Official Blurb
Ever wish things were different?
Ivy Velasquez did, so she became someone else. In the 3D virtual world Marionette City, you can be anything you want — but everyone still knows who you are. Driven by her desire for a new life, Ivy takes her future in her hands when she makes another identity for herself. A brilliant designer, Ivy works for one of the huge firms which control the online system the world relies upon for both business and pleasure. But one day, Ivy discovers that her alternate self, Reuben Cobalt, had been murdered.
Since alternate identities are forbidden by the firms which control access to the nets and to M City, Ivy has nowhere to turn — until she finds Andersson Dexter. Part private eye, part vigilante and part cop, Dex sets out to uncover Reuben’s killer. Since the firms control almost every aspect of life, including law and order, justice for average people comes only at the hands of the outlaw organization to which Dex belongs.
Self Made is a murder mystery set in a vision of a future that seems to lurk just over the horizon. But above all, it is a story of how people strive to control their own destinies, and how that desire affects them and the people around them in ways they could never imagine.
My Review
The blurb basicly tells you all you need to know about the story itself,yet...
In the near-ish future everyone still has jobs but also has a life on the "nets". This second life is played out using avatars in a virtual city and everything that can happen in real life seems to also happen in this virtual world, plus a lot more. People apparently spend so much time in the virtual worlds that real life existence is considered secondary. So secondary in fact, that most people survive on food bricks and tasteless drinks. Why spend money or time on real food, when you can have sumptuous feasts for hours in the virtual world for free.
This novel not only investigates the crime that is its plat but also gives us a peek into what the world might be like if virtual reality ( including taste/sounds/feel ) takes off and becomes ... well, a reality.
This is not the authors first novel. I've reviewed the previous novel, "Beautiful Red" a while ago. In Beautiful Red the "nets" were everywhere but poeple were not living in them, so this novel appears to be the same world, but just a little further into the future. This novel has a sequel ( a different story, some of the same characters), so if you like it, you'll be able to have more of the same.
The author is reading her own work here and does a good job, the audio quality seems to have stepped up a notch from her previous work.
In summary, I found the story, interesting and engaging, a good listen.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Thursday, 21 July 2011
The Gearheart: Maiden Flight of the Avenger by Alex White
Official Blurb
Agent Augustus Elsworth is a Seeker of the Arcane Unknown, mechanic, pilot and thief... or so he believes. When he is caught trying to steal a magic artifact from the ruthless mobster Charles Patrick, he is offered a choice: buy it outright, or forget about his mission. In order to win the money, the young mechanic decides to enter the Cliffside Aeroprix, the most dangerous air race in the world. Can Augustus win the race, or even survive it?
My Review
This is a novella set in the Gearheart universe, as used in the "Gearheart" podiobook which I reviewed a little while ago. I believe this novella is a prequel to that book. Just as with Gearheart, this story is action packed with action, magic and super science.
We get an insight into "the Seekers" a secret organisation that protects humanity from the dangers of magic and alchemy.
It's a thrilling adventure, involving air races, magical attacks, plenty of gunfire and organised crime. It was great to hear these characters again, and I hope there is more to come
It's a great listen, I only wish I listened to it before hearing "Gearheart"
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Agent Augustus Elsworth is a Seeker of the Arcane Unknown, mechanic, pilot and thief... or so he believes. When he is caught trying to steal a magic artifact from the ruthless mobster Charles Patrick, he is offered a choice: buy it outright, or forget about his mission. In order to win the money, the young mechanic decides to enter the Cliffside Aeroprix, the most dangerous air race in the world. Can Augustus win the race, or even survive it?
My Review
This is a novella set in the Gearheart universe, as used in the "Gearheart" podiobook which I reviewed a little while ago. I believe this novella is a prequel to that book. Just as with Gearheart, this story is action packed with action, magic and super science.
We get an insight into "the Seekers" a secret organisation that protects humanity from the dangers of magic and alchemy.
It's a thrilling adventure, involving air races, magical attacks, plenty of gunfire and organised crime. It was great to hear these characters again, and I hope there is more to come
It's a great listen, I only wish I listened to it before hearing "Gearheart"
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Cybrosis by P.C. Haring
Official Blurb
For Agent Ciris, the mission should have been simple: get in, apprehend the target, get out. But when the simple snatch and grab goes horribly awry, the worlds first cyborg finds herself backed into a corner. At odds with her superiors, she becomes embroiled in two conspiracies — one intended to destroy her with a cybernetic virus that will neutralize the technology that keeps her alive, the other intended to keep hidden the untold secrets of her origin. With the walls closing in around her, Ciris becomes a rogue agent with no one to trust and only one objective — unravel the shrouds of secrecy before time runs out
My Review
This story was a trip, a good trip. It was Sci Fi goodness through and through. There are lots of action scenes, high speed chases, computer hacking, uplinks, cyborgs, power guns, back stabs and great narration.
The official blurb gives you the details of the story and my summary above tells you what's in there, if any of that appeals to you, you should be downloading by now!
I can also report that the character development is good, the pacing excellent and the multi voice narration excellent.
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 9/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
For Agent Ciris, the mission should have been simple: get in, apprehend the target, get out. But when the simple snatch and grab goes horribly awry, the worlds first cyborg finds herself backed into a corner. At odds with her superiors, she becomes embroiled in two conspiracies — one intended to destroy her with a cybernetic virus that will neutralize the technology that keeps her alive, the other intended to keep hidden the untold secrets of her origin. With the walls closing in around her, Ciris becomes a rogue agent with no one to trust and only one objective — unravel the shrouds of secrecy before time runs out
My Review
This story was a trip, a good trip. It was Sci Fi goodness through and through. There are lots of action scenes, high speed chases, computer hacking, uplinks, cyborgs, power guns, back stabs and great narration.
The official blurb gives you the details of the story and my summary above tells you what's in there, if any of that appeals to you, you should be downloading by now!
I can also report that the character development is good, the pacing excellent and the multi voice narration excellent.
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 9/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Fighting the Flying Circus by Eddie Rickenbacker
Official Blurb
This is the WWI memoirs of Medal of Honor winner, Capt Eddie Rickenbacker. He fought in and eventually became commander of the 94th "Hat-in-the-Ring" Squadron, which ended the war with the highest number of air victories of any American squadron. The circus mentioned in the title refers to the German squadron commanded by the famous Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen.
My Review
As a producer of audio books relating to WWI I was really interested in listening to this free offering from Librivox. I was not disappointed. As the description says its the memoirs of Captain Rickenbacker and it starts out with him joining up and having to fly hand-me-down aircraft that are really quite pitiful. These aircraft were not only slower and less manoeuvrable that the German aircraft they had a tendency for the wing covering to peel off in flight!
It's quite a fascinating listen. Rickenbacker is not a natural pilot ace, as you follow his story you'll hear him working on his tactics trying to work out how to defeat the enemy. he has to keep learning as his squadron keeps getting new missions. They attack enemy fighters, then bombers, strafe the ground and even take on observation balloons.
Later they get better planes and the tables are turned, and they even come up against the famous ace pilots of Flying Circus mentioned in the title.
If you have interest in WWI, then this is a natural for you to download, and I reccomend that you do.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
.
This is the WWI memoirs of Medal of Honor winner, Capt Eddie Rickenbacker. He fought in and eventually became commander of the 94th "Hat-in-the-Ring" Squadron, which ended the war with the highest number of air victories of any American squadron. The circus mentioned in the title refers to the German squadron commanded by the famous Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen.
My Review
As a producer of audio books relating to WWI I was really interested in listening to this free offering from Librivox. I was not disappointed. As the description says its the memoirs of Captain Rickenbacker and it starts out with him joining up and having to fly hand-me-down aircraft that are really quite pitiful. These aircraft were not only slower and less manoeuvrable that the German aircraft they had a tendency for the wing covering to peel off in flight!
It's quite a fascinating listen. Rickenbacker is not a natural pilot ace, as you follow his story you'll hear him working on his tactics trying to work out how to defeat the enemy. he has to keep learning as his squadron keeps getting new missions. They attack enemy fighters, then bombers, strafe the ground and even take on observation balloons.
Later they get better planes and the tables are turned, and they even come up against the famous ace pilots of Flying Circus mentioned in the title.
If you have interest in WWI, then this is a natural for you to download, and I reccomend that you do.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Dreams and Wings (A Searcher and Stallion story) by Scott Howard
Official Blurb
One Man, One Machine, One Destiny.
Searcher awoke, alone on a laboratory table, with an ageless body and no knowledge of his past in a post apocalyptic world. Now in his exoskel, a powered suit of armor, he roams the galaxy with his robotic companion Stallion, seeking clues about his unknown origins. Meanwhile, His existence threatens to destroy balance among the ageless ones, a group of never dying humanoids that secretly run all aspects of human society in the shadows of the surviving colony worlds. Is the Searcher the key to humanity's salvation.....or its final destruction......
My Review
I was really impressed with the production in this short story. It's an enhanced reading. The narrator has a cast of actors providing the voices and a whole lot of sound effects and music to back him up and it's very well put together.
It's a gripping story that had me hooked from the beginning.
As the blurb states a man with no memory wakes up on an abandoned lab table and the trouble just get worse and worse. It's got a good hook and a fantastic driving narrative. In short it's great!
Unfortunately it's just enough to get you interested and hooked and nothing more. It's not a complete story just the opening scenes. I was sooo disappointed! I wanted to hear the whole novel not just this little tease. Oh well. If you're a rabid sci fi fan like me you'll love it, but want MORE!
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 1/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
One Man, One Machine, One Destiny.
Searcher awoke, alone on a laboratory table, with an ageless body and no knowledge of his past in a post apocalyptic world. Now in his exoskel, a powered suit of armor, he roams the galaxy with his robotic companion Stallion, seeking clues about his unknown origins. Meanwhile, His existence threatens to destroy balance among the ageless ones, a group of never dying humanoids that secretly run all aspects of human society in the shadows of the surviving colony worlds. Is the Searcher the key to humanity's salvation.....or its final destruction......
My Review
I was really impressed with the production in this short story. It's an enhanced reading. The narrator has a cast of actors providing the voices and a whole lot of sound effects and music to back him up and it's very well put together.
It's a gripping story that had me hooked from the beginning.
As the blurb states a man with no memory wakes up on an abandoned lab table and the trouble just get worse and worse. It's got a good hook and a fantastic driving narrative. In short it's great!
Unfortunately it's just enough to get you interested and hooked and nothing more. It's not a complete story just the opening scenes. I was sooo disappointed! I wanted to hear the whole novel not just this little tease. Oh well. If you're a rabid sci fi fan like me you'll love it, but want MORE!
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 1/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
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