2012

The War for Souls

By: Whitley Strieber

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

December 21, 2012, may be one of the most watched dates in history. Every 26,000 years, earth lines up with the exact center of our galaxy. At 11:11 on December 21, 2012, this event happens again, and the ancient Maya calculated that it would mark the end, not only of this age, but of human consciousness as we know it.

But what will actually happen? The end of the world? A new age for mankind? Nothing? The last time this happened, Cro-Magnon man suddenly began creating great art in the caves of southern France, which to this day remains one of the most inexplicable changes in human history. Now Whitley Strieber explores 2012 in a towering work of fiction that will astound readers with its truly new insights and a riveting roller-coaster ride of a story.

A mysterious alien presence unexpectedly bursts out of sacred sites all over the world and begins to rip human souls from their bodies, plunging the world into a chaos it has never before known. Courage meets cowardice; loyalty meets betrayal as an entire world struggles to survive this incredible end-all war. Heroes emerge, villains reveal themselves, and in the end, something completely new and unexpected happens that at once lifts the fictional characters into a new life and sounds a haunting real-world warning for the future.

©2007 Whitley Strieber (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[B]lends equal parts science fiction thriller, supernatural horror, and provocative spiritual speculation....wildly entertaining." (Publishers Weekly)
"Immensely entertaining, and it's optioned for a big, splashy, FX-laden movie." (Booklist)

Not for adults

I don't know much about the 2012 phenomenon, and bought this book on the supposition that it would include an intelligent, imaginative, research-based exploration of '2012'. It's not that. It is rambling, irrational nonsense. Listening experience: imagine yourself duct-taped to a chair in a room with a teen high on pot and babbeling endlessly.

2012 (Unabridged)

I didn't listen to the entire thing. After giving it 2 hrs of my ear, I just couldn't handle the readers voice. Maybe if someone else reads it the book might be more appealing. :J

A slow read

This book would be better if it were condensed, maybe even a lot. For me, it is a slow read - I'm having a difficult time staying interested. In fact, I have listened to seven other books while still trying to finish this one.

Ann Coulter is a cannibal demon?

This book started out slow but seemed to be building a tempo that had promise of really being masterful. I was sadly mistaken. The whole inter-dimensional plot got so convoluted that I nearly quit listening for good, several times. This author tries to weave too many theories together in describing the final outcome of 122112. There were some intriguing ideas that this book presented but they were thrown in almost as filler and not well developed. It was also a frustration that the author used biblical passages to reference the apocalyptic events, but the book is far from having any evangelical Christian eschatological foundation. When the main character finally enters the demonic dimension toward the end of the book things got especially weird; i.e. the reason for my review title.
This was a book written for the secular masses who only want a good sci-fi story to somewhat tie together the 2012 speculations. Apparently this book is making it to the big screens as well. Go figure.

Everything including the kitchen sink

Think about every paranormal, alien-invasion, parallel universe, time-warp and supernatural story you've ever heard. Dump them all into a mixer and set the machine's dial to "liquify." That's this book. Previous reviewers' use of the word "disjointed" was exceedingly kind.

Poor

A very poor attempt to provide a fictional "unified theory of everthing" to all things supernatural. The whole thing has so many holes in logic and reason that it constantly took me out of the suspension of disbelief. I have enjoyed other books by this author but this one is not recommended.

Horrible

Whitley shows how to unsuccessfully jump on the 2012 dooms day wagon. Not Whitley's best work. I don't recommend this book.

Lot of potential that started out well

This tale started out well with an interesting plot that continued until mid-book. Then everything changed! I don't know whether the author took an extended break or what, but the tempo of the tale seemed to change with surprise solutions for most every situation. The characters resolved their problems without any previous suggestion or inkling of a solution. Bang, total surprise! Most made no sense to me. I finished the book, but it was an effort. I would not recommend this book to anyone. I doubt if there is a second book from this author in my future.

don't bother

Absolutely the worst book I've ever listened to. The story is disjointed and rambling and the narration is more than annoying. Compared to Phillip Pullman's riveting trilogy "His Dark Materials", also about parallel universes, this book lacks imagination, character development and a cohesive storyline. Don't waste your money. I wish I hadn't.

2012 Don't buy

Just more political global warming B.S.Where all conservatives are evil.Would like my money back , I stop listening half way through.