Swan Song

By: Robert R. McCammon

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Length: 34 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

"We're about to cross the point of no return. God help us; we're flying in the dark, and we don't know where the hell we're going."

Facing down an unprecedented malevolent enemy, the government responds with a nuclear attack. America as it was is gone forever, and now every citizen - from the president of the United States to the homeless on the streets of New York City - will fight for survival.

Swan Song is Robert McCammon's prescient and shocking vision of a post-apocalyptic nation, a grand epic of terror and, ultimately, renewal.

In a wasteland born of rage and fear, populated by monstrous creatures and marauding armies, earth's last survivors have been drawn into the final battle between good and evil, that will decide the fate of humanity. They include Sister, who discovers a strange and transformative glass artifact in the destroyed Manhattan streets... Joshua Hutchins, the pro wrestler who takes refuge from the nuclear fallout at a Nebraska gas station... and Swan, a young girl possessing special powers, who travels alongside Josh to a Missouri town where healing and recovery can begin with Swan's gifts. But the ancient force behind earth's devastation is scouring the walking wounded for recruits for its relentless army, beginning with Swan herself.

Please note: Two chapters were originally missing from Part 2 of this book. We were alerted to the problem on 11/21/11 and have corrected it. We're very sorry for any inconvenience. If you had already downloaded the book, don’t worry - your library has automatically updated with the corrected version. Simply re-download from your library, at no additional cost, to get the complete book.

©2009 Robert McCammon (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Amazing Story and Performance

If you could sum up Swan Song in three words, what would they be?

a must read

Any additional comments?

I will recommend this book to everyone. It was entertaining from the beginning to the end.

Rip-off of The Stand but I listened to every word.

I kept thinking, "is Steven King annoyed?" because I do think the book was very like The Stand, but I listened to the whole thing in spite of the sometimes irritating narrator. He had a lot of voices to do, but when he had to express emotion, he was not that great. His idea of a woman's voice crying . . . Not good. But it's a long book, good value for the money and the apocalyptic story came together well in the end. Although, I kept thinking, with all the bottled water in this world . . . surely there's enough of that to last for quite a long time!

Well done!

Where does Swan Song rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is right near the top of the audiobooks books I've listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

I've read this book at least 3 times because I like it so much. It's the good against evil story similar to Stephen King's The Stand.

What does Tom Stechschulte bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love the way Tom Stechschulte created and acted out character voices.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book will move you.

The Plot Held my Attention

The performance was very well done! I really enjoyed the emotive reading. The writing itself once you learned the style was predictive. Every bad guy who referred to a female said "Hey lady" I heard it so many times in this book I never want to hear it again. The author seems to be a racist. The only real descriptions we get on the characters is if they are black. It was always "the black man/woman" ... never "the white man/woman." I'm inclined to want to excuse the author since this was written in the 80s ... but then I remember I've read other books in the 80s and have not really encountered such underlying racism. I think it's just this particular author's views.

The plot is the only reason I made it through the 34+ hours... and was so so so disappointed. It had such a lackluster ending. I felt as though we could have shaved off 15 hours, and the book would have been much more tolerable.

Overall, I wish I had not spent my time. I thought it would have been better.

Great Story

Great story, would recommend. Alot of twists and turns. You will enjoy this as I did.

damn

such a great book I've never heard of this author or narrator but both are fantastic

wonderful!!

amazing story, great narrator! could listen to this again and again! I definitely recommend this

Enjoyable to listen to

If you could sum up Swan Song in three words, what would they be?

A great read

Who was your favorite character and why?

Josh...did what he needed to always. A true class act

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

This was the first

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

Beware of your inner self

Any additional comments?

An amazing book that keeps you wanting to listen to more. Great characters with gripping stories that bring them all together in the end. By far this is Roberts McCammons best book.

Good Book

Where does Swan Song rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A somewhat surreal journey through the end of times, can be a little long winded at times, and some of the characters lack real definition or drive, but overall a good book.

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

Extinction

absorbing

Would you listen to Swan Song again? Why?

Absolutely! I plan to listen to it again immediately! It is rather long, but it keeps your interest. So many times I wanted to go to the end of the story just to find out what was going to happen. But as hard as it was I did not. It is a complete story, not the kind that leaves you wondering "so what happen to the people?" The writer Robert McCammon did a wonderful job. Cheers to him on this fine story.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the whole book.

Who was the most memorable character of Swan Song and why?

Sister - the story was about Swan and she is a lovely character, But Sister and Josh are the story.

Any additional comments?

Can wait to see what else this writer has written - hope they are all as great as this story.