Download Most Popular Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary New Releases

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Title: Cauldron of Ghosts

Subtitle: Honorverse Wages of Sin, Book 3

Author: David Weber, Eric Flint

Narrator: Peter Larkin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 22 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-08-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 534 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Sequel to national best sellers Torch of Freedom and Crown of Slaves, book three in the Crown of Slaves-Honor Harrington universe. Secret agent Anton Zilwicki and Victor Cachat return in this classic tie-in series set in David Weber's Honorverse.

Toil and trouble in the cauldron of ghosts

The Mesan Alignment: a centuries-old cabal that seeks to impose its vision of a society dominated by genetic rank onto the human race. Now the conspiracy stands exposed by spies Anton Zilwicki and Victor Cachat - one an agent of Honor Harringtons Star Kingdom of Manticore, the other a Havenite operative. The outing of the Alignment has turned the galaxys political framework topsy-turvy. Old coalitions have disintegrated. New alliances have been born.

For starters, the long and hard-fought war between the Republic of Haven and the Star Empire of Manticore is not only over, but these bitter enemies have formed a new pact. Their common foe: the Mesan Alignment itself.

But more information is needed to bring the Alignment out of the shadows. Now, defying the odds and relying on genetic wizardry themselves for a disguise, Zilwicki and Cachat return to Mesa - only to discover that even they have underestimated the Alignments ruthlessness and savagery.

Soon they are on the run in Mesas underworld, not only hunted by the Alignment but threatened by the exploding conflict on the planet between Mesas overlords and the brutalized slaves and descendants of slaves who have suffered under their rule for so long. But if Zilwicki and Cachat succeed in rooting out the ancient conspiracy, a great evil may be finally removed from the galaxy - and on a long-oppressed planet, freedom may finally dawn.

Members Reviews:

Spies in Mesa

This is the third book in the Crown of Slaves Series set in the Honoverse, the world of Honor Harrington. Victor Cachet, spy from the Republic of Haven and Anton Zilwicki spy from the Empire of Manticore are the two main characters in the Crown of Slaves series In prior books they began working together in Torch a planet of ex-slaves who elected Berry Zilwicki , Antons youngest daughter their Queen. They had discovered that Mesa, who create genetic slaves, plot to set Haven and Manticore to war with each other. If you have not read the main series it is best to start at the beginning with On Basilisk Station and proceed through the series and sub series, the books do not do well as standalone books. Cachet and Zilwicki decide they need to go back to Mesa and try to find out more about what is happening with the newly discovered Mesan Alignment and how it ties into events and situation that have been happening. They adopt new personas and new skin (literally) through the wonders of modern Beowulf genetics and medical engineering. Accompanied by General Thandi Plane (Chief of Staff of Torch military) and Yana Tretiakovna (super solider) also of Torch. Weber has been known for producing very large volume books and this is no exemption. Weber goes into long explanation of the technology and society which I find helpful in obtaining a complete understanding of the world he creates. This book has less of the explanations instead it focused on moving the story along. Our spies find that the Mesa Alignment has been moving their personnel off Mesa and creating large scale attack resulting massive amounts of deaths to cover all their missing people.

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Title: To Do or Die

Subtitle: Jump Universe, Book 4

Author: Mike Shepherd

Narrator: Michael McConnahie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-25-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 169 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

From the national best-selling author of the Kris Longknife series comes an all-new Jump Universe novel. Retired Colonel Ray Longknife and Marine Captain Terrence Trouble Tordon come to Savannah via different routes, but what they find is the same. One bully strongman is intent on keeping power no matter what the new rules are for peace. Hes got the population cowered by thugs, and tanks at the ready. He expects to win the coming elections handily. He doesnt expect trouble. Or, in this case, Mrs. Trouble - aka Ruth Tordon - a Marine wife on a mission to find the drug lords that almost killed her and her husband and put them out of business - and shes not about to be stopped by some barely trained roughnecks. Abandoned by their strongman and desperate in defeat, the heavy armor get ready to roll into town over anybody in their way. But Ray Longknife, Trouble and Ruth are standing in their wayand nothing is going to flatten them.

Members Reviews:

Another solid book in the series

What did you like best about this story?

Honestly i like that we are watching this verse come together. before they were all polished glass and rich. and that they had to work for it. allot of the tech from the Kris Longknife series is not there yet.

To do or die

Would you consider the audio edition of To Do or Die to be better than the print version?

Kindal have yet to get this so the audio is my only encounter... (thumbs twiddling)

Who was your favorite character and why?

"Trouble" and his lady wife. Great characters learning this Married stuff under the most trying of circumstances.

What about Michael McConnahies performance did you like?

He follows the ques in the book - growls, squeeks... Rarelly voices lines with the wrong character (a favorate hate of mine). Nice listening.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Young Bluebonnet. You'll know why.

Any additional comments?

Yes, Longknife and Trouble save another world... but we do get Black Mountain and the Ladies From Hell! The best sort of escape, not too sugary and plenty going on.

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Title: Double Star

Author: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrator: Tom Weiner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-02-14

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 826 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Every stand-in dreamed of the starring role - but what actor would risk his life for the chance?

One minute, down-and-out actor Lorenzo Smythe is, as usual, in a bar, drinking away his troubles while watching his career circle the drain. Then a space pilot buys him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knows, he's shanghaied to Mars. Smythe suddenly finds himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who has been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians is at stake, and failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war.

Smythe knows nothing of the issues concerning free interplanetary trade and equal rights for aliens and cares even less, but the handsome compensation is impossible to refuse. He soon realizes, however, that he faces a lifetime masquerade if the real politician never shows up.

Members Reviews:

Great story and Weiner's best narration

The book won a Hugo award and is one of Heinlein's best, but the narration makes the audio version required, even if you've already read the novel.

I've listened to several of Weiner's narrations before, and always considered him a competent performer. My perception of him has been greatly elevated after hearing this work. It is easily the best performance I've heard from him, and probably one of the best by any narrator.

Perfect Heinlein!

What did you love best about Double Star?

The story is just wonderful and Perfect Heinlein. I read this what seems to be a million years ago and since then I have re-read it several times. This audiobook is perfectly done and the reader was great. This is simply creativity that none of us will ever see again. Heinlein and of course Asimov, are giants from the past. We all know now without any doubt that the Martians that are a main focus here, are never to be. But the story is more about life, politics, people struggling for the better way of life and the sacrifices that we all are ask to make in the attempt to obtain it all.

What did you like best about this story?

Heinlein is just great.

Have you listened to any of Tom Weiners other performances before? How does this one compare?

Great performance by the narrator, if anything, I feel he made the story even better.

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

Yes, I basically did.

Any additional comments?

Like I said this is the end of this type of writing. Future Science Fiction writing of course will and have their own great writers, but this era is over and never to happen again, thus this is one of the best stories that I feel, represents that era! Enjoy!

Excellent in Small Chunks at a Time

Any additional comments?

The performer of this book did his job SO well that it nearly makes the book tough to listen to for periods longer than about a chapter at a time. That is because the story is told by a character who is supposed to be smarmy and unlikable and the book's reader pulled this stunt off to a tee. Bravo.

Aside from that complaint, this book was excellent. I have a special space in my heart for sci-fi that allows for a bit of humor from time to time.

If you are unfamiliar with Heinlein, may I suggest you check out "The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag" first.

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Title: Koban, Volume 1

Author: Stephen W. Bennett

Narrator: Patrick Freeman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 25 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-31-13

Publisher: STEPHEN W BENNETT

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1776 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

All new narration adds sound effects and eliminates issues noted in reviews. To obtain new version, remove old one from device, download new copy at no charge.

We colonized seven hundred planets. Humankind enjoyed the benefits of expansion and the end of wars. We disbanded our military.

Then the Krall found us.

The Krall have used thousands of years of combat to select the genes of the strongest and fastest warriors. They are a species determined to dominate the galaxy, through annihilation or enslavement of every opponent.

Koban is an uninhabited high gravity planet with impossibly fast savage animals, which employ organic superconducting nerves. This deadly world is where the Krall are testing humans for fighting capability. We are useful only if we can fight well. If not, they will destroy us swiftly, as they have other species. They have slaves, and were poor tasting meat animals, so we fight or die. The Krall will use us, if worthy, seeking physical perfection through attrition of war, one planet at a time.

Growing weary of our failures in testing, the ruthless Krall are on the verge of a decision to eliminate our species. A ship carrying bio-scientists is captured for combat testing. The choice for Captain Mirikami and the scientists is simple: Prove we can produce better, smarter fighters quickly, or humanity is doomed to rapid extermination.

But the Krall are only half the problem. We must survive Koban's gravity and superfast animals. The tiger-like rippers with skin contact telepathy are predators too fast and powerful for the Krall to face. Our solution is genetic: If you can't beat them as you are, become human rippers.

The Krall will learn another species can bypass natural selection.

Members Reviews:

Good Story, dreadful narration.

Would you listen to Koban, Book 1 again? Why?

Like many of the other reviewers, I found the narration dreadful. Each time the narrator use a chuckle in his voice I would cringe. Unfortunately, he did that a lot. But, I trusted the other reviewers and stuck with the story and listened to all of it.

This is a well written book and worth the read. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Koban, Book 1?

The testing day.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

His intonation and inflection was entirely wrong for this type of book. People are dying left and right and he would use a chuckle in the main character's voice. It really made my teeth grind.

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

No

Worst Narrator Ever

Any additional comments?

I read the reviews of this book before buying it. Although it seemed as if everyone acknowledged the poor quality of the narrator, I figured i could struggle through and appreciate the story. After listening to two hours of this book, I find myself unable to due to the overwhelming annoyance with the narration. The narrator seems to choose a word out of every sentence at random to emphasize in his incredibly nasal voice. I would recommend reading a hard copy of this book for the story, then move on to the vastly superior narrators of the rest of the series.

I feel sorry for the author.

Bennett wrote an an enjoyable book that suffers because of the narrator. I've listened to more audiobooks than I can count, and I've never heard worse.

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Title: Permutation City

Author: Greg Egan

Narrator: Adam Epstein

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-25-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 170 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

The good news is that you have just awakened into Eternal Life. You are going to live forever. Immortality is a reality. A medical miracle? Not exactly.

The bad news is that you are a scrap of electronic code. The world you see around you, the you that is seeing it, has been digitized, scanned, and downloaded into a virtual reality program. You are a Copy that knows it is a copy.

The good news is that there is a way out. By law, every Copy has the option of terminating itself, and waking up to normal flesh-and-blood life again. The bail-out is on the utilities menu. You pull it down...The bad news is that it doesn't work. Someone has blocked the bail-out option. And you know who did it. You did. The other you. The real you. The one that wants to keep you here forever.

Editorial Reviews:

Greg Egan concocts a fascinating and thought-provoking novel that explores the role of technology in creating alternate realities, blurring the lines between what is "real" and what isn't. In this future world of globalized economy and devastating climate change, Paul Durham has scanned multiple "Copies" of himself into his computer and becomes entangled with Maria, an Autoverse aficionado. Egan raises interesting questions about artificial intelligence and morality within a technological world, and it's a high concept that is brought to life by Adam Epstein, whose measured performance and faintly rumbling voice adds a palpable and dramatic intrigue to Permutation City.

Members Reviews:

Amazing book. Amazingly bad narrator.

I am torn. Greg Egan is arguably one of the greatest sci-fi authors of our time, and without reservation my favorite. Permutation City is an exemplary piece. I waited years for audible to release his works. When they did, I immediately went to purchase Diaspora, one of the best books, sci-fi or otherwise, that I've ever read. I clicked the sample audio button... and then checked to make sure it wasn't April 1st. Surely this was joke. I heard a whiny, nasal, mosquito buzzing voice, reading at kindergarten speed, and then using some of the most comically exaggerated and poorly executed accents I've ever encountered in a professional production. I then discovered to my horror that this narrator reads almost all of the newly released Greg Egan material. Give it a try. If the voice doesn't bother you, you are in for some seriously mind blowing hard sci-fi. If it does, pick up some of his books in another format. They are amazing.

If you dig, you can find an old cassette recording of Diaspora online. It is read by John Polk, and even with poor audio quality, is far superior to kindergarten audio-torture version offered by Audible.

Excellent Hard SciFi done right! AWFUL narration

Would you consider the audio edition of Permutation City to be better than the print version?

No, the narration was awful, about as bad as possible without causing me to stop listening or return the purchase to audible. His voice is nasal, and his style monotonous: A deadly combination. On top of this, his accents were awful

What other book might you compare Permutation City to and why?

Anything else by Greg Egan; The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick

What didnt you like about Adam Epsteins performance?

His voice is nasal, and his style monotonous: A deadly combination.

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Title: DEAD: The Ugly Beginning

Author: TW Brown

Narrator: Andrew McFerrin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-25-13

Publisher: May December Publications, LLC

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 754 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

The unthinkable has happened. The dead are walking! Humanity's fragile thread may be reaching its bitter end. Individuals and groups struggle to survive...some at any cost. Will there be anybody left? Or, is this just..The Ugly Beginning?

Members Reviews:

extremely graphic and brutal

Any additional comments?

wow! people either loved this book or hated it. i think that's what attracted me to it. i wanted to see what all the fuss was about! after listening to it, i can definitely see why some people didn't like it.

so let's start there...

i guess the biggest complaint is the violence against women. yup, i agree. it's brutal and sadistic. it's the most graphic and extreme i've ever listened to. but it provokes your emotions. i think that is the author's point. it brings home the meaning of an apocylapse, and the end of all civility. i liken it to a terrible accident. some slow down to look while others are too horrified. i can see how this "torture porn" can definitely put some people off. me? i was shocked by the sheer brutality of the character, garrett, but he is only in the vignettes.

this leads me to the structure of the book. throughout the story, there are 2 main story lines. one follows steve, who is a regular guy that gets caught up in a zombie apocylapse. he has no skills and no weapons. all he starts out with is a repair truck he stole. the other group is a young group of nerdy guys, who are online chatting as the zombie apocylapse begins. they decide to stock up what they have in their cars and meet in order to get out of the city.

interspersed between these 2 story lines are vignettes. within these, there are a couple of mini stories and one shot stories. there are like 8 vignettes throughout the story. the 2 mini stories follow juan, a homeless guy and former convict, and garrett, a psychopathic rapist. both mini stories are filled with extreme human on human violence. each vignette has 3 or 4 stories in it and lasts about 15 minutes.

with all of these story lines, it's hard to bond with the main characters. you don't really get a feel for them until 3/4 of the way through the book. plus, there's no notification that the story has changed story lines. it's kind of confusing. a few times when i wasn't listening closely, i was like, "what? what's going on here?" i had to rewind to find the switch.

this is a very graphic story. i must say the author does a great job describing and differentiating what the zombies look like and how they attack and feed. very gory stuff! but the zombies don't hold a candle to what man does to other men and women.

by the end of the story, i was engrossed enough to download the second book. hey! i'm a sucker for zombie series. i will say i liked book 2 better than book 1 b/c you actually get to know the characters better.

download at your own risk!

A Solid Zombie Tale

A tale of two books Dead: The Ugly Beginning is a solid zombie read. The first one third to half of this book is gore, gore and more gore. Everyone who dies does so in terribly painful way. This part of the story is all action and setting the scene for the second half of the book. I didnt really like this part of the book because it felt more like whip around news coverage of the zombie apocalypse which no story or plot direction.

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Title: Treecat Wars

Subtitle: Star Kingdom, Book 3

Author: David Weber, Jane Lindskold

Narrator: Khristine Hvam

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 629 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Book Three by international writing phenomenon David Weber. Two young settlers on a pioneer planet seeks to stop a war and to save the intelligent alien treecats from exploitation by unscrupulous humans.

The fires are out, but the troubles just beginning for the treecats.

On pioneer planet Sphinx, ruined lands and the approach of winter force the now Landless Clan to seek new territory. They have one big problem - theres nowhere to go. Worse, their efforts to find a new home awaken the enmity of the closest treecat clan - a stronger group whos not giving up a single branch without a fight.

Stephanie Harrington, the treecats greatest advocate, is off to Manticore for extensive training - and up to her ears in challenges there. That leaves only Stephanies best friends, Jessica and Anders, to save the treecats from themselves. And now a group of xenoanthropologists is once again after the great secret of the treecats - that they are intelligent, empathic telepaths - and their agenda will lead to nothing less that treecat exploitation.

Finally, Jessica and Anders face problems of their own, including their growing attraction to each other. It is an attraction that seems a betrayal of Stephanie Harrington, the best friend either of them have ever had.

Members Reviews:

Third 'chapter' of "Tree cats' meet "Humans"

Once again, the kids of Sphinx come to the salvation of TreeCats who are condemned to death by loss of their natural nesting area due to the fires discussed in the second book.

And, once again, theres a great deal of "Hurry Lassie..Timmy's in the well" as the treeCats try to make Humans understand what is needed, though the human 'younglings' are getting better at understanding what the Tree Cats want them to do.

The wars in the title is a brief fight between 2 clans of tree cats-one established in a nesting area and one who is looking for a home or just wanting to pass thru the settled Tree Cats grazing area. For the younger listener it isn't as gory as the first battle in the series in book one, between Tree Cat & Human vs. Hexa Puma/Death Fang. Sadly that episode upset my 8 year old grand daughter-she loves animals, including the hexapuma!

This last novel in the series finds main protagonist, Stephanie, off Sphinx attending classes in a major city as she works towards becoming a Forest Ranger on her home planet.

There are the usual cardboard cut out bad guys, the teens are mostly the kind you'e want your daughter to meet and date..polite, articulate and intelligent...where are they in real life?

All in all, a grand finale to the 3 prequil Honorverse books aimed at the pre-teen/Y/A audience.

Still there are questions left unanswered in this book which is a shame. A better ending might have been welcome..or perhaps there is another book in the works???

Apparently, if you're a fan of Weber this is a must read...I'm not..I was simply looking for Young audience books for my grand daughter and wound up enjoying this Sci-Fi lite series.

I suggest the listener take this for the audience that it's aimed at and not expect the level of sophistication and character development that might be found in other Weber books. It's not really meant for the adult audience, even though I, as a 70 year old, found it quite fun to listen to.

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Title: The Influence

Author: Bentley Little

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 163 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Everything is about to change

When Ross Lowry moves into his cousin's guest house in the small community of Magdalena, Arizona, he expects nothing more than breathing room and a brief respite from his economic woes. But something is not right in the desert. After a raucous party on New Year's Eve, the luck of the attendees undergoes an immediate U-turn. The rich and successful suddenly find themselves facing catastrophic failure while the less well-off are unexpectedly flush with good fortune.

This is only the beginning

Soon the citizens of Magdalena are experiencing unnatural desires. Next their children begin to disappear and freakish creatures emerge from the surrounding wilderness. The community is unraveling at a frightening pace. But these are merely the early warning signs of a showdown with a powerful force of darkness that could obliterate the world forever, and only Ross Lowry sees the danger that lurks ahead.

Members Reviews:

If You Like King, You Will Like Bentley Little !!

I am a very picky reader, and often don't give books a fair shot. They have to capture my attention from the beginning.. no matter what genre I'm reading. Bentley Little and Joe Barrett team up for a great performance that keeps my attention. Bentley Little loosens up a little on the gore and gives us a more mature and developed horror novel. (Don't worry B.L. fans... there is still plenty of blood slinging in this novel). " Influence" gives the reader a more original and grounded storyline than many of his previous books, and is noticeably more up- to-date. You know the characters well in this novel, and root for them. If you like King, you are almost gaurenteed to like Bentley Little. "The Haunted", another Bentley Little audible selection, is also excellent.

It's alright.

There were some creepy and some completely out of the whack parts. The ending should have matched the rest of the book.

Classic Bentley - Crazy Stuffed with Weird!

Would you try another book from Bentley Little and/or Joe Barrett?

Yes. I'm a huge fan of Bentley Little. I've read all his novels. I wish (HINT HINT) there were more of his books on Audible. Joe Barrett did a good job narrating.

What other book might you compare The Influence to and why?

The only thing to compare this book to is another novel by Bentley Little (The Policy, The Association, The Ignored). There aren't too many authors that can combine unemployment, a New Year's Eve party, scowling flowers, whistling cats, pissed off chickens and jumping eggs into a pretty good story. And that is just a little bit of the weirdness. If you are familiar with Bentley Little you know how his characters rationalize the most insane and creepy situations. Like being out of work for a year and then getting a six figure job offer from the president of the company...right after he excuses himself to poop in the corner of his office. But you take the job anyway because you need the money and well maybe the guy is having a bad day or something... And you could almost see yourself doing the same thing. Almost. My only problem with The Influence is the ending. Ill just leave it at that. If you are a fan of Mr. Little, by all means get this one. It's not his best work but it's worth the listen. If you are not familiar, youve been warned.

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Title: The Darwin Elevator

Author: Jason M. Hough

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-30-13

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 256 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Jason M. Hough's pulse-pounding debut combines the drama, swagger, and vivid characters of Joss Whedon's Firefly with the talent of sci-fi author John Scalzi.

In the mid-23rd century, Darwin, Australia, stands as the last human city on Earth. The world has succumbed to an alien plague, with most of the population transformed into mindless, savage creatures. The planet's refugees flock to Darwin, where a space elevator - created by the architects of this apocalypse, the Builders - emits a plague-suppressing aura.

Skyler Luiken has a rare immunity to the plague. Backed by an international crew of fellow "immunes", he leads missions into the dangerous wasteland beyond the aura's edge to find the resources Darwin needs to stave off collapse. But when the Elevator starts to malfunction, Skyler is tapped - along with the brilliant scientist, Dr. Tania Sharma - to solve the mystery of the failing alien technology and save the ragged remnants of humanity.

Critic Reviews:

"Jason M. Hough does a great job with this huge story. The world of Darwin and the Elevator is deliciously complex and satisfying. Skyler, Tania, and all the other characters are delightfully drawn and fun to spend time with. The story unfolds with just the right balance of high adventure, espionage, humor and emotional truth. As soon as you finish, youll want more." (Analog)

"Newcomer Hough displays a talent for imaginative plotting and realistic dialogue, and the brisk pacing and cliffhanger ending will keep readers enthralled and eagerly awaiting the next installment." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

OK Story but Poor Characterization

I did not enjoy this very much. Although the story moved along, the premise was weak and characters seems very one dimensional. I particularly dont like it when key characters with a strong first person point of view know the key mystery of the story which is not shared with the reader (until the end). When key characters die, I just did not care. The action was mostly fist fights and shooting with 2Oth century weapons which seemed a bit odd for sci-fi. The narration was OK but did not add much and did not save the rather weak writing.

Try this book!

Where does The Darwin Elevator rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

I've listened to over 200 books on Audible and I would rank this in the top 10%. Having my favorite narrator Simon Vance doesn't hurt.

Any additional comments?

This book is a tad hard to follow at first. It's a post apocalyptic story, but some of the facts that all the characters in the book know do not get explained to the reader/listener right way. However, after the first hour I had a hard time taking a break from it. This book really doesn't have any slow sections. It draws you in and just takes off. Eagerly awaiting a sequel.

Unique perspective on alien contact

Author Jason Hough has produced a rather unique perspective on alien contact. In this case, an automated alien vessel has entered Earth's orbit and constructed a space elevator centered over Darwin, Australia. A few years later, the rest of the planet becomes uninhabitable due to an unknown "disease" that changes people into "subhumans," all except for a patch of ground centered around Darwin. Under the influence, humans revert to more primitive behavior that is mostly violent.

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Title: Science Fiction

Subtitle: A Very Short Introduction

Author: David Seed

Narrator: Brian Holsopple

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-10-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Frankenstein, The Time Machine, Star Trek, Dune, 1984, Blade Runner - science fiction has been explained as a combination of romance, science, and prophecy; as a genre based on an imagined alternative to the reader's environment; and as a form of fantastic fiction and historical literature. It has also been argued that science fiction narratives are the most engaged, socially relevant, and responsive to the modern technological environment. In this Very Short Introduction, David Seed doesn't offer a history of science fiction, but instead attempts to tie examples of science fiction to different historical moments, in order to demonstrate how science fiction has evolved over time, especially the emergence of science fiction as a popular genre in the 20th century. Seed looks not only at literature, but also at drama and poetry, as well as film. Examining recurrent themes in science fiction, he looks at voyages into space, the concept of the alien and alternative social identities, the role of technology in science fiction, and its relation to time - in the past, present, and future.

Members Reviews:

nice intro, a couple problems

this is a nice intro with some good suggestions, but whenever i find a complete and ridiculous mistake in the text it tends to call into ? the rest. & though there is a nice catalogue of texts within each sub genre, there are some glaring omissions, and I never like introductory material that discloses key details of stories or even endings, thereby ruining the surprise of the experience of living in some of these great imagined worlds. so tread carefully with this one, and in general anytime there is an introduction/forward i skip it and return after i'm finished. surprisingly numerous authors seem completely willing to ruin their own stories for you. unbelievable.