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Daniel

Sci-Fi/Fantasy fan for 50 something years. Love it all from Asimov to Tolkein. Always looking for new and interesting authors.

Middleton, ID, United States

ratings
261
REVIEWS
24
FOLLOWING
0
FOLLOWERS
0
HELPFUL VOTES
30

  • A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book 5

    • UNABRIDGED (49 hrs)
    • By George R. R. Martin
    • Narrated By Roy Dotrice
    Overall
    (6374)
    Performance
    (5268)
    Story
    (5267)

    Dubbed the American Tolkien by Time magazine, George R. R. Martin has earned international acclaim for his monumental cycle of epic fantasy. Now the number-one New York Times best-selling author delivers the fifth book in his spellbinding landmark series - as both familiar faces and surprising new forces vie for a foothold in a fragmented empire.

    J. Cano says: "A tale of two publishers:"
    "Overpriced yawn"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    After being led to believe that this would be the finale to the series, then being led to believe that it would be better than the previous installments due to the length of time devoted to its writing, I am completely disappointed in the resulting book. This book should have been riveting rather than a yawner. The author is obviously more interested in his television series rather than his writing and his fans are given a tome that is rather less valuable than the price tag suggests.
    I am seriously considering whether I will even bother to finish the series, as if the next book will be available before five years has passed.
    Save your money, there are many other series available from Audible that are more interesting and less costly.

    2 of 4 people found this review helpful
  • The Legend of Broken

    • UNABRIDGED (35 hrs and 58 mins)
    • By Caleb Carr
    • Narrated By Tim Gerard Reynolds
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (33)
    Performance
    (29)
    Story
    (27)

    With the historical storytelling brilliance of Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, the hugely best-selling author of The Alienist writes a bounding epic: The Legend of Broken is an action-packed, multi-charactered tale of a medieval clash of cultures. In Caleb Carr’s fascinating tale of the kingdom of Broken, legend meets history, science defies all expectation, and one noble soldier struggles to save a fortress city besieged by enemies within and without.

    Joe says: "Brilliant Story, Brilliant Narration"
    "Excellent Yarn"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

    Yes I would and have recommended this book to friends, co-workers, folks waiting for a bus, people I have no idea where they were nor where I was at the time I recommended the book.


    What did you like best about this story?

    IT WAS FUN! This book was one of the best recreational books I have ever read. Not difficult to follow, nor was it difficult to believe it just made me feel like it was a good story. No investment with a high return


    What about Tim Gerard Reynolds’s performance did you like?

    As always Mr. Reynolds did a spectacular job bringing life and character to the story.


    Who was the most memorable character of The Legend of Broken and why?

    Rather than pick one I will say there wasn't a character that didn't impress me.


    Any additional comments?

    Read this book, listen to this book, steal it if you must but most of all enjoy this book!

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • The Straits of Galahesh: The Lays of Anuskaya, Book 2

    • UNABRIDGED (24 hrs and 51 mins)
    • By Bradley P. Beaulieu
    • Narrated By Ray Chase
    Overall
    (1)
    Performance
    (1)
    Story
    (1)

    West of the Grand Duchy of Anuskaya lies the Empire of Yrstanla, the Motherland. The Empire has lived at peace with Anuskaya for generations, but with political turmoil brewing and the wasting disease still rampant, opportunists from the mainland have begun to set their sights on the Grand Duchy, seeking to expand their empire.

    Daniel says: "Second book does not let you down"
    "Second book does not let you down"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you consider the audio edition of The Straits of Galahesh to be better than the print version?

    I would consider that this version to be every bit as good as the print version. This is the first series I have listened to Mr Chase and he has done as well as more well known narrators.


    What was one of the most memorable moments of The Straits of Galahesh?

    The attack by Atiana on the other Matres was very intense and I enjoyed it quite well. Difficult to say if there were other parts of the book that weren't memorable but that one stands out as she is battling with those who have been her mentors and relatives.


    Which character – as performed by Ray Chase – was your favorite?

    Nikandr


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

    The entire book was very well done so there isn't a particular "moving" part but there are some very touching moments the author describes and he has done well with these.


    Any additional comments?

    Though this is the first series I have read by Mr Beaulieu I am impressed with his abilities and will consider reading more of his work as well as the last installment of the trilogy. That is the greatest testament I can give to an author. Though I have read many, many books in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, I can honestly say that if I read all the books of a series then it must be a pretty good series. Witness the fact I could not care if I read another book by some authors with incomplete series, Song of Ice and Fire being one.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • Le Morte D'Arthur

    • UNABRIDGED (32 hrs and 51 mins)
    • By Sir Thomas Malory
    • Narrated By Frederick Davidson
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (54)
    Performance
    (32)
    Story
    (31)

    This monumental work made the Arthurian cycle available for the first time in English. Arthur is conceived and taken away in secret, returning as a young man to claim the throne by pulling the sword Excalibur from the stone. In retelling the story of Arthur's rule of Britain, Malory intertwines the romances of Guinevere and Launcelot, Tristram and Isolde, and Launcelot and Elaine. Sir Galahad's appearance at Camelot begins the quest for the Holy Grail.

    Blue says: "Annoying narration"
    "With all the great readers why Davidson?"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What would have made Le Morte D'Arthur better?

    A different reader


    Who was your favorite character and why?

    I hated them all by the end of the second hour of this nightmare rendition of Sir Thomas Mallory's wonderful compilation.


    Would you be willing to try another one of Frederick Davidson’s performances?

    Nope


    You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

    I couldn't finish the book so it may have but I am unwilling to go further with it. I don't let someone hit me in the head twice, this narrator is as bad as Scott Brick.


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • By Grace and Banners Fallen: Prologue to A Memory of Light

    • UNABRIDGED (2 hrs and 58 mins)
    • By Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
    • Narrated By Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (446)
    Performance
    (404)
    Story
    (405)

    Since 1990, when Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time burst on the world with its first book, The Eye of the World, fans have been anticipating the finale of this extraordinary saga, which has sold over 40 million copies in over 30 languages. The wait will soon be over. The 14th and final volume, A Memory of Light, will be available in hardcover and audiobook on January 8, 2013. However, you can read the prologue, “By Grace and Banners Fallen”, before the book’s official release date.

    Mike says: "Worth every penny (but no need for it any more)"
    "A Fantastic Preview"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you listen to By Grace and Banners Fallen: Prologue to A Memory of Light again? Why?

    Yes! I have already listened to this prologue twice and I have only had it 5 hours.
    I have read and listened to this fabulous series since it came out and I really enjoy it. Makes the Song of Ice and Fire pale by comparison.


    What did you like best about this story?

    The characters are well developed, the plot arc is well planned and each book is a tale unto itself.


    Which scene was your favorite?

    The Band of the Red Hand vs trollocs in Caemlyn


    If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

    Too many to count


    Any additional comments?

    This being the Prologue the only thing missing is what will be the first paragraph of the first chapter of the Memory of Light.
    Each of the books have begun with the a paragraph I will not use but still brings a grin, a tear and the expectancy of things great to follow.
    I am going to re-read the entire series starting today so that I get the complete story in my memory before Memory of Light arrives.
    RJ, great thanks for your vision and books. The world will miss you more than you ever had anticipated.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • Black Ops

    • UNABRIDGED (19 hrs and 26 mins)
    • By W. E. B. Griffin
    • Narrated By Dick Hill
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (578)
    Performance
    (252)
    Story
    (259)

    The first disturbing reports reached Delta Force Lieutenant Colonel Charley Castillo in the form of backchannel messages concerning covert U.S. intelligence assets working for a variety of agencies suddenly gone missing and then, suddenly, inexplicably, found dying. Or dead. One in Budapest, Hungary. One in Kiev, Ukraine. One in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, mere klicks from the Iran border.

    Luck8 says: "Best of Presidential Agent Series"
    "Not the best but good"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

    This book was the low point in the series for me but at least it wasn't narrated by Scott Brick, Mr. Predictable.
    The story was good but if you take out all of the plot from the previous books this was short a few pages.
    After reading the reviews for the next two books I think I will stop at this one. Charlie Castillo is a great character but the lack of new story is more than a bit disappointing. Did I mention that at least this wasn't done by Scott Brick?


    Would you recommend Black Ops to your friends? Why or why not?

    Yes I would recommend this book because it wasn't narrated by Scott Brick.


    Which scene was your favorite?

    When he meets the defecting agents.


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

    No.


    Any additional comments?

    Great performance by someone other than Scott Brick. Did I mention that Scott Brick narrations make me want me to plunge hot ice picks into my ears?

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Patriot Games

    • UNABRIDGED (22 hrs and 1 min)
    • By Tom Clancy
    • Narrated By Scott Brick
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (478)
    Performance
    (373)
    Story
    (377)

    It is fall. CIA analyst Jack Ryan, historian and former Marine, is vacationing in London with his wife and young daughter. Suddenly, right before his eyes, a terrorist group launches its deadly attack. Instinctively, he dives forward to break it up, and is shot. It is not until he wakes up in the hospital that he learns whose lives he has saved - the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

    K. Masheter Deal says: "Oldie but Goodie!"
    "Great book, strong plot with good intrigue but...."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you consider the audio edition of Patriot Games to be better than the print version?

    I love this series, the books and stories are fantastic, but Scott Brick? PLEASE!!! He is good for Kevin J Anderson and Brian Herbert, even good on some of the non fiction but he is WAY TOO PREDICTABLE, if he were any more predictable, when his timber raises or he reads the words faster he is getting to a plot jink or action point. When he reads slower and more subdued he is reading a background point. I mean I would rather have Michael Prichard or Diamond Phillips read these books than Scott Brick. Like kissing your sister, even if she is beautiful there is no spark.

    Print version is much better because I have a chance of interpreting for myself and it isn't the way this guy reads it.


    What was one of the most memorable moments of Patriot Games?

    There are too many memorable moments to pick just one.


    Would you listen to another book narrated by Scott Brick?

    I try not to unless it is a Kevin J Anderson or Brian Herbert book. For some reason he can do fine with them but when he does Clancy he doesn't quite get it right.


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • Executive Orders

    • UNABRIDGED (51 hrs and 28 mins)
    • By Tom Clancy
    • Narrated By Michael Prichard
    Overall
    (763)
    Performance
    (518)
    Story
    (544)

    Debt of Honor ends as Jack Ryan is confirmed vice president minutes before a mammoth act of terrorism kills the President, most of his cabinet, all but a few members of Congress, the entire Supreme Court and all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Suddenly Ryan is President, which is where Executive Orders begins.

    Brodie says: "Long labour of listening"
    "Another great yarn from Tom Clancy"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you listen to Executive Orders again? Why?

    I had purchased this title in hopes of pleasantly killing time until my next installment from my favorite author was available but found myself panting for more.
    I am now on my third listen to this story.


    Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

    I had a real difficulty putting the story down many and much of the time.


    Have you listened to any of Michael Prichard’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

    Michael Prichard gives a good performance but he does have the same basic voice for all characters. He gives the story more credibility than interest


    Any additional comments?


    Though I am not as excited about Michael Prichard as I was with Lou Diamond Phillips in Dead or Alive, I did enjoy the story and am now waiting for my next credits to get the rest of the Jack Ryan series.

    Tom Clancy does go a bit overboard with the technical jargon of the hardware, he has some insight and inside knowlege of the functioning of the SOG and the CIA.

    Give it a try as I did, I don't think you will be disappointed.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Outlander

    • UNABRIDGED (33 hrs and 8 mins)
    • By Diana Gabaldon
    • Narrated By Davina Porter
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (11053)
    Performance
    (5676)
    Story
    (5483)

    Why we think it’s a great listen: An all-time Audible favorite that mixes historic fiction, adventure, and romance with one of the most fascinating literary devices: time travel. Outlander introduces an exhilarating world of heroism and breathtaking thrills as one woman is torn between past and present, passion and love. In 1945, former combat nurse Claire Randall returns from World War II and joins her husband for a second honeymoon. But their blissful reunion is shattered....

    Lulu says: "The Reason for the Existence of Audio Books"
    "An epic with romance and intrigue"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I am slowly becoming a fan of Ms Gabaldon and it appears that this series has some interesting side passages that could be worth exploring. The history that this book encompasses is for the most part accurate so she has done a bit of research on the subject. The performance is excellent as Ms Porter has sufficient talent to keep all the characters voicing consistent and has a very good grasp of the many dialectical nuances of the Britons and show this with her differentiation between the English dialects as well as the differences in the Scots dialects of English and Gaelic.
    I have already decided to purchase the next book in this series to see what intrigues follow, and of course, how the romance comes into play in the history of the plot.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Omen Machine: A Richard and Kahlan Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (15 hrs)
    • By Terry Goodkind
    • Narrated By Sam Tsoutsouvas
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (699)
    Performance
    (593)
    Story
    (593)

    An accident leads to the discovery of a mysterious machine that has rested hidden deep underground for countless millennia. The machine awakens to begin issuing a series of increasingly alarming, if minor, omens. The omens turn out to be astonishingly accurate, and ever more ominous. As Zedd tries to figure out how to destroy the sinister device, the machine issues a cataclysmic omen involving Richard and Kahlan, foretelling an impending event beyond anyone’s ability to stop. As catastrophe approaches, the machine then reveals that it is within its power to withdraw the omen....

    Laura says: "Still Suffering..."
    "Doesn't really fit"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I am a fan of Mr. Goodkind and I really wanted this book to be great but it doesn't really fit in the Sword of Truth series anymore than the television show fit the Sword of Truth series.
    This book is still better than many of the genre it is not what I would have expected to this author. It does have all the necessary components for a quality book I am a bit disappointed that Terry Goodkind let this one go to the editor as it is. It has a good beat but you can't dance to it.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Hot Gate: Troy Rising, Book Three

    • UNABRIDGED (16 hrs and 2 mins)
    • By John Ringo
    • Narrated By Mark Boyett
    Overall
    (1082)
    Performance
    (785)
    Story
    (805)

    The fight to free the Earth from alien domination began in Live Free or Die, and continued in Citadel. Now Tyler Vernon and his troops aboard the gigantic battle station Troy face a desperate battle with the forces of galactic tyranny. And the very survival of the Earth and its people is not all that is at stake. The galaxy itself must choose to live free or die - and if the tyrants win this battle, darkness will fall across the galaxy for millennia to come.

    Roger says: "Culture Smulcher"
    "Another good yarn from John Ringo"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    This is yet another good tale from John Ringo. Though his books tend to be shorter than I like, he does give good value and hours of enjoyment. I find myself secretly cheering for his heros and hissing his villians just as I would if I was much younger.
    Not many authors have the military knowlege of Ringo so they tend to gloss over the facts, and though this author is a bit too involved in them they do make for a more believable story.
    Well worth the price of admission.

    2 of 3 people found this review helpful

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