Hard Magic

Book I of the Grimnoir Chronicles

By: Larry Correia

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, Paranormal, 2012

Jake Sullivan is a licensed private eye with a seriously hardboiled attitude. He also possesses raw magical talent and the ability to make objects in his vicinity light as a feather or as heavy as depleted uranium, all with a magical thought. It's no wonder the G-men turn to Jake when they need someone to go after a suspected killer who has been knocking off banks in a magic-enhanced crime spree.

Problems arise when Jake discovers the bad girl behind the robberies is an old friend, and he happens to know her magic is just as powerful as his. And the Feds have plunged Jake into a secret battle between powerful cartels of magic-users - a cartel whose ruthless leaders have decided that Jake is far too dangerous to live.

©2011 Larry Correia (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Amazing!

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

I selected this book because it sounded interesting, and I also really do enjoy Bronson Pinchot as a narrator. The story has a great pace and pulls you in.

What about Bronson Pinchot’s performance did you like?

Absolutely everything.

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

Yes and no. I Didn't want it to end, so I spread it out over several days. But it was very hard to put down.

Any additional comments?

If you are at all intrigued by the description, you should listen to this book.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this series

Honestly, I looked at this book multiple times before actually purchasing it because I was always put off by the title, cover and summary. Don't be.
The Grimnoir Chronicles are amazing. Best books I have ever read/listened to in a long time. The story is amazing and really doesn't have any loose ends, the magic system is really interesting and all three books are really funny. Bronson Pinchot also does a great job with the narration and all the different American accents (as far I my limited expertise can allow me to tell) so much so, that I got a lot more out of listening to the story than reading it. All three books in the series are highly recommended.

All the best elements of mystery fantasy & sci-fi!

It's taken me a few days to get to this review - I've been busy calling all my friends, family members, neighbors, ex-lovers, old professors, doctors, and travel agents, trying to convince them to stop what they're doing and pick up this first book in the Grimnoir Chronicles. NOW.

Hard Magic is an insane romp through the 1930's of a re-written history where magic suddenly developed in humans. I didn't quite know what to expect given the book's description, but after finishing the series I can see why the synopsis is so genre-defyingly vague. Correia gives us the scar-covered, street-hardened, fedora-wearing cast of a noir PI film; throws in all the magic, demons, and epic airship adventures of a fantasy novel, and treats the whole thing with all the analytical and plausible attention to detail that would make any sci-fi world-builder swoon. The result is a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, and a perfectly enjoyable read (or better yet, listen!)

Correia's unique approach to magic is what really sets this book apart for me. None of that hand-wavy all-powerful stuff - Hard Magic has rules, and takes place in the physical world. Correia somehow manages to make even the most fantastic feats fall within reason. Not only that, but the characters themselves learn more about their mysterious powers along with the reader, and each development builds on a complex and balanced collection of crazy abilities.

The little bits of re-told history through interviews and news articles at the beginning of each chapter are a delight - it's fun to hear how magic might have changed every aspect of American history and culture. If you're a history buff, this story will be twice as enjoyable. If you're a gun buff, three times as enjoyable. With all the detail on firearms and amo, Correia shows his appreciation for some good old-fashioned steel in a fantasy world.

And then there's Bronson Pinchot. At first I was put off by Sullivan's mucky southern drawl and Faye's okie, childish tone, but not only did I fall in love with both these characters, but I realized that Pinchot totally nailed these unlikely heroes to the core. Pinchot covers an impressive range of over-the-top characters, not only in their various international accents, but in their tone and demeanor as well. This is one of those rare instances where I can confidently say that hearing the book read out loud truly enhanced my reading experience. His asian accents are a little weak, which is a bit of a bummer since so much of the book revolves around Japan, but maybe I'm just being picky because I just listened to "Rock, Paper, Tiger" and experienced Tracy Sallows' 14+ different chinese accents.

Disclaimer: not for the faint of heart. There's a lot of blood and gore, and a blatant disregard for human life against a pretty dehumanized enemy. But it's this hard-hitting, take no prisoners pace that makes the book so crazy fun, and though it takes a while, a surprising amount of depth is revealed in the story's villains.

In short, Hard Magic is the best Tesla-powered, ninja-fighting, crime-mystery sci-fi fantasy historical novel with sky pirates that I've read. Ever.

Very good

Wasn't sure at first, but was hooked early on, good story and wonderful narration, recommended.

Stunning!

I am now re-listening to all of the Grimnoir series, because I enjoyed them so much the first time. The story is fascinating, inventive and quite unique. The narration is absolutely remarkable and spell-binding. Bronson Pinchot is simply the best reader I have heard and I listen to a lot of books. All of Larry Correia's books are extremely well written but the combination of an alternate history and a believable use of magic is captivating and so extraordinary that this is my favorite series of the three he currently has going. I certainly hope for more books of this series, hopefully with the same cast of characters. I especially liked that the ultimate hero is female, without detracting from the importance of all the other male characters.

Fun

Fun story. Took a bit too get into, but then I was hooked. excellent performance of the characters.

So much better than expected, one of the BEST ever

If you could sum up Hard Magic in three words, what would they be?

Riveting, great plot!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hard Magic?

I don't want to give the plot away, but the scene with Faye and The Chairman is awesome. There are so many cool characters in this book that memorable moments happen frequently.

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

I have not heard this reader before. I have almost 300 audiobooks and have heard some great readers, and have developed some faves, but Pinchot is one of the best I've heard. He was perfect for this book because the characters, in my visualization are cartoonish, and what he adds with his character voices is fantastic. Because the narrator is so good, I would recommend listening instead of reading for this book.

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

Roger Rabbit meets Scareface"

Any additional comments?

Don't make me waste my time writing this, I never write reviews, so you owe it to yourself to listen to it. My only caution is that there is a lot of fighting and the violence scene are a bit epic, which some readers might not care for. If your one of those, be prepared, but listen to it anyway, you'll be glad you did.

Great story!

At first, I wasn't sure if I liked the story, but after listening for an hour or so, I was hooked. Great story, equally good narration. Will be reading Book 2 shortly.

Can't believe how much I enjoyed this!

Totally out of my genres but tried it on a BOGO sale knowing I could get my money back if I didn't like it.

Revisionist history, magical beings in human form, humor, pathos, superb plot and pacing.

Pinchot brought each eccentric character to life.

Genius book and performance. I am in for the entire series.

Listen!

Great story

Great listening to this book. It was action filled and has a very interesting magic system in place.