Extinction Machine

The Joe Ledger Novels, Book 5

By: Jonathan Maberry

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

In Extinction Machine, the fifth Joe Ledger book by Jonathan Maberry, the DMS must go up against someone—or something—in search of new technology that could bring about world war

The President of the United States vanishes from the White House.

A top-secret prototype stealth fighter is destroyed during a test flight. Witnesses on the ground say that it was shot down by a craft that immediately vanished at impossible speeds.

All over the world reports of UFOs are increasing at an alarming rate.
And in a remote fossil dig in China dinosaur hunters have found something that is definitely not of this earth. There are rumors of alien-human hybrids living among us.
Joe Ledger and the Department of Military Sciences rush headlong into the heat of the world's strangest and deadliest arms race, because the global race to recover and retro-engineer alien technologies has just hit a snag. Someone—or something--wants that technology back.

©2013 Jonathan Maberry (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“The Ledger novels are exciting sf thrillers that just happen to involve stuff that's a little out there (and Joe himself is a realistically portrayed soldier who, from time to time, has a hard time dealing with the weirdnesses that surround him). Readers familiar with the series will need no prodding to check this new one out, and newcomers, immediately upon finishing the book, will want to hunt down the earlier installments.” —Booklist, starred review

Another Joe Ledger Makes the Grade (A+)

If you could sum up Extinction Machine in three words, what would they be?

Humor, Shock and Awe. "Joe Ledger Embodies the term S.N.A.F.U. and Laughs"

What other book might you compare Extinction Machine to and why?

Patient Zero...... There are so many moments that will shock you to your core Jonathan Maberry Hits the mark with the Novel making it my second favorite next to Patient Zero.

Another good one in the series...

Another good one in the series! ... and I especially like the performance.

Allways a good damn story .

I cant say it enough these are written very well an told even better . the way he can use different voices an keep it all together is fantastic . ive listen to many many many books this past year an the JL series is top notch if its your thing anyway . 10/10

Great story! What’s next?

Another great story I. The series ! I can’t wait to see what’s next for the DMS. What’s next?

Entertaining.

Like the other books in the Joe Ledger series, this book is easily consumed, entertaining, and moves along well.

Another Amazing Entry in the Series

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

Yes, but only after I'd made them listen to all the other books in the series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, I admit to loving Joe the most, but Ghost is a close second. And Bunny. And Top. And Mr. Church.And Bug.....Maybe I should just confess that I love all the good guys and the bad guys get what they deserve.

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

I've said it before and I will say it again. RAY PORTER IS AN AUDIO GOD. Seriously. The expressiveness in his voice (he never, ever reads you the story. He tells you the story) is amazing, but his range of voices is not of this world. How on Earth can the voices of Mr. Church and Top Sims come out of the same person? And he is one of the few guys who can make a female voice sound authentic.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Fingers. That is all I am going to say.

Any additional comments?

Can you tell I'm an out and out fangirl? This series just gets better and better. WIth any luck, Mr. Maberry is chained to a desk somewhere working on the next installment.

Guilty Pleasure!

Would you consider the audio edition of Extinction Machine to be better than the print version?

Yes, this is one of those books where the narrator adds a little something extra. Ray Porter knows Joe Ledger and listeners reap the benefits!

Which character – as performed by Ray Porter – was your favorite?

The narrator's take on Joe Ledger is exemplary. The sarcasm, the anger, the wit. Fabulous!

Any additional comments?

I tell my husband that Joe Ledger books are "guy books". There's blood, gore, violence, stereotypical or idealized female characters and loads of sci-fi. And I LOVE it!

This book brings the series back on track from the strangeness that was the Seven Kings. It focuses on aliens, alien technology and alien abductions with a little apocalypse thrown in.

It moves faster than others in the series but still has some of the information dump syndrome that plagues previous Ledger novels. I dislike how Jonathan Maberry adds information that appears irrelevant or overly detailed upon closer examination. The "Joe" parts of the book move the fastest, as usual, and the book itself is an excellent thriller. It's worth the credit!

My favorite of the series. Mr. Porter is awesome.

This was, for me, the best of the series. Brief moments of extreme exposition but I prefer that to the sappiness of a couple of the earlier Ledger books. Ray Porter's performance is one of the elements that makes this series... But the plot had me completely hooked as well. I definitely recommend this book.

Joe Ledger and company possess human frailties

This might just be the best Joe ledger book I have listened to date. J Mayberry has yet again cranked up his creative mind, brought in space travelers(that you never meet by the way...what a smart way od introducing alien presence.
The president vanishes, and after a lot of incompetent finger pointing, Joe, Me Church and many top level are thrown under the bus by the VP as he steps up to take the reigns of power.
We all know of the legendary men in black, and now they possess a little black book,and a number od pieces of space artifac from crash sites from around the world...there is a small group of peopl I control of the space treasures and they are attempting to take over the world, and destroy anyone or thing that gets in their way.
Joe gets a new love interest...but their future is questionable, Rudy is badly injured and his future is not looking good. The world hangs in the balance and it's not looking like a joke....
What am I saying Joe s our hero...tune in find out for your self. It's all good and you'll laugh out loud and enjoy a fast action thrill a moment shoot Em up book that will leave you happy you listened to The Extincion Machine

It was good enough BUT I Love you Ray Porter!

Okay, I really enjoy all of the Joe Ledger books, this one included. Yes, it requires some suspension of belief; yes, it has some plot hiccups; YES, it has some weird stuff that happens and some un or under developed characters.

It is still good stuff and thoroughly entertaining. The issues are minor and easily ignored unless you are OCD or a whiney punk.

However, RAY PORTER IS AN ABSOLUTE MASTER. This book is beautifully narrated. Period. Porter is that good.

Take a listen and find out. If you are new to the series, starting at the beginning will make things more clear to you, as Mayberry is not huge on back filling some of the holes that exist if you are not familiar with the characters or the story arc.

It's not my favorite Joe Ledger, but it was good enough and I can't say I didn't enjoy it.