• The Didymus Contingency

  • By: Jeremy Robinson
  • Narrated by: R.C. Bray
  • Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,525 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.
The Didymus Contingency  By  cover art

The Didymus Contingency

By: Jeremy Robinson
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

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

If you could go back in time...and witness any event...where would you go?

When Dr. Tom Greenbaum faces that question after successfully discovering the secret to time travel, he knows the time, place, and event he will witness: the death and failed resurrection of Jesus Christ. Dr. David Goodman, Tom's colleague and closest friend follows Tom into the past, attempting to avert a time-space catastrophe, but forces beyond their control toss them into a dangerous end game where they are tempted by evil characters, betrayed by friends, pursued by an assassin from the future, and haunted by a demon that cannot be killed.

About the author: Jeremy Robinson is the author of 11 novels including Pulse, Instinct, and Threshold, the first three books in his exciting Jack Sigler thriller series. His novels have been translated into nine languages. He is the director of New Hampshire AuthorFest, a non-profit organization promoting literacy in New Hampshire, where he lives with his wife and three children.

©2011 Jeremy Robinson (P)2012 Jeremy Robinson

Critic reviews

"What surprised me, with [Robinson's] take on the possibility of two 21st century men meeting Jesus, was the utter lack of predictability.... He offers a new perspective on ripping apart the time-space continuum I am shocked no one has ever considered before now." ( Round Table Reviews)
"[A] thrilling and fast-paced 'what if?' scenario." ( MidWest Book Review)
"[A] rollicking adventure.... The story opens explosively and is laced with suspense and humor. Robinson writes quite well and is an up-and-coming author to watch...we'll hear, read, and see a great deal more from him in the future." ( Christian Book Previews)

What listeners say about The Didymus Contingency

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    931
  • 4 Stars
    300
  • 3 Stars
    173
  • 2 Stars
    67
  • 1 Stars
    54
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,048
  • 4 Stars
    223
  • 3 Stars
    86
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    26
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    865
  • 4 Stars
    266
  • 3 Stars
    148
  • 2 Stars
    65
  • 1 Stars
    66

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

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

Not what I expected at all.

Reading the description for the book I thought this would be another book preaching the Christian religion and trying to get everyone on the path to God but I was pleasantly surprised. I try to stay away from Spoliers in my reviews so I'll just say that our protaganists and their interaction with people in the past was a lot of fun. I found myself laughing at many points in the book. I am not a strictly devout Roman Catholic but I was raised in the faith so although my recollection of every story in the bible isn't near perfect I was able to remember enough to really enjoy the different events Tom and David encountered. My foreknowledge so to speak, did not ruin parts for me but instead enhanced the story I think.

On to the elephant in the room. Will a strict atheist enjoy the book? I have to say they might not. A very lage part of the core of this book takes for granted that Christianity is correct. I can't say more without offering up Spoilers so that is all I can say about that. I think that in order to really enjoy this book you must at least believe that a higher power just might exist. If you can not at least concede that point then sure, you might enjoy the book simply for its fictional storytelling value, but I think that you might not enjoy this book.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

70 people found this helpful

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

Wanna go back in time to hang out with Jesus?

STORY (time travel) - Okay. So there's two guys who are best friends. They're quantum physicists and have created a time-travel machine. One believes in God (David) and one doesn't (Tom). In a nutshell, they go back in time so that David can prove to Tom that God exists. The proof will be simply that Jesus either does or does not rise again after being crucified on the cross. The story goes back and forth between present day and BC, with probably more time spent BC.

Some reviewers have criticized the book as being overly religious, but I disagree. (I'm not particularly religious and I don't care for Christian books, so that is where I'm coming from when I say this.) That being said, religion is definitely a component to the story that you will have to be able to accept. David and Tom will meet Biblical characters and witness Biblical events, but I found it interesting to hear how they managed to exist in that time period and I enjoyed their bickering and present-day viewpoints. And there's a lot more going on, too. There is the sci-fi element of the time travel. There is also quite a bit of action, as David and Tom are pursued by the equivalent of "time travel police," whose job is to keep the past from being altered. There is also some mild romance. I thought the book was well-done and definitely a unique concept. My only complaint was it seemed a little slow at times, but it was still quite enjoyable.

PERFORMANCE - The narrator did a great job. He did Hebrew and African accents well, but I absolutely LOVED the way he performed the various characters when they were possessed by the demon called "the Legion." This demon is actually 50 demons all occupying the same body, often all trying to speak at once. The narrator did an awesome job of spitting out multiple voices in very rapid succession, sometimes with several voices in the same sentence. Wow.

OVERALL (actual rating 3.5) - This book stands alone. There is no sex, cursing or graphic violence. I'd recommend this to any adult who thinks they might enjoy the subject matter.

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

Straw man athiest meets Jesus

This is a time travel story used as a device to retell selected stories from the New Testament. The time travel technology, never explained, serves merely to put modern characters in contact with Jesus.

It's quite clear that the author has no doubts about Jesus's miraculous powers. The only character in the book that doubts Jesus is the token skeptic--even the authorial voice simply states Jesus's acts as facts. If the author really wanted to take us through the experience of a conversion from nonbeliever to believer, he might have set up the story so that the reader actually has reason to suspect that the skeptic might be right. He could contrast the apparent wisdom of Jesus with the possibility that he is a fraud. Then, in the end, create a situation where the skeptic verifies that Jesus is in fact dead and then experiences the resurrection in a situation that leaves no doubt.

As it is, the story presents the skeptic as a straw man who is ignorant of even the most basic elements of the Jesus story, which seems highly improbable. He is an Israeli, who was married to a devout Christian woman, and who lived in the United States for more than 10 years. He has an advanced degree. How is it that he doesn't know who Judas is? Or the Pharisees? This is appalling writing--the author is either ignorant himself, or chooses to set up a straw man.

If you are Christian and want to enjoy seeing a paper-thin skeptic proven wrong, you may enjoy this.

If you are a Christian and you want to recommend a book to a nonbeliever that you think might change their mind -- don't. This book provides no new perspectives and takes a stance that will alienate your non-believing friend. Try C. S. Lewis instead.

(The reader, however, is spectacular. I first encountered R. C. Bray in The Martian. I enjoy his tone and ability to vary voices and present different accents. )

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

29 people found this helpful

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

Excellent

What does R. C. Bray bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Bray does a fantastic job, at some points it was quite freaky and that just made it even more enjoyable. I utilised the whispersync for voice for the first time with this book and you really notice the difference between reading and listening.

Any additional comments?

This book was interesting, fun and at times a little freaky. Which let's face it, is what Jeremy Robinson does best. I didn't really know what to expect from this book but having heard a lot of positive things about it thought it was high time I gave it a go. I can see why the book got so many positive comments and why so many people consider it to be one of Robinson's best work to date. It really grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the final page.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

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

Loved It!!

I think every one has thought about what it would be like to ge back in time. This reminds me of my own hidden desires to go back. Jeremy chooses an event and then creates what you would have experianced it, if you were really present. Jesus as a normal guy, with little pranks and indepth descussions. I was very impressed the whole concept of the book.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

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

I really enjoyed this book!

I am such a sucker for time travel but this book does it really well! It covered all my logical questions about not only time travel but what it might be like for a modern man to travel back 2000 years and try to survive without screwing up the past.

The reader was excellent and conveyed the attitude of the characters quite well.

It was a fantastic premise and carried off quite well. Bravo!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

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

Fascinating and Inspirational

Jeremy Robinson has become one of my favorite authors and Bray does a wonderful reading of the book with rich accents and great emotion. There are so many twists and turns in this book. I thought I had it all figured out and then something happened to take me in a new direction. I know this will be a book that I will go back to time and again and I really hope there is a sequel or two coming in the future - or the past. :-)

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

Sceptical walking in, walked out a believer

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

Yes I would, and have already passed this on to my sons to enjoy.

Who was your favorite character and why?

A draw between David and Tom (tho Lazarus was a lot of fun as well). I related myself to David, I could understand his lack of faith at times even in the light of what was in front of him

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

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

Such an Absolute blessing!

If you are a Christian or love time travel like I do you will love this book. I wish J Robinson would make some sequels.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

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

Original and Fantastic!!

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

I would recommend this to all my friends.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Thomas, because he was a very interesting character.

What about R. C. Bray’s performance did you like?

Everything, his voice and tone fit this story perfectly.

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

Our future depends on our past.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful