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Craig

Mesa, AZ, United States | Member Since 2012

2
HELPFUL VOTES
  • 5 reviews
  • 12 ratings
  • 0 titles in library
  • 13 purchased in 2013
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  • Fate of Worlds: Return from the Ringworld | [Larry Niven, Edward M. Lerner]
    Fate of Worlds: Return from the Ringworld
    UNABRIDGED

    Fate of Worlds: Return from the Ringworld

    • UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 54 mins)
    • By Larry Niven, Edward M. Lerner
    • Narrated By Tom Weiner
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (88)
    Performance
    (80)
    Story
    (79)

    For decades, the spacefaring species of known space have battled over the largest artifact - and grandest prize - in the galaxy: the all-but-limitless resources and technology of the Ringworld. Now, without warning, the Ringworld has vanished, leaving behind three rival war fleets. If the fallen civilization of the Ringworld can no longer be despoiled of its secrets, the puppeteers will be forced to surrender theirs - everyone knows that they are cowards. But the crises converging upon the trillion puppeteers of the Fleet of Worlds go far beyond even the onrushing armadas.

    Bruce says: "Many loose ends now secure and no sharp corners."
    "Not - really - a RingWorld book."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    This book, while set in the Ringworld universe, has very little Ringworld in it. None of the actual story takes place on Ringworld, it is only mentioned as background and side-story for what I'll call "The Flight of the Puppeteers".

    Tom Weiner gives an even, consistent performance.

    Nothing sticks out in my mind regarding this story. Basically, if you are a Ringworld fan, you need to listen to (or read) this story just for completions sake.

    It's definitely listenable and mildly entertaining, but I sit here a month or so later and can't really recall much about what happened.

    I really expected more from Niven / Lerner.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Great North Road | [Peter F. Hamilton]
    Great North Road
    UNABRIDGED

    Great North Road

    • UNABRIDGED (36 hrs and 34 mins)
    • By Peter F. Hamilton
    • Narrated By Toby Longworth
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (226)
    Performance
    (206)
    Story
    (203)

    A century from now, thanks to a technology allowing instantaneous travel across light-years, humanity has solved its energy shortages, cleaned up the environment, and created far-flung colony worlds. The keys to this empire belong to the powerful North family - composed of successive generations of clones. Yet these clones are not identical. For one thing, genetic errors have crept in with each generation. For another, the original three clone "brothers" have gone their separate ways, and the branches of the family are now friendly rivals more than allies. Or maybe not so friendly....

    Ethan M. says: "A modern master of epic SF does what he does best"
    "Something to fill the time"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    First off: I'm a Peter F Hamilton fan. I've read or listened to everything he has produced. This novel, at least in audio book form, just doesn't measure up.

    In a word: forgettable.

    You'll want to read/listen to it if you are a fan, but if you are new to Hamilton and are well read in regards to modern sci-fi, you won't be impressed by this. Save your credits.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Sagan Diary | [John Scalzi]
    The Sagan Diary
    UNABRIDGED

    The Sagan Diary

    • UNABRIDGED (1 hr and 35 mins)
    • By John Scalzi
    • Narrated By Stephanie Wolfe, John Scalzi
    Overall
    (587)
    Performance
    (509)
    Story
    (514)

    Jane Sagan: Soldier. Killer. Lover. Dreamer. In John Scalzi's best-selling Old Man's War series of science-fiction novels, we see this warrior woman as the other characters see her - silent and strong, from the outside. But now The Sagan Diary shows us Sagan from another point of view: her own, as she prepares to leave military life and join her new husband and adopted daughter on a colony world.

    Sheldon says: "Even at free this was too expensive."
    "Couldn't make it through 20 minutes."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

    Being a different story.


    What do you think your next listen will be?

    Something that is actually hard sci-fi or space opera.


    Would you listen to another book narrated by Stephanie Wolfe and John Scalzi ?

    Possibly. It isn't Wolfe's fault... she had to read the story she was given.


    If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Sagan Diary?

    The whole book.


    Any additional comments?

    Listening to Sagan's inner dialogue is about as horrible as attending some sort of female only poetry slam. She is too "clever" in her self assessment and just comes off as dry and uninteresting. Maybe the hour of the book I didn't listen to redeems it, but I'll probably never find out.

    The audiobook starts off with Scalzi telling how this story came to be. It was an additional prize for whoever bid the highest $ amount over $5k for a charity fundraiser he supported. Sadly, that is exactly what it feels like: the "free additional gift for our most generous sponsor". The literary equivalent of a NFL themed clock radio.

    Redshirts and Agent to the Stars are SOOOO good, this was such a huge disappointment.

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Agent to the Stars | [John Scalzi]
    Agent to the Stars
    UNABRIDGED

    Agent to the Stars

    • UNABRIDGED (8 hrs and 49 mins)
    • By John Scalzi
    • Narrated By Wil Wheaton
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1803)
    Performance
    (1480)
    Story
    (1479)

    The space-faring Yherajk have come to Earth to meet us and to begin humanity's first interstellar friendship. There's just one problem: They're hideously ugly and they smell like rotting fish. So getting humanity's trust is a challenge. The Yherajk need someone who can help them close the deal. Enter Thomas Stein, who knows something about closing deals. He's one of Hollywood's hottest young agents.

    C. Paget says: "excellent"
    "Scalzi + Wheaton = Awesome Audiobooks !"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you listen to Agent to the Stars again? Why?

    I don't listen to audiobooks twice.


    What other book might you compare Agent to the Stars to and why?

    Obviously Scalzi's "Redshirts". Both are sci-fi with a hollywood tie-in. Both read by Wheaton.


    Any additional comments?

    Just that if you are looking for a good place to spend a credit and you like modern sci-fi, this is it !

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • A Colder War | [Charles Stross]
    A Colder War
    UNABRIDGED

    A Colder War

    • UNABRIDGED (1 hr and 19 mins)
    • By Charles Stross
    • Narrated By Pat Bottino
    Overall
    (36)
    Performance
    (12)
    Story
    (13)

    Here is a modern novelette in H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. Imagine David Cronenberg directing Dr. Strangelove, based on a script by H. P. Lovecraft. Imagine an alternate history in which nuclear bombs are not the ultimate weapon, but instead are merely a stepping stone to eldritch technologies accessible through certain trans-dimensional forces first encountered in 1920s Antarctica, technologies that neither the United States nor the USSR can quite contain.

    Max Draco says: "Good story, Bad narration"
    "Great Story... Marginal Narration"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What did you love best about A Colder War?

    It's a Laundry Files universe story.


    What did you like best about this story?

    The particular plot of this story


    What didn’t you like about Pat Bottino’s performance?

    Sounds too much like a fast talking film noir detective.I kept waiting for him to say


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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