I just finished reading Scott Sigler's "Ancestor" novel. I originally listened to this a few years back when Scott first published it for free as a podcast novel.
I really enjoyed it in that format. I really enjoyed it in this new book format too!
The blurb from the back of the book says...
"On a remote island in the Great Lakes, an Unusual group of scientists are using extinct DNA to create the perfect organ donor. it could save millions of lives and win dr Claus Rhumkorrf the Nobel Prize he craves.
The Donor animal is genetically the ancestor of all species on the planet - but Nature wiped it out two hundred million years ago.
Rhumkorrf and his team are about to find out why."
Thats a pretty good blurb, Scott writes great monster/horror stories and this is one of his best.
This book is different from the originally broadcast audio novel. It's been edited and tweaked. It's also picked up a couple of "Easter eggs" for long time fans, little hints that refer to others of his novels. That just adds to the enjoyment for his fans without taking anything from those who don't even realise they're there.
Scott has also re-recorded this new version of the novel and is podcasting it for free, and I'm listening again even though I've just read the book!
In summary, its a great book worth your investment in money and time. I managed to pick this up from my local superstore (ASDA) so you should be able to find it pretty much anywhere.
http://www.scottsigler.com
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Saturday, 28 August 2010
Sunday, 22 August 2010
The Colorado Sequence by Stacey Cochran
Official Blurb
Physicist Dr. Amy Levine has discovered a mathematical sequence--the Colorado Sequence--that describes an underlying pattern and a guiding force within the very fabric of reality. Now she's on the verge of an astonishing breakthrough, and the U.S. government wants to know how she has done it. How has Dr. Levine learned to accurately predict the future? And they're willing to kill her to find out. Levine and a group of friends escape to Colorado to unravel the mystery of the sequence, but there they become snowbound. They must locate a secret treasure room, find a hidden key, and answer an ancient riddle before a devastating eruption destroys them all ... and the power of the Colorado Sequence is lost forever.
My Review
This sci-fantasy novel is amkind of sequel to "Amber Page and the Coral Stone". The story doesn't star Amber Page, but Amber does appear in this novel and it is set after that other novel.
There is a new reader for this novel who does an outstanding job. However I did notice a couple of second takes that havn't been edited out.
The story is full of the bizarre, the strange, the sci fi, the fantasy and all of it revealed amongst our own modern world. The story has a rip roaring start and it doesn't really settle down after that, action followed by more action with a side order of action.
Let's see if any of the following appeal to your taste. Cliff hanging, actually hanging off a cliff. Beatutiful and mysterious glowing girls. Martial Arts. Alternate realities. Huge fantasy battle. Riddle. Machines of Super Science. Man versus Nature.
Any of that appeal? This a great audio novel that will make the time fly by. I wish it would be made into a hard hitting mini series!
This is a great story.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Find it at Podiobooks.
Listen to the first chapter.
Physicist Dr. Amy Levine has discovered a mathematical sequence--the Colorado Sequence--that describes an underlying pattern and a guiding force within the very fabric of reality. Now she's on the verge of an astonishing breakthrough, and the U.S. government wants to know how she has done it. How has Dr. Levine learned to accurately predict the future? And they're willing to kill her to find out. Levine and a group of friends escape to Colorado to unravel the mystery of the sequence, but there they become snowbound. They must locate a secret treasure room, find a hidden key, and answer an ancient riddle before a devastating eruption destroys them all ... and the power of the Colorado Sequence is lost forever.
My Review
This sci-fantasy novel is amkind of sequel to "Amber Page and the Coral Stone". The story doesn't star Amber Page, but Amber does appear in this novel and it is set after that other novel.
There is a new reader for this novel who does an outstanding job. However I did notice a couple of second takes that havn't been edited out.
The story is full of the bizarre, the strange, the sci fi, the fantasy and all of it revealed amongst our own modern world. The story has a rip roaring start and it doesn't really settle down after that, action followed by more action with a side order of action.
Let's see if any of the following appeal to your taste. Cliff hanging, actually hanging off a cliff. Beatutiful and mysterious glowing girls. Martial Arts. Alternate realities. Huge fantasy battle. Riddle. Machines of Super Science. Man versus Nature.
Any of that appeal? This a great audio novel that will make the time fly by. I wish it would be made into a hard hitting mini series!
This is a great story.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Find it at Podiobooks.
Listen to the first chapter.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Out of Times Abyss by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Official Blurb
Out of Time’s Abyss is a science fiction novel, the third of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Caspak” trilogy. In this conclusion, the mysteries of the lost world’s unique biological systems are revealed.
My Review
I've reviewed the previous two books in this series, which I thoughly enjoyed. This one is no different. Its a pulp style adventure set in Caspak a lost island in the middle of the ocean, that is populated with dinosaurs giant bears and men of all kinds, from cave men right through modern man and up the evolutionary scale to the winged men.
The previous two books followed the adventures of people as they travelled across this land or became marooned there, each being a travalogue of sorts. This one is similar but a lot of time is spent in the city of the winged men. It's full of action and our hero is just that, a hero. Strong, clever and morally sound, this man has hero running through him like a stick of rock.
So our hero to kidnapped by the flying men and it looks like he's going to be bird food... but you know... he's the hero! So he's going to be heroic :)
If you liked the others in the series then you will not be disapointed by this final episode. Adventure fans, start downloading now.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Out of Time’s Abyss is a science fiction novel, the third of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Caspak” trilogy. In this conclusion, the mysteries of the lost world’s unique biological systems are revealed.
My Review
I've reviewed the previous two books in this series, which I thoughly enjoyed. This one is no different. Its a pulp style adventure set in Caspak a lost island in the middle of the ocean, that is populated with dinosaurs giant bears and men of all kinds, from cave men right through modern man and up the evolutionary scale to the winged men.
The previous two books followed the adventures of people as they travelled across this land or became marooned there, each being a travalogue of sorts. This one is similar but a lot of time is spent in the city of the winged men. It's full of action and our hero is just that, a hero. Strong, clever and morally sound, this man has hero running through him like a stick of rock.
So our hero to kidnapped by the flying men and it looks like he's going to be bird food... but you know... he's the hero! So he's going to be heroic :)
If you liked the others in the series then you will not be disapointed by this final episode. Adventure fans, start downloading now.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 19 August 2010
A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Official Blurb
John Carter, an American Civil War veteran, goes prospecting in Arizona and, when set upon by Indians, is mysteriously transported to Mars, called “Barsoom” by its inhabitants. Carter finds that he has great strength on this planet, due to its lesser gravity. Carter soon falls in among the Tharks, a nomadic tribe of the planet’s warlike, four-armed, green inhabitants. Thanks to his strength and combat abilities he rises in position in the tribe and earns the respect eventually the friendship of Tars Tarkas one of the Thark chiefs.
The Tharks subsequently capture Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, a member of the humanoid red Martian race. The red Martians inhabit a loose network of city states and control the desert planet’s canals, along which its agriculture is concentrated. Carter rescues her from the green men to return her to her people.
My Review
When I saw the new version of this audio book popup at librivox I was astounded to see I hadn't reviewed the original version.
I promptly downloaded this recording from Mark Nelson and set to!
This is the first book in a series by Edgar Rice Burroughs starring John Carter, of Mars. As the blurb suggests the story is a real pulp style story with swords and science intimately mixed. The story is riddled with constant action, mostly combat, that keeps everything interesting. The story may be a bit far-fetched to modern ears but lets face it, were talking about a man on mars battling aliens with a sword so we have to accept that sometimes things might sound a bit that way.
The book is clearly written, constantly exciting and boldly heroic. So if you like science fiction and don't object to hig action and daring do, then this is a great audio book to download.
It's read by the marvelous Mark Nelson so there is of course a perfect reading to be heard.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
John Carter, an American Civil War veteran, goes prospecting in Arizona and, when set upon by Indians, is mysteriously transported to Mars, called “Barsoom” by its inhabitants. Carter finds that he has great strength on this planet, due to its lesser gravity. Carter soon falls in among the Tharks, a nomadic tribe of the planet’s warlike, four-armed, green inhabitants. Thanks to his strength and combat abilities he rises in position in the tribe and earns the respect eventually the friendship of Tars Tarkas one of the Thark chiefs.
The Tharks subsequently capture Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, a member of the humanoid red Martian race. The red Martians inhabit a loose network of city states and control the desert planet’s canals, along which its agriculture is concentrated. Carter rescues her from the green men to return her to her people.
My Review
When I saw the new version of this audio book popup at librivox I was astounded to see I hadn't reviewed the original version.
I promptly downloaded this recording from Mark Nelson and set to!
This is the first book in a series by Edgar Rice Burroughs starring John Carter, of Mars. As the blurb suggests the story is a real pulp style story with swords and science intimately mixed. The story is riddled with constant action, mostly combat, that keeps everything interesting. The story may be a bit far-fetched to modern ears but lets face it, were talking about a man on mars battling aliens with a sword so we have to accept that sometimes things might sound a bit that way.
The book is clearly written, constantly exciting and boldly heroic. So if you like science fiction and don't object to hig action and daring do, then this is a great audio book to download.
It's read by the marvelous Mark Nelson so there is of course a perfect reading to be heard.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Friday, 13 August 2010
Murder at Avedon Hill by P.G. Holyfield
Official Blurb
Lord Avedon has a problem. Generations of Avedons have watched over Avedon Hill and controlled the only pass through the Lantis Mountains. Traditions are important to the Avedon family, but one tradition has tragically come to an end. Gretta Platt, Housemistress of Avedon Manor, has been murdered. A member of the Platt family has always served the Avedons as Housemistress. until now. Only a handful of people live at Avedon Hill, and most are suspects. Arames Kragen, retired Aarronic Advisor and scholar of prophecy, arrives at the gates of Avedon Hill, hoping to gain access to the mountain pass. Lord Avedon is not in a giving mood, however.
This is the story of Arames Kragen and his attempt not only to discover who killed Gretta Platt, but also to uncover the truth about a town that apparently has more secrets than inhabitants.
The Land of Caern: It is a world where the gods, the Children of Az, can choose to be born as mortals to directly affect events in the world, and often do. It is a world where the Priests of Caern frantically search for the mortal incarnations of any of the Children, in order prevent the Prophecies of Iberian from coming to pass.
Welcome to The Land of Caern. Welcome. to Murder at Avedon Hill, the podcast novel by P.G. Holyfield
My Review
I first heard about this (nearly) full cast dramatisation back when it was originally being released. Many of the podcasters I was listening to kept mentioning that they were appearing on it.
Well I rolled over to the site and even subscribed but when there were big long gaps between the episodes coming out I decided to to give it a miss.
A year later I re-discovered the book and checked it out, it still wasn't finished! So once again I decided to give it a miss.
Well here it is a couple more years later and on checking it out I find that its been completed in my absence!
Was it worth the wait? Yes. I don't mean to say it was worth putting you life on hold or anything, just that it's okay, and not a disapointment.
As the blurb hints, a couple of traveling chaps from a religious order find themselves in Avedon Hill a walled town in a high fantasy land. They want to simply pass through the town and use the mountain pass beyond, but the way is closed. The Master of Avedon Hill has closed the pass because he's a bit miffed by the murder that just took place. Our hero offers to solve the murder if he'll be let through to the pass.
And on that premise the story rolls. The majority of the story is set in the town of Avedon Hill and follows the investigation through every step. I realise that I've made it sound like a rehash of "The Name of the Rose" but it's not. That book didn't have monsters and gods walking amongst the living, that book didn't have spell casters and half breed monsters working in the smithy!
As the investigator moves through this wild and crazy town we get to meet all of the characters in the town as they are interviewed and they are a real weird bunch! The fact that most of the cast are voiced by a different people really helps you to follow the plot.
I really enjoyed this story, the characters were original and developed through the plot in unexpected ways and the magic was both unexpected and exciting, we learnt how things worked as the story progressed which means there are a lot of surprises along the way.
Who should listen to this? Fantasy fans obviously, but keep in mind this is not a straight reading, most characters are played by different voices and with a narrator in between. If you don't mind that sort of thing, dig in!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
.
Lord Avedon has a problem. Generations of Avedons have watched over Avedon Hill and controlled the only pass through the Lantis Mountains. Traditions are important to the Avedon family, but one tradition has tragically come to an end. Gretta Platt, Housemistress of Avedon Manor, has been murdered. A member of the Platt family has always served the Avedons as Housemistress. until now. Only a handful of people live at Avedon Hill, and most are suspects. Arames Kragen, retired Aarronic Advisor and scholar of prophecy, arrives at the gates of Avedon Hill, hoping to gain access to the mountain pass. Lord Avedon is not in a giving mood, however.
This is the story of Arames Kragen and his attempt not only to discover who killed Gretta Platt, but also to uncover the truth about a town that apparently has more secrets than inhabitants.
The Land of Caern: It is a world where the gods, the Children of Az, can choose to be born as mortals to directly affect events in the world, and often do. It is a world where the Priests of Caern frantically search for the mortal incarnations of any of the Children, in order prevent the Prophecies of Iberian from coming to pass.
Welcome to The Land of Caern. Welcome. to Murder at Avedon Hill, the podcast novel by P.G. Holyfield
My Review
I first heard about this (nearly) full cast dramatisation back when it was originally being released. Many of the podcasters I was listening to kept mentioning that they were appearing on it.
Well I rolled over to the site and even subscribed but when there were big long gaps between the episodes coming out I decided to to give it a miss.
A year later I re-discovered the book and checked it out, it still wasn't finished! So once again I decided to give it a miss.
Well here it is a couple more years later and on checking it out I find that its been completed in my absence!
Was it worth the wait? Yes. I don't mean to say it was worth putting you life on hold or anything, just that it's okay, and not a disapointment.
As the blurb hints, a couple of traveling chaps from a religious order find themselves in Avedon Hill a walled town in a high fantasy land. They want to simply pass through the town and use the mountain pass beyond, but the way is closed. The Master of Avedon Hill has closed the pass because he's a bit miffed by the murder that just took place. Our hero offers to solve the murder if he'll be let through to the pass.
And on that premise the story rolls. The majority of the story is set in the town of Avedon Hill and follows the investigation through every step. I realise that I've made it sound like a rehash of "The Name of the Rose" but it's not. That book didn't have monsters and gods walking amongst the living, that book didn't have spell casters and half breed monsters working in the smithy!
As the investigator moves through this wild and crazy town we get to meet all of the characters in the town as they are interviewed and they are a real weird bunch! The fact that most of the cast are voiced by a different people really helps you to follow the plot.
I really enjoyed this story, the characters were original and developed through the plot in unexpected ways and the magic was both unexpected and exciting, we learnt how things worked as the story progressed which means there are a lot of surprises along the way.
Who should listen to this? Fantasy fans obviously, but keep in mind this is not a straight reading, most characters are played by different voices and with a narrator in between. If you don't mind that sort of thing, dig in!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
.
Saturday, 7 August 2010
On War by Carl von Clausewitz
Official Blurb
A classic work on military strategy by a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars. The author's style is dialectical: he makes two strong but opposing statements and then draws them together to describe many facets of war. Free of technical jargon, and suitable for modern readers. This audiobook is based on a 1909 English translation.
My Review
I've known about this classic book ever since I became interested in wargaming. It's a military history classic that every officer in a modern army will have read ( OR I'LL WANT TO KNOW WHY NOT SOLDIER! )
It's similar to Sun Tzu's Art of War in that it is an anilitical study of the War and how to carry it out. It was written in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars so the examples of battlefield situations have that slant on them. That said, everything here is still applicable to modern wars. From the study on the military cults of personality, onto how to carry out a follow up after the enemy routs this book covers all of the important aspects of war.
It's not a light book, I would also reccomend that you don't listen to it on one sitting, it's a book that needs to be studied and digested. If you're a military historian or wargamer who has always meant to read this book, but haven't found the time, well, the time is now. The reader gives us an excellent presentation thats easy on the ear and clear in diction, both of which this text absolutely requires.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3 ( Not really applicable!)
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
.
A classic work on military strategy by a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars. The author's style is dialectical: he makes two strong but opposing statements and then draws them together to describe many facets of war. Free of technical jargon, and suitable for modern readers. This audiobook is based on a 1909 English translation.
My Review
I've known about this classic book ever since I became interested in wargaming. It's a military history classic that every officer in a modern army will have read ( OR I'LL WANT TO KNOW WHY NOT SOLDIER! )
It's similar to Sun Tzu's Art of War in that it is an anilitical study of the War and how to carry it out. It was written in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars so the examples of battlefield situations have that slant on them. That said, everything here is still applicable to modern wars. From the study on the military cults of personality, onto how to carry out a follow up after the enemy routs this book covers all of the important aspects of war.
It's not a light book, I would also reccomend that you don't listen to it on one sitting, it's a book that needs to be studied and digested. If you're a military historian or wargamer who has always meant to read this book, but haven't found the time, well, the time is now. The reader gives us an excellent presentation thats easy on the ear and clear in diction, both of which this text absolutely requires.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3 ( Not really applicable!)
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
King Arthur and His knights and Maude L Radford
Official Blurb
A collection of King Arthur’s adventures, from his ascent to King of Britain to his death. This book includes some of the crucial Arthurian legends about Sir Lancelot, the Knights of the Round Table, Queen Guinevere, and the search for the Holy Grail.
My Review
This book has been written in an old style of english> For instance instead of saying "Knight of the round table", it's phrased, "knight of the table round". It's a quaint way of putting the text together and I feel it invokes the mood of the work very well. I'm not sure when this was written so it may be real old-english or a modern fake, but either way, it works very well.
So, as the blurb says, it covers all of the usual Arthur legends and even a few I've never heard of, and makes a fun listen if the legends of Arthur are your thing.
It's not a light-listen, as I sometimes found I had to re-listen to an episode having missed something that explains when knights were fighting. This however is probably just down to me not being attentive enough.
I really enjoyed the reading and it simply made-the-book.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
.
A collection of King Arthur’s adventures, from his ascent to King of Britain to his death. This book includes some of the crucial Arthurian legends about Sir Lancelot, the Knights of the Round Table, Queen Guinevere, and the search for the Holy Grail.
My Review
This book has been written in an old style of english> For instance instead of saying "Knight of the round table", it's phrased, "knight of the table round". It's a quaint way of putting the text together and I feel it invokes the mood of the work very well. I'm not sure when this was written so it may be real old-english or a modern fake, but either way, it works very well.
So, as the blurb says, it covers all of the usual Arthur legends and even a few I've never heard of, and makes a fun listen if the legends of Arthur are your thing.
It's not a light-listen, as I sometimes found I had to re-listen to an episode having missed something that explains when knights were fighting. This however is probably just down to me not being attentive enough.
I really enjoyed the reading and it simply made-the-book.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
.
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