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.

Good Book

It reminded me a lot of Stephen King's The Stand, and the books do have some similarities. The Stand has an evil man looking to sow destruction after a plague wipes out most of the country with some salvation in Kansas. Swan Song has Death/the Devil looking to sow destruction after a nuclear war/nuclear winter wipes out much of the country with salvation beginning in Kansas. Anyways, it was a book where I continuously wanted to know what happened next.

A book I couldn’t wait to finish

This is one of those books that I struggled to get through, only so I could find out how it ends. The book had a supernatural undertone to it that made the storyline a little weird. I don’t know factually accurate the book is, especially in describing the aftermath of the nuclear attack. overall, a decent story.

A Great Post Apocalyptic Thriller/Horror

This is a great book! I love it and it is one of my favorite books. I have read this book numerous times over the years. I bought the book when it came out back in 1987. I was so excited when I found it on Audible and got it as soon as I saw it. It is every bit as good as reading it yourself.

The book is well written and keeps your interest during the entire ride. He portrays the characters so well that it allows the reader to bond with them. Which is no easy task. I have read many books that were good, but were missing that aspect to them. When you are able to form a bond with characters in a book, it makes the story all that much more memorable.

This is a great post apocalyptic story. This story takes place after a nuclear holocaust, well before zombies took over every post apocalyptic story (not that I don't enjoy a good zombie story). Those of us that grew up in the 80's will understand the tension between the US and Russia at that time. and how plausible this scenario could have been. This story explains just enough to describe how the missles were launched without delving into any political stuff, which is very refreshing.

Tom Stechschulte does an excellent job at narrating it. He brings life to the characters and their personalities. He uses distinct voices and accents to portray the characters so that as soon as he begins speaking a part, you know exactly what character is speaking. I will say that his portrayal of them didn't match what my imagination had rendered while reading the book, but he did such a great job assigning the voices and accents that his version is all that I hear in my head now and they fit.

Once again, great book and great narration!

I Highly Recommend it!

Narrator was amazing!!!

loved the characters and the story. I didn't love the ending, but didn't hate it either. This book is absolutely worth reading or listening to.

Old Tropes

Juvenile good vs evil tropes. Themes of gender and racial hierarchy. Much too long and overwrought at times.

Great story but worst narrator I’ve ever listened to

The story line kept me listening but my ears were bleeding. His inflections, excited utterances and accents were god awful.

Such a wonderful storyline

So I’m a fantasy reader and sci-fi and horror. This little book has such a great storyline to it always had me coming back for more. I wanted to know what was happening to my main character and the spinoffs Kept me coming back every day probably at times I shouldn’t of

Simply Wonderful…

A beautifully written and masterfully told tale of unfailing hope in the midst of appalling, post-apocalyptic destruction. You will not be disappointed…

it was an extraordinary story

there is nothing to dislike. the ending was perfect. the characters are absolutely amazing. I do find a read it again.

Amazing

everything about this book and narration were fantastic. easily a top pick for me and highly recommended