Mercury Falls

Mercury, Book 1

By: Robert Kroese

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Christine Temetri is at her wits’ end. For years she’s covered the increasingly bizarre activities of End Times cults for the Banner, a religious news magazine. Yet Christine, who once dreamed of being a "real" writer, has nothing to show for the gig other than a regular paycheck and serious doubt that Armageddon will occur in time for her next deadline. But after a mysterious man entrusts her with a locked briefcase and orders to "take it to Mercury", Christine finds herself face-to-face with a ping-pong-playing angel by the name of Galileo Mercury.

It seems Mercury was sent from heaven to make preparations for Armageddon, yet became sidetracked by the earthly delights he discovered: Rice Krispy treats, table tennis, and beer, to name just a few. Mercury’s concern for the fate of mankind is middling at best, but he is happy to educate Christine on the details of the elaborate, if poorly organized, calamity to come. When Christine inadvertently saves the Antichrist - an obnoxious, thirtysomething gamer who still lives with his mother - from celestial assassination, she begins an ambitious battle to stop the Apocalypse and save the world. But the heavenly host is nothing if not persistent, and Christine, aided only by an apathetic angel and a reluctant Antichrist, has her work cut out for her.

Packed with outrageous characters, Mercury Falls is a viciously funny (and occasionally absurd) morality tale for the 21st century.

©2010 Robert Kroese (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

I don't easily compare writers to Douglas Adams

Due to a sale or just random purchasing I happened on The Big Sheep and thoroughly enjoyed it. Moved on to Mercury Rising - again on a good Kindle-related sale - and have finally found a writer almost as good as Adams for sheer nonsense and a wonderful use of words. And maybe its the angel/devil/apocalypse thing, but it also evokes the Pratchett/Gaiman Good Omens. I don't think there can ever be a replacement for Adams or Pratchett, but so far, at least Kroese is someone to consider.

A Silly Apocolyptic Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book is great for those that like religous satire(like Anne Rice's "Memnoch the Devil"). The characters are silly, entertaining and some are pretty charming.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mercury, of course! With his angelic knowledge and silly whims he is the first character that brought me in and made me want to know more. Mercury is an angel, but is fascinated with what makes us human and has embraced a new sense of self. Without giving a lot away, he is a loner that is still finding his place in the world.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene is toward the end but I will just say that it involves a pissed off Lucifer, boxers and an annoying brat that just happens to be in his thirties.

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

Yes, and I pretty much did. It took a little while for me to get pulled in but once I was, I wanted to know more about this world the author was trying to convey. The plot can be pretty complicated at times, but it flowed very well, making me want to keep listening.

Any additional comments?

I bought this book not knowing that it was a series, but now that I know that there is more, I am eager to read the next installment. I am curious how you can top a plot like the Apocolypse.

Apocalypse Ha!

The apocalypse is near and only a reporter, a renegade angel, and the antichrist can stop three different factions of angels and demons from carrying it out for their own nefarious purposes. Robert Kroese has imagined a universe in which Earth is on the Mundane Plane, infested with meddling beings from other divine planes of existence. The reporter, who specializes in doomsday cults, teams up with Galileo Mercury, a slacker angel gone rogue, to save the antichrist, a dimwitted gamer who lives in his mother's basement, whose death would trigger armageddon.

Funny stuff. Yes, doomsday, apocalypse, armageddon, world destruction -- funny. In the hand of Kroese. This is played for fun and laughs, and played well. Kroese has a deft touch as a humorist, keeping things light, fast, and chuckleworthy. I personally love the pop culture references, especially the pop-rock music references. I will most definitely be listening to the remainder of this series, currently five volumes strong. In fact, having read and liked three Kroese titles at this point, I will continue to sample his wares without reservation.

My only warning is this: Kroese begins every other chapter or so with ruminations about various religious or spiritual topics. The primary aim to generate laughs -- intellectual laughs -- but it may not dovetail with your own sensibilities. Me, it was unimportant whether I agreed with him, more important that he successfully advanced the story and the humor even if I disagreed.

wonderful

I listen to this series at least once a year. great dry humor. if you like Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, el al, you'll like this. great narrator.

I realize I am in a minority, but: no!

I loved this author's Aye, Robot and Starship Grifters, so it's not that I'm averse to crazy plot lines, absurd word play, bizarre characters and general silliness. I was delighted to discover an entire series by the same author, but - there's no polite way to say this - I could not stand this book. I found it preachy, with lengthy rambling hectoring passages about religion and human nature. To me, it also crossed the tipping point and in many places was just wince-producing silly. Could not listen to this.

Piss poor narration

I'm not sure if this is a good read or not. Quite possibly the worst narrator I have had the displeasure of listening to.

It's just not a great book

It's not a bad book, but it's just not a great book. I wanted to like it and stuck with it to about the 3/4 mark, but had to give up when I realized that I just don't care how it ends. The characters aren't really likable, the humor didn't make me laugh, there was no action, the back story was really boring. It just kinda wanders on and on. Others may like it but this book just didn't do it for me.

Spoiled by narrator, but not that good anyway

Would you try another book from Robert Kroese and/or Kevin Stillwell?

Not from Kevin Stillwell :o I'd maybe give Robert Kroese another chance, but not likely

What was most disappointing about Robert Kroese’s story?

If this is funny, it must be in an American sense of the word, I dont get..? I found it boring and with only a few funny moments.

Would you be willing to try another one of Kevin Stillwell’s performances?

Not even if I got money for listening.. When he talks normally its fine, but he has zero talent for foreign accents (or any other accent), he just sound stupid when he tries.

Any additional comments?

If you consider buying this because of the recommendations - beware its NOTHING like Douglas Adams as someone wrote, no dry wit, intelligent humor or subtle jokes - its like Donald Duck funny..

It wasn't that great.

Struggled to WANT to finish it. The female sounded just like the flaky Angel. It didn't get good until it ended.