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Title: Slow Burn

Subtitle: Infected, Book 2

Author: Bobby Adair

Narrator: Jason Damron

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-16-14

Publisher: Bobby Adair

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 46 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Slow Burn: Infected picks up the story of Zed, Murphy, and Jerome where Slow Burn: Zero Day ended. All three have all been infected but have not succumbed to the most pernicious symptoms of the virus. They're not the mindless cannibals that most infected are. Nevertheless, their band of survivors, fearful about the trio's infections, have ostracized them. Now, back on the street, with weapons to defend themselves but little food in their packs, they embark on a search for Murphy's family while following the rumor of a safe haven in the form of a doomsday bunker under a house in east Austin. But the world is more hazardous than they could have guessed. They expect violence from the voracious infected but they have harsh lessons to learn about the lethality of the uninfected. And without people to support the infrastructure of modern civilization, they find that danger comes in many forms.

Members Reviews:

good continuation of the story

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

the ending was pretty shocking! i definitely wasn't expecting that!

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

the narrator is still hyped up, still doing william shatner! lol

Any additional comments?

this is a good continuation of the overall story. the banter between zed and murphy is pretty entertaining.the plot progresses in a believable way, and the author manages the tension of the story well. i like how zed and murphy continue to experiment with their slow burn status. it's definitely an interesting plot device.

Enjoyable and Scary

What made the experience of listening to Slow Burn the most enjoyable?

The story had an electric tension in it. I couldn't let it go, I had to know what would happened next.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Slow Burn?

When Zeb, Jermone and Murphy were on the road and night was coming. They were

looking for shelter any thing could happen and it did.

What does Jason Damron bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

The depth of his voice took me deeply into a fearful mind set that was hard to shake loose.

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

I story had me from the opening. I had to know what would happen next.

Any additional comments?

This was as good as the first book, maybe better.

Better than 1st

The narrator slowed down, much better to listen to. Interesting story and characters.

On to number 3

Why Half A Book?

Any additional comments?

I'd like at least 10 hours out of a book. Combine 3 of Adair's books and you'd feel like you're getting your money's worth. The story is great, but I don't like burning a full credit for a novella.

A real good read with lots of adventure and humor

If you could sum up Slow Burn in three words, what would they be?

Well written and engaging

What did you like best about this story?

The fast pace and how the characters progressed

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator should stay off caffeine. He made it hard to listen to, he was to hyped up all the way through.

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

Yes but the narration almost made me give up.

Any additional comments?

With different narrator it would have scorded a 9 out of ten but with the narrator I would only give it a 7 out of ten :(

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Title: Kris Longknife's Assassin

Author: Mike Shepherd

Narrator: Dina Pearlman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-15-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 119 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Kris Longknife killed Vicky Peterwald's brother. So Vicky will kill Kris Longknife. Or try.

Raised in the shadow of her brother Hank, Vicky now finds herself heir to the Peterwald Empire and hell bent on killing Kris Longknife. When that doesn't work out, she finds herself shipped off to the Greenfeld Navy as a boot ensign. There she learns she can solve problems without taking her clothes off, and really feel good about it! When Kris Longknife crosses Vicky's path again, Vicky is ready to help her save Vicky's dad's life.

Members Reviews:

An interesting spin-off

This is a novella that looks at the attempted assassination of Kris Longknife on New Eden by Vicky Peterwald. But this short story provides us with the viewpoint of Vicky. In prior books in the Longknife series we had the same information from Kriss viewpoint. This story includes the death of Hank Peterwald by Kris. The story also tells a background story about Vicky and how she ends up as an Ensign in the Peterwald navy under Captain Kratz. Vickys brief time in boot camp is also covered.

From what I gather this is an introduction to a new spin off series about Vicky Peterwald. Hopefully Shepherd will create some interesting characters around Vicky as he has around Kris. I shall watch and see what develops with the new series; but Shepherd will need to get rid of or tone down the sex to keep me as a reader of this new series. Dina Pearlman narrated the book.

Very good book, to read first before book 1

This should be book 1 of the Vicky Peterwald series.

It is chronologically before "Target", and should be listen first.

Fills in a nice piece of the background

This story sets up the background to the Vicky Peterwald third book "Rebel" and goes a long way to explain how Vicky grew up and then really grew up in the Navy. It's not long but an interesting story.

I love this author but too much sex.

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I really enjoy the Kris Longknife books, and I'm not s prude, and I get she is sexy and all that, but I don't need Penthouse Letters.

What was most disappointing about Mike Shepherds story?

Good story and I liked seeing the character develop and I get that he is doing it on purpose to show the characters development, but it's just too much.

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

I would still recommend the book if you like the series and hopefull book 2 will not be as erotically descriptive. I want to see what Vicky Peterwald gets up to.

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Title: The Line of Polity

Author: Neal Asher

Narrator: David Marantz

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-14-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 74 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Outlink station Miranda has been destroyed by a nanomycelium, and the very nature of this sabotage suggests that the alien bioconstruct Dragon - a creature as untrustworthy as it is gigantic - is somehow involved. Sent out on a titanic Polity dreadnought, the Occam Razor, agent Cormac must investigate the disaster. Meanwhile, on the remote planet Masada, the long-term rebellion can never rise aboveground, as the slave population is subjugated by orbital laser arrays controlled by the Theocracy in their cylinder worlds, and by the fact that they cannot safely leave their labour compounds. For the wilderness of Masada lacks breathable air...and out there roam monstrous predators called hooders and siluroynes, not to mention the weird and terrible gabbleducks.

Members Reviews:

Great book. Bad narrator.

I am completely in love with Neal Asher's stories and writing style. This story is no different. What I like a little less however is David Marantz reading it. His standard narration is good, but his characters are extremely flat-- especially his female ones. It's as if he has to pick between voice pitch and character depth. Eldene sounded like some ditsy blonde instead of a skeptical, intelligent, rebel.

It's so good

I'm a big Neal Asher fan and love listening to his works. He strikes a great balance of imagination, detail, action, and weaving stories together. It's a shame that Audible doesn't have Gridlinked or Brass Man for this series. It's that same feeling of starting a puzzle and knowing a few pieces are missing. come on Audible and record the rest of the series.

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Title: Target

Subtitle: Vicky Peterwald, Book 1

Author: Mike Shepherd

Narrator: Dina Pearlman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-24-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 310 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Beauty and the battlefield

Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Victoria Maria Teresa Inez Smythe-Peterwald, daughter of wealth and power, was raised to do little except be attractive and marry well. Then everything changed - her brother, her fathers favorite and the heir apparent, was killed in battle by Lieutenant Kris Longknife, daughter of the Peterwalds longtime enemies. Vicky vowed revenge, but her skill set was more suitable for seduction than assassination, and she failed. Angry and disappointed, her father decided she needed military training and forced her to join the Navy.

Now Ensign Vicky Peterwald is part of a whole new world, where use of her ample charms will not lead to advancement. But her father is the Emperor, and what he wants he gets. What he wants is for Vicky to learn to be efficiently ruthless and deadly.

Though the lessons are hard learned, Vicky masters them - with help from an unexpected source: Kris Longknife.

Members Reviews:

Longknife plus sex

What did you love best about Target?

The problem with heroines is to keep them reasonable. Authors too often let their characters slide toward Superwoman. Mike Shepherd's Kris Longknife is already dangerously close.

So... Vicky Peterwald is a reload. She's not all that competent. People die around her while she sails on through. (Well... struggles on through...) She's a bitch, to boot.

But she's working on it.

That makes her fun. It can't be easy, trying to measure up to Kris. Vicky gets frustrated. She relieves her frustration in a very classic way. Sex.

Vicky is a work in progress. Just beginning to change. Interesting.

Let's hope Mike Shepherd avoids Superwoman.

What other book might you compare Target to and why?

Vicky Peterwald is an offshoot of Kris Longknife.

Have you listened to any of Dina Pearlmans other performances before? How does this one compare?

Dunno

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

No. But I never do. It moves right along.

Any additional comments?

This doesn't pretend to be great literature. It means to be fun. It is.

One Of Three Ways...

I started listening to the first book in the "Longknife" series early last year, and ended up listening to ALL of them, one after another, through the ENTIRE series! It's a Fantastic Series, which held my attention through 12 books AND several short stories! Listening to THAT many books in a series back to back AND having your attention held for that long, is hard for ANY Author to pull off, but the combination of Mike Shepherd's writing and Dina Pearlman's Narration, held me, and STILL left me wanting MORE!

I picked up THIS book when it became available, but put it in a holding orbit in my iPhone 4S's library while listening to some other GREAT books. Fast Forward 11+ Months and it was on my iPhone 6+, when I realized I STILL hadn't listened to it, mainly because I was thinking this book would go one of three ways:

1. "Vicky keeps being Vicky".

2. "Vicky is used as an 'intermission diversion story' while more ideas for Longknife were thought up",

or lastly,

3. "Vicky begins to reform and DO 'Something' on her own".

When the book started, I thought, "Ah... Option Number 3", and kept on listening...

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Title: Hard Duty

Subtitle: Merkiaari Wars, 1

Author: Mark E. Cooper

Narrator: Mikael Naramore

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-18-14

Publisher: Impulse Books UK

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 439 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Humanity's last encounter with aliens saw 16.2 billion people killed in a war with the Merkiaari that had spanned decades.

Two hundred years later, the Alliance is cautiously exploring beyond its borders again, but the survey corp is considered a mere gesture by some. General Burgton of the 501st Infantry Regiment believes a lack of expansion is leading the Alliance into stagnation. So when one small ship discovers a new alien race, it should be an easy decision to make contact, but what if the aliens are like the Merkiaari?

Captain Jeff Colgan of the survey ship ASN Canada is at the tip of the spear. His ship made the discovery, his crew's lives are on the line, and his decisions will decide the outcome. Will the Alliance make new friends or will he be responsible for another 16 billion deaths? When the aliens discover his ship and begin hunting him through their system, his mission changes from one of study to one of survival.

Members Reviews:

Very appropriate to call this a 'space opera'

So why do I think it was appropriate to call this title a "space opera?" Unless you're a huge fan of opera you'll likely find the experience somewhat tedious intermingled with moments of brilliance. That's about how I felt about "Hard Duty." If you're a fan of the series or the author (it turns out that although this is called book 1 it was actually written as a "prequel" after book 2) you'll likely love this book - just look at the number of positive reviews. If you're just reading it as a stand-alone book you might be less than satisfied, which would explain the rest of the reviews.

The overall storyline is good - two alien races nearly wiped out by the evil Merkiaari meet for the first time. Can they see past the terrible scars those encounters left to make a peaceful first contact, or will their justifiable mutual distrust doom the attempt? I loved the first face-to-face meeting of the races - let's just say it doesn't quite go as planned. Narration is good as well - no monotone recitals and good differentiation of characters. There's a lot of characters, so if 1 or 2 of them sound alike that's okay.

The bigger problems really come from the storytelling and progression. There are multiple storylines here. One of them gets dropped 1/3 into the book and doesn't show up again until the very end, and never gets tied to the rest of the plot. The other storyline is more cohesive, but it is difficult to gauge the passage of time and what happens in parallel with what. Both stories end abruptly and not particularly satisfactorily. Probably this is less apparent if you are familiar with the other books in the series. Knowing then what I know now, I might have started with book two.

Overall it's not a bad book, particularly (I believe) if you come into it with some foreknowledge of what is going on. I may still give Book 2 a try because there is some solid storytelling here, even if the overall book may have benefitted from some additional editing.

Lite Sci-Fi

Up front, no mind-twisting serious depth here, and many plot and execution flaws... but somehow it kept me smiling and listening. I hate to say I keep thinking of it as "Young/Juvenile Science Fiction", but that's how it feels to me. Part of me wants to say "Shallow", but a bigger part enjoyed it.

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Title: The Plague Forge

Subtitle: The Dire Earth Cycle: Three

Author: Jason M. Hough

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-24-13

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 154 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

The Plague Forge delivers an unbeatable combination of knockout action and kick-ass characters as the secrets to the ultimate alien mystery from The Darwin Elevator and The Exodus Towers are about to be unraveled.

Critic Reviews:

"[Jason M.] Houghs first novel combines the rapid-fire action and memorable characters associated with Joss Whedons short-lived

Firefly TV series with the accessibility and scientific acumen of J. S. Coreys Expanse series." (

Library Journal on

The Darwin Elevator)

"The best part about alien stories is their mystery, and Jason Hough understands that like no other. Full of compelling characters and thick with tension,

The Darwin Elevator delivers both despair and hope along with a gigantic dose of wonder. Its a brilliant debut, and Hough can take my money whenever he writes anything from now on." (Kevin Hearne,

New York Times best-selling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles on

The Darwin Elevator)

"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 on

The Darwin Elevator)

Members Reviews:

Humans = Resilient as Hell + 1st Contact = :)

I'm reviewing the entire trilogy because I have been able to read the 2nd book 'The Exodus Towers' along with this book all within a 2 month period of time. At the end of the 1st book it leaves the reader quite confused about what ET's have to do with the book as opposed to just laying down the major players within the series. The 2nd & 3rd book I read in close succession & I believe that is what made this book so much more enjoyable for me than if I had to wait any extended period of time. Its a theory I'll never be able to test out but it was a major thought & concern that can't be answered because the author released all 3 books quickly in literary terms.

This book started out as a relatively average book in the 1st but the last 2 ended as a tour-de-force by touching on not only the most important part of the sci-fi portion of this series, First Contact, but it also brought out the basic rules of the primal laws of nature. Now apply human laws that apply when there is a complete breakdown of a prior civilization & those who are intelligent, resourceful, & ruthless enough to lead or show how the strong survive & the meek DO NOT inherit the earth.

A great twist on the 'human nature' side of this book is a problem our country still has not understood nor mastered how to handle a leader in power who is found to contain traits making them persona non grata to those that see their 'true colors'. If u remove this person who is to say the next person to step up is not even worse than the original once the façade is ripped away?? I think our CIA can still attest to making huge mistakes in deciding short-term decisions without thinking about long-term effects. In the beginning of this book a plague breaks out that kills off 9 billion humans & leaves a group of survivors to figure out how to try & live again while having these strange alien artifacts that point to a larger event happening in the near future.

The 'First Contact' portion of this book I cannot say is completely original but I can def.

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Title: Z 2134

Author: Sean Platt, David Wright

Narrator: Dan John Miller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-09-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 124 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

One hundred years after the zombie apocalypse, those lucky enough to survive now exist in scattered cities, under the merciless rule of the City Watch. A simple tenet overshadows all aspects of daily life: obey or die. When Jonah Lovecraft is framed for murder, his status as a Watcher doesn't spare him from the ultimate punishment: being cast into the Barrens and forced to battle zombies and other criminal contestants in the Darwin Games.

As he fights for every heartbeat, his daughter, Ana, embarks on her own desperate quest to uncover the truth about her father. Yet neither expects their efforts to reveal grim secrets that could tear apart the fabric of society - if either lives long enough to expose the truth.

Members Reviews:

Interesting but felt like i've read this before

Im really torn on how to rate this book. On one hand its well written, contains interesting characters with heartfelt moments along with a good amount of surprise and action! On the other hand as I was listening to it all I could think about what that it felt like a rip off of The Hunger Games with zombies. In the end its entertaining which is what the zombie genre is about right?

Mr. Miller does a good job with the narration and pacing. It really helped with the enjoyment of the book,

Better than I expected

What did you love best about Z 2134?

I came across this after the author's Yesterday's Gone Series which I enjoyed however not as much as I would have liked. However, I took the plunge and purchased Z 2134 and was pleased I did so. This is the sort of book you just knew from half way through there would be more and I had the hope it would keep me interested and this book does it. I am now into book two and am glad I started.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Z 2134?

Several, I like some of the back stories, some of the characters

What about Dan John Millers performance did you like?

Enjoyable and easy to listen too.

Any additional comments?

I can see this as described 'Hunger Games with Zombies' but also a little Brave New World or 1984. That look of the future we all hope does not happen.

Zombified Hunger Games

Z2134 seems less a serious novel and more like the pitch for a low budget made for TV miniseries. The basic premise is a post-apocalyptic period (in the year 2134) where zombies have been around for a long time. The remnants of the human race live inside discreet city walls numbered 1 - 7. Life is brutal with a totalitarian state with complete surveillance. Any type of crime leads to forcible participation into the non-stop Darwin games which is single elimination (by death) against other "criminals" and zombies, with elements of the "Saw" movie franchise thrown in. Watching the games is the main pastime. There is an underground movement with a vague purpose. The story follows the most unluckiest family where the father is set up for his wife's murder and the daughter and son are both set up by the "watchers" or police.

The sci-fi elements are simplistic. There are implantable chips for monitoring as well as influencing memories. Advanced drones serves as transmission / broadcast devices along with weapons capability. There is little explanation for an origin of all this, except for zombies as an excuse. The zombie origin is never discussed. The bulk of the action consists of rather plain vanilla evil and pure vengeance.

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Title: Vortex

Subtitle: Sten, Book 7

Author: Allan Cole, Chris Bunch

Narrator: Jerry Sciarrio

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-25-13

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 52 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

The Eternal Emperor was back and ready to save his Empire from collapse. Only Sten guessed that something was rotten at the core. The Empire is in chaos. The once great Imperial Navy has been shattered in battle and lies burning in space, driven by a civil war that threatens to engulf humanitys future. For the revered Eternal Emperor is not the man his subjects thought him to be and may not even be human at all. And it is Sten Imperial bodyguard, spy, assassin, and renegade - who now leads humanitys fight for survival. Taking command of the last rebel fleet, he sets out on a desperate quest to seek and destroy the dark source of his former masters power. Denounced as a traitor and hunted by forces loyal to the Emperor, Sten must risk everything to annihilate the Empire he vowed to protect.

Members Reviews:

references

this was a good story. But for something that takes place well over 3000 years in the future there are way to many references to twentieth century politics, people and literature. It detracts from the overall line.

Excellent Set-up to Series Finale

What did you love best about Vortex?

Let me put it this way' you might as well buy book eight now because if you've listened to all 7 books, there is no way in Hell that you aren't listening to Book 8. That said, book 7 is really good. It just that you (like STEN) is left feeling a little empty. Let's just hope that Book 8 will give us all the strength to endure.

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Title: Sassinak

Subtitle: The Planet Pirates, Book 1

Author: Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Moon

Narrator: Ax Norman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-12-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 233 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Old enough to be used

Young enough to be broken

Sassinak was 12 when the raiders came. That made her just the right age: old enough to be used, young enough to be broken. Or so the slavers thought. But Sassy turned out to be a little different from your typical slave girl. Maybe it was her unusual physical strength. Maybe it was her friendship with the captured Fleet crewman. Maybe it was her spirit. Whatever it was, it wouldn't let her resign herself to the life of a slave. She bided her time, watched for her moment. Finally it came, and she escaped.

But that was only the beginning for Sassinak. Now she's a Fleet Captain with a pirate-chasing ship of her own, and only one regret in her life: not enough pirates.

Members Reviews:

Really bad narration

What would have made Sassinak better?

A different narrator who can pronounce words correctly. I spent 2/3's of my time trying to figure out what he was saying, and I've read the book in print!

What did you like best about this story?

The story is great. I have read it in print several times.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Ax Norman?

Anybody else. Susan Ericksen, Sally Darling, Gregory St. John, Nick Podehl.

What character would you cut from Sassinak?

I don't think I'd cut any of them. They all play a purpose.

Any additional comments?

Gah. The narrator totally ruined this one for me.

Naration needs help

What disappointed you about Sassinak?

The narration was so poor it was hard to follow the story

Would you recommend Sassinak to your friends? Why or why not?

no

How did the narrator detract from the book?

If he read in complete sentences it would help. Pauses after a couple words each time instead of with the sentences.

I hoped for better; I didn't get it.

Once again I am disappointed by the newly published audiobook of an old favorite sf/f book. Maybe Audible Frontiers needs a bit more in their budget for narrators.

Ax Norman did a passable job of reading the book. He did not feature any differing voices for the different characters. Toward the end of the book he began to waver in how he pronounced names - maybe he was getting tired. And Mr Norman's rhythm varied a lot, sometimes fast when it should have been slow and vice-versa.

It was perhaps only my many re-readings of this book that made me hope for better, and that I differed with how Mr Norman chose to pronounce names. The title character in particular, I've always thought of as SASS-ih-nak, not Sah-SIN-ik. Sadly, we can't ask Ms McCaffrey.

I won't be buying any sequels as audiobooks, and definitely not any of Mr Norman's other recordings. In 2013, I've come to expect multiple voices, consistent pronunciations, and timing that suits the story.

Seriously! You have got to be kidding!

I couldn't get through the first 10 minutes of the book. Gosh awful. The narrator could not even pronounce the heroine's name right much less numerous every day words in what would be less than a page of printed book.

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Title: The Far Time Incident

Author: Neve Maslakovic

Narrator: Mary Robinette Kowal

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-09-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 81 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Thanks to the time travel lab at St. Sunniva University, history is no longer a mystery. But when the beloved co-inventor of the universitys time machine is inexplicably smeared across time, academic exploration and the future of St. Sunniva is thrown into doubt.

As assistant to the dean of science, Julia Olsen is tasked with helping Campus Security Chief Nate Kirkland quietly examine this rare mishapthen, just as quietly, make it go away. But when the investigation indicates that the professors disappearance may have been a murder, those inspecting the incident unwittingly find themselves caught in a deadly coverup - one in which history itself is the weapon.

From the snow-blanketed walkways of St. Sunnivas campus to the sun-bleached cobblestone of ancient Pompeiis roads, The Far Time Incident is a lively romp through history, science, and the academic world in the wake of a crime.

Members Reviews:

Tries to be all things

The problem with this book for me was that it tried to be too many things and didn't really succeed at any of them very well.

As a detective story it was far too simplistic and I knew who the villain was long before the end. As hard SF it was clear that while the author was trying to come up with some kind of scientific justification for time travel and... well let's just say that the 'baffle them with bulls***' tag applies far more than the 'dazzle them with brilliance'. Her lengthy explanations were not self consistent or convincing enough for me to suspend belief (lasers? Really??) and took up time that would have been far better spent on developing her characters more.

The reader was quite good; her reading is entertaining and evocative, although she does not differentiate her voices for different characters quite as much as some others do.

Disappointing overall and not one that makes me want to read others by the author.

Academic Mystery with a Time Travel Twist

This book is a genre-bender, albeit in a very conservative way. The basic plot is that of an academic murder mystery ("The Professor did it!" No, "The secretary did it!" No, "The Dean did it!," etc.). The twist is that the University in question operates the world's first time travel lab. Otherwise, it's set in the eigenpresent, at a fictitious Minnesota university, even if much of the action takes place about two millennia ago.

I read Maslakovic's first book, "Regarding Ducks and Universes," and enjoyed it. This book offers similarly well-mannered prose, with equally well-mannered characters. For the most part, it all works. As a career academic (20+ years on the tenure track), I am doubtless more sensitive to lapses in verisimilitude (there aren't that many) than most readers or listeners.

Ms. Kowal's narrative range is limited, and this book unfortunately does not especially suit her limitations. There are probably more female narrators who can manage male voices credibly than there are males who can manage female voices; unfortunately, based on this one sample, Ms. Kowal does not appear to be one of them.

Couldn't Finish

One narrator attempting an entirely different and occasionally bizarre voice for every single character? Bad directorial choice! Some variations in pitch and rythmn normally help listeners identify various characters, but this is WAY over the top.