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Title: Antares Passage

Subtitle: Antares, Book 2

Author: Michael McCollum

Narrator: Gavin Hammon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-19-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 167 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

After more than a century of isolation, the paths between stars are again open and the people of Alta in contact with their sister colony on Sandar. The opening of the foldlines has not been the unmixed blessing the Altans had supposed, however.

For the reestablishment of interstellar travel has brought with it news of the Ryall, an alien race whose goal is the extermination of humanity. If they are to avoid defeat at the hands of the aliens, Alta must seek out the military might of Earth. However, to reach Earth requires them to dive into the heart of a supernova...

Members Reviews:

good follow up to the first book

I have written a review for the first book so that is where you should go first, if you have read the first book then you will probably like this one and the 3rd one. In the first book the fold space reopened and the rest of civilization was reconnected, sorta.

This was written only 1 year after the first book but book 3 was written 15 years after that in 2002 which is sorta strange, I have a review of that one also.

A soporific yawn.

. Well... this book should have a "do not operate machinery while listening" disclaimer. It's almost like the author intended the book to be as dull and boring as possible. I gave it two stars because there is about 2hrs on the second part that actually followed the summary... the rest? I actually fell asleep listening.

another exciting title from Michael McCollum

I just love Michael McCollum, his writing is always rich with detail without boring you. you gotta read these books.

Good read - not to long.

Good pace, good detail. The science is familiar if you've read the Gibraltar series. Actually that's not the only similarity.

Another enjoyable entry.

Like the previous book, it felt like it was written by a chauvinist trying to put on airs of being progressive. But for the late 80's that's not out of character for the populous. I look forward to the next as it appears to have been published in 2002. Perhaps it looses the baggage of that latter era.

Aside from that complaint, it was a fun read.

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Title: The Siren Depths

Author: Martha Wells

Narrator: Christopher Kipiniak

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-19-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 346 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

All his life, Moon roamed the Three Worlds, a solitary wanderer forced to hide his true nature - until he was reunited with his own kind, the Raksura, and found a new life as consort to Jade, sister queen of the Indigo Cloud court. But now a rival court has laid claim to him, and Jade may or may not be willing to fight for him. Beset by doubts, Moon must travel in the company of strangers to a distant realm where he will finally face the forgotten secrets of his past, even as an old enemy returns with a vengeance. The Fell, a vicious race of shape-shifting predators, menaces groundlings and Raksura alike. Determined to crossbreed with the Raksura for arcane purposes, they are driven by an ancient voice that cries out from The Siren Depths.

Editorial Reviews:

The Siren Depths, third in Nebula Award nominee Martha Wells Books of the Raksura arc, follows series protagonist Moon as he attempts to settle quietly into his new role in the Indigo Cloud court. But with old enmities recurring, and another court attempting to claim Moon as their own, the quiet life may a long way off....

Voice actor Christopher Kipiniak turns in an impressive performance, his measured enunciation and pacing serving as a strong guide for listeners in Wells new, fantastical, and intricately crafted world. Theres action aplenty in this thrilling fantasy, but Kipiniak is especially adept at drawing out the deeper, darker questions that plague this troubled world.

Members Reviews:

Excellence in Worldbuilding

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

I have recommended and will continue to recommend The Tales of the Raksura series but no one listens to me. Just in case, though... If you are looking for a series of fantasy novels that defy Tolkien-true tropes, this series for you. Set in the Three Worlds, a world whose geography and inhabitants are almost wholly unfamiliar from our own, Martha Wells' flying dragon shifters are so familiar to us because of their humanity. I love this series wholeheartedly. Start with The Could Roads. Our hero, Moon, doesn't even know what he is or where he's from. That's wonderful for the reader because we get to know the Raksura and the Three Worlds as Moon searches for a place to call home. Then, in the second novel, The Serpent Seas, Moon and members of the Indigo Cloud court have to fight to make their home safe and secure. This third novel very satisfactorily answers our remaining questions about who Moon really is and where he's from. It's lovely how the author turns traditional gender roles around and then has her characters subvert them some more. Brilliant.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I can't begin to choose. Okay, Moon first. He's prickly and prone to fighting and loyal and honorable. Then, Stone who is even more prickly, prone to fighting and is ancient, to boot.

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

When Malachite refers to Moon and Jade as children (even though she's telling them to shut up), I knew that she had accepted Jade as Moon's queen, even though it means he must leave her and his new found home.

Moon's past catches up with him.

Throughout the first two books of this series, the lead character, Moon, has struggled to find his place within Raksuran society.

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Title: Antares Dawn

Subtitle: Antares, Book 1

Author: Michael McCollum

Narrator: Gavin Hammon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-18-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 205 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

When the supergiant star Antares exploded in 2512, the human colony on Alta found their pathway to the stars gone, isolating them from the rest of human space for more than a century. Then one day, a powerful warship materialized in the system without warning. Alarmed by the sudden appearance of such behemoth, the commanders of the Altan Space Navy dispatched one of their most powerful ships to investigate. What ASNS Discovery finds when they finally catch the intruder is a battered hulk manned by a dead crew.

That is disturbing news for the Altans. For the dead battleship could easily have defeated the whole of the Altan navy. If it could find Alta, then so could whoever it was that beat it. Something would have to be done.

Members Reviews:

I enjoyed it, but it was terribly out of date.

I thought the story was good, but the sexism could have (and probably should have) been given an updated explanation for the audio version. As written, it would have made total sense when it was originally published (I had to look that up and then said "Oh, 1986... right.").

I thought the universe created, however, was interesting enough to move on to the others in the series.

good story, but seems "dated" like a little "80's"

First let me say that this is sorta a review for all 3 books, thats how I am going to be doing my reviews for dual books or trilogy's or more that are a direct continuation of the ones before it.

I have gotten the trilogy from the same author "Gibraltar Earth" and it was great, this one being written in 1986 is a little dated but is still worth reading. This trilogy is a little strange being as the first 2 books "Antares Dawn" and "Antares Passage" were written in 1986 ad 1987 however the last book "Antares Victory" was written in 2002. This allows for some of the "dated" things to be "updated" as it would be and some of the science cleared up a little better.

This book was great the whole concept is something that should have a prequel and I hope its written, I have sent an email to the author expressing my want for a prequel of some sorts you can find his site, it to is a little "dated" but it works.

The "dated" things I am talking about are the fact that women are basally treated like they were in the 1980's where they have pretty much no place in the Navy, there are a few but not many. This book has that thing going on here where men are confused about why women are going to be doing things on a Navy ship when its always been men, well as most people know in the 80's that was happening and its in this book thats sorta in the future. A few other things will seem to be "from the 80's" I cant put my finger on it but when you read this you will see what I mean.

The story holds up to the test of time if it is only 27 years old sometimes sci-fi that old can be unreadable except for when its from some of the greats, not saying that Michael McCollum is one of the greats but he is pretty dam good.

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Title: Warriors of the Storm

Subtitle: The Rings of the Master, Book 3

Author: Jack L. Chalker

Narrator: Jamie Du Pont MacKenzie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-05-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 36 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Vulture is a shape-changer capable of absorbing the body and memories of any organic being. Without the information only Vulture can collect, the rebels will never succeed in gathering the five rings necessary to defeat Master System. Now an unknown entity seems to be giving Vulture an unseen hand. But the question is - whose side is it on?

©1987 Jack L. Chalker (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Members Reviews:

Fun but not as compelling as the first two in the series

Hawks and his band of revolutionaries who call themselves pirates continue their plan to find the five rings and bring down Master System in this sci-fi thriller. They find two of the rings on the planets Janipur and Matriyeh, both of which present some really strange problems and solutions to stealing the rings. Chalker continues to reveal the pasts of his characters and takes us through some of the most bizzare situations I have read in all my years of reading sci-fi and fantasy. This book is definitely inventive.

However, despite the amazing situations the author puts his band of unlikely heroes through, I am starting to find the plot somewhat predictable; not the details. I won't spoil it for you so you'll have to read this to know what I mean. Hopefully this is just part of being a book that is a bridge to the climax awaiting us in the next book. Although a little slow at times and a tiny bit predictable this is a very fun read. I can't wait to see what weird things the crew of the Thunder has to do to get the last three rings and defeat Master System; if they defeat him.

Five Stars

Don't let the cheesy artwork on the cover throw you off. This is solid Sci Fi writing!

great author, wonderful story

Not everyone likes Jack L Chalker, but I read his books as an early teen and loved them. Somehow over the last 20 years I lost the books, so finding them on Amazon was a real treat!

It was great to revisit this story again and again!

Just good enough to make you buy the rest of the books.

It was a good idea for a long series, but the guy got board, and rushed it. i bought all the books, just to see how it ended. Now I feel sick that I spent over a Dollar for the books.

Five Stars

Very nice old SciFi. Rocking Story.

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Title: Wildside

Author: Steven Gould

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-04-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 149 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Forget the lottery. Teenager Charlie Newell has just discovered something that will make him and his friends billionaires. What if a world existed in which no humans ever evolved? No cities. No pollution. No laws. A fantastic world filled with unimaginable riches in which everything - everything - was yours just for the taking?

Charlie has found that world. And he plans to use it to make him and his friends rich.There is a problem: How do you keep something this big a secret?

Members Reviews:

Not bad-Not terrrific

The idea for this story was really good. The execution was good. The characters fell short on believability. It goes like this; 18 year old kid finds a gate to a alternate earth, one without humans, recruits his friends to harvest animals and minerals from the other earth, the one with sabre toothed tigers, to this earth for profit. Military/CIA spoils the party, things get messy, bad guys lose. fairly hypocritical good guy; protect other earth while using it's resources and polluting it for his personal gain. Worth a listen nothing to rave about.

What if you could....

Step into another world rich with resources like for instance, gold? Stuff that you can sell in this world for lots of money? And then suppose you told your very best friends about it so they could help you haul it back to this world and share in the wealth? This is a great story with action and suspense but not what youre thinking given the cover art. Now I did have a little trouble swallowing teens randomly knowing that much about legal issues and its a bit heavy with the avionics and mechanics but those issues are minor and hey if your into those things, bonus for you. The take away is the story is really good and will hold your attention. Good job with the narration as well.

Breath taking read

What did you love best about Wildside?

I had read this book when it first hit the library and enjoyed it. I had forgot about it over the years and this was read well enough it like reading a new book!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wildside?

When the secret is revealed to Charlie's friends.

What about Paul Boehmers performance did you like?

The man made each character come alive. That is hard to do for more than four characters.

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

Yes, I did listen to it in one sitting!

Any additional comments?

Well worth the time and money!

And welcome to it...

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

The characters really came to life over the the arc of the story.

What other book might you compare Wildside to and why?

Somewhat thematically similar to Stephen King's 1963. Both are compelling in their own ways.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes of the new world are powerful

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

The growing maturity of the relationships between everyone was moving.

Any additional comments?

This book jumps around alot, and occassionally doesnt make logical sense. It seems like certain details were edited out, or something was missin at times. That said, I got pulled in and eventually really took to this outing. I recommend it, notwithstanding the issues noted.

Waiting on sequel!

This book is an interesting take on interdimentioal travel, greenhouse effects, & government oversight. GREAT BOOK!

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Title: Europa Strike

Subtitle: Book Three of the Heritage Trilogy

Author: Ian Douglas

Narrator: Ray Chase

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-19-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 243 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

2040: Ruins of ancient civilization uncovered on Mars reveal startling truths about the creation of humankind.

2042: In the gray dust of the Earth's Moon, an extinct enslaving race left behind more answers, more questions...and a grim warning.

2067: As Earth's warring factions clash in space for scraps of alien technology, a strange artifact lies trapped beneath the ice-locked oceans of Europa: a machine that holds the key to the final human destiny.

It is called "The Singer" for the eerie tone it emits.

An artificial intelligence built eons ago, it may ultimately solve the mystery of the vanished alien races responsible for the birth and development of humanity. But after decades of war, the hostile nations of Earth care more for power than for knowledge. And now all that stands between the coveted Al and an all-out Chinese assault is a vastly outnumbered contingent of U.S. marines, dug in beneath the baleful red eye of Jupiter. As terrifying events light years distant begin to converge - with confrontation imminent and annihilation inevitable - a secret history of creation and doom must at long last be contended with...if humankind is to finally claim its glorious heritage among the stars.

Members Reviews:

OK...Not too bad...but it is APRICOTS....

Trackers are averse to APRICOTS, NOT PEACHES.... so at least he hasn't hot global warming ad naseum.

Definitely Worthy of Credits Spent on Series.

Being new to writing reviews I think I'll let my review title stand as my best recommendation.

I am not a fan of hyperbole so my review might seem understated to many.

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Title: Amped

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Daniel H. Wilson

Narrator: Robbie Daymond

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-05-12

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 545 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Technology makes them superhuman. But mere mortals want them kept in their place. The New York Times best-selling author of Robopocalypse creates a stunning, near-future world where technology and humanity clash in surprising ways. The result? The perfect summer blockbuster.

As he did in Robopocalypse, Daniel Wilson masterfully envisions a frightening near-future world. In Amped, people are implanted with a device that makes them capable of superhuman feats. The powerful technology has profound consequences for society, and soon a set of laws is passed that restricts the abilities - and rights - of "amplified" humans.

On the day that the Supreme Court passes the first of these laws, 29-year-old Owen Gray joins the ranks of a new persecuted underclass known as "amps." Owen is forced to go on the run, desperate to reach an outpost in Oklahoma where, it is rumored, a group of the most enhanced amps may be about to change the world - or destroy it.

Once again, Daniel H. Wilson's background as a scientist serves him well in this technologically savvy thriller that delivers first-rate entertainment, as Wilson takes the "what if" question in entirely unexpected directions. Fans of Robopocalypse are sure to be delighted, and legions of new fans will want to get "amped" this summer.

Critic Reviews:

Raves for the New York Times Best seller Robopocalypse:"An ingenious, instantly visual story of war between humans and robots." (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

"Terrific page-turning fun." (Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly)

"Robopocalypse reminded me of Michael Crichton when he was young and the best in the business. This novel is brilliant, beautifully conceived, beautifully written (high-five, Dr. Wilson)...but what makes it is the humanity. Wilson doesn't waste his time writing about 'things', he's writing about human beings, fear, love, courage, hope. I loved it." (Robert Crais, number-one New York Times best-selling author)

Members Reviews:

No Michael Crighton but still worth a listen

Some have compared Dr. Wilson, a PHD in Robotics, to Michael Crichton. While they both base their books on their scientific expertise, Dr. Wilson???s story line lacks the imagination of the writer of Jurassic Park; but it is still entertaining.

Amped is a familiar story line about discrimination between super-humans and ???mere mortals,??? (X-men). Set in the near future where people suffering from physical ailments are given neuro implants that not only correct problems such as seizures, ADHD, and Autism, but make them far superior to normal humans. As the group of Amps grows, ???normal" society starts to feel at a disadvantage and passes a law restricting the rights of the Amps. This creates a conflict between the two sides and possible war.

Running from a crime he didn't commit, the hero of the story Owen Grey has a very special implant that he must figure out what exactly it does and how it works before war breaks out.

It???s a quick listen, fast paced, and the narrator Robbie Daymond does a good job; but if you???re looking for a profound concept like extracting Dino DNA from mosquitos stuck in amber, you would be disappointed.

Great potential but falls short

This story of enhanced humans had great promise.

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Title: Mindscan

Author: Robert J. Sawyer

Narrator: Peter Ganim

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-03-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 172 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Jake Sullivan has cheated death: he's discarded his doomed biological body and copied his consciousness into an android form. The new Jake soon finds love, something that eluded him when he was encased in flesh: he falls for the android version of Karen, a woman rediscovering all the joys of life now that she too is no longer constrained by a worn-out body. Karen's son sues her, claiming that by uploading into an immortal body, she has done him out of his inheritance. Even worse, the original version of Jake, consigned to die on the far side of the moon, has taken hostages there, demanding the return of his rights of personhood. In the courtroom and on the lunar surface, the future of uploaded humanity hangs in the balance.

Mindscan is vintage Sawyer - a feast for the mind and the heart.

Critic Reviews:

"Sawyer lucidly explores fascinating philosophical conundrums." (

Entertainment Weekly)

"A tale involving courtroom drama, powerful human emotion and challenging SF mystery. Sawyer juggles it all with intelligence and far-reaching vision worthy of Isaac Asimov." (

Starlog)

"Sawyer deftly examines what a future might be like in two neighboring countries that have become polar opposites. And he focuses on the legal and moral ramifications involved in various definitions of humanity in an intriguing and stylistically fine story. Grade: A." (

Rocky Mountain News)

Members Reviews:

Engaging!

Loved this book. I'm a huge sci-fi geek (really Star Trek) and I heard this book referenced in a Star Trek podcast; and it did not disappoint! I suggested this book for my book club and friends who are not sci-if fans love it as well. Great job!!

A most intriguing and disconcerting book

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

Makes You Think

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the back knowledge regarding the topics discussed.

Which character as performed by Peter Ganim was your favorite?

My favorite character had to be Karen. She was so well read and her words almost ALWAYS came easy to her. She had a certain calmness to her even when faced with a struggle.

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

Yes, but I made sure to break it up so that I can make it last longer.

Any additional comments?

This is a book I chose for no apparent reason and I am extremely glad I did. It is absolutely marvelous a book. If you enjoyed Robocalypse, this is even better. It get's into your head, makes you think about what you would do in this case and the book takes a detour that perhaps you may not think was coming. GREAT writing.

The premise of this book is so far fetched and yet none of it seemed fake. It was rooted deeply in some hard science. The writer is excellent as merging the science and the social in a way that was truly entertaining.

I HEART RJS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have not yet read a Sawyer book that I havent absolutely LOVED, and this is a bit of a curse because my standards for his stories have therefore become impossibly high!!

This book lived up to expectations no question! Yet again he has come up with a riveting and original plot that had me glued to every word; I just cant get enough!

Another hands down hit.

Entertaining, but not Sawyer's Best

Would you try another book from Robert J. Sawyer and/or Peter Ganim?

Robert Sawyer is a talented writer, and has a strong grasp of science.

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Title: Eternity

Subtitle: A Sequel to Eon

Author: Greg Bear

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-27-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 225 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Multiple Nebula and Hugo Award-winner Greg Bear returns to the Earth of his acclaimed novel Eon, a world devastated by nuclear war. The crew of the asteroid-starship Thistledown has thwarted an attack by the Jarts by severing their link to the Way, an endless corridor that spans universes. The asteroid settled into orbit around Earth and the tunnel snaked away, forming a contained universe of its own.

Forty years later, on Gaia, Rhita Vaskayza recklessly pursues her legacy, seeking an Earth once again threatened by forces from within and without. For physicist Konrad Korzenowski, murdered for creating The Way, and resurrected, is compelled by a faction determined to see it opened once more. And humankind will discover just how entirely they have underestimated their ancient adversaries.

Members Reviews:

Good but not up to the standard Eon set

I enjoyed this book but at the same time, as it follows Eon, could have stopped there and been fine. I don't think anyone out there would be disappointed by it if they like sci-fi but personally found it lacking that intangible thing that made Eon so much better.

Excellent sequel with closure to a great story.

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

The culture of the "Hexamon" was fascinating.

What other book might you compare Eternity to and why?

The prequel was good.

What about Stefan Rudnickis performance did you like?

He does an outstanding Russian accent and can narrate between different characters voices very well.

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

I was satisfied by the ending.

An amazing tale full of wonder

This was yet another wonderful part of this Greg Bear series. Excellent narration through wonderful universes within universes.

Great story, sloppy editing.

A great story ruined by two places where the audio jumps and portions go missing. Once near the beginning, and once right at the end, cutting off the epilogue.

Epic!

The story is grand on any scale. Greg Bear's imagination has no limits.

Stephan Rudnicki is an incredible narrator. I love listening to anything he narrates.

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Title: Jack Faust

Author: Michael Swanwick

Narrator: Peter Ganim

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-28-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 21 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Jack Faust is a breathtaking and masterful new spin on Goethe's story of a scholar who sells his soul to the Devil for the gift of unlimited knowledge. But unlike the classic Mephistopheles, the seductive demon who approaches Swanwick's Johannes Faust is not the devil as we know him, but rather a representative of a mysterious race that seeks nothing less than the extermination of the hated human animal. And the wisdom this creature offers the disenchanted thinker goes far beyond anything known or imagined in Goethe's day: the secrets of flight and the cosmos, the principles of economics and engineering, the mysteries of medicine and the atom.

And so begins Faust's transition from madman to savior - from Johannes to Jack - as he accelerates human progress at blinding speed, setting the mighty gears and pistons of industry in motion to first remake Germany, and then all Europe, in his own image. Ushering in a New Age of mechanization hundreds of years before its rightful time, he is alternately adored and despised for his accomplishments, as he attempts to elevate humankind from the muck of ignorance, superstition and disease.

Yet it is love that damns Jack Faust and, ultimately, humanity as well. For Mephistopheles has revealed to him the beauty and purity of innocence in the person of Margarete Reinhardt, the daughter of a struggling businessman. To win her heart, Faust will give Margarete power and influence in an age when women are powerless - and fame in a time when notoriety can be fatal - and, in the process, blind his beloved, and himself, to the horrors Faust's "progress" has wrought. For brutality and greed will always pervert love and genius in a degenerate world - a world which now, thanks to Jack Faust, is rapidly sliding into chaos... or something far worse.

Critic Reviews:

"A vivid and energetic reworking, set forth with all Swanwick's considerable skill." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

Three Stars

It was ok. Hard to follow in some spots but otherwise it was ok.

The blind pursuit of knowledge leads to disaster

Medieval scholar Johannes Faust is frustrated, having gone as far as he can in his pursuit of knowledge. Enraged by his situation, he begins destroying his library, consigning dozens of precious tomes to the flames. He prays for release from his torment, pledging his soul in return for knowledge.

Enter Mephistopheles, a being from another dimension, who promises Faust the knowledge he longs for, requiring only that Faust must be attentive to his teachings, and that he accept the consequences of his newly gained intellectual wealth. Even after being told that his knowledge will bring mankind to ruin, Faust concludes Mephistopheles has to be wrong (how could knowledge be bad, after all?) and begs him for his insights.

The devil/alien grants Faust's wish and tragedy ensues. Faust's initial attempts to share his scientific advances with his fellow scholars are met with derision and scorn. It is only after he finds practical uses for them (like creating weapons of mass destruction) that people take notice. The increasingly misanthropic Faust ushers in the advances of the Industrial Age hundreds of years early, and, by book's end, seems destined to fulfill Mephistopheles dire predictions.

This dark, witty, sarcastic book was one of the best reads of 1997, a well written, engrossing alternate history/fantasy.