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UR  By  cover art

UR

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Holter Graham
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Publisher's summary

Tapping into our primal fears of modern technology, which made Cell a number-one best seller, Stephen King sets his sights on the latest high-tech gadget in UR, in which a mysterious e-book reader opens a disturbing window into other worlds.

Reeling from a painful break-up, English instructor and avid book lover Wesley Smith is haunted by his ex-girlfriend's parting shot: "Why can't you just read off the computer like everyone else?" He buys an e-book reader out of spite, but soon finds he can use the device to glimpse realities he had never before imagined, discovering literary riches beyond his wildest dreams...and all-too-human tragedies that surpass his most terrible nightmares.

From vintage cars (Christine and From a Buick 8) to household appliances (Maximum Overdrive) to exercise equipment (Stationary Bike), Stephen King has mesmerized us with tales of apparently ordinary machines that take on lives of their own. UR gives this classic theme an up-to-the-minute spin, resulting in a horror masterpiece for our time and for the ages.

©2010 Stephen King (P)2010 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Firm, gripping, and deftly written by a craftsman at the top of his game, this is King at his crisp, clear, page-turning best." (Amazon.com review)

What listeners say about UR

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • a
  • 02-19-10

shouldn't audible give us a break?

this was an entertaining couple of hours, but a little SK derivative (still better than most writer's best). however, i object to audible's full credit charge for something that would have cost about the same had i paid cash. i've been a member for 4 years. shouldn't this have been a 1/2 credit listen?

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89 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

BRAVO!

Just finished UR, and all I can say is WOW! What a fantastic story. I am one of SK's constant readers and still had no idea how this was going to end up until the last word had been read. I had not heard of Holter Graham befor this but he was perfect for this story. Excellent Read!!!

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34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Amazon Advertising

OK, I love King and I can honestly say the story is not bad. In fact, it is truly a Stephen King short story. I also have to say that I don't mind capitalism and marketing. The problem is, this is a two hour book about the Amazon Kindle. The story keeps this from being a 0 star book for me. I would not have minded had this been a freebie but to pay for what is essentially a long Kindle ad was a bit frustrating.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

LOW MEN IN YELLOW SUITS

BLACK TOWER
Elements of the Black Tower series and of Hearts in Atlanta are in this short story. If you have read the series or the book, it will enhance your enjoyment. It is not necessary though and reading this will enhance your reading of the book or series. It does not matter where you start.

WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW
I would hate to pay full price for this, but at $2.00 an hour it's a bargain. Your paying for quality, not quantity. Imagine, if your favorite writer had lived five or ten years longer then you thought and he/she wrote books during that time, never published in our universe, and you found them. The first part of the book, should really appeal to classic literature fans. The second part of the book, deals more with knowing the future and how to respond to that. This of course has been done by multiple authors and King really does not bring anything new to the subject. Still it is an interesting read and trying to guess what is going to happen, makes it more fun.

I am not familiar with the narrator, but he does his job so well, you forget your listening and not reading.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

UR Functions Well

What a great little short story about our choices, even if well meaning, and their consequences. Stephen King brings us into contact with the Dark Tower once again and it is always nice to go back there along a new path of the beam.

Very good narration. Left me wanting more.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

If you're a Dark Tower fan, you'll love it

I have read the entire Dark Tower series multiple times and its my favorite series of all time. I know Stephen has his detractors, but I really love his stories. If you're a Dark Tower fan, about half way through this quick listen, you'll really appreciate this story. I have to admit that the ending left me wanting a bit more, but I enjoyed the story all the same. Knowing what I know about the Dark Tower series, when certain elements come into play, you can't help but laugh! Overall, a worthwhile listen for me personally.


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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Wellllll.....not my favorite, sorry

I'm clearly in the minority here, I really thought this story was not so terrific. I love SK and have listened or read all of his books, but this short story left me with a "that was okay" kind of feeling. The story was predictable and I felt like I could have left it any any point and not have missed out. So if you are on the fence about spending the credit......

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping and perfectly executed

I love much of Stephen King's work, but he tends to prattle on; I hate to say it, but a case can often be made for the abridged. But the pacing and length of this story was spot on, and it had me until the end.

The ideas in this book strike an ideal balance between being novel (in the best sense of the word) and truly compelling -- no small feat. Many works of fiction manage one at the expense of the other, yet this accomplishes both and remains entertaining and emotionally engaging at the same time. Delightful.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

King - God of the Short Story - Loved UR

While UR might be considered a full length book for some, really in the context of Stephen King's other work, it is a short story.

Delightful and harkening back to the days of Gray Matter, UR was a wonderful listen. It has all the twists and turns of what we love about his work.

At first I was a bit sad Stephen King didn't read this story, but Holter Graham did a Fantastic job of reading and keeping me engaged in the story, which I finished in just a few hours.

Loved UR and want more UR.


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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Very Enjoyable

Some people may listen to this and consider it as just an ad for the Kindle, and I can understand that assumption if you only listen to the first 30-45 minutes. It is obvious that King has a liking for the device, and I cannot assume there was no marketing involved, but there is still a very good story here. Short, and to the point, it is easy to identify with the main character. I personally love the concept, and only wish it were explored in a longer format. That being said, it is definitely worth a listen.

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4 people found this helpful