Last Call

By: Tim Powers

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 19 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Scott Crane abandoned his career as a professional poker player 20 years ago and hasn’t returned to Las Vegas, or held a hand of cards, in 10 years. But troubling nightmares about a strange poker game he once attended on a houseboat on Lake Mead are drawing him back to the magical city. For the mythic game he believed he won did not end that night in 1969—and the price of his winnings was his soul. Now, a pot far more strange and perilous than he ever could imagine depends on the turning of a card.

Enchantingly dark and compellingly real, this World Fantasy Award–winning novel is a masterpiece of magic realism set in the gritty, dazzling underworld known as Las Vegas.

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©1992 Tim Powers (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A dizzying, stimulating magnum opus.” ( USA Today)

“Brilliant! Compelling and satisfying! Tim Powers is one of our best writers, and Last Call is his best book yet.” (Raymond E. Feist)

“Distinctive and commanding…a strikingly inventive novel.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Great story; sometimes annoying narration

Would you consider the audio edition of Last Call to be better than the print version?

Having read the print version twice, I would recommend it over the audio version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Last Call?

The final show-down on Lake Mead was both thrilling and made very visual. The image of the fool (Dondi) dancing on the "tower" while the water bubbled and hell was breaking loose was amazing. The last scene of Crane and his father was actually quite moving.

How could the performance have been better?

Every time Pinchot whispered, I wanted to throttle him. I had to hit the rewind and jack the sound up as loud as it would go in order to hear, then of course, immediately turn the sound back down when he was done. His female voices are, literally, weak, as he delivers his feminine voices with reedy, light tones that make them sound slow-witted.

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

No; it is too much to absorb. It is such an original book that I prefer to let in sink in more slowly.

Buy the Book, if you can.

What did you love best about Last Call?

Tim Powers Makes Poker games into engaging action scenes.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Last Call?

The magic in the book is mysterious, ever-present, used very well. The whole world is a part of the system, like they belong together.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The book is great, but I was dieing for it to end. It does drag a bit. However, I blame that on the narrator. You need a powerful reader voice to drive you through a 20+ hour book.

Any additional comments?

Read the book, not the audio - if you can. This Book is so good. WORTH IT.

Great story. mediocre reader

The book is fantastic and complex and highly enjoyable. Tense, mystic and modern.
The reader actually got quieter when narrating gunshots and people shouting. That choice made no sense at all and really detracted from the mood.

not for the faint of heart

Any additional comments?

tim powers is awesome but dark and deep especially in audio. have a light on and someone there to hold your hand in the spooky bits... and make sure you have enough time. you wont want to put this book down!

Great Book

Someone told me this was their favorite book. I can see why. I didn't know what was going on for the first half of the book. This was intentional, I'm certain. It was entertaining from the beginning, and the intrigue added to the book as the story unfolded.

Stop whispering!

I love the story but I hate how Bronson Pinchot whispers certain voices to the point where you can’t here them. I find myself having to turn the volume all the way up just to hear what he’s saying for some of the parts. It’s just very distracting and it’s an odd choice. There are other ways of getting across the idea of speaking quietly.

Fantastic symbolism

High stakes poker games, tarot cards or Jungian philosophy Last Call has it all.

Deal me in

What a great book. if you like "American God's" (neil gaiman) or "Dark Tower" (stephen king) this book is in the same neighborhood. Excellent narration, captivating story, worth the credit or the cash.

Fans of American Gods will like this one

This is an excellent story. The world is rich and dark. It reminds me a great deal of Gaiman's American Gods and that is a good thing. The characters are well developed and I like how they involve the supernatural with real world people and events.

Bronson Pinchot does the narration and he is one of the best. This is something different from the standard urban fantasy fair and you well definitely enjoy it.

Great Listen

A great book with excellent narration. Glad Tim Powers has made it to Audible and hope to find more in the near future, esp. Expiration Date and Earthquake Weather (the sequels to Last Call).