3 Dooms of America by Eugene Fairfield

Official Blurb

"Prophecy is not a prediction of tomorrow. It is a description of the doom contained within today."

Three stories of the end of American society, from one Tuesday, the 11th of September into the near future.

Shock & Awe: "At the end of this story, a baby will be born, and touch off an insurrection. Before that, a woman makes breakfast."

The Greening of Blue England: "It took three-quarters of a ton of plastique to get rid of all the box stores in Taft Corners."

Spider's Dreams: "The rose is still unfolding, a thousand petals and every one scribed with tragedy, with enough grief to end the world."

My Review

Another book I did not like, nor did I finish listening. The first Dooms was written in a strange style; the writer broke the fourth wall to tell us about his story, which ruined it for me. I felt that the story was okay but the distraction was constant and got-my-goat!

Alas I was but half way through the second story when I ceased listening. I can't tell you the second story was badly written, what I heard of it was fine. Frankly I was still feeling grumpy after the first story and just gave up.

Therefore I don't think I can fairly give it a rating.

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A Coffee Crusade by Theodore Isaac Erski

Official Blurb

Bridget Hall is a driven & successful entrepreneur running a non-profit company named the Coffee Exchange Alliance. She’s working to establish a fair-trade business presence on the Caribbean island of Salavandra, but must overcome the corrupt Minister of Agriculture, Rafael Gallegos, who profits by marginalizing the island’s farmers and smuggling their coffee to Jamaica. Bridget tackles personal & professional challenges on Salavandra that ultimately shake her belief in the choices she’s made in life as well as in her self-appointed role as savior of the island’s coffee farmers.

My Review

Let me start by saying this is not a book I can recommend. It's well written and very well produced.

This is a thriller that thrills.  It has likeable protagonists who you can easily like and you'll want to follow their exploits.  It's got "driven" people, people on a mission, very good bad guys, and lots of likeable people in between.  As I said it's very well put together and I really enjoyed listening to it until the end of the last chapter.

So what was wrong with it. Simply put, the ending.

It's like half a book.  The plot of the story does not end or even reach a good climax. It simply stops at a point where the plot is on a downer.  This left me with a real bad taste in my mouth.


Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 1/3

Total Score 5/9

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Eternity by Casey S Townsend

Official Blurb

 The world you know has changed. Science has been replaced by dark, supernatural forces and those that know how have harnessed them to control the world. You no longer have the right to believe what you want. You do not have the right to choose the kind of life you will live. But you have a choice: you can surrender and live in fear, or you can join the resistance. As part of Red Horizon, a quickly-growing resistance movement, Gibson Craig has devoted his life to opposing these dictators. But he is not the only one. There are numerous rebel factions hidden underground, as much at war with each other as they are with the government, but in the struggle for freedom, they must unite or be crushed. As they move closer, events spin into motion the most epic of battles the United States, and the world, has ever seen.


My Review

This story is set in the future within a couple of hundred years of today. As the blurb says, it's set in a very different United States, one that's a horrid religious oppressive nightmare. It' s not any religion you've heard of, it's been invented for the purposes of the story. The authoritarian regime is being fought by bands of rebels, rebels that have in fact taken over entire cities. This means that the government are fighting an open rebellion. The story starts with action and really doesn't let up, until it explodes through the really exciting finale. There are bad guys, gun fights, out right war and monsters, lots of monsters summoned up by magic. It's a very chaotic scene. There were a couple of points in the story that jolted me out of the story, such as references to real people you'll have heard of. I really enjoyed the story, it was fast paced, full of excitement and a real joy. I hope there is a sequel soon.

Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3

Total Score 6/9

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Ida by Tim Callahan

Official Blurb
Ida, one of the largest Asteroid in the belt between Mars and Jupiter, has finally been colonized. A group of engineers lead by John McVey, Craig Osborn, Gail Trabor, Andrew Dee and Jennifer McGee, occupy the largest space station every built to plan the future of the tiny colony. Sent there by Kennedy Lacombe, the richest man in the world, their only task is to find ways to mine the asteroid as efficiently as possible. John, however, has grandiose plans including riding a comet around the sun to obtain enough water for the colony to one day survive independent from Earth. His ambition quickly shifts when he discovers an accident with the station's birth control pills causes 20 women, including Jennifer, the woman he loves, to become pregnant. The rules on pregnancy are simple; a baby is a drain on resources and must be removed. John, his friends, and a large group of miners will do anything they can to prevent that, including declaring themselves the first independent colony outside of Earth.
My Review
This was one of Tim Callahan's first audio books.  He's since gone on to create and publish the "Arwen" series of books over at Podiobooks.  This book it not a part of the Arwen series, although it could conceivably belong in the same universe many many years before the Arwen.

I was given one of those "oh" moments when listening to this book.  I was a few chapters in when I realised that the sci fi part of the book is almost incidental to the human story at it's core. The characters are the focus here, Tim does not waste a lot of prose telling us about the working of some "flux capacitor" but focuses on people, what they think, what they feel and what they do when driven by those emotions.

That said, the last couple of chapters do hot up with non stop action. I really enjoyed this one, the characters felt real, they made mistakes and made choices that I could relate to.  The sci fi future described was interesting, worrying, and believable.

There were a few repeated lines in there, but no more than five or six spread out across the whole book and really didn't spoil my enjoyment.

Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3

Total Score 6/9

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Enemy Lines by John Mierau

Official Blurb

In the near future, an alliance forged by powerful men will challenge the US government for control of secret technology. As their machinations gear up, the true owners of that technology will face a challenge of their own, deep in the asteroid belt. At stake? The future of the human race. ENEMY LINES is a science fiction adventure about conspiracies, spies...and aliens... in a future where the lines aren’t as clear as you think.

My Review

This is a near future science fiction book that takes place when humanity has just started mining asteroids. If you've ever wondered about the "Greys" of the popular UFO memes then this story will explain everything.

What if aliens were giving mankind a technological lift. What if someone didn't want you to know that. What if someone didn't want it happening at all. What if the only hope for mankind's survival was a criminal, or a man who's emotionally on the edge?

That's a lot of what-ifs! Well them and a lot more are included in this fantastic story. I absolutely loved it. A good dose of what I call "proper sci fi". If you like a tense story that will keep you guessing and thrilled by action all at the same time, then this is a book for you.

The reader is excellent and fits the pace and tone of the story very well. there are a couple of repeated lines and a couple of clipped sentences but that's all there is to mar this otherwise excellent audio book.

Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3

Total Score 8/9

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Self Made by M. Darusha Wehm

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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This World Is Taboo by Murray Leinster

Official Blurb

Calhoun is an Interstellar Medical Serviceman, and he's needed on Dara. Trouble is: Dara is forbidden. Taboo. And breaking quarantine will make Calhoun a presumed plague-carrier and subject to being shot on sight by anyone from Weald. But hey! If he did the smart thing, we wouldn't have a story! But why are men from Dara shooting at him?

My Review

This is a classic Sci Fi story and it's a good one. The protagonist is the typical hero, no a muscle bound hero, but one that works with his mind. The story starts with him arriving for a very late appointment at the planet Weald. But instead of being welcomed, he's immediately questioned about who what and where he's been. This is the opening of a story that presents the hero with a desperate situation where his very life is in peril, but his duty will not allow him to step away.

I really enjoyed the story and Marks reading was a real joy. He brought the characters to life and made the whole book a project he should be proud of.

If your a fan of classic sci fi stories then is one you should definitely download.

Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3

Total Score 9/9

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The Mad Planet by Murray Leinster

Official Blurb

It is 30,000 years following dramatically changed climate conditions on earth which had let massive amounts of carbon dioxide belch from the interior of the planet into the atmosphere. Over the millenia this would have quite devastating effects on life as it had once been known. Much of the human and animal population would not survive the climate change, and indeed those few humans who did survive knew nothing of all which their predecessors had learned and built. Indeed, they knew not even of their existence. On the other hand insects and fungi would flourish over time.

And so those few remaining humans were unknowingly at the very beginning of the building of a tribal society, which at the time of the story of Burl simply meant food and survival. And so it was Burl who chose to travel beyond his small tribal community in an effort to hunt for something new and different to hopefully impress Saya, the young female of his tribe to whom he felt a peculiar attraction. The Mad Planet is Burl's adventure.

My Review

The world of our protagonist is quite frankly revolting, full of insects and fungus and not a lot else. The sky is always dark, the hunt for food is constant and death near at hand in a myriad of forms.

The hero of the piece is ripped away from his home by accident and then wanders back, and that's about as much as I can say about this story. Although nominally set in the future it's a dark ages story... hang on, story is too grand a word really. There's no plot to speak of. It's really a protagonist wandering along and looking at the world around him with a couple of minor life threatening hiccups thrown in.

I can not reccommend this book. I "just" managed to get through it, and kept hoping something, anything really, would happen, alas the plot never appeared. If the reader hadn't been as good as they were, I would have given up on it.

Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 1/3

Total Score 5/9

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