No Dominion

By: Charlie Huston

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Joe Pitt's life sucks. He hasn't had a case or a job in God knows how long, and his stashes are running on empty. What stashes? The only ones that count to a guy like Joe: blood and money. The money he uses to buy blood; the blood he drinks. Hey, it's that or your neck, buddy.

The only way for him to lay his hands on both is to take a gig with the local Vampyre Clan. See, something new is on the streets, a new high, a high so strong it can send a Vampyre spazzing through Joe's local watering hole - till Joe sends him through a plate-glass window, that is. It won't be long now before he's slapping stoolies, getting sapped, and being taken for a ride above 110th Street.

Someone's pulling Joe's strings, and he's gonna cut them when he finds them - the strings and the hands that hold them.

Dying for more? Listen to the first book, Already Dead.

©2006 Charles Huston (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"There are echoes of Raymond Chandler and of Hunter S. Thompson, too. Among the new voices of the 21st-century crime fiction, Charlie Huston is where it's at." ( Washington Post Book World)
"The doomed love story at the heart of Huston's action-filled epic is what truly makes this a noir novel, and the undead microcosm of society he creates is both surprisingly relevant and entertaining." ( Publishers Weekly)

Even better than the first!

I really enjoyed this story - it's even better than the first one in the series {Already Dead}. Joe Pitt is cool and calm and very funny in a dead-pan way.

The plot is decent; the bad guys are bad, the good guys are flawed, and the main character is fully fleshed and consistent. It is gory and gross and has coarse language. And, best of all, no "morals" are stogged down your throat.

The narrator is very good.

It's mature and non-romantic - basically a vampire novel written for adults rather than teens. I can't wait until the next in the series becomes available on Audible.

Vampires with no stakes (but high-stakes politics)

Would you consider the audio edition of No Dominion to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print edition, so I can't really say. However, Brick did a good job conveying the laid-back nature of a couple of the characters (esp. a hippie leader of one faction), which I wouldn't have picked up on quickly without his narration. He's obviously a talented performer, so bound to make the most of what the text has to offer.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's a first-person story, so we of course identify with the main character, who is a nice mix of tough guy and worrywart.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

I really liked all the character voices *other* than the main character, who, presumably by request of the author, has a sort of trite noir-detective New York twang. Every time the story returned from other groups (the downtown hippies, the way-uptown black toughs, the mysterious druidical sect) to our main character, I cringed a little again. But the story and overall narration were great, so I was pulled along.

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

It had fast and slow stretches, so there were some breaks when I didn't mind having to take my headphones off. But I did want to get back to it.

Any additional comments?

Not at all typical of how vampires are handled, and honestly, the sort of detective story and political maneouvering are much more central to the story than is the vampire aspect, so it might appeal to plenty of people who are put off by all the romantic woes of the mainstream vampire cadre...

Great story

I liked the original a little better, but it's still great and I can't wait for the next installment on audible.com.

enjoying this vampire tale.

friend a while back told me to read them. never did but the audio books so far are great.

Down the rabbit hole

Joe Pitt has swagger. I could not think of another word to describe him. His edge that sets him apart. Sure he is witty but it is edgy. I don't smoke but if I did, give me a Lucky with a leather jacket that I can rock with it. Excellent book as usual by Huston and it has a dark side that will take you on a journey if you follow. A little but of "Apocalypse Now" type dark where I am fully entrenched and it takes a while to come out of it as a listener. All the main characters and pieces are still in play and by the end you will want another. Can't say enough about Scott Brick too. Excellent narrator. His range knows no end!!

Joe Pitt Is Much Fun!

The vampire protagonist is a little bit of Jack Reacher and a little bit of film noir and a little bit of vampire and a WHOLE lot of fun. Read them in order, because the story does tie together - but regardless of how you enjoy them, just do. Scott Brick is often not my favorite narrator, but his voice comes to life in Joe Pitt, and this is the best I've heard him. I am going to continue the series - it's compelling and a whole hell of a lot of fun.

Great sequel

Great book, but he cover that Audible uses is embarrassing. The narrator grew on my in the second book. A little predictable, kind of simple, but engrossing.

Like the Story But Offended by the Narration

Would you listen to No Dominion again? Why?

No

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Actually a little slow.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Scott Brick?

I don't know who to replace him with, but Scott's dialect used to characterize black people in his perception of the ghetto, was extremly offensive and over the top. Why not just resurrect the "Black Face" Amos and Andy white men playing black men from the 40's amd 50's on radio.

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

Yes, Yes, Yes. I like the story line but was completely turned-off as an African-American by the dialect used to project what the author and narrator think black people sound like. Exactly, what audience is that playing to?

Any additional comments?

I am conflicted as to buying any other books narrated in the same fashion. I really cannot see spending my money for more offensive narration. I will add that since I got the book on tape, whcih I purchase hundreds of during the year, I do not know if Mr. Houston uses the same dialectics in the written words. If that is the case, it is extremely offensive both in the written words and the narration and I can believe many are offended.

What a terrific romp!

Pure, unabashed fun.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish, and the narrator was flawless.
Someone really did their job well in choosing the perfect voice for this book.
The funny thing is, I'm more than fed up with all the Goth crap that's all the rage, including vampires and werewolves.
This series should not be painted with the same brush, nor categorized in the same genre.
Well done Charlie Huston and Scott Brick...well done indeed.

Adds nothing to the genre

This was okay to listen to, but it did not draw me in at all. This adds nothing extra to the genre.