Koban: The Mark of Koban, Volume 2

By: Stephen W. Bennett

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

Length: 22 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Book 2 of the Koban Series

Already faster and more powerful than the last 17 species that they have destroyed or subjugated, the Krall have set their sights on humankind. Aftertesting humans on their future home world of Koban and finding them worthy opponents, the Krall start a war of slow extermination with the rest of humanity. The war is intended to last generations as they apply their own version of "natural selection" to cull their weaker warriors in combat, purifying the Krall gene pool with their finest warriors for breeding. Why? The Krall desire to rule the galaxy someday, from their future home world of Koban, where the impossibly fast and powerful animals have proven to be too fast and strong for them to match. Only through the attrition of war will the Krall perfect their bloodline to become the masters of Koban. When the Krall departed Koban to start their war with humanity, they destroyed the protections that kept their prisoners safe. They left the human test subjects to fall victim to high gravity, and the deadly predators. Big mistake. The bio scientist left behind enhanced the human genome with Koban genes, forming the next generations of humans. They are becoming what the Krall sought to be. The fastest, most powerful species in the galaxy. The men and women trapped on Koban, locked in a struggle for their own survival for twenty years, return to the stars to help defend Human Space. The Krall have had their way with human worlds, killing when and where they wish. Outnumbered, the new Kobani will now take the war to the Krall.

©2013 Stephen W Bennett (P)2014 Stephen W Bennett

Everything that crawls, flies or grows on a bush!

I LOVE this series -- but, I haven't reviewed all the books! Why you may ask . . .

Because I'm too busy listening to them!

Every summer I re-listening to this series, and once I start, I’m hooked until the last word is spoken — and I don’t touch any another books during that time. Why would I? It’s Koban all day, every day, until I’m done. Nothing else compares to the gorgeous mind movies these books create for me. NOTHING.

This year marks my 4th listen, and Book Six is out on Kindle, and will be released on audio in time for Xmas! (Oh, rapturous joy!) Having just finished The Mark, again, I decided to check out my review for it — only I never reviewed it!

The problem is, I hate to give spoilers when I review a book I love, so reviewing this series is very hard for me to do. Books are a journey, yada yada -- and I don't want to spoil anyone's trip — but I can’t keep this great series to myself! You deserve to know!

So . . .

Spoiler Alert——- Spoiler Alert ——-Spoiler Alert ——- Spoiler Alert——-Spoiler Alert


Book Two: The Mark of Koban

In 600 years, humans have colonized over 700 worlds in the Milky Way Galaxy, and they’ve never met an alien race in all that time. They also haven’t had a war in 300 years. They’re peace-loving, civilized, and very, very polite.

But now the Krall have left Koban, and their gunning for humanity.

The humans have no idea that a completely savage, technologically advanced, 7 ft tall, 600 lb reptile analogue ARMY is coming for them, so when the Krall start attacking the unprotected and minimally populated outer Rim worlds, it’s a slaughter. Fortunately, humans don’t taste good to the Krall, or they’d eat us as well as fight us. (Yea us! We’re ‘bland!’)

Unfortunately --- the only thing most humans know about fighting a war is what they’ve see in old war movies. (Doh!) The Krall know this, so they decide to go slow, attacking a few human worlds just to get the humans started in re-learning their lost skills. And they do.

Meanwhile, back on Koban: The human captives are in a struggle to survive the harsh and dangerous planet’s heavy gravity, deadly insects, giant predators, and 20 lb killer bats -- just to name a few. It’s going to take a miracle for them to survive on Koban, because everything that crawls, flies or grows on a bush can and WILL eat them.

They do survive, of course, but it’s HOW they survive that makes the series so amazing and compelling to read. So, I’ll say it again:

DO NOT MISS THIS SERIES. If this is the ONLY Sci fi book you ever read, START WITH BOOK ONE! I guarantee you're going to love it, and this book, Book Two, is even better, with a better narrator!

I envy you the journey because you can only ever read a great book for the first time, once -- but even the 4th time with this series is FANTASTIC!

Continues a very good premise.

If you could sum up Koban: The Mark of Koban, Book 2 in three words, what would they be?

New, interesting and better narration.

What did you like best about this story?

Concept.

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

Eric is a much better narrator than the first book. He did need to listen to the first book and continue some of the established voices.

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

Not sure.

Any additional comments?

This is a good Sci-Fi book in the area of premise. The idea is fairly new, which is rare if you read a lot on Sci-Fi. The author does seem to dwell way to long on mundane stuff but overall the book is good. Hope installment 3 comes soon.

loved it

loved it could not put down the book down I just finished the book going to start book 3 right away

just gets better..

This series rocks! can't wait for next one. this would make a great series;) Classic survivalist space adventure with extremely interesting comments on species.

fun book. well done

This second book really delivered. great story. I look forward to the third book in the series.

Great Book of a series

If you could sum up Koban: The Mark of Koban, Book 2 in three words, what would they be?

The book is a lot of fun to listen to, but the series consists of more than the two books offered. Best not get started if Audible is not going to offer the whole series.

Bummed about the change, but still good

Where does Koban: The Mark of Koban, Book 2 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Overall the storyline has been addicting, albeit a little granular and drawn out at times. Overall I have enjoyed the story and look forward to enjoying the rest of the series.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Koban: The Mark of Koban, Book 2?

The descriptive (but not overly so) explanations of locations helped to give great context to the each scene.

Which scene was your favorite?

No favorite, I enjoyed it all.

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

My extreme reaction was to the (unfortunate) change in narrator. While I agree the original narrator has his quirks, he did manage to create unique enough voices and personalities for the different characters to make the story interesting, whereas this current narrator is far less creative in the telling. I miss the russian Colonel Greeves more than most of the characters.

I loved this story

Where does Koban: The Mark of Koban, Book 2 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I hesitate to award the Laurel. . . . and Hardy handshake but the stipulation of this rating being a comparison against my current online library gives me a bit of cover. This is a great story! I rate it in my top 3!

What other book might you compare Koban: The Mark of Koban, Book 2 to and why?

The Koban story is my third favorite. My numbers two and one are The Name of the Wind and Huckleberry Finn. It seems odd to compare them. I like these three stories for the development of the story and characters in them.

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

Mr. Summerer' reading flow was much better and more natural than the reader of the first book but it lacked the vocal variety of the the first reader. I actually found myself harkening back to the the first reader's performance of characters like Thad, Maggie, and even Dillon to retain the richness of the story. Even the bad guys were flattened out, and less alien in this reading. Fortunately, the first reader's representation was still fresh in my mind.

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

I almost did!

Much better listen!

Now, the audio production and narration match the excellence of the story. I look forward to picking up the next audio book in the series.

Very Good Space Saga

Any additional comments?

The author needs to work on his characters banter it seems to always degrade into teenage level potty or sexual jokes. Not sure what the authors age is, but this could use a little work. Otherwise the plot and details are original and well constructed.