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Title: Cauldron

Subtitle: Academy Series

Author: Jack McDevitt

Narrator: Khristine Hvam

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-04-09

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 153 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

But when a young physicist unveils an efficient star drive capable of reaching the core of the galaxy, Hutch finds herself back in the deepest reaches of space, and on the verge of discovering the origins of the deadly Omega clouds that continue to haunt her.

Members Reviews:

It's Hutch!

Big fan of the series, really cool to hear a voice to Hutch's character often all the books. reader sounded great

Great Read

What made the experience of listening to Cauldron the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed what appears to be the end of the series book. It was fast paced and unlike one review I read did not leave any unanswered questions.

What does Khristine Hvam bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Great reader.

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

Some places laughed

Not the return to the clouds I expect

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

If you've read the earlier books in the series you might as well read this one. However I did not like the answers to the questions this book explorers. So I'd recommend it if you really wanted to but it's not the best in the series.

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

"Really" Of all the answers to Omega Clouds, what are they, what makes them, etc. and this is all you could come up with?

What about Khristine Hvams performance did you like?

She is excellent. She was the reason I pressed on finishing the book.

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

No.

Any additional comments?

It was nice to have Hutch up front and center in this one.

bad ending to a bad series stop at book 2 trust me

narrator was the only thing that made me finish the series

brutal Jack Mcdevitt can't keep track of his own series opens up plot windows then ignores them later in the series

Had potential

I love most of Jack McDevitt's books, but this one spent way too much time on the development of a new spaceship engine, and not enough adventure.

I fell in love with the characters after great development (7.5 of the 13 hours are character development and the engine development. However, less than half the book had the adventure portion that makes us love Hutchins.

The author raced through three different plot lines (two of which were tying loose ends from previous books). Could have gone into great depth if he would have focused on one of the 3 plot lines in his marvelous universe.

I love character development and the author is great at making us care about the characters, but we want them to do more, after reading about them for 7.5 hours.

Felt like Mr. McDevitt was in a hurry on this book.

Still worth a read for true fans.

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Title: The United States of Atlantis

Subtitle: A Novel of Alternate History

Author: Harry Turtledove

Narrator: Todd McLaren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 12-22-08

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 76 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Instead, England's tactics have only strengthened the Atlanteans' resolve to be free. As leader of the revolutionaries, Victor Radcliff will make the English pay for each and every piece of land they dare to occupy, and will stop at nothing to preserve the liberty of his people as a new nation is born - a nation that will change the face of the world.

Editorial Reviews:

As alternative history, this is a beautifully rendered portrait of the Revolutionary War in a world both familiar and wildly different from our own. Contrary to legend, Atlantis has not sunk; instead it replaces North America as the "New World." France, England, and Spain are expanding their empires there, much to the chagrin of the indignant colonists. Todd McLaren does an outstanding job suspending listener disbelief, rendering ferocious battles with such ardor you can smell a whiff of musket fire. He also depicts Atlantis's richly detailed floral and fauna with a naturalist's zest. Just as nimble are his shifts between the accents of Red Coats to those of common soldiers and distinguished colonists.

Critic Reviews:

"The unchallenged master of alternative history touches on a common myth in his latest retelling of the history of the world." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

The Worst of Turtledove

This is the first time that I put down a Harry Turtledove book. Usually I can't stop reading and finish in the first day or two, but this one I didn't even plan to finish, except that I ended up on an airplane and slogged through to the end.

No one who grew up in the United States needs to bother reading this book, as "The United States of Atlantis" have the same history as the United States of America. This is basically a re-packaging of the American Revolution, with characters exactly mirroring those in real history. Like George Washington, Victor Radcliffe is the reluctant leader, upon whom greatness is thrust. There is a Benedict Arnold-esque traitor who goes over to the British. There is someone in France, impressing the court with his rustic charm a la Benjamin Franklin. There is even a Jewish guy somewhere funding the revolution.

Usually I like when Turtledove explains every detail of the military campaigns and goes into detail explaining the winning strategies. This time I was bored because of how similar it was to things I already learned way back when in 11th grade.

I would give it no stars if I could.

Turtledove is a master of alternate histories

This is actually the second of the trilogy on Atlantis which I read after finishing the third and felt that I should have finished it before the other but I did not know the proper order but I enjoyed it anyway.

Not Turtledove's best

I am a big fan of Harry Turtledove, he normally turns out consistently above average (if seldom outstanding) work. I thought the first book in this series was quite good (although focusing on the original storyline for a bit longer probably would have been productive). This one is still a worthwhile read, but it isn't quite as good as Turtledove normally is.

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Title: Deluge

Subtitle: Book Three of the Twins of Petaybee

Author: Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

Narrator: Robert Ramirez

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-08

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 63 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

In Deluge, a crisis point has been reached on the sentient planet of Petaybee. Marmion de Revers Algemeine has been arrested on bogus charges, and the shape-shifting twins have traveled off-planet.

Members Reviews:

Marvelously suspenseful ending!

The story picks up several years after the original series left off but don't worry if you have not read the Petaybee series, it is a great ride either way! The plot stands on it's own with some elaborate twists. McCaffrey is still a Master at her craft! Ramirez is a full cast in himself!

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Titel: Planet Eden 3

Autor:: Andreas Masuth

Erzähler: Klaus Dieter Klebsch, Christine Pappert, Thomas Karallus

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 52 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 11-13-08

Herausgeber: Maritim

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

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Sie hören in die Sprecher in ihren Rollen:

Justine: Sandra Schwittau

Todor: Torsten Münchow

Ragnar: Norbert Gastell

Utagawa: Phillipp Brammer

Norman: Fritz von Hardenberg

Amanda: Sabine Bohlmann

Vincent: Thomas Karallus

Marie: Christine Pappert

Helix: Michael Scherntaner

Pascal: Peter Weis

Jérome: Gerhard Acktun

Wächter: Jens Wawrczeck, Gernot Endemann

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Title: The January Dancer

Author: Michael Flynn

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-11-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 69 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Starting with Captain Amos January, who quickly loses it, and then the others who fought, schemed, and killed to get it, we travel around the complex, decadent, brawling, mongrelized, interstellar human civilization that the artifact might save or destroy. Collectors want the Dancer, pirates take it, rulers crave it, and all will kill, if necessary, to get it.

This is a thrilling yarn of love, revolution, music, and mystery, and it ends, as all great stories do, with shock and a beginning.

Critic Reviews:

"[A]n epic tale of adventure, intrigue, suspense and mystery....The plot evokes old-school space opera with its whirlwind pace, immense scope and twist ending, but cutting-edge extrapolation breathes vivid life into this universe of scoundrels, heroes and romantics." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Excelent space opera

The tale takes place in a universe where the losers in a galactic civil war were exiled across the "Rift" (an area through which very few of the "electric avenues" used for FTL travel pass.) About a thousand years later the refugees have built their own interstellar civilizations, although those in power fear the day when the victors in that old war will decide to cross the Rift and finish their conquest.

The amount of background detail that is gradually revealed is impressive, as is the careful balancing of factors to make a quest for an object of power seem reasonable. But those who desire a clear-cut ending may not be happy with this book. We are constantly being teased by new details, but even the big reveal at the end only leaves us with more questions and a desire for the sequels whose existence is hinted at in the final chapter.

The accent the reader applies to some characters' dialog is rather strong, but the characters in question are from planets that were originally all populated by a polyglot of refugees, many of which decided to adopt an Old Terran culture and accent as an affectation, so the over-emphasis is understandable and amusing.

I think this book will be enjoyed by fans of space opera, those who enjoy examples of extensive world building, and anyone who is intrigued the asking of questions, even if we're not always given all the answers to those questions.

Elegant space opera

The prose, world building, narration, and story are excellent.

This is not an easy listen, and I can see where some people would be turned off. You may have to listen to parts more than once.

But I dont mind listening to an audio book more than once, and I thought the writing style was worth it.

I hope Flynn writes some more books in this setting..

The New Space Opera

Space Opera had fallen on hard times in the 70s and 80s. The galaxy spanning empires didn't seem credible anymore -- how could a civilization with such technology not achieve (avoid) Transcendence? Even the Foundation series grew long in the tooth.

Fortunately, a whole new generation of writers have revived the concept: Charles Stross, Vernor Vinge, Ken MacLeod, Peter Watts, Karl Schroeder, etc.

Now, Michael Flynn has joined this group with their fresh ideas and good stories.

The characters are indeed odd ball and the story goes all over the place, hiding the core mystery of both the characters and the story.

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Title: Marsbound

Author: Joe Haldeman

Narrator: Liza Kaplan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-05-08

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 93 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Young Carmen Dula and her family are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime - they're going to Mars. Once on the Red Planet, however, Carmen realizes things are not so different from Earth. There are chores to do, lessons to learn, and oppressive authority figures to rebel against.

And when she ventures out into the bleak Mars landscape alone one night, a simple accident leads her to the edge of death, until she is saved by an angel - an angel with too many arms and legs, a head that looks like a potato gone bad, and a message for the newly arrived human inhabitants of Mars: We were here first.

Critic Reviews:

"If there was a Fort Knox for the science fiction writers who really matter, we'd have to lock Haldeman up there." (Stephen King)

"Grade: A-. A solid piece of science fiction." (scifi.com)

"Top 10 Science Fiction & Fantasy Books of 2008" (Kansas City Star)

Members Reviews:

Excellent story AND narration

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

I love Joe Haldeman. The Forever War is one of my favorite sci-fi books ever. I listened to Starbound first, not realizing it was part of a trilogy. After finishing it, I HAD to start at the beginning of the trilogy,so got Marsbound. It is another excellent Haldeman story!

What does Liza Kaplan bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

She does a really great job of bringing Carmen to life. She sounds just the way I figured she'd sound at the age she is in this book.

Any additional comments?

Get the entire trilogy. It's an excellent read!

Meh.

"Marsbound" initially impressed me as a better than average YA sci-fi story; Carmen seemed at first an interesting character to get to know, and the structure of the story recalled many of the Heinlein YA stories that I cut my teeth on, many years ago. Around the time that Carmen was getting acclimated to Mars and Solingen kept getting nastier, I started to chafe at the lack of pace and coherence. I eventually persevered to the end, but by the time I finished it was more of a chore than a pleasure.

Perhaps had I read this book instead of listening to it, I'd have enjoyed it more. Kaplan's narration was just bad. I know I've been spoiled by narrators such as John Lee and the late, lamented Patrick Tull, but I had expected someone who is, after all, a voice actress to do a better job. Her "voice" for Carmen and the overall narration sounded like a child in elementary school reading a book in a sing-song (truly jarring when she was narrating a sex scene) and her voices for other females reminded me more of some anime characters I've heard. Really, really bad anime characters.

I don't recommend this book. For good YA titles, try John Marsden's "Tomorrow" series, or the YA books by Charles de Lint. For good YA sci-fi, Heinlein is dated, but still good. John Scalzi's "Zoe's Tale" is great. Take the money you would have spent on this book, and look for one of those instead.

Weak performance

Sorry, but it was impossible to get into this story because of the poor performance. Her diction is excellent, her voice is pleasant, but she gives no life to the characters and I felt like I was listening to a second-grade teacher read to children.

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Title: Keeper of Dreams, Volume 1

Subtitle: Atlantis and Other Stories

Author: Orson Scott Card

Narrator: Scott Brick, Harlan Ellison, Stefan Rudnicki, Orson Scott Card

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-29-08

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 97 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Like the earlier Maps in a Mirror, Keeper of Dreams is a definitive retrospective of the short-fiction career of the writer that The Houston Post called "the best writer science fiction has to offer".

Members Reviews:

WE ARE NEANDERTHALS AT HEART

I read the hard back some time ago. I loved reading THE ELEPHANTS OF POSNAN and also listening to it. I did not care for HEAL THYSELF when I read it, but like it as a listen this time. I still don't like ATLANTIS, GERIATRIC WARD OR ANGLES. SPACE BOY was in the hard back, but not on this download. I will continue this series, as I am a huge fan, but if you are new to Card, do not start here. If you are new to his short fiction start with the MAPS IN A MIRROR series. Those are some of his earlier writings and as I have mentioned before, his earlier writings are better.

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Title: Voyagers II

Subtitle: The Alien Within

Author: Ben Bova

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-13-07

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 332 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Jo Camerata, the ambitious young student who fell in love with Stoner, is now head of Vanguard Industries, which has recovered the alien ship. As a result, her company is now in control of its vast new technology and the fortune it reaps - and in control of Keith Stoner.

What Camerata doesn't know, however, is that someone else has been awake, someone who dwells within Stoner's mind. The alien presence that has kept Stoner alive all this time is now free and intends to explore our world, letting nothing stand in its way.

Members Reviews:

i love this story

I love the story but book 1 is a little slow but you will like this book its great.

ill let others give the story review.

I don't hand out stars out easy but when I do you can count on it.

if you like this book then get all.

unless you like to skip the first book...lol

Disappointed

What a disappointment. After the cliff-hanging end to Voyagers I, I actually expected something action-related to happen. This ended up as more of a "personal discovery" / "relationship development" book that was loosely wrapped around a science fiction concept.

Less Terrible then Voyagers III

Voyagers II is just a little less terrible then Voyagers III-

If Ben Bova wasn't a competent writer, I would say that this novel was a waste of my time. His storytelling saved it from being on my all time worst list. Ayn Rand already wrote Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. Add in some George Orwell and Larry Niven with a touch of "Heart of Darkness" and you get this rehash of stale Science Fiction ideas. Even though I disliked this novel, I did care about the characters, and I had to finish it to see how it turned out. Voyagers II and III would have been better short stories. The narration was very well done. If you don't like this novel, don't bother to go on to the third installment, it is downhill from here.

An Oreo trilogy Strong 1st, soft 2nd -- 3rd?

I loved the first book in the trilogy. It ended with a surprise. The second book is set 18 years later and the plot weak and uninspiring. We learned about motivations and met some old characters from the first novel -- but the obstacles were not that high and the science fiction not that deep. With the first book being so strong, this book felt more like a setup to the third than a story in its own right. I did like the ending of the book -- so there is that.

Stephan Rudnicki did an excellent job of narration. I love listening to him. If this book had not been narrated by someone so engaging, I would have given it a two stars overall.

This story is a must for the third book as it fills a lot of holes and it's plotline does not at all stand on its own without reading the first -- so don't even try to skip the first novel. All in all disappointing.

disappointing

Reminds me of what happened to Heinlein in his decline. As Cory Doctorow has said a SciFi author's views say more about the times in which they live rather than their view of the future. This book really reflects the Zeitgeist of the period in which it was written. Short easy answers to complex problems and issues. A real disappointment after the first in the series.

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Title: The Grays

Author: Whitley Strieber

Narrator: Stephen Lang

Format: Abridged

Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-11-06

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 20 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Meet the Three Thieves: a group of Grays assigned to duty in a small Kentucky town. They've been occupying this town for decades, abducting its residents and manipulating bloodlines in an attempt to create an ultra-intelligent human being. Nine-year-old Conner Callahan will face the ultimate terror as he struggles to understand who he has been bred to be and what he must do to save humanity.

Meet Colonel Michael Wilkes, a government official who has monitored the Grays' presence for years. He's done everything in his power to keep the secret of the Grays from reaching the public, but when the Grays begin to reveal themselves, Wilkes' fear of ultimate occupation forces him to set in motion a sinister plan to ensure the survival of humanity. But at what cost?

The fate of the human race lies in one woman, Lauren Glass. Her father was the only man to communicate with the Grays. His untimely death leaves Lauren the unique ability to communicate with the last remaining captive Gray, known as A for Adam, and she may be the only one to truly unravel the Grays' ultimate plan.

Critic Reviews:

"A terrific read." (Booklist)

"It goes without saying that [Strieber's] abduction scenarios have a disturbing authenticity that even skeptical readers will find provocative." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Easy Hit

Gray's was gripping and I couldn't put it down.

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Title: The Radiant Seas

Subtitle: A Novel of the Skolian Empire

Author: Catherine Asaro

Narrator: Anna Fields

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-07-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 211 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

This sequel to the acclaimed

Primary Inversion continues the story of Sauscony and Jaibriol, each the heir to an interstellar empire, as they become entangled again in the machinations of the Skolian Empire. They are beginning to pick up what's left of their lives, in exile on a deserted planet with their children, when the fate of much of the known universe comes to rest on the shoulders of their fragile young family. Interstellar war erupts, and Jaibriol is snatched away to be the unwilling ruler of the Highton Aristos.

The best way to listen to this series:

©1999 Catherine Asaro (P)2000 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Members Reviews:

A Nobel Effort

Read the Radiant Seas because the universe where it is set and the players behind Soz and Jabriel interest you and you'll not be disappointed. If you read it because you enjoy Soz and Jabriel and want to continue their story--then skip most of the first part. If you belong to the former group, there's some great writing about the Imperator and insight into his troubled past and present. If you're part of the latter group, skip to the rescue and you'll not be disappointed. The two halves of the book form an interesting cycle of events and themes that once I got over my annoyance that Soz and Jabriel were mostly absent from the first half, I actually enjoyed. It's actually a good book if you read it with the right mind frame and know going in that you'll have wait for Soz and Jabriel to return to the mix. There are three really great sequences that truly make the book worth listening to. I can only give this book three stars because it should really have been split in two. It functions as two separate books and has two separate climaxes and resolutions. The narrator did a great job considering the sheer number of characters.

Very uneven, from well-written to horrid

I was very disapointed, because I had high hopes. Ms Asaro can write, she knows science, she is a romantic. When she sticks to her protagonist, the great Sauscany, she has a wonderful authority. Many of the events of the story do not make sense, and seem to be plot points that have been created to move the story along. The villains, The Highton Aristos, Nazi's and slavers, seem to able to appear at the wrong place and time mucht of the time. They seem to have no educational system and yet technology and advanced civilization. Again I was disapointed. When Asaro is good, she can be very good, but when she is bad- she is horrid

That's what little boys are made of

Anna Fields

I love listening to Anna Field's voice no matter what she is narrating; she always makes stories interesting and fun. It breaks my heart that she is gone.

Her voice was the main reason I bought this book even though I don't get Sci Fi stuff in general. I mean, there is conflict, romance, violence, longing etc. but how is that different from any other fiction book?

One understandable difference is that ordinary words are exchanged for made-up words (Father = Hushpa). Interesting but it gives me ADD.

Another is that they throw in a bunch of scientific-sounding words - most of them made-up - and a bunch of Star Wars zip, zing, pow, whoosh and poof.