"USS Walker Cat Monkeys vs. Evil Lizards!"
No, that would not work as a title but the "review" of this book doesn't do it justice as a summary either. I realized that wasn't the intention, but that was all I had to go on when I decided to download this book. Glad I did. If your thing is epic SciFi, this book I recommend. Yes it is Book 1 and yes it is a commitment when beginning a series like this (that Book 2, 3, 4, etc. are not already written) BUT this is a "very good" SciFi book. Can't wait for Book 2.
"Bring on Book 2 !!!"
Why not 5 out of 5 stars? Not possible; maybe if Tolkien (JRR) came back from the dead and wrote another LORT book, or Robert Jordan came back and finished what he started, or if George R.R. Martin released the last ASIF book. 4 of 5 is what I think of as "very good", I've listened to A LOT of fantasy audiobooks and I would recommend this book to somebody who likes epic fantasy. There are a number of plot threads laid out, and the characters are built up well. The tension and subtext to dialogs are interesting, the author (and narrator) project a good sense of emotions. The foundation is there, now ... BRING ON BOOK2 !!!
"This might become something ..."
I listen to Fantasy and SciFi, nothing but for about three years now. I'd like to think I've developed an ear for a good story in the making. This sounds like a good story. I think the author lays quite a few plot threads and if she can keep them together this will be a great series. Narrator does an excellent job, which may mask some of what the book lacks in depth but I do recommend this book for Fantasy listeners.