Official Blurb
Enter the world of Karen Marie Moning's New York Times bestselling Fever series with her first ever audiobook podcast, Darkfever. MacKayla Lane's life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she's your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks...until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death-a cryptic message on Mac's cell phone-Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister's killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed-a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae....
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister's death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac's true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book-because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands....
My Review
Yuk.
Oh.. you want more?
This is a part of the urban fantasy boom that's been going on for a few years and this is one of my few dips into this particular pond. It's not a genre I dislike it's just not one that I normally choose.
So when this started I was impressed with the reader although the intro/outro guy got right on my nerves from the first chapter.
The lead character is presented as a Barbie girl from the south and sadly ends up having about as much character. The story is presented as a kind of diary and sufferes terribly from too much diaretric eccentricity and naval inspections.
For example, I don't care what the characters are wearing and the author seems in love with the idea of dressing her barbie doll character and friends. For goodness sake nearly every scene seems to start with the character getting dressed and telling us about their socks, shoes and shirt etc etc etc , who cares(!) where's the plot?
So as you can gather, I didn't like it. It had it's moments of action and occasional horror but between these were far too many "filler sections" that padded out the story and consisted mostly of inane drivel.
Harsh? Yep, but I really disliked this story, and resented what started out with such promise turning into mush.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 1/3
Total Score 5/9
Download it from Podiobooks ( but only if you dont like yourself! )
Listen to the first chapter
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Monday, 29 June 2009
Last Enemy
Official Blurb
An undercover Paratimer has disappeared on assignment while in an alternate time line, and it’s up to Verkan Vall of the Paratime Police to save her. To do so, he must infiltrate a universe in which assassination is an honorable profession, and reincarnation a scientific fact. Will Verkan Vall survive in a world of killers and the undead?
My Review
This is one of H. Beam Pipers time line traveling para-time stories. The plot is given away in the official blurb.
The story itself is a little slow in getting started, or at least slower than is usual in Pipers stories, but progress' and builds towards a great and exciting end. What more can you want? All in all there is not a lot of sci fi. The time travel is incidental in the story and does not feature, the weapons and tech are meerly incidental. What it does feature is an investigation into the behaviour of a society where reincarnation is a fact and assassination is common thing and death nothing to be feared.
The reader is Mark Douglas Nelson who is an excellent reader. He's done an outstanding job in reading this story.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
An undercover Paratimer has disappeared on assignment while in an alternate time line, and it’s up to Verkan Vall of the Paratime Police to save her. To do so, he must infiltrate a universe in which assassination is an honorable profession, and reincarnation a scientific fact. Will Verkan Vall survive in a world of killers and the undead?
My Review
This is one of H. Beam Pipers time line traveling para-time stories. The plot is given away in the official blurb.
The story itself is a little slow in getting started, or at least slower than is usual in Pipers stories, but progress' and builds towards a great and exciting end. What more can you want? All in all there is not a lot of sci fi. The time travel is incidental in the story and does not feature, the weapons and tech are meerly incidental. What it does feature is an investigation into the behaviour of a society where reincarnation is a fact and assassination is common thing and death nothing to be feared.
The reader is Mark Douglas Nelson who is an excellent reader. He's done an outstanding job in reading this story.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Short Science Fiction Collection Vol. 014
Official Blurb
Science fiction (abbreviated SF or sci-fi with varying punctuation and case) is a broad genre of fiction that often involves sociological and technical speculations based on current or future science or technology. This is a reader-selected collection of short stories, first published between 1951 and 1962, that entered the US public domain when their copyright was not renewed.
My Review
This offering from the Librivox community really surprised me. I've listened to their Sci Fi collection offerings before and as a rule find that I dont like the differing voices and differing subjects which dont blend into what I consider a pleasant whole. The individual stories might be good but I can't listen to them "as a book". I hope that makes sense.
This collection surprised me because I really enjoyed it! All of the readers were very good and all of the stories hit it off with me. I thought all of the selected stories were interesting and of good quality.
The story "R.S.V.P." even had me laughing. The story "vanishing point" put me in mind of a Lovecraft type story, very insightful.
So overall, if you're thinking of trying one of Librivox's Sci Fi collections this is one I reccomend.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to one of the stories
Science fiction (abbreviated SF or sci-fi with varying punctuation and case) is a broad genre of fiction that often involves sociological and technical speculations based on current or future science or technology. This is a reader-selected collection of short stories, first published between 1951 and 1962, that entered the US public domain when their copyright was not renewed.
My Review
This offering from the Librivox community really surprised me. I've listened to their Sci Fi collection offerings before and as a rule find that I dont like the differing voices and differing subjects which dont blend into what I consider a pleasant whole. The individual stories might be good but I can't listen to them "as a book". I hope that makes sense.
This collection surprised me because I really enjoyed it! All of the readers were very good and all of the stories hit it off with me. I thought all of the selected stories were interesting and of good quality.
The story "R.S.V.P." even had me laughing. The story "vanishing point" put me in mind of a Lovecraft type story, very insightful.
So overall, if you're thinking of trying one of Librivox's Sci Fi collections this is one I reccomend.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to one of the stories
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Hunters out of Space
Official Blurb
Originally published in the May, 1960 issue of Amazing Science Fiction Stories. Jack Odin has returned to the world of Opal, the world inside our own world, only to find it in ruins. Many of his friends are gone, the world is flooded, and the woman he swore to protect has been taken by Grim Hagen to the stars. Jack must save her, but the difficulties are great and his allies are few.
My Review
It took me a while to realise what was going on in this story. It starts with a man decending by ropes to the the inside of the earth to reach this land called Opal. That threw me because I thought I was getting into a sci fi novel. As it turns out I was.
The book reads like a sequel, not a part-two type sequel but rather a story where the characters have a history and shared events that I know nothing about. It is a story in and of itself.
After descending to the bowels of the earth the story takes a jaunt out into space and becomes the science fiction story I thought I had downloaded. It is not a high tech type of sci fi, but has a rather Barsoomian feel. The space ships throw nuke's at each other and burning rays but every one goes about armed with a sword and uses it too!
The reader has a nice voice and releates the story at a good pace and uses a smattering of voices to brighten the story and characters.
Over all a good story that started a little odd for a sci fi novel but the end result was as good and as much fun as any of the John Carter-Burroughs novels.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Originally published in the May, 1960 issue of Amazing Science Fiction Stories. Jack Odin has returned to the world of Opal, the world inside our own world, only to find it in ruins. Many of his friends are gone, the world is flooded, and the woman he swore to protect has been taken by Grim Hagen to the stars. Jack must save her, but the difficulties are great and his allies are few.
My Review
It took me a while to realise what was going on in this story. It starts with a man decending by ropes to the the inside of the earth to reach this land called Opal. That threw me because I thought I was getting into a sci fi novel. As it turns out I was.
The book reads like a sequel, not a part-two type sequel but rather a story where the characters have a history and shared events that I know nothing about. It is a story in and of itself.
After descending to the bowels of the earth the story takes a jaunt out into space and becomes the science fiction story I thought I had downloaded. It is not a high tech type of sci fi, but has a rather Barsoomian feel. The space ships throw nuke's at each other and burning rays but every one goes about armed with a sword and uses it too!
The reader has a nice voice and releates the story at a good pace and uses a smattering of voices to brighten the story and characters.
Over all a good story that started a little odd for a sci fi novel but the end result was as good and as much fun as any of the John Carter-Burroughs novels.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Monday, 1 June 2009
Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout
Official Blurb
Tom Swift enters an upcoming race with his specially-designed prototype electric race car. But as he makes the final preparations and adjustments, days before the race, he discovers a plot that would bankrupt not only his family, but also everyone else that relies on the local bank (which is the target of a nefarious bank-run scheme). Tom must solve the mystery and stop the criminals behind the plot before he’ll test himself on a 500 mile race against some of the best electric cars and skilled drivers in the United States. Listeners are forewarned that some elements and characters included in Tom Swift books portray certain ethnic groups in a very dated manner that modern readers, and listeners, may find offensive. Despite the racially stereotyped behavior and pronunciation in the books, the Reader believes it makes sense to read what’s written in order to be faithful to the author’s intent.
My Review
This is a fun little story, an example of speculative fiction of it's day. the Tom swift stories are all light hearted stories where you are always guarenteed a happy ending.
The cuteness of the lead character constant enemy being referred to as "the bully" gets me everytime. It's oldy worldy to me and I find that appealing.
As with the other Swift novels it all hinges around a new invention of the young Tom Swift, a genius inventor of devices. In this case the driving force is a Prize race for electric cars. We follow the hero of the story as he conceives the invention, makes it a reality and then enters the race. Along the way there are adventures and troubles and of course run ins with "the bully" and his pals.
All in all a really fun little story. the reader in this case was perfect for the story. His voice is upbeat and matches the tone of the story itself
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
.
Tom Swift enters an upcoming race with his specially-designed prototype electric race car. But as he makes the final preparations and adjustments, days before the race, he discovers a plot that would bankrupt not only his family, but also everyone else that relies on the local bank (which is the target of a nefarious bank-run scheme). Tom must solve the mystery and stop the criminals behind the plot before he’ll test himself on a 500 mile race against some of the best electric cars and skilled drivers in the United States. Listeners are forewarned that some elements and characters included in Tom Swift books portray certain ethnic groups in a very dated manner that modern readers, and listeners, may find offensive. Despite the racially stereotyped behavior and pronunciation in the books, the Reader believes it makes sense to read what’s written in order to be faithful to the author’s intent.
My Review
This is a fun little story, an example of speculative fiction of it's day. the Tom swift stories are all light hearted stories where you are always guarenteed a happy ending.
The cuteness of the lead character constant enemy being referred to as "the bully" gets me everytime. It's oldy worldy to me and I find that appealing.
As with the other Swift novels it all hinges around a new invention of the young Tom Swift, a genius inventor of devices. In this case the driving force is a Prize race for electric cars. We follow the hero of the story as he conceives the invention, makes it a reality and then enters the race. Along the way there are adventures and troubles and of course run ins with "the bully" and his pals.
All in all a really fun little story. the reader in this case was perfect for the story. His voice is upbeat and matches the tone of the story itself
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
.
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Beautiful Red
Official Blurb
The future is boring. Technology has solved the world's most pressing problems, leaving people with tedious work and mundane play. Jack is a Security Officer Class 5, which sounds important, but isn't. However, her banal life as a cubicle worker by day and tinkerer by night is interrupted when she discovers that her employer's computer system has been invaded.
Jack enlists the help of her only friends – her co-worker, Gilles and Adrian, an online friend she's never met – to help her track down the source of the invasion. Her investigation leads her to a shadowy group called the Red, where Jack learns that not everyone lives a life of quiet servitude.
Even though she believes that the Red are responsible for a series of gruesome attacks, Jack begins to become attracted to their worldview. In her search for the people responsible for the attacks, she confronts the leaders of the group as well as her own burgeoning sense of self-awareness.
My Review
I really can't tell you any more about the story than the blurb has given away but I can tell you that this is a near future that appeals to my geeky side.
The internet has been replaced with the everywhere-nets. People dont use computers to access the nets but rather use implants in their heads. A person walking past you on the street with glazed eyes is likely to be accessing the nets and either checking their bank details or on "the boards" chatting with friends.
People are also getting body mods, physical changes to their bodies for arts sake, fancy a pair of horns!?
The reader is good. Took me a little while to tune in to her style, but once there it is was worth the effort. She has a lilt and a way of applying tone that is both subtle and engaging.
All in all I really liked the story, the ending caught me off guard and it was a fun trip. Dont expect high action or laser guns but you will find you self in a very high tech future.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
The future is boring. Technology has solved the world's most pressing problems, leaving people with tedious work and mundane play. Jack is a Security Officer Class 5, which sounds important, but isn't. However, her banal life as a cubicle worker by day and tinkerer by night is interrupted when she discovers that her employer's computer system has been invaded.
Jack enlists the help of her only friends – her co-worker, Gilles and Adrian, an online friend she's never met – to help her track down the source of the invasion. Her investigation leads her to a shadowy group called the Red, where Jack learns that not everyone lives a life of quiet servitude.
Even though she believes that the Red are responsible for a series of gruesome attacks, Jack begins to become attracted to their worldview. In her search for the people responsible for the attacks, she confronts the leaders of the group as well as her own burgeoning sense of self-awareness.
My Review
I really can't tell you any more about the story than the blurb has given away but I can tell you that this is a near future that appeals to my geeky side.
The internet has been replaced with the everywhere-nets. People dont use computers to access the nets but rather use implants in their heads. A person walking past you on the street with glazed eyes is likely to be accessing the nets and either checking their bank details or on "the boards" chatting with friends.
People are also getting body mods, physical changes to their bodies for arts sake, fancy a pair of horns!?
The reader is good. Took me a little while to tune in to her style, but once there it is was worth the effort. She has a lilt and a way of applying tone that is both subtle and engaging.
All in all I really liked the story, the ending caught me off guard and it was a fun trip. Dont expect high action or laser guns but you will find you self in a very high tech future.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Friday, 29 May 2009
Diary of a Madman
Official Blurb
A man obsessed with serial killers becomes a murderer in search of justice.
My Review
I fear my review will be almost as short as the official blurb! Why? Simply put, I only managed to listen to about three quarters of the first chapter!
The story is bloody. It starts with a killer inflicting pain and torture on an unfortunate victim. It is a protracted, unending bloody gut churning opening chapter.
I simply could not take any more and had to turn it off!
I give no review rating as I really didn't listen to enough, but I know it wasn't for me. I neither suggest you listen to it or dont, but I am warning you :)
Download it from Podiobooks
.
A man obsessed with serial killers becomes a murderer in search of justice.
My Review
I fear my review will be almost as short as the official blurb! Why? Simply put, I only managed to listen to about three quarters of the first chapter!
The story is bloody. It starts with a killer inflicting pain and torture on an unfortunate victim. It is a protracted, unending bloody gut churning opening chapter.
I simply could not take any more and had to turn it off!
I give no review rating as I really didn't listen to enough, but I know it wasn't for me. I neither suggest you listen to it or dont, but I am warning you :)
Download it from Podiobooks
.
Friday, 22 May 2009
The Thing from the Lake
Official Blurb
To get away from city life periodically, New Yorker Roger Locke purchases an abandoned farm house in rural Connecticut, and with the assistance of his cousin Phillida and her beau Ethan Vere, he sets about fixing up the place.
Immediately however, an unseen mysterious woman begins giving him warnings during nocturnal visits to leave the house at once. Soon he begins hearing strange ominous sounds emanating from the tiny lake at the back of the house coupled with a permeation of sickly odors. An evil presence then begins to visit him during the witching hours of the late night, challenging him to a battle of wits from which there can be only one victor.
Is his mysterious female visitor there to help and encourage him to flee from the house, or is she working in tandem with The Thing From the Lake?
My Review
I grabbed this title because the title sounded rather Lovecraftian to me. The story isn't really Lovecraftian at all, it's more a ghost story type of thing.
The blurb gives you the story so I wont reiterate that, but what I can tell you is that this is a fairly slow story, but not in a bad way. It's of its age in that the story plods along , tyhe content is not high action or cliffhanger but is absorbing.
To give you some idea of how absorbing let me say that I normally listen to one chapter of a book as soon as I get home from work, well with this story I started like that but after about five I started listening to two each night. The lead character is a nice guy, and that appeals to me. The other characters are likewise believable and likeable and they fit together so that their emotive responses draw on your own while listening.
It's never terrifying, but is a good quality ghost story, very likeable.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
To get away from city life periodically, New Yorker Roger Locke purchases an abandoned farm house in rural Connecticut, and with the assistance of his cousin Phillida and her beau Ethan Vere, he sets about fixing up the place.
Immediately however, an unseen mysterious woman begins giving him warnings during nocturnal visits to leave the house at once. Soon he begins hearing strange ominous sounds emanating from the tiny lake at the back of the house coupled with a permeation of sickly odors. An evil presence then begins to visit him during the witching hours of the late night, challenging him to a battle of wits from which there can be only one victor.
Is his mysterious female visitor there to help and encourage him to flee from the house, or is she working in tandem with The Thing From the Lake?
My Review
I grabbed this title because the title sounded rather Lovecraftian to me. The story isn't really Lovecraftian at all, it's more a ghost story type of thing.
The blurb gives you the story so I wont reiterate that, but what I can tell you is that this is a fairly slow story, but not in a bad way. It's of its age in that the story plods along , tyhe content is not high action or cliffhanger but is absorbing.
To give you some idea of how absorbing let me say that I normally listen to one chapter of a book as soon as I get home from work, well with this story I started like that but after about five I started listening to two each night. The lead character is a nice guy, and that appeals to me. The other characters are likewise believable and likeable and they fit together so that their emotive responses draw on your own while listening.
It's never terrifying, but is a good quality ghost story, very likeable.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Time Crime
Official Blurb
The Paratime Police had a real headache this time! Tracing one man in a population of millions is easy—compared to finding one gang hiding out on one of billions of probability lines!
This story from 1955 has rocket ships, time travel, slaves, post-hypnotic suggestions, drugged citizens, and a complete disregard for human rights. And those are the good guys. As a look back in time at "classic" science fiction, it's an interesting snapshot of a time when tobacco was common, sexism was unconscious, and female characters were a long way from Lara Croft.
My Review
I loved this story. Quite a short story but not a moment passes when you're left twiddeling your fingers. The author is H. Beam Piper and I've reveiwed a number of his works here previously and this one fits right in with those. It's a classic sci fi piece as the official blurb says, and it's a good one.
The story involves the Paratime Police who police the various time lines ensuring that history is not mixed up and that legimate cross time business' continue to operate.
The story starts as a couple of cops are due to go on holiday but a big case of trans-time slavery comes up and the holiday has to get cancelled. We follow the investigators as they follow up the clues and question the suspects. Typical cop-crime stuff but in a sci fi setting.
The reader is the author/narrator of "Quarter Share" which I reviewed here a while back.. his narration is outstanding and a joy to listen to. I'm looking forward to hearing more from him.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
.
The Paratime Police had a real headache this time! Tracing one man in a population of millions is easy—compared to finding one gang hiding out on one of billions of probability lines!
This story from 1955 has rocket ships, time travel, slaves, post-hypnotic suggestions, drugged citizens, and a complete disregard for human rights. And those are the good guys. As a look back in time at "classic" science fiction, it's an interesting snapshot of a time when tobacco was common, sexism was unconscious, and female characters were a long way from Lara Croft.
My Review
I loved this story. Quite a short story but not a moment passes when you're left twiddeling your fingers. The author is H. Beam Piper and I've reveiwed a number of his works here previously and this one fits right in with those. It's a classic sci fi piece as the official blurb says, and it's a good one.
The story involves the Paratime Police who police the various time lines ensuring that history is not mixed up and that legimate cross time business' continue to operate.
The story starts as a couple of cops are due to go on holiday but a big case of trans-time slavery comes up and the holiday has to get cancelled. We follow the investigators as they follow up the clues and question the suspects. Typical cop-crime stuff but in a sci fi setting.
The reader is the author/narrator of "Quarter Share" which I reviewed here a while back.. his narration is outstanding and a joy to listen to. I'm looking forward to hearing more from him.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
.
Monday, 18 May 2009
The Ultimate Weapon
Official Blurb
Aliens have just been discovered! Only trouble is, the Solar System has just been discovered by those same aliens -- and they want it all for themselves. The result is a war and a desperate arms race between alien technology and human ingenuity. Who will win? What is the ultimate weapon?
My Review
A classic (1936) SF story. It has all of the classic elements except a love affair and a brawny hero. What does that leave in then, you ask? Well we have aliens, space ships, the other classic hero of a scientist working with cutting edge inventions, and of course warface in the vacuum!
It really is classic period and classic GOOD! In this fighting story, the Aliens have the technology advantage and start beating on the good guys ( us ) and leave them battered and bruised. Then the humans turn to ... super science! Only the brain of man will be able to meet the challenge!
The reader of this book, is an established narrator with great style. There are a few stutters and half misspoken words that slip through which can bring you out of the story, but they are very rare and the readers enthusiasm is so good that you'll stay on the ride.
Its a fun, exciting story read with energy and aplomb.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first chapter
Aliens have just been discovered! Only trouble is, the Solar System has just been discovered by those same aliens -- and they want it all for themselves. The result is a war and a desperate arms race between alien technology and human ingenuity. Who will win? What is the ultimate weapon?
My Review
A classic (1936) SF story. It has all of the classic elements except a love affair and a brawny hero. What does that leave in then, you ask? Well we have aliens, space ships, the other classic hero of a scientist working with cutting edge inventions, and of course warface in the vacuum!
It really is classic period and classic GOOD! In this fighting story, the Aliens have the technology advantage and start beating on the good guys ( us ) and leave them battered and bruised. Then the humans turn to ... super science! Only the brain of man will be able to meet the challenge!
The reader of this book, is an established narrator with great style. There are a few stutters and half misspoken words that slip through which can bring you out of the story, but they are very rare and the readers enthusiasm is so good that you'll stay on the ride.
Its a fun, exciting story read with energy and aplomb.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 7/9
Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
Official Blurb
Jules is a young man, barely a century old. He's lived long enough to see the cure for death and the end of scarcity, to learn ten languages and compose three symphonies...and to realize his boyhood dream of taking up residence in Disney World.
Disney World! The greatest achievement of the long-ago twentieth century. Now in the keeping of a network of "ad-hocs" who keep the classic attractions running as they always have, enhanced with only the smallest high-tech touches.
Now, though, the "ad-hocs" are under attack. A new group has taken over the Hall of the Presidents, and is replacing its venerable audioanimatronics with new, immersive direct-to-brain interfaces that give guests the illusion of being Washington, Lincoln, and all the others. For Jules, this is an attack on the artistic purity of Disney World itself.
Worse: it appears this new group has had Jules killed. This upsets him. (It's only his fourth death and revival, after all.) Now it's war...
My Review
I'm writing this just a few minutes after completeing this audio book. I've been in audio heaven. Firstly I really dig Cory Doctorow's sci fi stories, and secondly the reader is one of my all time fave's.
For blurb above gives you the idea of the story. Need has been defeated and the same with death itself. Cory has written a great novel while exploring the implications of no hunger and no death. He shows us what many would think of as a paradise, but he shows us the drama and pettiness that is still driving the human race.
The book starts very well, with introducing the environment and characters and then promptly killing the main character. Don't fret, he gets restored from a back up into a clone! So from this odd situation he dives into the human story and this is what really drives the story. Yes they are in the future and yes they do constantly engage with high tech gear but that is not the basis of the story.
The lead character finds himself driven to carry out some rather unfortunate actions but you the reader/listener are pulled along with him, and you totally understand why. Thats the heart of this excellent story, the characters, thier adventures and their journeys in a world gone sane!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Jules is a young man, barely a century old. He's lived long enough to see the cure for death and the end of scarcity, to learn ten languages and compose three symphonies...and to realize his boyhood dream of taking up residence in Disney World.
Disney World! The greatest achievement of the long-ago twentieth century. Now in the keeping of a network of "ad-hocs" who keep the classic attractions running as they always have, enhanced with only the smallest high-tech touches.
Now, though, the "ad-hocs" are under attack. A new group has taken over the Hall of the Presidents, and is replacing its venerable audioanimatronics with new, immersive direct-to-brain interfaces that give guests the illusion of being Washington, Lincoln, and all the others. For Jules, this is an attack on the artistic purity of Disney World itself.
Worse: it appears this new group has had Jules killed. This upsets him. (It's only his fourth death and revival, after all.) Now it's war...
My Review
I'm writing this just a few minutes after completeing this audio book. I've been in audio heaven. Firstly I really dig Cory Doctorow's sci fi stories, and secondly the reader is one of my all time fave's.
For blurb above gives you the idea of the story. Need has been defeated and the same with death itself. Cory has written a great novel while exploring the implications of no hunger and no death. He shows us what many would think of as a paradise, but he shows us the drama and pettiness that is still driving the human race.
The book starts very well, with introducing the environment and characters and then promptly killing the main character. Don't fret, he gets restored from a back up into a clone! So from this odd situation he dives into the human story and this is what really drives the story. Yes they are in the future and yes they do constantly engage with high tech gear but that is not the basis of the story.
The lead character finds himself driven to carry out some rather unfortunate actions but you the reader/listener are pulled along with him, and you totally understand why. Thats the heart of this excellent story, the characters, thier adventures and their journeys in a world gone sane!
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download it from Podiobooks
Listen to the first chapter
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Short Science Fiction Collection Vol. 13
Official Blurb
Science fiction (abbreviated SF or sci-fi with varying punctuation and case) is a broad genre of fiction that often involves sociological and technical speculations based on current or future science or technology. This is a reader-selected collection of short stories, first published between 1951 - 1962, that entered the US public domain when their copyright was not renewed.
My Review
Well the blurb wasn't very informative so lets see what I can do to enlighten you. As suggested this is a collection of Sci Fi stories without any apparent theme od reason for putting them together as a group.
The random nature of the collection distracts me a little. As I listen to a lot of audio books I'm of a "next chapter" mindset, and you don't get that with these collections. The stories are by different authors about wildly different subjects and read by a random collection of voices.
So thats the downside. The upside is that this is fun little collection. I enjoyed all of the stories and I can especially suggest you listen to "The Golden Judge" ( not really very sci fi ) and "The Next Logical Step", both of which brought a smile to my face.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first story
Science fiction (abbreviated SF or sci-fi with varying punctuation and case) is a broad genre of fiction that often involves sociological and technical speculations based on current or future science or technology. This is a reader-selected collection of short stories, first published between 1951 - 1962, that entered the US public domain when their copyright was not renewed.
My Review
Well the blurb wasn't very informative so lets see what I can do to enlighten you. As suggested this is a collection of Sci Fi stories without any apparent theme od reason for putting them together as a group.
The random nature of the collection distracts me a little. As I listen to a lot of audio books I'm of a "next chapter" mindset, and you don't get that with these collections. The stories are by different authors about wildly different subjects and read by a random collection of voices.
So thats the downside. The upside is that this is fun little collection. I enjoyed all of the stories and I can especially suggest you listen to "The Golden Judge" ( not really very sci fi ) and "The Next Logical Step", both of which brought a smile to my face.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first story
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