Empire of the East

By: Fred Saberhagen

Narrated by: Raymond Todd

Length: 18 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

In the distant future, society has crumbled. Dark forces now rule the land, keeping all humans under their oppressive thumbs.

In the darkness of the shadows and whispered on the winds, there is talk of rebellion. In the swamps, a small band has formed. Determined to regain their freedom, the rebels, heavily outnumbered, plan to overthrow an army of thousands, with the help of one incredible weapon.

It is only a legend, a story left over from the Old World before magic and the wizards came to the land. A weapon of technology. It is the mystical Elephant, and whoever masters it holds the key to freedom...or defeat.

One young man, determined to avenge the death of his family, sets out to join the rebellion and find Elephant. What he discovers will change everything.

©1979 Fred Saberhagen (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Too Old for This One

Any additional comments?

This is one of those books I would have loved 10 years ago, but alas it just couldn't hold my interest with my more mature tastes. However it is not a Tolkien clone, but since it was written in the late 60's and early 70's it has been copied many times, including in the masters of the universe cartoons from the 80's to some degree.

Classic SciFi

This is a classic Sci Fi tale and makes no attempts to hide it. I really enjoyed this tale when I read it years ago and being able to listen to it added to my enjoyment. Well worth the listen.

Just as I remember it

This book made an impact on me like no other. Sure, having read Tolkien and C.S.Lewis I was primed and ready, but nothing could prepare me for what amounted to a journey into Earth's rich future-- fifty thousand years hence. In a sense, I had read something similar in "The Night Lands," by Hodgson, but that book was written in a style that was intended to make even the writing strangely alien-- as was H.P. Lovecraft's work. This book remains firmly planted in modern prose and digs deep.

I love Fred Saberhagen but not Raymond Todd

Would you listen to Empire of the East again? Why?

No, I stopped listening because I could hardly follow the story with the jilted reading. It was read like an encyclopedia.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Rolph and will probably read this book the traditional way.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I notice that Raymond Todd has read various non-fiction works and I think he is much better off in that category. Great voice but terrible inflection for dialogue and accents changed for the same characters multiple times.

Any additional comments?

Keep Raymond Todd in non-fiction and use Derek Perkins for all of Saberhagen's books.

Excellent Story, Narration Weak

The world-building of Fred Saberhagen is his greatest strength, one that shows through again with Empire of the East.
If this is the only outlet you are going to allow yourself to experience the story, please push through the weak narration to hear the story behind!

Fantasy story well told

Fred Saberhagen is a master storyteller. Characters, plots, complex world building, all make for a rich story. This audible version is done with world class talent. I recommend this for any lover of fantasy or science fiction.

Good book, bad narrator.

First, I'm a Saberhagen fan, so I lived the book when I read it and as I listened to it. Todd's narration is, as always, barely tolerable. The frequent mispronunciation is very distracting. I won't buy anything he narrates again.

Best so far

This is the best book I have listened to yet from audible.com. It was like 3 books in one. The plot elements were interesting, the tension was sincere, the characters were likable and the world was fascinating. I highly recommend this book!

ALMOST quit

I have to admit, I quit listening to this book several times in the beginning, listened to other books, and then came back to it. Honestly I didn't think I was going to ever finish listening to it based on the beginning...

BUT, then I started over while I had no other books to listen to, and THEN got hooked... couldn't put down the MP3 player after that until it was done.

Don't let the first part put you off, the plot thickens and the characters get fleshed out... I'll probably go ahead with the other books in the series now...

I ALMOST quit, glad I didn't!

Great story, ruined by narrator

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator's sing-songy delivery suggests he thinks all fantasy books are children's stories. This is serious, dark fiction, not Story Time in first grade, and it deserves to be read straight.

Would you be willing to try another one of Raymond Todd’s performances?

I doubt it.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Absolutely I would see it, if it were made by someone who took it seriously.