Rando Splicer

Spiral Wars, Book 6

By: Joel Shepherd

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 18 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Separated from her ship, Major Trace Thakur is stranded on the reeh-occupied world of Rando. The native corbi have suffered beneath reeh tyranny for 800 years, and many have given up hope. But Trace needs the data stored in the reeh’s genetic technology and command center - the Rando Splicer - if she’s to learn how to save humanity from impending disaster, and is planning an assault against overwhelming odds. She’ll need help from the UFS Phoenix, though, which is caught in a ritual medieval battle to change the croma leadership that sees her crew embarking on a perilous journey across a warring desert continent. Should they fail, humanity could be just one of many species to die.

©2019 Joel Shepherd (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

A Tale of Two Planets

Sublime narration once again. Typically the chapters are either set on RANDO with Trace and Giddy or on a Croma planet with Erik, Styx, etc. However, one chapter is set in human space with the Fleet triumvirate, and another chapter is set in Parren space with Lisbeth. Chapters on Rando are grim and desperate with nary a smile in sight, but chapters on Croma are lighter, adventuresome, and sometimes funny in a snarky way.

Funniest scenes go to Peanut. Snarkiest lines go to Styx.

As far as character development, it’s all about young Skah losing his baby teeth, Trace becoming a stone, and Tiga (the female Corbi rebel) becoming nuanced and much wiser.

The plot chugs along nicely, like a train, and ends with a few nice surprises and a good idea of what’s to come in the next book.

Quibbles: The author tends to interrupt the flow of action sequences with expository or reflective statements. The dark government secret trope is getting repetitive across books.

Excellent!!

Great story line and voice acting, with solid progression of the series. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Brilliant

Such a good series and of course the amazing John Lee… how can one not love it?

excellent saga

The story continues and grows in a cohesive way to the series. Top tier performances from writer and narrator.

Love this Series!

Joel and John are great together. What a great book this was, talk about a storyline with legs. Keep it coming!

Amazing

Great world building, interesting alien politics, thoughts about life and death and excellent combat. At times very emotional which brings subtance to struggle for survival of all species. I really enjoyed this book. Sum of its parts make a greater whole. I've listened for +100 scifi books and I think this might be the best so far. Narrator is really growing on me. Top 3 in the business for sure.

Joel Shepherd's finest

It's not often a book this far into a series is the author's finest work but this is easily Shepherd's best work. While I've certainly enjoyed the previous books they were mostly 4 star efforts; certainly strong enough to keep me listening but not rising to the level of being thought provoking as Rando Splicer was. Where there was previously an adequate level of character development there's now in-depth and thoughtful maturation of characters and their motivations. Combined with one of the most interesting plots of the series it made for a book that I created opportunities in my day for listening.

I love this series!

Joel Shepard does a great job of mixing the story lines keeping them both separate and intertwined as he moves us along in the Spiral. There is a reason that John Lee is far and away my favorite reader and his deft handling of dozens of individuals of various genders and species demonstrates that once again here. I cant wait to see where Phoenix is off to next time.

Absolutely fantastic series.

Joel Shepard was new to me before I started this series. It’s amazingly well developed. Great world building. Engaging characters and arcs. Spot-on narration. I’ve been binging my way through it, happily.

Better and better

Joel ups the ante even more in this epic tail of honor, betrayal, stupendous battles, human and non human frailties. On the edge of my seat throughout. John Lee delivers a beautiful narration giving each character a distinctive voice. Even the female voices are rich with no to high falsettos.