Arkwright

By: Allen Steele

Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies

Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Written by a highly regarded expert on space travel and exploration, Allen Steele's Arkwright features the precision of hard science fiction with a compelling cast of characters.

In the vein of classic authors such as Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke, Nathan Arkwright is a seminal author of the 20th century. At the end of his life he becomes reclusive and cantankerous, refusing to appear before or interact with his legion of fans. Little does anyone know, Nathan is putting into motion his true timeless legacy. Convinced that humanity cannot survive on Earth, his Arkwright Foundation dedicates itself to creating a colony on an earthlike planet several light-years distant. Fueled by Nathan's legacy, generations of Arkwrights are drawn together - and pulled apart - by the enormity of the task and weight of their name.

This is classic, epic science fiction and engaging character-driven storytelling that will appeal to devotees of the genre as well as fans of current major motion pictures such as Gravity and Interstellar.

©2016 Allen Steele (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Such a good story.....

The story was surprisingly entertaining and has kept me wanting more on what will happen next.

Fascinating Multi Generational Tale

I was truly gripped by this story. It's a tale that spans the lives of multiple generations, all of which hold you tight until the very end. Great listen and a fun ride.

Slow Moving

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not due to the exceptionally slow pace and lack of actual things happening.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Having more things happening.

Which character – as performed by Stephen Bel Davies – was your favorite?

All were performed well.

Did Arkwright inspire you to do anything?

Argue about some of the premises for the book.

Different Take on Common Sci-fi Story Concept

Instead of the usual view of humanity's story after they first start exploring other worlds, this one it about one family's legacy to ensure that humanity starts exploring other worlds at all.

I liked the different take on it and how each generation embraces or rejects the family legacy/responsibility.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Really good plausible story

This book embraced reality and hoped for a better future. People were still people with all the flaws and the speed of light was never broken.

A nice read

This was a good mix of human relevancy and forward thinking with a splash of science. The drama parts of the families in book 3 were a bit much, but story wise, this was well done. It was to the point and provided a high level of research into space travel.

lots of build up not much finish

I liked it, but this book has lots of build up, not much finish. well performed though.

Too disjointed

Too long and disjointed that characters don't connect as they should and you really don't care what happens.

It's all about the backstory

A lot of Sci Fi books start right in the middle of some action, and the backstory is treated as a mystery. There's a bit of backstory in this novel, but really it feels more like it is all backstory. That's not a problem though. It is interesting because it is unique. Life is mostly about the slow build and the long wait...

Mary Sue

narration was good. But... If ever ever there were a Mary Sue sci-fi story about a sci-fi author, this is that story. Action was weak; pacing was tolerable; story was a bit sparse.