Official Blurb
Off the coast of Nova Scotia on a remote island, a lonely scientist, a powerful computer, a simple mistake. Unleashes a new threat, somewhere in the hills of Margaree.
"Dead Hunt" is Kenn Crawford’s chilling tale of a desperate father’s undying love, a daughter frozen in time, and the small group of teens trapped in the aftermath.
"Everyone makes mistakes. Some are small, some are bigger. My father’s mistake, born of an innocent heart and fueled by sadness, was the greatest mistake. Some thought the death of his little girl drove him to the point of insanity; some thought he was trying to be God. But, this is not how it happened. The truth is, he wanted to save me. To give me life. And, in doing so, everyone was doomed." ~Robin
My Review
Imagine a slasher movie, imagine a bunch of teens starring in a saturday night zombie flick and thats where this book sits. It's blood and guts and teens surrounded by zombies. A simple theme but the author has put more than a little thought into it.
The first third of the novel deals with the cause and effect of the zombie outbreak, and does it with stylish, intellectual way. This is no plague caused by a passing asteroid, instead the author builds up the science behind it with some great characterisation in the process. It all makes sense to my semi logical mind, sure the science is probably guff, but I didn't spot it.
The teens that star in the story are nice, are individual, and best of all intelligent! So often in these stories teens act stupid, they go down into unlit basements, out into the eveil woods etc, but not in this story. That makes this a step up from the usual zombie dross.
There is blood, there is gore, there are sexual situations ( not explicit ) so it's you basic horror collection of tropes, but as I said nicely done.
It's a full cast drama with music and sound effects and a delightful narrator. If you like horror, give it a try.
Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Monday, 3 January 2011
The Blockade Runners by Jules Verne
Official Blurb
Writing at the end of the American Civil War, Verne weaves this story of a Scottish merchant who, in desperation at the interruption of the flow of Southern cotton due to the Union blockade, determines to build his own fast ship and run guns to the Confederates in exchange for the cotton piling up unsold on their wharves. His simple plan becomes complicated by two passengers who board his new ship under false pretenses in order to carry out a rescue mission, one which Capt. Playfair adopts as his own cause. This is going make the Rebels in Charleston rather unhappy with him.
Sure, his new ship is fast - but can it escape the cannonballs of both North and South?
My Review
This is a short two hour audio book by one of my favourite writers ( Jules Verne ) and one of my favourite readers ( Mark Smith ), so whats not to like! As the blurb says it's set during the war between the states and predominently on board a steam ship that is about to run the yankie blockade.
It's not a swashbuckling adventure, we dont have any heros leaping about sword in one hand pistol in another, no, it's much more sedate than that. In fact the high action takes place off stage, yet in the end that is not a disapointment.
The story is much more a character piece, that's set in exciting times. As with many of the stories written in these times, you get a feeling that all will end well at the end but that's not why you're listening, you want to hear how they get to that point. So sit down , stick this light adventure in your ears and you wont be disapointed by what is a delightful and well made audio book.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
.
Writing at the end of the American Civil War, Verne weaves this story of a Scottish merchant who, in desperation at the interruption of the flow of Southern cotton due to the Union blockade, determines to build his own fast ship and run guns to the Confederates in exchange for the cotton piling up unsold on their wharves. His simple plan becomes complicated by two passengers who board his new ship under false pretenses in order to carry out a rescue mission, one which Capt. Playfair adopts as his own cause. This is going make the Rebels in Charleston rather unhappy with him.
Sure, his new ship is fast - but can it escape the cannonballs of both North and South?
My Review
This is a short two hour audio book by one of my favourite writers ( Jules Verne ) and one of my favourite readers ( Mark Smith ), so whats not to like! As the blurb says it's set during the war between the states and predominently on board a steam ship that is about to run the yankie blockade.
It's not a swashbuckling adventure, we dont have any heros leaping about sword in one hand pistol in another, no, it's much more sedate than that. In fact the high action takes place off stage, yet in the end that is not a disapointment.
The story is much more a character piece, that's set in exciting times. As with many of the stories written in these times, you get a feeling that all will end well at the end but that's not why you're listening, you want to hear how they get to that point. So sit down , stick this light adventure in your ears and you wont be disapointed by what is a delightful and well made audio book.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
.
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Personal Effects: Sword of Blood by J.C. Hutchins
Official Blurb
Brinkvale Psychiatric Hospital art therapist Zach Taylor is endlessly curious, perhaps to a fault. When his cheerful elderly patient Gertrude “Spindle” Spindler completes her latest quilt and informs Zach that a 30-year-old "grand design of nine" has just concluded, Zach’s curiosity is piqued ... and he soon embarks on a quest to unwind the meaning of the woman's cryptic phrase.
He isn't expecting a descent into a world filled with mystery and ruthless subcultures -- and he isn't expecting to be haunted by Spindle's coy clues. What is The Great Blade of Blood? What are The Charred? What is the grand design of nine? And who is the dark-skinned stranger stalking Zach at every turn, threatening his life?
The answers may lie in Spindle's granddaughter, a willowy self-proclaimed psychic named Hen. But Zach soon discovers that Hen may be crazier than the patients he treats ... and the treasure he's pursuing may be more dangerous -- and deadly -- than he ever imagined.
My Review
This audio book is a prequel, it's also of novella length, and when it finishes you'll be saying "what!? You can't end it there!" At least that's what I said. It's an investigative mystery with the protagonist not being a detective but rather an art therapist of all things!
It's been written by the author of the 7th Son trilogy and he's brought his own very distinctive and very good style of writing and narration to this audio book.
This book is a short thriller with just a hint of the super natural to add flavour. The protagonist is a likeable guy with some problems and an "interesting" life. As the story proceeds you learn more and more about him and his world, which when combined with a racing plot keeps you glued to your MP3 player.
I really enjoyed it, but it does suffer from being a prequel, so you're left wanting more, and it's so short you'll just have to buy the book "Personal Effects:Dark Arts". These are not bad things, but if you dont have access to the sequel do yourself a favour and don't start listening to this!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Brinkvale Psychiatric Hospital art therapist Zach Taylor is endlessly curious, perhaps to a fault. When his cheerful elderly patient Gertrude “Spindle” Spindler completes her latest quilt and informs Zach that a 30-year-old "grand design of nine" has just concluded, Zach’s curiosity is piqued ... and he soon embarks on a quest to unwind the meaning of the woman's cryptic phrase.
He isn't expecting a descent into a world filled with mystery and ruthless subcultures -- and he isn't expecting to be haunted by Spindle's coy clues. What is The Great Blade of Blood? What are The Charred? What is the grand design of nine? And who is the dark-skinned stranger stalking Zach at every turn, threatening his life?
The answers may lie in Spindle's granddaughter, a willowy self-proclaimed psychic named Hen. But Zach soon discovers that Hen may be crazier than the patients he treats ... and the treasure he's pursuing may be more dangerous -- and deadly -- than he ever imagined.
My Review
This audio book is a prequel, it's also of novella length, and when it finishes you'll be saying "what!? You can't end it there!" At least that's what I said. It's an investigative mystery with the protagonist not being a detective but rather an art therapist of all things!
It's been written by the author of the 7th Son trilogy and he's brought his own very distinctive and very good style of writing and narration to this audio book.
This book is a short thriller with just a hint of the super natural to add flavour. The protagonist is a likeable guy with some problems and an "interesting" life. As the story proceeds you learn more and more about him and his world, which when combined with a racing plot keeps you glued to your MP3 player.
I really enjoyed it, but it does suffer from being a prequel, so you're left wanting more, and it's so short you'll just have to buy the book "Personal Effects:Dark Arts". These are not bad things, but if you dont have access to the sequel do yourself a favour and don't start listening to this!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Friday, 31 December 2010
Dead Mech by Jake Bible
Official Blurb
After the zombie apocalypse decimates the world, human civilization tries to put itself back together again. Their secret weapon: the Mechs. But what happens when a mech pilot dies in his mech and becomes a zombie? Hell on earth is unleashed...
My Review
This book was not what I expected. It's been hanging around at podiobooks for a while and I've been avoiding it. Why? Because it looked like (and the blurb made it sound like) literary trash. I don't mean literary from some high-falootin intellectual position but rather it looked like a kids book, that is, written by kids.
BOY! WAS I WRONG! What you have here is a rather good military sci fi story with an after-the-bomb-type background, and the horror that is zombies entwined to make a great story.
The author has created a rich and interesting future for the human race and populated it with some great characters that he's put through a great story. In the future of "Dead Mech", humanity has fallen back to small pockets of humanity. Humans survive in the few city states or scrape a living out in the blasted wastelands. Protecting humanity are the few and the special, highly trained Mech pilots. These men and women pilot massive metal robots, and use them to protect people from hordes of zombies.
In this future a virus has caused everyone who dies to rise again and become flesh hungry zombies, so there is never a shortage of new zombies.
The story follows these few heros as they're world is rocked by events that threaten the survival of humanity itself. It's a story of high tech and horror (and the zombies aren't the worst of the horror).
So as you can tell, I really enjoyed this book, but there are a couple of things that might put you off. The book was written as a series of "drabbles" meaning that it was written in one hundred word segments. Although this hasn't effected the writing in any way that I noticed, it has effected the audio presentation. As you listen you'll notice a second or so silence between each "drabble". I admit this did bug me during the first couple of chapters, but after that I was so additcted to the story that I didn't notice it.
The second thing to be aware of, is that this is a horror novel aimed at adults with all that means. Not for those with a weak tummy, or those easily offended by sexual/horror/language issues.
The author is reading his own work and does a pretty good job. However there is music behind a couple of the chapters and this was off putting.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part.
.
After the zombie apocalypse decimates the world, human civilization tries to put itself back together again. Their secret weapon: the Mechs. But what happens when a mech pilot dies in his mech and becomes a zombie? Hell on earth is unleashed...
My Review
This book was not what I expected. It's been hanging around at podiobooks for a while and I've been avoiding it. Why? Because it looked like (and the blurb made it sound like) literary trash. I don't mean literary from some high-falootin intellectual position but rather it looked like a kids book, that is, written by kids.
BOY! WAS I WRONG! What you have here is a rather good military sci fi story with an after-the-bomb-type background, and the horror that is zombies entwined to make a great story.
The author has created a rich and interesting future for the human race and populated it with some great characters that he's put through a great story. In the future of "Dead Mech", humanity has fallen back to small pockets of humanity. Humans survive in the few city states or scrape a living out in the blasted wastelands. Protecting humanity are the few and the special, highly trained Mech pilots. These men and women pilot massive metal robots, and use them to protect people from hordes of zombies.
In this future a virus has caused everyone who dies to rise again and become flesh hungry zombies, so there is never a shortage of new zombies.
The story follows these few heros as they're world is rocked by events that threaten the survival of humanity itself. It's a story of high tech and horror (and the zombies aren't the worst of the horror).
So as you can tell, I really enjoyed this book, but there are a couple of things that might put you off. The book was written as a series of "drabbles" meaning that it was written in one hundred word segments. Although this hasn't effected the writing in any way that I noticed, it has effected the audio presentation. As you listen you'll notice a second or so silence between each "drabble". I admit this did bug me during the first couple of chapters, but after that I was so additcted to the story that I didn't notice it.
The second thing to be aware of, is that this is a horror novel aimed at adults with all that means. Not for those with a weak tummy, or those easily offended by sexual/horror/language issues.
The author is reading his own work and does a pretty good job. However there is music behind a couple of the chapters and this was off putting.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part.
.
Saturday, 25 December 2010
The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun
Official Blurb
The Planet Strappers started out as The Bunch, a group of student-astronauts in the back room of a store in Jarviston, Minnesota. They wanted off Earth, and they begged, borrowed and built what they needed to make it. They got what they wanted--a start on the road to the stars--but no one brought up on Earth could have imagined what was waiting for them Out There!
My Review
As the blurb suggests this is a story of settlers struggling to get off planet and then continuing the struggle out in space. There are a bunch of problems, ranging from trying to get money at the start through to xenomorphs trying to eat people.
It's not a single story throughout, the story arc as such is the disparate group of people all trying to make their way out into space and getting by. As such its made up of a series of mini adventures linked together. I particularly liked the beasties on mars.
It's not a great story, but by no means is it a slouch either. If your looking for an amusing story to keep you interested then this meets that goal but no more.
The reader has done a reasonable job and slips smoothly down the ear canal :)
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
The Planet Strappers started out as The Bunch, a group of student-astronauts in the back room of a store in Jarviston, Minnesota. They wanted off Earth, and they begged, borrowed and built what they needed to make it. They got what they wanted--a start on the road to the stars--but no one brought up on Earth could have imagined what was waiting for them Out There!
My Review
As the blurb suggests this is a story of settlers struggling to get off planet and then continuing the struggle out in space. There are a bunch of problems, ranging from trying to get money at the start through to xenomorphs trying to eat people.
It's not a single story throughout, the story arc as such is the disparate group of people all trying to make their way out into space and getting by. As such its made up of a series of mini adventures linked together. I particularly liked the beasties on mars.
It's not a great story, but by no means is it a slouch either. If your looking for an amusing story to keep you interested then this meets that goal but no more.
The reader has done a reasonable job and slips smoothly down the ear canal :)
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Ravenwood by Nathan Lowell
Official Blurb
A Tanyth Fairport Adventure.
After twenty winters on the road, Tanyth makes one last pilgrimage in her quest to learn all she can about the herbs and medicinal plants of Korlay before settling down to write her magnum opus. Her journey is interrupted when she stops to help a small village and learns that much of what she knows of the world may not be quite as it seems.
In this work, Nathan Lowell blends wiccan tradition and shamanistic lore into a fantasy quest and creates a world for a new - if unlikely - heroine to explore. She learns that the familiar sometimes hides the fantastical and that, even when you think you’ve made your decisions, life doesn’t always agree.
My Review
This book was written by the same author who wrote "Quarter Share", "Half Share", "Full Share", "Double Share" and "Captains Share", Nathan Lowell.
I can confirm that he has brought the same easy writing style to this book but with a twist. This tale also makes a change for him with regards to genre, rather than Sci fi, this tale is pure fantasy.
The protagonist is an older woman wandering the world leaning herb lore and finds herself in a tiny new village where she is needed, and for a time at least stops her wandering. Unlike the "Share" series that were great despite nothing seeming to happen(!), this book is full of adventure. It's not a classic trek across the world as so many fantasy books do, but rather a challenge to make the vilage succeed against adversity. Problems arise, including enemies that challenge the village and Tanith.
I love the way Mr Lowell builds the tension in this book. You know something bad is coming and it's just over the horizon but Nathan draws this out so that when it arrives it really delivers.
Do not expect a clash of armies or evil super villains, expect a good story with well made characters, and an excellent reader and you wont be disapointed.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
A Tanyth Fairport Adventure.
After twenty winters on the road, Tanyth makes one last pilgrimage in her quest to learn all she can about the herbs and medicinal plants of Korlay before settling down to write her magnum opus. Her journey is interrupted when she stops to help a small village and learns that much of what she knows of the world may not be quite as it seems.
In this work, Nathan Lowell blends wiccan tradition and shamanistic lore into a fantasy quest and creates a world for a new - if unlikely - heroine to explore. She learns that the familiar sometimes hides the fantastical and that, even when you think you’ve made your decisions, life doesn’t always agree.
My Review
This book was written by the same author who wrote "Quarter Share", "Half Share", "Full Share", "Double Share" and "Captains Share", Nathan Lowell.
I can confirm that he has brought the same easy writing style to this book but with a twist. This tale also makes a change for him with regards to genre, rather than Sci fi, this tale is pure fantasy.
The protagonist is an older woman wandering the world leaning herb lore and finds herself in a tiny new village where she is needed, and for a time at least stops her wandering. Unlike the "Share" series that were great despite nothing seeming to happen(!), this book is full of adventure. It's not a classic trek across the world as so many fantasy books do, but rather a challenge to make the vilage succeed against adversity. Problems arise, including enemies that challenge the village and Tanith.
I love the way Mr Lowell builds the tension in this book. You know something bad is coming and it's just over the horizon but Nathan draws this out so that when it arrives it really delivers.
Do not expect a clash of armies or evil super villains, expect a good story with well made characters, and an excellent reader and you wont be disapointed.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
Thursday, 16 December 2010
The Return of Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer
Official Blurb
Burmese Commisioner Nayland Smith and his faithful friend Dr Petrie continue their fight against the evil genius of Dr Fu-Manchu when they seek to save the good doctor’s lost love and protect the British Empire from disaster when their malignant enemy returns to England.
My Review
I'be looking forwards to hearing this one for a while. I actually recorded the first Fu-Manchu story for Librivox a while ago, and have only just got round to this sequel.
In case you dont know. Fu-Manchu is an evil genious who is working to bring down the British Empire by murdering scientists and leaders. The book puts the chinese forwards as "the yellow peril" to be battled at every level but open warfare.
This book, like the original that preceeds it, is very episodic. I believe they were written to appear in magazines hence the cliff hangers at the end of every chapter. These stories are not to be taken too seriously, the hero's are overly heroic the villains extreme and the characters single minded in everything they do. You should have the mindset of - I'm going to listen to a light hearted adventure serial.
This book has all of the characters from the first book return to do much the same in new ways in new locales. The heros chase, get trapped, escape, defeat thugs, discover clues and all the usual tropes, and all great fun to listen to. I don't mean to say it's a comedy, but rather just fun adventuring.
In summary, it's worth a listen if you want some classic style adventures, with a reader that does some cool voices.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
Burmese Commisioner Nayland Smith and his faithful friend Dr Petrie continue their fight against the evil genius of Dr Fu-Manchu when they seek to save the good doctor’s lost love and protect the British Empire from disaster when their malignant enemy returns to England.
My Review
I'be looking forwards to hearing this one for a while. I actually recorded the first Fu-Manchu story for Librivox a while ago, and have only just got round to this sequel.
In case you dont know. Fu-Manchu is an evil genious who is working to bring down the British Empire by murdering scientists and leaders. The book puts the chinese forwards as "the yellow peril" to be battled at every level but open warfare.
This book, like the original that preceeds it, is very episodic. I believe they were written to appear in magazines hence the cliff hangers at the end of every chapter. These stories are not to be taken too seriously, the hero's are overly heroic the villains extreme and the characters single minded in everything they do. You should have the mindset of - I'm going to listen to a light hearted adventure serial.
This book has all of the characters from the first book return to do much the same in new ways in new locales. The heros chase, get trapped, escape, defeat thugs, discover clues and all the usual tropes, and all great fun to listen to. I don't mean to say it's a comedy, but rather just fun adventuring.
In summary, it's worth a listen if you want some classic style adventures, with a reader that does some cool voices.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Tripping Astral by Brian Smith
Official Blurb
When a matter transfer experiment goes wrong, a scientist find himself stranded on a alien planet.
My Review
Well, that Official Blurb doesn't say a lot does it! I'll add a little something to give you a better idea.
As the blurb says, he wakes up on an alien world with no idea of where why or how. He finds himself on a beach with friends and enemies to be discovered.
The title sounds a bit trippy and hints at drug induced hallucination. It's an apt title that fits the style of the story. At times you're not sure if the protaginist is flipping his lid or just experiencing really odd things.
The story sunk its claws into me and wouldn't let go. If nothing else I found myself wanting to reach the conclusion to see if he was nuts! All told the seven parts add up to about an hour and a half so even it turns out to not be your sort of thing you'll be through it before you know. It seemed to me to be an "Astounding Stories" type short story, something with aliensbut not straight sci fi. Very interesting if not absorbing.
The audio is a full cast audio drama presented by the "Seeing Ear Theatre" and worth a download. Let's face it, at a price of "Free", you can't complain too much.
Reading 2/3
Production 3/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part
.
When a matter transfer experiment goes wrong, a scientist find himself stranded on a alien planet.
My Review
Well, that Official Blurb doesn't say a lot does it! I'll add a little something to give you a better idea.
As the blurb says, he wakes up on an alien world with no idea of where why or how. He finds himself on a beach with friends and enemies to be discovered.
The title sounds a bit trippy and hints at drug induced hallucination. It's an apt title that fits the style of the story. At times you're not sure if the protaginist is flipping his lid or just experiencing really odd things.
The story sunk its claws into me and wouldn't let go. If nothing else I found myself wanting to reach the conclusion to see if he was nuts! All told the seven parts add up to about an hour and a half so even it turns out to not be your sort of thing you'll be through it before you know. It seemed to me to be an "Astounding Stories" type short story, something with aliensbut not straight sci fi. Very interesting if not absorbing.
The audio is a full cast audio drama presented by the "Seeing Ear Theatre" and worth a download. Let's face it, at a price of "Free", you can't complain too much.
Reading 2/3
Production 3/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part
.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Librivox hits 4000 books
I just thought I'd mention that Librivox has just added its 4000th audio book to their catalogue. That's a fantastic acheivement bearing in mind that every minute of that has been read by volunteers. Not only read, but proof listened and uploaded and a web page created.
Well done Librivox!
Well done Librivox!
Thursday, 25 November 2010
The Aliens by Murray-Leinster
Official Blurb
The human race was expanding through the galaxy … and so, they knew, were the Aliens. When two expanding empires meet … war is inevitable. Or is it …?
My Review
This short sci fi book , which is only an hour and twenty minutes long, hits all my favourite buttons in sci fi. It's set in space, it has space battles, it has aliens and it has tension and mystery. Hit hit hit hit Ding!
It's a typical pulp era sci fi story in all of the best ways. mankind is spreading across the galaxy and keeps coming across evidence of another space going race but they have never met... until now, so that makes this a first-contact story.
The author has handled the situation well, and the aliens have a different tech and mind set that make the situation that the story is centered around all the more interesting.
Even in so short a time the story introduce an array of character all with different motivations which dont fit into the "star trek" mold of all being good guys, which it a nice change.
I don't really want to say too much, the story is so short that if I go on I'll end up giving the plot away. That would be a shame as the book is a treat for sci fi fans. Download it.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
.
The human race was expanding through the galaxy … and so, they knew, were the Aliens. When two expanding empires meet … war is inevitable. Or is it …?
My Review
This short sci fi book , which is only an hour and twenty minutes long, hits all my favourite buttons in sci fi. It's set in space, it has space battles, it has aliens and it has tension and mystery. Hit hit hit hit Ding!
It's a typical pulp era sci fi story in all of the best ways. mankind is spreading across the galaxy and keeps coming across evidence of another space going race but they have never met... until now, so that makes this a first-contact story.
The author has handled the situation well, and the aliens have a different tech and mind set that make the situation that the story is centered around all the more interesting.
Even in so short a time the story introduce an array of character all with different motivations which dont fit into the "star trek" mold of all being good guys, which it a nice change.
I don't really want to say too much, the story is so short that if I go on I'll end up giving the plot away. That would be a shame as the book is a treat for sci fi fans. Download it.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from the Librivox
Listen to the first part
.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Leviathan Chronicles
Official Blurb
A hidden city called Leviathan lies deep within the dark trenches of the Pacific Ocean. The city is home to a community of immortals that sought to create a utopia over 1,000 years ago. For a millennia, they lived in peace and secrecy, gently influencing world events to aid the advancement of mankind. But a terrible secret has been kept deep within the catacombs of Leviathan that threatens the existence of the immortals, and quite possibly the entire world.
One woman named Macallan Orsel, a young genetic scientist in New York, discovers she is descended from a group of immortals that rebelled against Leviathan and are now waging a civil war around the globe. As the immortal war spills into the realm of mortal man, Macallan realizes that she holds the key to stopping the battle and bringing peace to Leviathan. But a clandestine government agency called The Blackdoor Group is trying to exterminate the immortal population and has identified Macallan as their critical target.
The Leviathan Chronicles is a revolutionary science fiction audio drama podcast featuring the voices of over 60 actors, professional sound effects and an original music soundtrack.
My Review
This is a sci fi story set on modern day earth. Is reveals all of the tropes of a sci fi novel but as a hidden world in and under the world as we know it. As the blurb says the story is presented as a full cast audio drama, and it’s done quite well. The music, sound effects and acting is pretty good. At times you can sense the actors struggling with the text which was written as for a book rather than for audio presentation, but that is something you get used to as the story draws you in.
The characters are well put together and having a separate actor for each really makes the plot easy to follow, which is a blessing when you consider the story jumps from one party to another and even occasionally through time. The voices keep it all straight.
It is exciting, it’s an audio experience, it’s fun. It’s all good stuff. I love the full-on audio movie style of presentation, especially the fight scenes you hear the crunches the cracks and the punches all with a simultaneous narration that makes it all very visceral and attention grabbing.
So having said how great this book is, what’s wrong with it? Only two things as far as I’m concerned. Firstly the narrator seems to have taken breath breaks mid paragraph and then come back. It means the audio doesn’t quite flow as well as it should but after the first half hour you won’t even notice that. The real bugbear is that this is part 1 and ends with me wanting more. I had the same feeling you got at the end of “The Empire Strikes Back.” It’s the “What? You’re stopping there?” feeling.
A quick look at the home page for the book doesn’t reveal any current activity on the next part which I found a disappointment, especially as the first part is so well done. The story does work standalone, only I wish they hadn’t stuck me with the hooks for the next part!!
Reading 2/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
A hidden city called Leviathan lies deep within the dark trenches of the Pacific Ocean. The city is home to a community of immortals that sought to create a utopia over 1,000 years ago. For a millennia, they lived in peace and secrecy, gently influencing world events to aid the advancement of mankind. But a terrible secret has been kept deep within the catacombs of Leviathan that threatens the existence of the immortals, and quite possibly the entire world.
One woman named Macallan Orsel, a young genetic scientist in New York, discovers she is descended from a group of immortals that rebelled against Leviathan and are now waging a civil war around the globe. As the immortal war spills into the realm of mortal man, Macallan realizes that she holds the key to stopping the battle and bringing peace to Leviathan. But a clandestine government agency called The Blackdoor Group is trying to exterminate the immortal population and has identified Macallan as their critical target.
The Leviathan Chronicles is a revolutionary science fiction audio drama podcast featuring the voices of over 60 actors, professional sound effects and an original music soundtrack.
My Review
This is a sci fi story set on modern day earth. Is reveals all of the tropes of a sci fi novel but as a hidden world in and under the world as we know it. As the blurb says the story is presented as a full cast audio drama, and it’s done quite well. The music, sound effects and acting is pretty good. At times you can sense the actors struggling with the text which was written as for a book rather than for audio presentation, but that is something you get used to as the story draws you in.
The characters are well put together and having a separate actor for each really makes the plot easy to follow, which is a blessing when you consider the story jumps from one party to another and even occasionally through time. The voices keep it all straight.
It is exciting, it’s an audio experience, it’s fun. It’s all good stuff. I love the full-on audio movie style of presentation, especially the fight scenes you hear the crunches the cracks and the punches all with a simultaneous narration that makes it all very visceral and attention grabbing.
So having said how great this book is, what’s wrong with it? Only two things as far as I’m concerned. Firstly the narrator seems to have taken breath breaks mid paragraph and then come back. It means the audio doesn’t quite flow as well as it should but after the first half hour you won’t even notice that. The real bugbear is that this is part 1 and ends with me wanting more. I had the same feeling you got at the end of “The Empire Strikes Back.” It’s the “What? You’re stopping there?” feeling.
A quick look at the home page for the book doesn’t reveal any current activity on the next part which I found a disappointment, especially as the first part is so well done. The story does work standalone, only I wish they hadn’t stuck me with the hooks for the next part!!
Reading 2/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first part
.
Monday, 15 November 2010
Gallipoli Diary by John Graham Gillam
Official Blurb
Major John Graham Gillam, British Supply Officer, wrote in his World War I "Gallipoli Diary" that when he sailed from England for the Dardanelles in March, 1915, he had visions of “trekking up the Gallipoli Peninsula with the Navy bombarding a way for us up the Straits and along the coast-line of the Sea of Marmora, until after a brief campaign we entered triumphantly Constantinople, there to meet the Russian Army, which would link up with ourselves to form part of a great chain encircling and throttling the Central Empires. . . We little appreciated the difficulties of the task,” he continues, in potent understatement.
Gillam’s charge was shepherding supplies--food and munitions--from beach depots to the trenches for a brigade of 4000 men. Since it was his first experience with “real war,” he decided to keep a diary, which he did from the day he landed at Gallipoli (April 25, 1915) until he was evacuated at the end of the campaign in January 1916. He aptly states in the preface to the published version of his diary: “those who desire to survey the whole amazing Gallipoli campaign in perspective must look elsewhere than in these pages. Their sole object was to record the personal impressions, feeling, and doings from day to day of one supply officer to a Division whose gallantry in that campaign well earned for it the epithet “Immortal.”
As the campaign intensifies, Gillam’s entries mature. Early on (May 30), a sample entry: “This afternoon I ride . . . to Morto Bay, and on the way have a delightful cross-country canter. I have difficulty, though, in making my mare jump trenches. She jumped hurdles at Warwick race-course like a bird.” A month later, on June 30,“The smell of dead bodies is at times almost unbearable in the trenches, and chloride of lime is thrown over them. I know of no more sickly smell than chloride of lime with the smell of a dead body blended in.” Another month, and respect for the Turks, and also for the rugged terrain of the peninsula is evident (August 29): “Behind me, purple Turkish hills, every point of which is held by the enemy. Then in between our line and the hills the scrubby low-lying country. . . I look at it hopelessly--for I know now, as we all do, that the conquest of the Peninsula is more than we can hope for. All that is left to us is to hang on day by day. . . Death in various forms walks with us always . . .”
Today, the Turkish Government maintains a war memorial and cemeteries at the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park. Memories are very much alive there. Preserved trenches and the sad graves of many, many soldiers from both sides of the conflict are made especially poignant by the beauty of the setting-- the sea and high hills beyond.
My Review
This book caught my interest in history. I had a vague idea that the WW1 Gallipoli campaign was unsuccessful but that was about it, so I downloaded this book and gave it a listen.
The joy of this kind of history is that it's personal. It's not some high minded historian presenting his interpretation of historical facts with the benefit of hindsight. Instead you get the facts from the horses mouth as such, and even better from my point of view, its not some grand strategical overview it's through the eyes of someone who was there, first hand, literally in the trenches.
When you get personal viewpoints you really get a better idea of what it felt like to be there. You get to know what matters to the men on the ground. You get to hear about how much pleasure could be gained from managing to light even a small fire while snow lies all around, or how getting a simple drink of water can be a genuine risk to life! How reaching a treeline is a massive achievement, even though its just a few yards away.
The author in this book, is a supply officer who finds himself constantly under fire and struggling to get the food and ammunition through. You get a real feel for the difficulties suffered by the men on the ground.
As well as the difficulties the author suffers in doing his job you get a feel for his hope and high expectations during the opening of the campaign. Then you can feel that change to unbelief as he slowly comes to realise that things are not going well.
All in all I found this a terrificly interesting listen, a genuine history lesson from someone "who was there". The reader was excellent, having a pacing and tone that suited the tone of the text very well.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first part
.
Major John Graham Gillam, British Supply Officer, wrote in his World War I "Gallipoli Diary" that when he sailed from England for the Dardanelles in March, 1915, he had visions of “trekking up the Gallipoli Peninsula with the Navy bombarding a way for us up the Straits and along the coast-line of the Sea of Marmora, until after a brief campaign we entered triumphantly Constantinople, there to meet the Russian Army, which would link up with ourselves to form part of a great chain encircling and throttling the Central Empires. . . We little appreciated the difficulties of the task,” he continues, in potent understatement.
Gillam’s charge was shepherding supplies--food and munitions--from beach depots to the trenches for a brigade of 4000 men. Since it was his first experience with “real war,” he decided to keep a diary, which he did from the day he landed at Gallipoli (April 25, 1915) until he was evacuated at the end of the campaign in January 1916. He aptly states in the preface to the published version of his diary: “those who desire to survey the whole amazing Gallipoli campaign in perspective must look elsewhere than in these pages. Their sole object was to record the personal impressions, feeling, and doings from day to day of one supply officer to a Division whose gallantry in that campaign well earned for it the epithet “Immortal.”
As the campaign intensifies, Gillam’s entries mature. Early on (May 30), a sample entry: “This afternoon I ride . . . to Morto Bay, and on the way have a delightful cross-country canter. I have difficulty, though, in making my mare jump trenches. She jumped hurdles at Warwick race-course like a bird.” A month later, on June 30,“The smell of dead bodies is at times almost unbearable in the trenches, and chloride of lime is thrown over them. I know of no more sickly smell than chloride of lime with the smell of a dead body blended in.” Another month, and respect for the Turks, and also for the rugged terrain of the peninsula is evident (August 29): “Behind me, purple Turkish hills, every point of which is held by the enemy. Then in between our line and the hills the scrubby low-lying country. . . I look at it hopelessly--for I know now, as we all do, that the conquest of the Peninsula is more than we can hope for. All that is left to us is to hang on day by day. . . Death in various forms walks with us always . . .”
Today, the Turkish Government maintains a war memorial and cemeteries at the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park. Memories are very much alive there. Preserved trenches and the sad graves of many, many soldiers from both sides of the conflict are made especially poignant by the beauty of the setting-- the sea and high hills beyond.
My Review
This book caught my interest in history. I had a vague idea that the WW1 Gallipoli campaign was unsuccessful but that was about it, so I downloaded this book and gave it a listen.
The joy of this kind of history is that it's personal. It's not some high minded historian presenting his interpretation of historical facts with the benefit of hindsight. Instead you get the facts from the horses mouth as such, and even better from my point of view, its not some grand strategical overview it's through the eyes of someone who was there, first hand, literally in the trenches.
When you get personal viewpoints you really get a better idea of what it felt like to be there. You get to know what matters to the men on the ground. You get to hear about how much pleasure could be gained from managing to light even a small fire while snow lies all around, or how getting a simple drink of water can be a genuine risk to life! How reaching a treeline is a massive achievement, even though its just a few yards away.
The author in this book, is a supply officer who finds himself constantly under fire and struggling to get the food and ammunition through. You get a real feel for the difficulties suffered by the men on the ground.
As well as the difficulties the author suffers in doing his job you get a feel for his hope and high expectations during the opening of the campaign. Then you can feel that change to unbelief as he slowly comes to realise that things are not going well.
All in all I found this a terrificly interesting listen, a genuine history lesson from someone "who was there". The reader was excellent, having a pacing and tone that suited the tone of the text very well.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first part
.
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