paul

I had to fast forward thru the descriptions of gore. I don't want to take my imagination to a nightmare world. This book needs a Horror warning or label.

(I should have know from the short sample, but I gave it a try because it sounded like it was going to be light or even humorous when the narrator was reading the guide book to the worlds inhabitants, warring the Earth's people who have been brought back to life.)

It is a multi genre horror and SI-FI so no, I never, ever read horror! this slipped in #$%&!!

The voice artist is gifted when it comes to clarity and diction. Reading is flat, almost a montone, paced slow and not much change. Some risk and a couple odd voices here and there that are so out of place after the metronome delivery of the rest of the story. Very briefly one voice has a special effect that sounded like an echo chamber that grated so much I fast forwarded that too. Special effects?! Don't do it unless your 100% sure it's going to work. Let our imagination fill in the atmosphere of a well written story and skip the risky stuff.

I think I could have loved this book without it's dark side, if it were just SI-FI without the sick horror. I don't want to fill my imaginary world with torture or genocide when I follow along in a story. Tone down the dark stuff, it isn't necessary to go there to tell this story, there could still be conflict without resorting to the easy or cheap trick of adding that stuff.

I value both audio and printed books, I'd rather not debate that. If someone has a prejudice against a form of art, than it's their lose.

What I loved most was the optimistic fantasy that we humans will in the future be heroic, That we are intrinsically good people. I love the idea of flying and in space, it's a notch above soaring like a bird. I eat up long descriptions of futurist technology, aliens, creatures and cultures. Rusch's imagination and talent for story telling is heart pounding. Often I feel joy in a simple description, what might seem mundane, everyday items like a work station.

Best are her people, I feel the description of relationships. As if I'm in the room with them, I enjoy her strong heroines, without taking anything from the men. She is equitable to all people, making a near utopia that StarTrek trips at, as if wearing poorly fit shoes.

The ending, very good.

Next time I write a review I will talk more about her writing and less like groupie.

Exciting, Optimistic and Masterful

I loved most all the characters and hope for this to be a first of a series. Most of the characters I already imagined possible futures they might have.

Omg!! It's so great to hear an African accent, the voice artist adds another level of bliss. I was sad when the story ended. His work was perfect, he took some risk and and succeeded, never going beyond his range.

I listened three times so far.I paused to savor it. After this last read, I appreciate the collaboration even more.

Alistor Reynolds has a rare gift to tell a story without over the top violence. He doesn't shy away from conflict, and there is plenty of action, tension with out cheep tricks. His stories have a convincing hope. Science fiction writers are important as any other form of literature and tell us important things about the future.

This was written the moment I finished the book.A book to let your imagination get rich, I enjoyed seeing so much in my head, the people and their rooms and clothes. what is in there hands. I can loose myself in my imagination in so many ways. What characters I would want to be, fear or root for. I enjoyed the nature of the outer world and the craziness of it. I like to be challenged in a way simular to Magic Realism, gone Cyber to "Bug Punk". (Not my phase, I picked this out of a few other reviews)How it would feel to look up at that sky. The writing is like Fate sitting a the spinning wheel as we are given info bits to make the world real, and really different. The technology is ironic, viscus and intriguing. A bit spooky and lots often tension. The martal arts or battles are great with plenty surprises for example a gun that isn't a primitive throwback, nor high tech weap. that shoots a round at near light speeds. Ha, you'll have to wait and see.And much more.

Hard to choose so far

I'll get back to you on that, She did very well.

I wrote this the moment I finished the book, way past my bedtime...urg

I avoid stereotyping people like the plauge, I don't care for labling groups of people. We are what we are. Even if we are trying to be complementary. Calling Smurfs blue, is it really nessary? Other than in a police lineup?