Mark Tauber

You won't mind that the characterizations are little more than sci-fi shadow puppets or that the sole female character "unexpectedly" can handle a reality TV obstacle course with the best of them. The star of the show is the fast-moving narrative. I was so intrigued with the science and weaponry that I stopped the recording several times to look up references to myrmecology, weaver ants, and the latest technology in weapons, body armor, and pilotless aircraft. I was never bored. In the more fast moving scenes, the narrator's different accents sluice over each into each other, but you'll forgive the untethered tongue for the speed and engagement of the tale. A great listen. Highly recommended.

I waded through 30 minutes of this palaver before giving up. It might be usefully compared to an adolescent stand-up routine on open-mike night. Save your credits and move on.

As many previous reviewers get right, this book has the pulpy feel of a novelized made-for-TV movie. But I disagree with those who dismiss this book as juvenile fiction. Maberry has taken pains to paint the scenery, mount the sets, and choreograph the actors. It takes patience to fully enjoy this verisimilitude, and today's attention-deficit teen would have his finger on the fast forward button for much of this, missing half the point of the novel.

I'm relatively new to sci-fi recordings. Is there a sub-genre called

In one those silly movies about an around-the-world race, the cliche driver from Rome tore off the rearview mirror. With a silk scarf waving in the breeze he exclaimed,

I think the arrival of Morgan, in her warbird form, certainly got my attention since it seemed to be the portent of action to come.

All the human-dog repartee was my favorite. I laughed out several times.

Nearly.

Since I did not know anything about Celtic mythology, it took me a little time to really get into it. But once I did, I was hooked.

SPOILER ALERT:

The only somewhat negative surprise was the relatively short swordplay. Given how central it is to the plot, I might have expected a bit more in that area.

Don't know. Have not looked at print version, but I was totally enthralled with audio version.

Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. Although his is a broader sweep of history, Mistborn has the same masterful imagining of a different world but familiar human ambitions and characters driving the story.

I guess it would have to be Sayzid. His is the voice that put everything together. I waited expectantly to hear his story unfolding.

I highly recommend this series. Very traditional Science Fiction but beautifully drawn and fast moving enough to keep your interest up to the denouement.

Writing good science fiction is like confecting the perfect dessert. In form, it must be kept aloft with a miracle of meringue -- like a stained glass window of sweetness upon the palate, never the molar-cracking crunch of high baroque stucco. In flavor, it must be the very soul of sweetness incarnate clothed in a body of hearty savor. Every ingredient must be in perfect measure, an alchemy of cuisine. Baking and cooling? Hah! These must be watched as the emperor guards his heir, with a solicitous caution. And the plating of the comestible must never undeceive the diner that he is consuming a feat of low-calorie legerdemain when in fact not a shingle of butter, not a shovelful of sugar nor dram of heavy cream and certainly never -- oh heavens, never -- a ladling of lard was spared in the gustatory seduction.

Just so, if I may change metaphors midstream, this book builds its otherworld architecture onto the superstructure of very human characters with very human motivations. They are sufficiently colorful to engage but not built to the exacting standards of post-modern code. The might be a tad better realized. But I quibble. The book kept my interest from the short sample on the sales page all the way to the denouement, which did have an unexpected twist.

All the characters are uniquely voiced. I'm less impressed with the women's' voices, but the flow was still fine.

Oddly, learning about the origins of Wayne and the weight of regret he carries was probably the most moving part of a book that is more mystery and adventure than profound study of the human condition.

I eagerly await the sequel.