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Camouflage  By  cover art

Camouflage

By: Joe Haldeman
Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
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Publisher's summary

The artifact is found seven miles below the surface of the sea and beneath 40 more feet of sand. The Navy's efforts to raise a wrecked submarine uncover it - and set in motion a scientific race to retrieve it, to discover just what it is and where it came from.

Denser than any substance known to man, it has broken every drill bit they've tried on it and will not budge an inch. It resists every effort to breach it - or communicate with it. So the government turns to marine biologist Russell Sutton for help.

Meanwhile, unknown to any of them, two creatures have wandered the earth for generations. The aliens have no knowledge of each other, but possess a residual memory of the artifact - and an affinity for deep water. One, which calls itself the changeling, has survived by adaptation, by taking on many different forms: man, woman, snake, shark. The other, which calls itself the chameleon, has survived solely by destroying anything or anyone that threatens it.

Now, finally brought up from the bottom of the sea, the artifact calls to them both...to come home. For all these generations there have been two invincible creatures on Earth. But the chameleon has decided there's only room for one.

A novel of human and inhuman nature, Camouflage will take you to the depths of the sea, to the limit of man's imagination - and beyond.

©2005 Joe Haldeman (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

Nebula Award, Best Novel, 2005


"Haldeman trips through history wearing alien goggles but his message is all about human nature." (Entertainment Weekly)
An extremely intelligent thriller." (Washington Post)

What listeners say about Camouflage

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Has Great Moments

What made the experience of listening to Camouflage the most enjoyable?

I have been reading Haldeman for decades and most of his work is marvellous. This book has all those marvellous elements but does tend to lose you now and again, so I had trouble concentrating at times.

What other book might you compare Camouflage to and why?

You don't compare Haldeman to anyone, you compare others to him if you must play such a game.

Which character – as performed by Eric Michael Summerer – was your favorite?

I want to say one, but at the same time it was also the one who annoyed me just as much. Find out for yourself, it is certainly an interesting adventure.

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

Not a happy as I usually am with his books, but at the same time I am damn well pleased I did read it - another master writer.

Any additional comments?

One of the better books I have read in the last two years, some will find it tedious, and some will find it adventurous. Either way, it is good.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

great story . interesting look at humanity.

good story and a good look at us through the eyes of an outsider. I would have enjoyed learning more about the biology of the creatures

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Trial & error of an immortal

Would you listen to Camouflage again? Why?

Maybe if I became an immortal/ changeling which could happen when science understands/controls DNA or another type of life form. .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent book!

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

yep - people interested in the way life could be, and by life I mean non-human non-earth life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

the aliens

What does Eric Michael Summerer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

just a great listen.

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

yes - but I don't want to write about a spoiler.

Any additional comments?

if you like creative fiction - give this a try. It is a little outside the box.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Story, Excellent Performance!

This is a mystery, science fiction, action book all in one. It is a very entertaining story that has just the right mix of science fiction and mystery. I really enjoyed this one.
Has some great war history in it also. The action scenes are nail biters.
You will not be disappointed.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting story - narrator needs a Samoan lesson

What did you love best about Camouflage?

I love sci-fi, especially stories about aliens among us. This book did not disappoint on that front.

What did you like best about this story?

The main character was well developed, and I was intrigued by its progression through different 20th century situations.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrator had a pleasant voice, but clearly needed a Samoan language lesson. I've spent time in both Samoas, and am sorry to say almost every word and phrase was mispronounced. It became annoying to the point of distraction.

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

No, no extreme reactions to the book. In places, the writing seemed forced and some scenes were predictable. There were also some racy scenes that I just couldn't engage with.

Any additional comments?

The story took some very interesting turns, but overall fell kind of flat. My guess, without looking at the details, is that this is an early book for a new author - it has that rough-around-the-edges feeling.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating characters

This is a story of a shape changing creature which decides to integrate into human society, and has to deal with issues of war, love and another shape changer going around. I don't want to spoil the story, but the ending just seems too convenient and happy. There's also a bunch of sex scenes with the shape changer masquerading as both genders which seem a bit forced.

For those two flaws, it gets 4 stars in overall and story.

The narrator did an especially good job with different character accents without making them sound comical.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

When is the movie?

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

Its one of my all-time favorite books and everyone else I recommended it to loved it.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

entertaining, but not buyin' it

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I enjoyed this book, but it involved two different species of alien who both were virtually immortal highly powerful shapeshifters, living on earth. Apparently they represent a substantial portion of alien life out there? I just find that unlikely.

One is evil and one becomes good as a result of earth experiences, which is interesting was not developed as well as it could have been.

So, the book followed the development of one of them on earth (he/she had lost her memory in some unexplained way). That was probably the best part.

Would you be willing to try another book from Joe Haldeman? Why or why not?

Maybe but the science aspect is pretty light.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Eric Michael Summerer?

I'd rather not. He attempts to imitate voices when he reads a book, which is annoying, especially in the extended conversations when he is trying to be a sexy girl.

Could you see Camouflage being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes, I could but that fact doesn't particularly recommend it. They would need to expand the final conflict drama as it is a virtual afterthought and would take about two minutes.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Became more like a lifetime movie as it went on

What did you like best about Camouflage? What did you like least?

Some of the ideas were interesting.

What could Joe Haldeman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

A little more discovery about what the characters could/would do from a larger perspective. It seemed to center around vacation, sex and killing.

Which scene was your favorite?

The message at the end where audible thanks you.

Do you think Camouflage needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. It might progress into alien shape shift 50 shades of grey.

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