Hollow World

By: Michael J. Sullivan

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

The future is coming...for some more than others.

Ellis Rogers is an ordinary man who is about to embark on an extraordinary journey. All his life he has played it safe and done the right thing. But when he is faced with a terminal illness, Ellis is willing to take an insane gamble. He's built a time machine in his garage, and if it works, he'll face a world that challenges his understanding of what it means to be human, what it takes to love, and the cost of paradise. Ellis could find more than a cure for his disease; he might find what everyone has been searching for since time has begun - but only if he can survive the Hollow World.

©2014 Michael J. Sullivan (P)2014 Recorded Books

what is real? what is love?

3 times or more I've listened to this. I love it every time. The story of a man with birthing to lose. His wife doesn't care about him. His son is dead and now he is dying. Who wouldn't go to see if the future has something to offer? but does he really go there? A world where everyone is so alike that people are killing to be different.

Could have been so much more

I am a huge Michael Sullivan fan but this story just did not work for me. It was interesting enough, but lacked the depth and character development that Sullivan's other works generally display. The story of a dying man who is smart enough to build a one way time machine and travel thousands of years into the future is a fascinating concept to me. I love H. G. Wells Time Machine. But the story line after our hero makes the time jump falls flat. The idea that a world that has in essence conquered illness and for the most part, death, but longs for individuality and uniqueness was difficult to swallow. I found it weird, or maybe disjointed.

The end was interesting enough that I don't regret spending the credit on the story. The reader was okay, not great. Perhaps if Tim Reynolds had read it...

Excellent Sci Fi Listen

I had no interest in this book but listened out of obligation since Michael J. Sullivan had not yet written a book I didn’t love. After reading, his perfect record with me remains unblemished. A change in reader from Tim Gerard Reynolds also had me unenthusiastic about this book, but Jonathan Davis is a pro and I have no complaints.

Makes you think

At first it's so so but wait for the end. The story just builds and builds and builds. It gives a very thought provoking lgbq ending kinda because one person is a man .... And the other is kinda sexless. Really makes you think.

Not my cup of Hot Chocolate

I loved Michael J. Sullivan's other series. I wanted very much to like this book, and I did... for a while. The weaknesses of this book? It drags a bit in the middle, and there are several very large plot holes. As other reviewers and the author himself notes, this is NOT a book about time travel.

Instead, it is about relationships. While Sullivan did a great job with interpersonal relationships in Riyira, this book falls a bit flat. The main (romantic?) Relationship seemed a bit forced, and I have to admit I didn't enjoy the direction the character went.

I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it either.

Not his best

Riyria in my opinion us a much better tale with more relatable characters. I was left wanting for more in this book and it failed to live up to my expectations.

Having said that it isn't a bad story, just not something I expected and I have no doubt plenty of people will love it.

OK - but not playing to the authors strength

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Like many others I jumped at this book on the strength of the Ryiria series (which I really liked). I wanted to like this book more - but I could't - and kept asking myself why. While it is unfair to make comparison with Ryira it is somewhat inevitable.... and what I like most about Ryira was the dynamic and banter between the characters it was light-hearted, fun and engaging. In contrast the dialog between characters in Hollow World was superficial and somewhat rushed. So while Hollow World was a "OK" book (that was well narrated) I didn't feel like it played to Michael Sullivan's strength of character development and fast-paced dialog. I was expecting more from an author that I love reading.... but then again not every book will appeal to every reader and other may find more satisfaction in Hollow World than I was able to find.

The Future or a Moral Conundrum

I am a fan of Michael J. Sullivan's writing and thought I would listen to this early work. It was an interesting story about a person who goes into the future. A lot of the story involves the musings of the main character in terms of his morality and religion. Perhaps a little too much musing. The story develops slowly and the interplay between Ellis Rogers (the main character) and his "best friend" take some interesting twists, but always to add to the musing regarding religion and ethics. I enjoyed the story overall, but felt as if it were somehow incomplete. It was worth the listen.

Very different and very interesting

Even though I was an avid Michael J Sullivan fan, I didn't read or listen to this for a long time because it didn't sound like something I would enjoy. I was pleasantly surprised! It is unlike anything I had ever read before, whether fantasy or sci-fi, and I would definitely highly recommend it.

Ok, but felt forced

The story started strong, but became an awkward mix of the primary characters' emotional struggles and an ever weakening plot. The normally exceptional character development was missing and character interactions felt forced.

With all that said, it was still an above average read.