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Title: Cowl

Author: Neal Asher

Narrator: Peter Noble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-16-17

Publisher: Macmillan Digital Audio

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Neal Asher's Cowl is set in the far future. The Heliothane Dominion is triumphant in the solar system after a bitter war with their Umbrathane progenitors. But some of the enemy have escaped into the past, intent on wreaking havoc across time. The worst of these is Cowl, an artificially forced advance in human evolution but one who is no longer human.

Polly, desperate to obtain funds to support her habits, is unprepared for her involvement with Nandru Jurgens, a Taskforce soldier, and the killers pursuing him. Nor can she resist the alien 'tor' which she feels impelled to attach to her arm. But she must learn fast, as she is dragged back through time, not least that to the denizens of some earlier eras, she is little more than a convenience food.

Initially the fragment of tor imbedded in Tack's wrist sums up his value to the Heliothane - a point brought home to him with bloody abruptness. But as a vat-grown programmable killer employed by U-gov, he is no stranger to violence. His long journey into the lethal world of the Heliothane is only beginning, the extent of his mission just becoming apparent.

Meanwhile, hunting throughout time and the alternates, Cowl's pet, the tor beast, grows vast and dangerous. And the beast continues to feed.

Members Reviews:

Cowl is an amazing piece of fiction

Cowl is an amazing piece of fiction, one of my favorite books. I strongly disagree with reviewers that say that it is hard to follow. That wasn't my experience at all (try reading Lions of Al Rassan, now *that* is hard to follow). The characters, dialog and world building are excellent. The pacing is great with no lulls and keeps the plot moving along. While not being hard sci-fi, there's some really interesting ideas and it has a very satisfying ending. Normally, I don't like time travel that moves into the past (I prefer forward); but, Asher keeps it very compelling by throwing in some historical information (a little reminiscent of Bill Bryson).

Time sideways as well as for/backwards

Asher goes all out in this time travel novel, not being satisfied with going back or forwards in time but going into alternate time pathways as well. He creates mega-villians but his protagonist(s) are themselves flawed people and we watch as greater threats knock them off their fates and into new opportunities, with the "godd guys" not always acting so good. The tale Asher tells is labyrinthian and it takes an effort to track who is doing what to whom but it moves along and keeps you interested, with nuggets about earth's long term history sprinkled throughout.

5 Stars? YES!

I have never liked time travel stories... makes my head spin... but Mr. Asher's take on it was a twisty joyride! Yes, after reading the Gridlinked & Spatterjay series, it is hard to dive into a totally new arena with Cowl (you miss the Polity Universe and AIs), but this story is not a disappointment and stands on its own merits. After reading everything Neal Asher has written except Cowl, I desperately searched for other sci fi series... trust me, after reading a couple other books and returning to Asher, it feels like coming home to great writing. It was such a relief, I no longer cared it was time travel, just got engrossed in the engaging and compelling Cowl!

Action-Packed Epic Time Travel Adventure

This is an epic time travel adventure that really appealed to me.