Download Popular Authors Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

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Title: Queen of the Dark Things

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: C. Robert Cargill

Narrator: Vikas Adam

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-13-14

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 55 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Screenwriter and noted film critic C. Robert Cargill continues the story begun in his acclaimed debut Dreams and Shadows in this bold and brilliantly crafted tale involving fairies and humans, magic and monsters - a vivid phantasmagoria that combines the imaginative wonders of Neil Gaiman, the visual inventiveness of Guillermo Del Toro, and the shocking miasma of William S. Burroughs.

Six months have passed since the wizard Colby lost his best friend to an army of fairies from the Limestone Kingdom, a realm of mystery and darkness beyond our own. But in vanquishing these creatures and banning them from Austin, Colby sacrificed the anonymity that protected him. Now, word of his deeds has spread, and powerful enemies from the past - including one Colby considered a friend - have resurfaced to exact their revenge.

As darkness gathers around the city, Colby sifts through his memories desperate to find answers that might save him. With time running out, and few of his old allies and enemies willing to help, he is forced to turn for aid to forces even darker than those he once battled.

Following such masters as Lev Grossman, Erin Morgenstern, Richard Kadrey, and Kim Harrison, C. Robert Cargill takes us deeper into an extraordinary universe of darkness and wonder, despair and hope to reveal the magic and monsters around usand inside us.

Members Reviews:

Talking Dogs...

Queen Of The Dark Things

By

C. Robert Cargill

My " in a nutshell" summary...

Colby is good...Gossamer is good...hmmm...Austin might be ok but every one else...pretty much is not so good...and creepy scary, too.

My thoughts after reading this book...

This book is so complicated...there is dark stuff, and demons and talking dogs, and pretty little girls, and pretty little dead girls...this book was good but...again...complicated! Colby is a wizard but he has lost his best friend. He wanted to remain a wizard underground but his good deeds become known and his life becomes hellish...in the worst way. Basically he has to get a ring back from the little girl who has become...the Queen Of The Dark Things.

What I loved about this book...

This book has these characters totally immersed in dream worlds and the underworld. The story is told by different characters...we see Colby when he is both young and the age he is now. The character who was the most meaningful to me was Colby's talking dog...Gossamer. Austin was fun, too. She might potentially be a demon of interest to Colby someday?

Final thoughts...

This was a mildly fun book to read but one horrible book to describe. Pirates, creatures, hands getting cut off...are all ordinary stuff for these characters. The story was adventurous, involved and complicated! There was a first book before this one...I did not realize this...and I probably should have read it...

enjoyable urban fantasy

Queen of the Dark Things

C. Robert Cargill

Harper Voyager, May 13 2014, $26.99

ISBN 9780062190451

In Austin, Texas Colby Stevens suffers from PTSD after he and his BFF Ewan successfully escaped from the Feyâs Limestone Kingdom only to have to fight and defeat the fairy hordeâs invasion from their realm. However, the cost was exorbitant with the death of Ewan and the knowledge that others know of his skills (see Dreams and Shadows).

Thus six months later, Colby has become a semi-recluse.

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Title: Dawn's Early Light

Subtitle: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences

Author: Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris

Narrator: James Langton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-26-14

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 477 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

After being ignominiously shipped out of England following their participation in the Janus affair, Braun and Books are ready to prove their worth as agents. But what starts as a simple mission in the States - intended to keep them out of trouble - suddenly turns into a scandalous and convoluted case that has connections reaching as far as Her Majesty the Queen. Even with the help of two American agents from the Office of the Supernatural and the Metaphysical, Braun and Books have their work cut out for them as their chief suspect in a rash of nautical and aerial disasters is none other than Thomas Edison. Between the fantastic electric machines of Edison, the eccentricities of MoPO consultant Nikola Tesla, and the mysterious machinations of a new threat known only as the Maestro, they may find themselves in far worse danger than they ever have been in before.

Members Reviews:

Return of the Most Dangerous Duo in Steampunk!

I described the first book as the X-Files meets James Bond, Steampunk style. The sequel surprised me in that it kept up the pace and really expanded on the world and the characters, cementing this series' place as one of my favorites, and certainly my favorite Steampunk series to date.

This third book... a little less X-Files, a lot more 007 - Roger Moore era, to be exact - and it's a glorious ride! As Books and Braun make their way to the rough and tumble United States, they join forces with their American counterparts to take on their scariest assignment yet. Someone has seemingly built Tesla's theoretical death ray, causing the destruction of dozens of ships in recent days. Our heroes have to fight the bad guys, the supergenius who's using them to his own aims, and each other, which forces the obligatory use of plenty of ammunition and explosives. Morris and Ballantine have knocked another one out of the park. It's impossible not to have fun with this series. I'm chomping at the bit for the 4th book, due out next year.

Langton's voice performance is a bit - ok, a lot - cartoonish for the women, but once you get used to it, it works for the Roger Moore / Wild Wild West tone of the story. There are a couple of points where I noticed he'd use the wrong voice here and there, but given the seat-of-the-pants nature of the story and the number of characters he's juggling in certain scenes, I have to say I'm deeply impressed on the whole. There are some narrators that might not try that hard, and others that maybe wouldn't convey the sense of dramatic comedy this book carries. Besides, he narrated the first two, so it just wouldn't be the same without him.

DISSAPOINTED

What would have made Dawn's Early Light better?

A better story. Other than nailing the genre of 'steampunk', there was nothing that grabbed me in the first 2h of listening.

What could Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The tension in the opening sequence didn't feel tense for me. Bad guys missed their gun shots at point blank range but somehow jumped off of a moving zeppelin onto another aircraft, mid-air. I never once felt like the characters (good or bad) were in danger.

Which character as performed by James Langton was your favorite?

Any of them. He does great accents.

You didnt love this book...

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Title: The Folklore of Discworld

Subtitle: Legends, Myths, and Customs from the Discworld with Helpful Hints from Planet Earth

Author: Terry Pratchett, Jacqueline Simpson

Narrator: Michael Fenton Stevens

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-25-14

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 104 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Terry Pratchett joins up with a leading folklorist to reveal the legends, myths and customs of Discworld, together with helpful hints from Planet Earth.

Most of us grew up having always known when to touch wood or cross our fingers, and what happens when a princess kisses a frog or a boy pulls a sword from a stone, yet sadly some of these things are beginning to be forgotten. Legends, myths, and fairy tales: Our world is made up of the stories we told ourselves about where we came from and how we got here. It is the same on Discworld, except that beings, which on Earth are creatures of the imagination - like vampires, trolls, witches and, possibly, gods - are real, alive and, in some cases kicking, on the Disc.

In The Folklore of Discworld, Terry Pratchett teams up with leading British folklorist Jacqueline Simpson to take an irreverent yet illuminating look at the living myths and folklore that are reflected, celebrated and affectionately libelled in the uniquely imaginative universe of Discworld.

Critic Reviews:

One of the most interesting and critically underrated novelists we have - The Folklore of Discworld - co-authored with the eminent folklorist Jacqueline Simpson - emphasizes his irreverence and drollery. (The Times)

Pratchett is, like Mark Twain or Jonathan Swift, not just a great writer but also an original thinker - funny, exciting, lighthearted and, like all the best comedy, very serious. (Guardian)

Members Reviews:

The illusionist entertains you twice...

...once with the trick, and twice with the trickery.

Sir Pterry enlists the aid of folklorist Jacqueline Simpson to explore the Roundworld references and inspirations from "when things were otherwise" drawn into the Discworld series.

Why must there be three witches?

How did the fifth elephant collide with the Disc?

What is a Pictsie?

A great spin on the Science of Discworld series. While I partly wish that it had the same interleaved narrative/explanation structure, it's more the co-narrator Stephen Briggs that I wish would have carried over. Michael Fenton Stevens is a fine narrator, but feels more highbrow than is appropriate for Sir Pterry's folksy exposé.

If you've read all the Discworld books

So, if you've reached the point where you've read and/or listened to all the Discworld books and The Long Earth books, but you need more Pratchett, this is a good book.

Actually, my daughter kept commenting that it sounded like Harry Potter. She's right in that the stories that helped build the Discworld are the same ones that support the stories in Rowling's world, and probably others, for that matter.

The book is enjoyable and interesting, though I'm not sure I'd recommend it to someone who hasn't read many Discworld books.

Interesting romp through Terry Pratchet's mind.

just booked details his interaction with the mythology and folklore of Discworld. It is a fun and interesting look at how he developed it all and what much of it is based on. Final chapter is a audio interview between Terry Pratchett and his folklorist. Lots of fun.

very interesting

Sir Terry and Miss Simpson tells us about the folklore and how it came to be. They also do a wonderful job discussing "urban legends" and how this also becomes folklore.

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Title: Indexing

Author: Seanan McGuire

Narrator: Mary Robinette Kowal

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-04-14

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 966 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

"Never underestimate the power of a good story."

Good adviceespecially when a story can kill you.

For most people, the story of their lives is just that: the accumulation of time, encounters, and actions into a cohesive whole. But for an unfortunate few, that day-to-day existence is affected - perhaps infected is a better word - by memetic incursion: where fairy tale narratives become reality, often with disastrous results.

That's where the ATI Management Bureau steps in, an organization tasked with protecting the world from fairy tales, even while most of their agents are struggling to keep their own fantastic archetypes from taking over their lives. When you're dealing with storybook narratives in the real world, it doesn't matter if you're Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, or the Wicked Queen: no one gets a happily ever after.

Indexing is New York Times best-selling author Seanan McGuires new urban fantasy where everything you thought you knew about fairy tales gets turned on its head.

Members Reviews:

The X-Files meets Grimm meets Law and Order

I got caught up in my life, so Indexing took me by surprise when I saw it on the Audible homepage on Tuesday.

Narrated by Mary Robinette Kowal.

And I was like, Toby Day and Henrietta (Henry!!) Marchen* cannot have a similar voice, that would be weird.

But it wasn't that weird after a while. In fact, I kind of like it. Kowal's familiar hard-boiled cadence transported my brain into a similar, but entirely new, world.

Imagine the most powerful magical force in the universe was a neutral, non-corporeal non-entity that existed to do nothing but complete fairytales over and over again with whoever was handy. Now imagine that in order to combat the ever-invasive narrative (think of it as kudzu!), there's a government agency called the ATI - a little like the X-Files!

Every person has the potential to be drawn into the Narrative. Every fairytale has an index number, every tale is indexed and classified. And everyone, absolutely everyone, who has been drawn into the Narrative, is watched for the rest of their lives. Because when fairytales activate... there's a lot of collateral damage. There's no such thing as a real Ever After, or when there is, it's not good.

Indexing is a compilation of serial novellas, much like McGuire's "Velveteen Vs." series. I found the beginning to be very thrilling. It lagged a little in the middle, but picked right back up at the end again. I didn't realize it was a serial until afterwards, so parts of it felt extremely disjointed, and I was wondering if I just kept missing parts (I didn't!)

The thing I most love about McGuire's more recent work is her easy inclusion of LGBT characters. It always feels natural in her word, as natural as the magic that drives the plot.

Can't wait for the next one :)

*Loving the continued feminine full name with a masculine nickname trend. LOVE IT.

Clever Urban Fantasy

Indexing is entertaining, but the storyline is similar to TV series such as The X-Files and Warehouse 13. Federal agents attempt to solve mysteries and keep the public oblivious to the dangers.

The book is clever and provides different explanations on the meaning of Fairy Tales. There are moments when solving Fairy Tale crimes was ingenious.

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Title: Day by Day Armageddon: Grey Fox

Author: J. L. Bourne

Narrator: Jay Snyder

Format: Unabridged

Length: 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-11-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 499 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Time is a very fluid thing, no one really has a grasp on it other than maybe how to measure it. As the maestro of the Day by Day Armageddon Universe, I have the latitude of being in control of that time. I can adjust the slider either direction, moving the timeline back and forth along the continuum. This is one of the perks of creation, the benefit in constructing something (albeit small) from nothing. Sort of makes you wonder what the maestro of the universe is up to, no? You have again stumbled upon a ticket with service through the apocalyptic wastes, but this time the train is a little bit older, a little more beat up, and maybe a little wiser. Keep your doors locked.

Members Reviews:

What a Kill...

What made the experience of listening to Day by Day Armageddon: Grey Fox the most enjoyable?

This was a nice ending to the series (I'm assuming that is the case). I will admit that there were a few minutes where I was pissed, then just sad that there will probably not be more.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kill.

Which character as performed by Jay Snyder was your favorite?

Jay is just perfect for this series. I have really enjoyed his reads.

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

The end sneaks up and parks near your Adams Apple.

Any additional comments?

Thank you JL Bourne for writing this series. I hope there are more.

Nice Little Cap To series

Enjoyed the short little cap off to the series and Closes the story nicely with the connection you've built over the series

Short closure to the other three books

Note, this isn't a full "book" like the other reviews have mentioned. It is however the closure to this series, and does a decent job of finishing the series.

I would t recommend to purchase this using a credit but perhaps at a discounted rate if you've already listened /read to the other three books in the series.

A return to form

Would you listen to Day by Day Armageddon: Grey Fox again? Why?

Yes. It was a nice, short, concise conclusion to an interesting series. I like how J.L. Bourne pulled everything together and gave us a vision of what comes next.

What other book might you compare Day by Day Armageddon: Grey Fox to and why?

I don't know of any. I liked that it was indeed a summary that showed life after the zombie apocalypse.

Have you listened to any of Jay Snyders other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have only listened to Jay Snyder in this series. Thought he was very good in books 1 and 2, and this one. I didn't like book 3, but that had more to do with the silly military jargon, bs, lingo than the narrator.

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

I did listen to it all in one session.

Any additional comments?

This book was a return to the format and approach used in the first two books, and I like that. I don't know what happened to book 3. Either J.L. Bourne didn't have time to write book and had some hack do it, or he decided to forego the format of the first two books and do a military shoot-em-up, lingo filled, junior high humor filled book. Not good.

This book restored my faith in the series.

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Title: The Damnation Game

Author: Clive Barker

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 01-31-14

Publisher: Crossroad Press

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 324 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Marty Strauss, a gambling addict recently released from prison, is hired to be the personal bodyguard of Joseph Whitehead, one of the wealthiest men in the world. The job proves more complicated and dangerous than he thought, however, as Marty soon gets caught up in a series of supernatural events involving Whitehead, his daughter (who is a heroin addict), and a devilish man named Mamoulian, with whom Whitehead made a Faustian bargain many years earlier, during World War II.

As time passes, Mamoulian haunts Whitehead using his supernatural powers (such as the ability to raise the dead), urging him to complete his pact with him. Eventually Whitehead decides to escape his fate after a few encounters with Mamoulian and having his wife, former bodyguard, and now his daughter Carys taken away from him. With hope still left to save Carys, Marty Strauss, although reluctant to get involved in the old man Whiteheads deserved punishment, decides to get involved and attempt to save the innocent gifted addict from being another victim to the damnation game.

New cover art by: Christian Francis/Awesome Monkey UK

Members Reviews:

Damned If You Do

Would you consider the audio edition of The Damnation Game to be better than the print version?

Ooh, that's a tough one. It would really boil down to a personal preference for the listener/reader. The book, of course, resonates right off the page even to this day. I have a ratty, old paperback sitting on my shelf that I read passages from as I listened to this Audible edition, and I got sucked into it well through that experience. That said, the production value of this audiobook is remarkable, and does a great service to one of the best debut novels in the history of the horror genre.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Marty Strauss is a captivating character in his own right, but Mr. Whitehead, his employer, manages to steal the show through much of the novel. Seeming fitting when you consider Whitehead is known as the Thief. The pathetic gambler is damned as the book begins and his attempts to evade his fate only serve to amplify his already retched existence.

Which scene was your favorite?

While I wouldn't exactly call it my favorite, it certainly burned itself into my brain, and that is the truly horrific and fateful encounter between Whitehead and Mamoulian's hulk of a minion, the Razor Eater himself, Anthony Breer. What little humanity remained of Breer, and it's doubtful there was any, is gone, washed away in a bloody scene that leaves both men irrevocably damaged. If the seemingly eternal torture doesn't haunt you after reading it, you may want to question your own humanity.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A Hell of a Gamble.

Any additional comments?

If accustomed to Barker's later works, The Damnation Game may feel somewhat jarring in the graphic nature of its subject matter. If you have a weak stomach or thin skin, you may be more wounded than wowed by this novel.

Finally....thank you Audible!

What made the experience of listening to The Damnation Game the most enjoyable?

Hearing the unabridged version after reading the novel years ago.

What did you like best about this story?

The Faustian bargain of Whitehead, the rogues gallery of Barker's characters.

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Title: The Dig

Author: Michael Siemsen

Narrator: Chris Patton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-06-13

Publisher: Podium Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 503 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A mysterious woven metal artifact is found at a paleontological dig in Africa. Mystified experts, confounded by the impossible timeline they get from traditional dating methods, call upon a stubborn young man with a unique talent. Matthew Turner's gift is also his curse: When he touches any object, his awareness is flooded with the thoughts and feelings of those who touched it before him. It is a talent that many covet, some fear, and almost no one understands. Despite being exploited as a child and tormented by the unpleasant experiences imprinted on him from the various items he has "read", Matthew agrees to travel from New York to the forests of Kenya. There, threatened by unknown enemies and helped by a beautiful but prickly ally who begins to understand his strange ability, he journeys back in geological time to make a discovery so shocking that it forces us to rewrite all human history.

Members Reviews:

Fascinating Concept

Would you listen to The Dig again? Why?

Yes. The two intertwined stories hold your interest and the concept of a far pre-historic metal working civilization opens the door to a million questions and probably future books by the author. The book is well written with interesting characters and you really can't ask for much more.

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

I would compare The Dig to any one of a number of Steven King or Dean Koontz books. Interesting paranormal ability are their stock in trade.

Any additional comments?

I would love to see where the author takes this concept. Hopefully he'll come up with answers to the many questions I have about this pre-historic civilization.

I can't wait for the next book!!

Would you listen to The Dig again? Why?

Yes I would! Its a great book, well written, good story, and chilling end!

Any additional comments?

The Dig keeps you caught up in its web from beginning to end! A very satisfying read!

Really Enjoyed This Book!

What did you love best about The Dig?

Loved the story, it was very original.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Matt was great.

Have you listened to any of Chris Pattons other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't think I have but he did a great job!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

nothing extreme but it stuck with me even when I wasn't listening I was thinking about the story.

Any additional comments?

What a great surprise and I hope there will be more like this.

Good story interesting main character

What did you love best about The Dig?

I enjoyed the young man who has a gift and is special but really just like a normal young person confused and excited

What did you like best about this story?

How things are used to motivate people, no one is exactly as they seem to be

Have you listened to any of Chris Pattons other performances before? How does this one compare?

First listen and he was very good enjoyed the read and hope to hear more

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both with ups and downs full range of emotions

Any additional comments?

Look forward to the next book and their next adventure

Very enjoyable concept, couldn't put it down.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, just a good fun read.

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Title: Magician

Author: Raymond E. Feist

Narrator: Peter Joyce

Format: Unabridged

Length: 36 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-24-13

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 224 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Here starts an adventure that will span lifetimes and worlds. Discover where the story begins. Raymond E. Feist is an internationally best-selling author. My name is Pug. I was once an orphaned kitchen boy, with no family and no prospects, but I am destined to become a master magician.

War is coming to the Kingdom of the Isles from another world, bringing with it chaos and destruction. Pug yearns to train as a warrior and fight for his kingdom alongside his foster-brother, Tomas, but instead he is forced to follow a different path: a path that will lead him right into the heart of the enemy. And one that will change the course of the war - and two worlds - forever. So begins the most epic series in fantasy fiction, a tale that will cross worlds and generations. Magician is the first book in the Riftwar Saga. The trilogy continues with book two, Silverthorn.

Critic Reviews:

"Totally gripping" (Washington Post)

"Epic scopefast-moving actionvivid imagination" (Washington Post)

"Tons of intrigue and action" (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

My favourite book

Ive read the book many, many times. Listening to it was such a pleasure. An excellent performance.

Not a bad performance, just dull.

Doesn't do the story any justice or favours to new comers of the series. More of a Sci Fi narrator I suspect, did not fit this story.

Narrator is not best suited to this book.

The story is an old favourite but the narrator has limited ability to produce believable characters. I was still able to enjoy it as long as I know the story and characters well, and know what they should sound like.

fantastic story sullied by poor portrayal of women

A truly fantastic story uneccessarily sullied by a mostly shallow portrayal of women as vapid objects of desire. Cringeworthy in this regard at times, otherwise brilliant. Top performance by Peter Joyce.

Fantastic story and performance

Peter Joyce does an incredible job reading one of my favourite childhood stories. Thank you Peter for your wonderful voice. The story is of course essential reading for fans of fantasy fiction.

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Title: The End of the Story

Subtitle: Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith, Book 1

Author: Clark Ashton Smith

Narrator: Fleet Cooper, Allan Robertson, Joe Knezevich, Bernard Setaro Clark, William Neenan, Chris Kayser

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-22-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 70 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Published in chronological order, with extensive story and bibliographic notes, this series not only provides access to stories that have been out of print for years, but gives them a historical and social context. Series editors Scott Conners and Ronald S. Hilger excavated the still-existing manuscripts, letters and various published versions of the stories, creating a definitive "preferred text" for Smith's entire body of work. This first volume of the series, brings together 25 of his fantasy stories, written between 1925 and 1930, including such classics as "The Abominations of Yondo," "The Monster of the Prophecy," "The Last Incantation" and the title story.

Editorial Reviews:

Clark Ashton Smiths unique take on science fiction, fantasy, and horror is given life by a chorus of voices, performing 25 of his earliest works, including "The Abominations of Yondo", "The Monster of the Prophecy", "The Last Incantation", and the title story. This first of five volumes of edited and curated "preferred texts" of Smiths work serves as justification for a re-appreciation of this master of speculative fiction, the third member of the Weird Tales unholy horror trinity, the other two being H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard. Smiths appreciation for human sexuality, fondness for ribald humor, and strong female characters are all on display in mind-engaging, goose bump-inspiring short and unsettling stories.

Members Reviews:

I knew I would like this book, but I was surprised

If you could sum up The End of the Story in three words, what would they be?

I knew I would like this book, but I was surprised by how much I loved it. Highly recommended for all lovers of old school Weird Tales authors.

Good for any CAS fan.

While not a definitive tome of Smith's writing prowess, this sundry collection offers several diverse stories that showcase his literary range.

If you love craft. Then this is for you!

What did you like best about The End of the Story? What did you like least?

If you are wanting more after going through Lovecraft well this is you man!

It almost as if they talk the same language.

Very nice stuff with good reading.

Any additional comments?

I would love to see each of these stories in film. Especially the venus stories.

variety is the spice of life

Where does The End of the Story rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

top 10 or 20

What did you like best about this story?

here is a variety of different science fiction stories. It reminds me of when I used to get the monthly Asimov's and other sci-fi magazines.

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

no

Any additional comments?

using different narrators for different tales was a good way to transition you into the different stories

Mostly wonderful.

Some of the stories felt a bit incomplete, but that is understanable for what is being presented. Much of this is full and wonder of the fantastic and weird.

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Title: The Palace Job

Author: Patrick Weekes

Narrator: Justine Eyre

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-08-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 886 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Loch is seeking revenge. It would help if she wasnt in jail. The plan: To steal a priceless elven manuscript that once belonged to her family, but is now in the hands of the most powerful man in the Republic. To do so, Loch - former soldier, former prisoner, and current fugitive - must assemble a crack team of magical misfits that includes a cynical illusionist, a shape shifting unicorn, a repentant death priestess, a talking magical war hammer, and a lad with seemingly no skills. This crack team of misfits will help her break into the floating fortress of Heavens Spire and the vault that holds her familys treasure - all while eluding the unrelenting pursuit of Justicar Pyvic, whose only mission is to see the law upheld. What could possibly go wrong?

Members Reviews:

Awful narration

What would have made The Palace Job better?

A different narrator!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Although Justine Eyre does a decent job on the characters, her narration of the main story is delivered in a whiny, drawling posh English accent that I just can't listen to. I didn't listen to the sample before I purchased, because it perfectly captures the issue I have.

Any additional comments?

Although I gave up shortly into Chapter 1, I had to rate the Story, so I've given it a rating of 4, which is the average of the existing reviews at the time of this one, and won't skew the story rating.

Well Written Fun...With a few twists along the way

What did you love best about The Palace Job?

A good story brought to life with great narration. I was instantly drawn to the main character and the storyline that actually had a few surprises in it as well

What did you like best about this story?

Well delivered with multiple strands of characters interwoven with enough back story to make it fun and interesting. When the individual characters begin to interact it is like well woven tapestry

Which character as performed by Justine Eyre was your favorite?

Actually enjoyed them all. Very well delivered with great personality for all of them. The Death Priestess though....Very interesting.

YOU HAVE GOT TO READ THIS

This is like Leverage except in fantasy land. And it's not even a generic fantasy land! Seriously, Weekes writes for some incredibly popular video games, and while you can see that he went to the shelf and picked up all the necessary stock characters and locales, none of those things remain stock by the time you read them.

The plot has all the depths and twists and turns you expect of a good heist, and the world, characters, and world-rules are detailed and well fleshed out. I've already recommended this book to a good ten people, and I gave it as Christmas presents to several of my friends, all of whom are now raving about how fantastic this is.

The reader, Eyre, does such a great job. I can't even begin to praise her work enough. She really brings this book to life. Characters all have distinct voices, and her choices are absolutely perfect.

Wow! What a book! Great Fun & Amazing Characters!

A con job, swindle, & revenge story... A fast paced adventure with strong characters and a lot of twist and turns!

Unexpected!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, But with the book included, for reference and clarification. The narrator is very good, but the pace is pretty fast with a lot going on (and the book as a whole...