• Extinction Machine

  • The Joe Ledger Novels, Book 5
  • By: Jonathan Maberry
  • Narrated by: Ray Porter
  • Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (6,273 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Extinction Machine  By  cover art

Extinction Machine

By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.74

Buy for $24.74

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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

Featured Article: Mmmm, Brains...Satisfy Your Cravings with the 20 Best Zombie Audiobooks Ever


Zombies have been a potent cultural force for decades. Something about the concept of a ragtag crew of survivors facing off against endless masses of shuffling brain-munchers really seems to speak to people! There are hundreds, if not thousands, of zombie-themed stories out there. But which ones are the very best? And which zombie audiobooks will have you double-checking the locks and sleeping with a baseball bat next to your bed?

What listeners say about Extinction Machine

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,751
  • 4 Stars
    1,286
  • 3 Stars
    196
  • 2 Stars
    24
  • 1 Stars
    16
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,163
  • 4 Stars
    608
  • 3 Stars
    57
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,200
  • 4 Stars
    1,279
  • 3 Stars
    279
  • 2 Stars
    39
  • 1 Stars
    15

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Extinction Just Can't Happen to Ledger!

I'm willing to toss my spare change into any hat that is passed to keep this guy writing! These are the only books I read of this kind, but, I don't care what genre of books you usually prefer, Maberry's Ledger series is lightning paced entertainment that is a crazy fun. I look forward to Joe Ledger's smart-a$$ mouth and wicked sense of humor like a kid looks forward to a trip to Disneyland. It's not easy to find an author that can take you to the brink of crazy and not let you tumble over, but Maberry does it consistently with his team of Joe, Bunny, Deacon, Ghost, and the boys, every time. This time out, someone kidnapped the President, and the DMS is after the Men in Black and UFO's (not so much aliens). This wasn't my favorite in the Ledger series or my favorite bunch of villains, but I still had a great time. I think some of the dialogue and comments from Joe were the best yet--he had me laughing out loud.

If new to the Ledger books--you can pick any of them up and start reading since each book is its own adventure (although there are a few comments that refer back to other books). There's language, some rough and tumble, and a little sex--but it's behind closed doors. Possibly you read Maberry's review right here on Audible for Assassin's Code (well, it had his picture and name); he said it...*Ray Porter IS the voice of Joe Ledger*. I didn't think Porter could get any better, but he is so convincing this time around that I'm beginning to wonder whether it's Porter as Ledger, or Ledger as Porter. There's Halloween, Christmas, Easter, the 4th of July, and New Ledger book time!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

35 people found this helpful

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

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

31 people found this helpful

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

Go for Maberry…Need More Please!

What did you love best about Extinction Machine?

Frankly it's a tie between a fantastically good story and superb narration. Mr. Maberry is very good at taking the unbelievable and making it not only completely plausible but he makes you look at it from a wholly new prospective. Yes, the story is about alien visitation but it has nothing to do with little green men or space lizards that come to conquer. It will make you think, worry and wonder while enjoying a rousing thriller. (Heavy sigh) now the wait until the next installment.

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

Ray Porter is why audiobooks rock. He takes the character of Joe Ledger and the series to another level.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

19 people found this helpful

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

Joe Ledger is Damn Good!!

This book was awesome, liked it more than the previous book. I really wanna explain here why i liked this book. But the smallest slip and you will press "No" down below so i'll be careful.

This book started good, i mean really really good. Then it was really fun, then again damn good. This how was the book the whole way through it, I either laughed from a joke, or was intensely focused on what was going on.

New characters come to play in this bok. and major action is going through the whole thing.. i really can't explain more other than if you didn't ready this series yet, so grap the first book and all of them and read them NOW!!!

What do you want me to say more? Narration was good? Author is good???? YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY!!! A great series



Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

18 people found this helpful

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

Another great Joe Ledger story

Really enjoyed this latest edition to the series. A little different from the prior books. A little less action, replaced by more suspense. More depth to some of the characters. Can't wait for the next book.

The reading for Ray really brings Joe Ledger and crew to life. Can't imagine any other voices doing these characters.

Would make a great movie series or even a good TV show if done right (Fringe quality).

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

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

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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

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

This one is out of this world

Counter-terrorism has been a consistent theme over the first four books of this series but that doesn't mean the stories have been repetitive. Joe Ledger and the DMS have actually faced quite a variety of adversaries so far, including zombies, super soldiers, and vampires. In each case there has been a scientific rationale to explain the existence of these seemingly supernatural creatures thus Joe Ledger has learned the hard way that he must keep an open mind if he wants to stay alive. However, all of those lessons don't seem to help much as he begins to uncover the facts in his latest case. It all starts with an impossibility - the President of the United States is abducted from the White House and not a single secret service agent saw anything. The only piece of evidence left behind is a crop circle on the White House lawn but that has to be a hoax. Right?

It turns out that the "real" arms race is not nuclear in nature at all. Instead, the various governments of our planet have been engaged in a secret arms race to collect pristine parts from alien craft that have crashed on earth over the years. The first country to successfully re-create an alien engine will have a power source/weapon that no other country will be able to stand against. This is a deadly game with extreme consequences when things go wrong. The Kunlun earthquake in 2001, the Ruichang earthquake of 2005, and Sicuhan earthquake of 2008 were all caused by research failures as the Chinese government attempted to re-construct the alien engine. The Haiti quake of 2010 and the Mount St Helens eruption were rumored to be caused by American failures to do same. Which country is closest? Is it even possible? Does 'impossible' even mean anything any more?

The one person who seems to have some actual insight into what is going on is Junie Flynn. She hosts a conspiracy podcast but also claims to have a copy of the Majestic Black Book which is rumored to have a list of every crashed alien craft ever discovered on earth. This becomes very important when the book is demanded in return for the President. With the President sidelined, Vice President William Collins is back in power and that never bodes well for Joe Ledger and team. Collins has been trying to shut down the DMS for a while now so Joe must find the book and sort out what is going on before Collins can disrupt the investigation to stay in power.

Even though the action is over-the-top and the story is a bit out there this was my favorite book of the series so far. Once again Jonathan Maberry takes well known events from our recent history and gives them unexpected causes to put the DMS to the test. Fans of the series should definitely pick this one up and you can trust that Ray Porter does another excellent job on the narration. 

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

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

Where does Maberry come up with all this stuff?!!!

The sheer imagination!!! Yes, you've read books about aliens, and books about spies and secret government agencies, and books where the bad guys are really, really bad and the good guys are really, really good...but the way Maberry combines all these things makes all his Joe Ledger novels an absolute joy ride. You'll gasp. You'll laugh. (You might even cringe a little when Joe acts a little too macho even for Joe.) But you will not be able to put the book down. Download. And enjoy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

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

OK finally a Joe Ledger fan!

Would you listen to Extinction Machine again? Why?

No. I don't listen to books again, if I can avoid it. I may forget what I listened to 10 years from now, but that is my issue.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jonathan Maberry? Why or why not?

Absolutely. Just grabbed one now. A new favourite series! Ledger and his supporting cast are wonderful

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes with the "enemy" are damn fine, funny and worth the credit alone.

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

Joe Ledger: Ensure he is on YOUR side!

Any additional comments?

Ray Porter as Ledger is amazing. Once again I must note that the core Audible performers ( think Brick, et al ) are getting so good, and Porter deserves to be considered in this group.

Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

Buy this book...trust me

Where does Extinction Machine rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'd say at least in my top five suspense/thriller genre books. Overall, top ten easily.

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

I can't really say any of the other books I've read compare to this one. I've tried other thrillers and either got bored or the narrator was bad. This one blew me away, and I'm a tough critic. The action, suspense, and unexpected twists kept me coming back for more. Very well written story. This was my first Jonathan Maberry book, and I'll be getting some of his other books too, now that I know what to expect...pure entertainment.

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

Joe Ledger of course. Ray Porter would sound good reading stereo instructions, he literally makes the listener "experience" the book. He's that good.

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

It could easily be one of those books to listen to all in one sitting, narrator Ray Porter combined with excellent writing, you can't go wrong.

Any additional comments?

As I said, this was my first Maberry book, and I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. I read the reviews, bought the book, and am now a big fan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful