Discover New Releases Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

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Title: A Scanner Darkly

Author: Philip K. Dick

Narrator: Paul Giamatti

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-16-13

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Substance D - otherwise known as Death - is the most dangerous drug ever to find its way on to the black market. It destroys the links between the brain's two hemispheres, leading first to disorentation and then to complete and irreversible brain damage.

Bob Arctor, undercover narcotics agent, is trying to find a lead to the source of supply, but to pass as an addict he must become a user, and soon, without knowing what is happening to him, he is as dependent as any of the addicts he is monitoring.

Now a cult classic film starring Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr. Read by Paul Giamatti.

Members Reviews:

Brilliant resurrection of an abandoned read

Where does A Scanner Darkly rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

In particular this was one of my abandoned reads. So like other abandoned reads I was interested to give it a second go, albeit as an audiobook. Amongst all the audio books I've listened to and I include audio books I've heard before using Audible, this is easily the best. In fact I would say for me this was better as an audio book over a traditional read.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Scanner Darkly?

Anyone not wishing a spoiler , should look away now, but the disintegration of Bob Arctor particularly when he arrives at the clinic

Which character as performed by Paul Giamatti was your favourite?

Barris easily, I could almost imagine Robert Downey Jr taking over the microphone

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have liked to but I didn't have the time but it did encourage me to listen to the book at times I would not have listened to another book

Any additional comments?

Its a stark read, when you think about substance addiction, but this makes the read even more compelling. I also think that its an interesting counterbalance read when considering the literature of psychedelia. For me it brings into sharp distinction the irresponsibility of a book like the Doors of Perception, even though I generally like Aldous Huxley

Full stars, no dark

Sorry - couldn't resist :-/

Actually, though there is much bathos there is a good deal of dark pathos and a sincerely felt author's end note to underline that. More manic than most PKD and very entertainingly handled, with Paul Giamatti fully committed to every phrase.

Brilliant and unforgettable

Paul Giamatti is simply amazing and the story is visually engrossing. We forget this for a long time.

Don't do drugs people

Thoroughly enjoyed this, a true classic. Dark, deep, funny and thought provoking. Enjoy the trip!

Harrowing

Hard to get through at times. It starts out like a sci-fi noir and ends up somewhere entirely different.

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Title: Time Station London

Subtitle: Time Station, Book 1

Author: David Evans

Narrator: Gildart Jackson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-21-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 11 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Sent to 1940 London at the height of the Second World War, Master Temporal Warden Steven Whitefeather disguises himself as a British intelligence agent in order to flush out a Nazi sympathizer from his own century.

Members Reviews:

Canters along at a fair pace but poorly researched

This is not a bad book in terms of plot or characterisation. It is nicely paced and generally enjoyable. However, it is badly researched with most of the details of period Britain being wrong - for example, there was no M42 motorway in the war and indeed, not for the next 40 years, Coventry was a centre of heavy industry rather than a college town, rationing would have made most of the meals impossible and so on. However, this is less intrusive than the overly flowery descriptions - a man never has brown eyes if he can have hazel, rimmed with long lashes and darting with intelligence. A decent editor could have fixed the craft issues in this otherwise quite enjoyable book. If you can handle a little overwriting and sloppy research, it is well worth a listen.

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Title: Lost Everything

Author: Brian Francis Slattery

Narrator: Michael Prichard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-28-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

From the author of the critically acclaimed literary SF novels Spaceman Blues and Liberation comes an incandescent and thrilling post-apocalyptic tale in the vein of 1984 or The Road.

In the not-distant-enough future, a man takes a boat trip up the Susquehanna River with his most trusted friend, intent on reuniting with his son. But the man is pursued by an army, and his own harrowing past; and the familiar American landscape has been savaged by war and climate change until it is nearly unrecognizable.

Lost Everything is a stunning novel about family and faith, what we are afraid may come to be, and how to wring hope from hopelessness.

Critic Reviews:

2013 Philip K. Dick Award

Members Reviews:

Great book disguised by imperfect narrator

I found this book tricky to listen to. I sense a great story and profundity, told through well-written English. However, the narrator speaks as though it was a 1940's newsreel, and the characterisations are poor. Seems a shame.

I think I might read the hardcopy version, as I sense, especially towards the end, that I was missing something extraordinary.

Don't waste your money!

I will usually always struggle through a book I spent money on. This one is terminal, the narration is poor, at best, the story is very hard to get into, impossible to stay with. I would not recommend.

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Title: Drynn

Subtitle: Last of the Shardyn, Book One

Author: Steve Vera

Narrator: Alison Edwards

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-18-13

Publisher: Carina Press

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Book one of Last of the Shardyn

Montana police chief Skip Walkins is hot on the trail of a murder suspect when he witnesses a drifter free the Lord of the Underworld. Seventeen years ago, five knights from Earth's magical twin, Theia, entombed Asmodeous the Pale, Lord of the Drynn, in Skip's town. Now that the dark god is free again, he's anxious to get back home and finish the war he beganto enslave all life. It begins with killing the knights who trapped him.

Deprived of their magic, the knights fight back using whatever they can get their hands on, from samurai swords to assault rifles. Skip gets reluctantly drawn into their struggle while Donovan Smith, the demi-god murderer who Skip was after in the first place, plots to find the Lord of the Underworld and butcher him on his own.

Together, these unlikely heroes might just save the world. If they don't kill each other first.

Members Reviews:

Stop talking and get to the action!

What disappointed you about Drynn?

I really wanted to like "Drynn." Unfortunately, chapter upon chapter of tiresome exposition ruined the story for me. Characters are forever standing around talking or meeting in restaurants and talking or standing in apartments talking or ruminating in their own heads frequent, protracted internal monologues. Very little action here, and not a true science fiction, either. Also, have to mention that the author has some weird obsession with eyes, giving endless descriptions of eye colors and facial expressions. One positive: The narration is quite good, although the speaker occasionally struggles with the pronunciation of some fairly common words.

Would you ever listen to anything by Steve Vera again?

Probably not.

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Title: McCade's Bounty

Subtitle: Sam McCade, Book 4

Author: William C. Dietz

Narrator: Bill Quinn

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-12-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

From acclaimed author William C. Dietz, a novel of Sam McCade, interstellar bounty hunter. This time it's personal - pirate Mustapha Pong has kidnapped McCade's daughter. Usually, McCade works for pay, but this time, the only reward is seeing his daughter alive - and he'll do anything to make that happen.

Members Reviews:

4 stars for a 5 star author

Any additional comments?

Im a bid WCD fan. I have listened to most of his books and i fallow him on FB to keep up with new releases. I read the first 3 in the series a long time ago. SO after being accustomed to his later works it was fun to go back to a sophomore series of his. It shows how he has become better at his art. So don't expect a Legion novel here. Its still a good story and the narrator does a fine job.

So glad I listened to these.

Do yourself a favor and follow this series from the beginning. The narrator had a little trouble with the first book, but was measurably better by the second, forward. The story is wonderful and keeps you going. I'm glad I could listen, as I wouldn't have gotten anything done if holding a book. My new favorite author and reader.

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Title: Alien Bounty

Subtitle: Sam McCade, Book 3

Author: William C. Dietz

Narrator: Bill Quinn

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-11-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

For years, only the thinnest barrier kept the II Ronnian Empire from attacking mankind. Then, space pirates stole the Vial of Tears - a holy Ronnian relic with cosmic religious powers. Only one man can hunt down the sacred relic and avert interstellar war - bounty hunter supreme Sam McCade.

Members Reviews:

I listen to books at work

The story really keeps you on the edge of your seat. It has a good mix of humor and twist that you don't see coming.

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Title: Bedlam

Author: Christopher Brookmyre

Narrator: Angus King

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-13

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 25 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Would it be your ultimate fantasy to enter a video game? A realm where you can look like a hero or a goddess, fly space-ships, slay dragons, a realm where there are no consequences and no responsibilities. Or would it be your worst nightmare? Stuck in an endless state of war and chaos where not even death can offer an escapeThis is where you find out. This is Bedlam.

Members Reviews:

It won't make you Skinny or Sexy!

I have listened to all other Brookmyre's available so i am a fan of his approach to story telling.

Bedlam is definitely classic Brookmyre. It is a cheeky, black-humoured and surprising tale that covers off some interesting observations about 21st century life.

I persisted for old times sake

If this book wasnt for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Genuinely not sure who this is aimed at. Sure, long-term admirers like myself will give it the benefit of the doubt because we know Brookmyre has a brilliant voice and tells a great tale. However, I wouldn't recommend this as an introduction.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

He made a decent fist of it but there wasn't a great deal of scope for him to work with.

What character would you cut from Bedlam?

A few more decent characters would have helped.

Any additional comments?

I'll be back for Brookmyre's next effort. He is always worth listening to.

Hold on to your hats

What did you like most about Bedlam?

So different - so unexpected

What did you like best about this story?

I really had no idea where we were going at times which made it a really exciting read

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The beginning - i was so confused then so enlightened, it really was a blast

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Would have liked to - def stayed in the car to listen to the end of parts of the action

Any additional comments?

Different but wonderful

a ok

this genre is right up my alley, and the story premise is good, but I found this book slow, at times irritating and only being interesting towards the end.

narration was OK. I love Scottish accent and narrator's done an alright job here, but sometimes it felt like he fell into a rut.

Poor start but gets so much better!

I've always loved video games and science fiction so this book very much appealed to me from the get go. On listening to the sample the narrators accent also drew me into listening to the book. However, the book, in my opinion, had a very poor beginning. I am not a prude but the amount of foul language during the first few chapters almost made me stop listening altogether. I felt it unnecessary and jarring and that it disrupted my enjoyment of the story. Thankfully, the swearing decreased significantly as the book progressed and I suddenly found myself completely hooked! Despite the narrators best attempts at different American accents (not convinced they are his strong suit) his clarity in reading and fresh voice made listening a very enjoyable experience. I loved the parts of the story when Ross enters new worlds and during his descriptions of the new landscape or atmosphere I found myself attempting to guess the game he was in (was very chuffed when I got a few right).

The twist and ending of the story was very satisfying.

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Title: Moon Flower

Author: James P. Hogan

Narrator: Sean Conroy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-03-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Something strange is happening on the planet Cyrene, which is in the early phases of being "developed" by the mammoth Interworld Restructuring Corporation. Terrans from the base there have been disappearing. Myles Callen, a ruthlessly efficient "Facilitator", is sent to investigate. Also with the mission is Marc Shearer, a young, idealistic quantum physicist, disillusioned with the world, who's on his way to join a former colleague, Evan Wade. On arrival he finds that Wade too has vanished and doesn't want to be found by the Terran authorities. Wade has arranged contact via the Cyreneans, however, and accompanied by two companions that he has befriended, Shearer embarks on a journey to find his friend that will change Cyreneand Earth itself.

Members Reviews:

Hogan is a good author, and his stories always entertain

The plot was a bit too predictable, and somewhat simplistic. Hogan is a good author, and his stories always entertain, but he tends to avoid the idea of controversy even as he writes stories that are based on controversial concepts. In this story, the central theme is that rapacious business tends to destroy everything in its path and only personal heroics by people with conviction can possibly stop the "bad" guys. Characters are painted in broad-brush monochrome, with little internal conflict.

The story was, as I noted, entertaining, but one-sided, and typically drawn for this author.

A world that works together. My second time reading this book.

Hogan has written some very great books. To me science fiction is a vehicle to remove me from the troubles around and sometimes way too much all around and within me. Here is a book that offers a single solution to many troubles.

Listen to the Flowers

According to James P. Hogan's latest novel, "Moon Flower", Earth of the mid-twenty-first century has become a truly disagreeable place. The world is ruled by mega-conglomerates like Interworld Restructuring Corporation and its thuggish military contractor, Milicorp Transnational. Countries like the United States of America have fragmented into smaller, regional entities which serve primarily as bill collectors for the corporations. Personal rights have practically ceased to exist. You can't even leave the university at Berkeley for lunch without passing through a checkpoint and getting wanded and frisked. Is it worth the hassle?

Certain people are born misfits. Take quantum physicist Marc Shearer. Sure, he could make tons of money coming up with nasty new superweapons for one of the big corporations, but he'd rather do basic research to further the understanding of reality. Very early on, he gets dumped by his girlfriend because he isn't Going Places. He amuses himself by playing a certain parlor game called "nuts" with his companions -- it serves as a fascinating insight into basic, dysfunctional human nature.

Then there's Jerri Perlok. She's an anthropologist who looks at the strutting and preening of the privileged classes, and sees little difference between them and peacocks going through their mating rituals. She trusts her instincts, as well as the instincts of her little dog, Nimi (short for Nimrod). If the dog doesn't like someone, neither does she.

Both Marc and Jerri quickly find themselves on an interstellar voyage to a recently discovered planet called Cyrene.

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Title: Squadron Alert

Subtitle: Starcruiser Shenandoah, Book 1

Author: Roland J. Green

Narrator: Traber Burns

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-27-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 31 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

This series has a wide range of male, female and alien characters. When the United Federation of Starworlds receives a call for aid from a world divided between the Federation and its most powerful competitor, Captain Rose Liddell readies the battle cruiser Shenandoah in an attempt to halt the breakout of interstellar war.

Members Reviews:

Uncomplicated Story, Yet So Hard to Follow

The story here is simple on the face of it, but I found the story oddly difficult to follow. I never found myself invested in the story or characters.

poor

What would have made Squadron Alert better?

A better reader and a story that did,not jump all over the place

What could Roland J. Green have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

See above

What didnt you like about Traber Burnss performance?

Annoying voices

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No l will not be buying anymore in the series

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Title: The Shattered Sphere

Subtitle: Hunted Earth, Book 2

Author: Roger MacBride Allen

Narrator: John Haag

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-24-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 10 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Humans face two enemies - the implacably powerful Charonians who kidnapped the Earth, and the mysterious Adversary, before whom the Charonians quake in fear. Can an unlikely combination of scientists, corpses, dictators, and professional troublemakers withstand both threats and return the Earth to its proper place in the Solar System? The sequel to The Ring of Charon.

Members Reviews:

Well,I started the series, so I have to finish it.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Any book is time well spent. I just think I could have spent it on a better book. It just drags. I can't say it was one of those stories that grabs you and holds you attention. This one just kept me hoping something would come along and start the ball rolling. At times there was a glimmer. But......it just never got there.

If youve listened to books by Roger MacBride Allen before, how does this one compare?

This is the second. I'll give him" A" for imagination.

What three words best describe John Haags voice?

Steady, unwavering, uninterested

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No. It would be as disappointing as "Starship Trooper".

Any additional comments?

I hope Book 3 makes up for the short comings of the other two. I will most likely finish the series out just because I have to. Would not recommend this series to anyone.