The Untethered

By: S.W. Southwick

Narrated by: Fred Filbrich

Length: 21 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

A contemporary epic thriller.

A juvenile delinquent chases his dream to build the greatest aircraft in history - and the world tries to stop him. A rising political star runs from her childhood dream - and the world encourages her on. A self-loathing geneticist hides below the streets of Las Vegas - and rebels against the whole world. An artist tries to make his father proud - at the cost of everything he loves.

When all four lives collide, each must make a choice - and the world will never be the same.

©2017 S.W. Southwick (P)2017 S.W. Southwick

Best book read this year

I wish I could have read this story 40 years ago. I think it would have changed my life.

An incredible saga

What did you love best about The Untethered?

The were multiple story lines and merged together as the plot unfolded.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved how Roble never gave up on his dream and along the way he gathered other like minded people who used his strength to attain their dreams.

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

The audiobook allowed the reader to experience flight in a unique and riveting way as the book unfolded.

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

I book may be 21 hours long, but it didn't feel like that I was drawn into the story along with the characters.

I really enjoyed The Untethered !

I really enjoyed this book. It had really great character development. It was not a cast of thousands that you need a glossary to track. Just deeply developed, fully realized characters. I also enjoyed that it was original. I had no idea the direction it would take or where these characters would lead. I listened to the audio version and the 21 hours went by incredibly fast! Great job on the narration as well.

I like a book that has the protagonists that are smart, able and interesting. Well done.

Really makes you think.

About a 3.5-4 star. While a lot of the subject matter was things that I don't know much about (building jets, etc) there were a lot of interesting ideas presented in the story. What would happen if, instead of being forced to pay into taxes and other government mandated fees, we all got to choose whether or not we wanted to contribute, and how much? Would we all work together for a better world, now that we have more control and more freedom? I'm not sure that as a society we are unselfish enough to make it work, but I can see some huge benefits from living like this. What if we all actually did what we loved, followed our dreams? Some great points were made about how laws benefit the corrupt, and punish those who are trying to make things better. Over and over in the story, Roble was punished for making improvements on the jets that weren't by the handbook. Why are we punished because we didn't do it "by the book", when what we did was better? A big deal was made about letting kids choose the kind of person they want to be, rather than forcing them to fit a mold. I'm a huge supporter of that myself, and it is one reason I've chosen to homeschool. The characters were all very interesting, and most of them believable. They didn't fit in because they thought outside the box. That made them great. Some of the writing was a little bit off to me, but overall it was an enjoyable story that really made me think. Great debut novel by the author.

*I was given a free audible copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

There is a lot going on with this book.

I enjoyed listening to this book when it was finished. However, there were times in this book, I was wondering where the connections were with all the characters. In the end I understood the storyline and recommend listening to this book. I received a copy for an honest review.

Gripping Plotline

Where does The Untethered rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's the first audiobook I've listened to in completion so I'd have to rate it as the very best!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Roble - the way his story unfolds is thrilling, and his narrative is told in a way that makes it so easy for the reader to relate

What about Fred Filbrich’s performance did you like?

He had enthusiasm in all of the right places without ever sounding overly dramatic. I listened to this audiobook during my runs and I have to say - I was anything but bored! In fact, the edge-of-your-seat narration truly kept me going!

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

The way the author described the aspect of flight - it was truly otherworldly!

Any additional comments?

It's rare to find a story line which can be appreciated by so many different types of readers. As a lover of thrillers, this novel appealed to me, but I could see my husband enjoying it just as much, with his military experience and appreciation for aviation. I truly think there's something in here for everyone to enjoy.

Good first try

The plot was all over the place. The author is trying too hard to sound like Ayan Rand and is not providing a strong story plot. Over all this book showed talent, but the author needs a good experienced mentor

Exciting and smart...a great thrill ride!

Wow—I really loved this book! Intelligent and fast-moving, The Untethered is a both a thriller and an unashamed statement on the themes of individualism and personal freedom. Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, saturates every page. But it is not droll philosophy. The characters bring to life the idea that you can follow your own dream without enforcing your will or your beliefs on others.

There are several main characters, each one skillfully drawn by the author. Their storylines emerge separately and then converge in a tale that includes heart-pounding action sequences and political intrigue. In an effort to create something wonderful, the characters play a high-stakes game that brings them into conflict with individuals in the military, defense contractors, and government entities.

And then there are those jets! I would have never thought I would have loved them so. They drive much of the plot. Far from being mere objects, they become characters themselves. Sleek and beautiful, the products of reason and the “will” to excellence, they are the perfect vehicles to represent the “spirit of man.”

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. The ending alone is worth the price. What a thrill ride it is! I will miss these characters and their world. Perhaps S. W. Southwick has a sequel?

"Mankind"

Someone should do a count of how many times that word was used... It became distracting.

Extremely engaging. Crosses genres successfully.

What made the experience of listening to The Untethered the most enjoyable?

If I were to choose two aspects of the author’s writing that make this book stand out, they would be: (1) the authors’ real skill in using changing points of view. The characters’ different “angles” on (perceptions of) their interactions, and their individual memories of events, add much to our understanding of each individual character. You might say that the sum of the narration is greater than the parts. And this literary technique, often executed in a way that feels clumsy and manipulative, is carried out here in a manner that makes it seem as if the book could not exist without it. The technique seems not only right, but necessary. I would also praise (2) the author’s skill at avoiding clichéd wording. Throughout the novel, nouns are pressed into service as verbs (effectively); phrases are worded with new life; and even descriptions of all of the techno-geek gear are buttered with a bit of subtle poetic shine.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Untethered?

For reasons I cannot explain very articulately, I was quite struck by the interaction between Alexa and Stock in the Las Vegas hotel room. Even though Stock is clearly a criminal and an anti-hero at this time, the encounter gave me a few throwbacks to the timeless (yet genteel) Mr. Darcy and the equally timeless, headstrong, and self-assured Elizabeth Bennett.

Which character – as performed by Fred Filbrich – was your favorite?

Cannot choose.

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

I reacted strongly to the compelling use of language, and to the well-drawn characters. There is definitely a mix of humor and pathos in this novel! There is much else, as well.

Any additional comments?

The book started a bit slowly for me, because of the first chapter’s emphasis on the tech-geek-speak and detailed descriptions of machinery. Those who speak geek will love this beginning, however, because it is quite well done. For those who enjoy character-driven writing, “The Untethered” will definitely not disappoint, either! After its slightly slow start, the novel picked up quickly as I became strongly attached to the four main protagonists. Be warned, however, that these are realistically drawn protagonists, whom you will come to love despite their flaws, and not because they are paragons.

These characters are wonderfully textured—not the overwrought cartoons of too many romance novels; nor the one-dimensional, wise-cracking, predictable heroes of so much science fiction; nor yet those ceaselessly struggling, grim, psychically tiring, downtrodden-but-plucky individuals who people all of the currently-popular dystopian novels. These characters are real: their experiences feel genuine, and their life experiences inform their very interesting personalities and interactions in quite believable ways. The dialogue is good, overall, and the narrator is perfect for the story and the characters.

Listen to the book because it is a “good romp” (it is!), or buy it because it is thought-provoking without being heavily preachy (it is!). The audio version with its excellent narrator is a great choice! In any event, I recommend “The Untethered.”