14

By: Peter Clines

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Science Fiction, 2013

Padlocked doors. Strange light fixtures. Mutant cockroaches.

There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s. Because every room in this old Los Angeles brownstone has a mystery or two. Mysteries that stretch back over a hundred years. Some of them are in plain sight. Some are behind locked doors. And all together these mysteries could mean the end of Nate and his friends. Or the end of everything....

©2012 Peter Clines and Permuted Press (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A riveting apocalyptic mystery in the style of LOST." (Craig DiLouie, author of The Infection and The Killing Floor)

"A wholly original story that weaves together mystery and the apocalypse like a finely tuned band." (Evan Roy, Bricks of the Dead)

Only for those who love both mysteries & fantasy

The characters and story were great and the mystery was terrific, the narrator was great, and it is full of intrigue and suspense. For those who can suspend reality and enjoy unpredictable since fiction with little science, this is a superb story. The plot is full of original ideas with twist and turns that are definitely not predictable.

Since I didn't want to put this book down, I have to highly recommend it.

I love this story

Would you listen to 14 again? Why?

I expect to very soon.
There are lots of visual scenes I want to hear again... lots of funny lines I like and hope to incorporate in to my day to day lexicon

What was one of the most memorable moments of 14?

after opening the door to 14 there was some discussion as to what to now... call NASA...

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

He lends great tonality to the story that I likely would not have brought to it. Each of the neighbors are very distinct even the women.

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

NASA... we have space in out apartment building.

Any additional comments?

Very interesting use of technical historical steam punk design language.

Different, but I liked it

This is a bit of a different genre than my usual. Bought because I was intrigued but It was sitting around in my library for quite a while. Finally picked it up and I'm kicking myself for waiting, it was a darn good story with a fun cast of characters. I wouldn't know how to really classify it doesn't really fit with urban fantasy or sci fi, a little of both. maybe some streampunk and some history too?

The narrator pulls off that most difficult job of reading a story with an ensemble cast and doing distinct and appropriate and consistent voices for each so you can get lost in the story knowing exactly who is saying what and getting all the emotion and interplay between characters not really noticing that you're being read to. Good job! Fun group of voices, he must have had fun coming up with them. Definitely worth a listen.

Most Fun I've Had Reading in YEARS!

Would you consider the audio edition of 14 to be better than the print version?

Read it now! Best advice you'll get in a review. I can't remember EVER getting this hooked on a story and I've done my share of reading in my years! It deserves every positive review it gets! Trust me, it's one you don't want to miss!

What other book might you compare 14 to and why?

Felt like one of Stephen King's early novels to me...

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

Yes...with great characterizations!

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

Oh Heck Yeah..if only I had the time!

Any additional comments?

Read!
It!

Quirky, fun, great narration. Entirely original!

"14" is one of those rare books which succeeds in being entirely original. The plot is weird, the whole mood of the book is slightly creepy, but at the same time it's always fun. Not exactly fun-ny, but "fun" to listen to. There are so many strange things going on in the apartment building; you're quickly drawn into the strange world. I loved it and couldn't stop listening once I started.

Ray Porter is one of my favorite non-fiction narrators. He reads a lot of tech and business books so I was skeptical about his ability to read fiction. He was incredibly great!

I just love books like this. They come out of nowhere and blow your mind and give you something genuinely new to experience in terms of fantasy. Fantastic audiobook!

loved it

What did you love best about 14?

Interesting plot and you couldn't guess what was coming next

What was one of the most memorable moments of 14?

The hidden secrets of the building being discovered

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

It was easier to make a mental note of each character by listening to the story. There are not so many characters that you lose track of who is who, and each character has a particular voice.

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

I'm an artist and paint while listening. I wanted to continue painting and listening.

Any additional comments?

I'd love to find more books like this.

The Best Story Ever With a Horribly Bad Plot

Mr. Clines writes beautifully, wonderfully, compellingly. I love! his characters. You see these people. Those that are to be liked I loved, and that's almost all of them. How good are they? Wail, even the ones one is supposed not to like are believable; you've met them and know them and I was rooting - hard - against them. The 'good guys'? Wonderful; people you'd like to have for your friends. That's some terrific writing.
But.
Oh, dear. The plot. Ignore it. Has more holes than a paper target after 20 rounds from a 12 gauge at 6". Or more.
The audible reader is excellent.
But, oh that plot.... To list the plot idiocies is to give the book away and the man writes much beter than that. Ignore the plot, love the people.

Spoiler Free Enjoyment

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

Yes, I would. With some reservations. After listening to twenty or more books via Audible I can now understand that 'WHERE' you listen to a book can deeply affect your experience. I am a commuter listener, which means that I limit my consumption to the car and the car ONLY. I've learned that this means I can't absorb great writing the way I can at home or reading off the page. As a result, performance and less challenging prose is easier to digest in the car. As such this book delivers.

If you’ve listened to books by Peter Clines before, how does this one compare?

Clines is creating a universe and populating it with interesting characters, there is some overlap but I didn't find that off putting. It's great Lovecraft sci-fi style horror. Pulpy.

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He's great. Love this guy's delivery. Yes, he has only a handful of voices but they are all GREAT.

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

What kind of secrets lurk on the other side of the wall?

Any additional comments?

Fun stuff.

definitely sci-fi

Any additional comments?

I really liked this book at the beginning it was a nice mystery that kept unfolding... then all of a sudden it was like the book switched genres. Suddenly there were weird alien things and other dimensions. I guess that's great for people who love that kind of book but I'm more of a fan of the mystery/"something weird is happening so lets figure it out" type of book. I will however acknowledge that this is a personal preference and other reviews do say this is a sci-fi book. I personally wish the book resolved itself differently but it was true to its genre and I can't fault the author for that. Some things in the story also didn't make a lot of sense as far as the character reactions to things that were happening. But also I don't have a lot of frame of reference as to how people should react in a sci-fi setting.

On another note, Ray Porter was FANTASTIC. His voices were perfect and switched seamlessly. I will definitely find other books narrated by him if they are available.

One of my favorite Peter Clines books

One of the best books be Peter Clines that I've listened to. I loved "The Fold," with this book as a close second. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes #peterclines #scifi