathered, but a light hearted short story that uses sci fi as an excuse to explore the plot.
The characters are charming and the problems presented to the protagonists are far from lethal and dramatic, but yet the story still caught my attention and I was intrigued to see where it would lead.
The whole things runs for about an hour and a half, so if your looking for some "pop-corn" in sci fi form this is the story for you, and when its read by the excellent Mark F. Smith how can you go wrong?
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Pat Travis, a spacer renowned for his luck, is suddenly quite out of it. His job is to beat his competitors to sign newly-Contacted human races to commercial contracts...
But what can he do when he finds he's on a planet that consults astrology for literally every major decision - and he has arrived on one of the worst-aspected days in history?
My Review
Here's a short novel in the classic sci fi tradition. Set in a future where new "human" races are discovered almost daily as the terran empire spreads, where everyone speaks english and most worlds are even earth like in their development.
It's not serious sci fi, as you may have gathered, but a light hearted short story that uses sci fi as an excuse to explore the plot.
The characters are charming and the problems presented to the protagonists are far from lethal and dramatic, but yet the story still caught my attention and I was intrigued to see where it would lead.
The whole things runs for about an hour and a half, so if your looking for some "pop-corn" in sci fi form this is the story for you, and when its read by the excellent Mark F. Smith how can you go wrong?
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Sunday, 6 June 2010
South Coast by Nathan Lowell
Official Blurb
A Shaman's Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper : Volume 1
Otto is Richard Krugg's only son and heir to the Shaman's gift. The only problem is Otto doesn't want it. He wants to be a fisherman. When company policies force unwelcome changes onto his life and threaten even the security of the village, Otto discovers that being a shaman isn't optional.Jimmy Pirano is caught between the devil and the deep green sea when new production quotas are handed down from corporate headquarters. Locked into a century of existing practice, Jimmy is forced to find new ways to fish and new places to do it in or face the very real possibility that Pirano Fisheries will lose the St. Cloud franchise.Join Otto, Richard, and Rachel Krugg as they struggle with what it means to be the son of a shaman. Cast off with Jimmy, Tony, and Casey as they navigate the shoals and shallows of corporate fishery along the South Coast.
My Review
Another good story from Nathan Lowell. I reviewed another book of his a while back called Quarter Share. In that review I mentioned how good a reader Nathan is and how real he makes the characters. Well he's done it again here in South Coast. This novel is set in the same universe as Quarter Share but does not share any characters. that novel was set on a solar clipper travelling the stars, but this one is planet bound and mostly set in a single village.
This novel tells the story of simple fisher folk living on another world in the far future. There are not any "alien fiends" to be disposed of, no battles, none of the usual tropes of sci fi in fact. Yet, it is still a sci fi novel, but grounded in common place things that help make this a story that is easy to relate to.
As with Nathans other books he's created characters that are appealing and easy to like, and placed them in situations that even though they are not perilous are compelling.
I got through this audio book in a couple of days. It would have been one day, but I literally did not have enough hours in the day! Its a long novel, and I loved every minute. If you liked any of his other books, then this is a natural download.
After finishing this novel I looked to see if there is a sequel available, alas, alas, not yet. Nathans published schedule has the sequel, "Cape Grace" planned for November this year.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
.
A Shaman's Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper : Volume 1
Otto is Richard Krugg's only son and heir to the Shaman's gift. The only problem is Otto doesn't want it. He wants to be a fisherman. When company policies force unwelcome changes onto his life and threaten even the security of the village, Otto discovers that being a shaman isn't optional.Jimmy Pirano is caught between the devil and the deep green sea when new production quotas are handed down from corporate headquarters. Locked into a century of existing practice, Jimmy is forced to find new ways to fish and new places to do it in or face the very real possibility that Pirano Fisheries will lose the St. Cloud franchise.Join Otto, Richard, and Rachel Krugg as they struggle with what it means to be the son of a shaman. Cast off with Jimmy, Tony, and Casey as they navigate the shoals and shallows of corporate fishery along the South Coast.
My Review
Another good story from Nathan Lowell. I reviewed another book of his a while back called Quarter Share. In that review I mentioned how good a reader Nathan is and how real he makes the characters. Well he's done it again here in South Coast. This novel is set in the same universe as Quarter Share but does not share any characters. that novel was set on a solar clipper travelling the stars, but this one is planet bound and mostly set in a single village.
This novel tells the story of simple fisher folk living on another world in the far future. There are not any "alien fiends" to be disposed of, no battles, none of the usual tropes of sci fi in fact. Yet, it is still a sci fi novel, but grounded in common place things that help make this a story that is easy to relate to.
As with Nathans other books he's created characters that are appealing and easy to like, and placed them in situations that even though they are not perilous are compelling.
I got through this audio book in a couple of days. It would have been one day, but I literally did not have enough hours in the day! Its a long novel, and I loved every minute. If you liked any of his other books, then this is a natural download.
After finishing this novel I looked to see if there is a sequel available, alas, alas, not yet. Nathans published schedule has the sequel, "Cape Grace" planned for November this year.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
.
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