Dan

Start at the 2nd ship and then progress to end. It's REALLY worth the money. The story is very original, complex, and well thought out. The author creates situations that should only be presented to adults, without sinking into un-necessary details (one doesn't have to smell the excrement to know that it stinks). Why don't other authors do that?
I'll definitely look for other titles by this author.

Also, the Narrator does a great job. I hope the publisher doesn't do something stupid like using a different narrator to save money.

Book one introduce many new characters. Book two was a spin-off and shouldn't really be called book two. Book three is a very well executed continuation of Book one.

If your every listened to Banks novel "Consider Phlebas", well, you're in for the same kind of thing. If you want to hear a story told from the perspective of an AI persona -= THIS AINT IT. The story was well written (technique was 1st rate), but it did make me wish they would just tell me why the protagonist was so messed-up (you learn that at the VERY END of the story). Also, the narrator does a good job, as always. I have to say that I rated it a 4 (instead of a 5), because it was not up to the standard of other Culture novels such as "Player of Games" or "Surface Detail" (both 1st rate; buy them now if your haven't listened yet). But, I this novel was still a whole lot better than a lot of other stuff that I rated a 4.

More drama that tech, but very well written. The series primarily focuses on the human condition and often leaves "juicy" tech ideas virtually ignored.

Herbert's Dune: House series

Scott Brick is always excellent; but I would compare this to his reading of Hebert's Dune: House series.

I listened to the entire book over 2½ consecutive days.

I can't believe I missed this five part series. But, to be honest, its likely because I didn't want to pay the price for a six hour Book-1. Maybe I've learned a lesson about quality versus quantity (or maybe the price for the 1st book should have been discounted more).

I would compare this story to the Dune series. Maybe this because Scott Brick also narrated the Dune series; but, the writing style is also similar.

I already know I'll listen to the whole series.

This title lives up to all of the splendid reviews. Also, I can see sequels since not all loose ends are tied.

I was very happy to see that this novel did not include zombies. I avoided other Clines novels because they did appear to include zombies. Zombie threads are the biggest creative cop-out in modern Sci-Fi literature. Zombies are the 'Vampire & Werewii" of the 21st century and I usually pass-m-up.

Very good character development as always wiith S.King. The ending is one of his very best.

I liked the book and really liked the ending; but there is a logical flaw with the premise. Lot of his objective would have been accomplished as an anonomous informant to the Secret Service. He could have oulined Oswald's movements and actions so well in advance, that it's no way they wouldn't look preplanned.

Absolutely hated it. Not the performance was good, and the writing isn't bad, but the premise really, really stinks. We are to understand that the MIXED_RACE decendants of space age share-croppers live a hopeless, wretched squallid, existence on a panet so fertize that the forest has to be regularly burned, because the"Eurt-Mun do want to buy the moon-shine no-moe". Yikes......the whole world is theirs! I will not be buying book 2.