Lord of All Things

By: Samuel Willcocks - translator, Andreas Eschbach

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Length: 21 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the 2012 Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis.

They are just children when they first meet: Charlotte, daughter of the French ambassador, and Hiroshi, a laundress’s son. One day in the playground, Hiroshi declares that he has an idea that will change the world. An idea that will sweep away all differences between rich and poor.

When Hiroshi runs into Charlotte several years later, he is trying to build a brighter future through robotics. Determined to win Charlotte’s love, he resurrects his childhood dream, convinced that he can eradicate world poverty by pushing the limits of technology beyond imagination. But as Hiroshi circles ever closer to realizing his vision, he discovers that his utopian dream may contain the seeds of a nightmare — one that could obliterate life as we know it.

Crisscrossing the globe, from Tokyo to the hallowed halls of MIT to desolate Arctic islands and Buenos Aires and beyond — far beyond — Lord of All Things explores not only technology’s dizzying potential, but also its formidable dangers.

©2011 Andreas Eschbach and Bastei Lübbe GmbH & Co. KG. English translation © 2014 by Samuel Willcocks. (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Could be 5 Stars

Spoilers *****

This book is the first few chapters setting up an amazing, epic story. It could just end, leaving the reader looking out at the fascinating but uncertain future. That would have earned 5 stars. Instead the author spoils the soup by letting a bunch of character development come to nothing, or with nonsensical and out of character behavior. It feels like there author didn't want to keep telling the story. Admittedly, the type of story was changing. I want to rip the roots of the bad ending and maybe another author could write book two.

The best, most original story in a long time.

I listen to a lot of sf and it has been a long time since I've found a writer with the sensitivity and vision of Eschbach. I hope he keeps writing for a long time.

classic sci fi par excellance

Eschbach has written here a new classic. with rich, deeply imagined characters, Eschbach weaves a wondrous story about humanity, the eternal solitude to which we constantly consign ourselves, both at the individual and social level, and how we simultaneously strive for redemption. The futuristic, technical details are lucidly explained. The story, while incredibly complex, unfolds dramatically, leaving the reader with a profound sense of satisfaction. while the story begins somewhat slowly, the imaginative reader will enjoy the constant but subtle foreshadowing. Eschbach is my new favorite story teller and imaginer of worlds.

Idea still lingering in the mind

Any additional comments?

This was a bargain book and what an amazing surprise. If you like ideas and a story that follows through logically no matter where it leads, try this one. Not trying for a spoiler alert, just saying the surprises are solid. Reminds me a little of Octavia Butler at her best - take an idea and just tease it out to its end.

Starts as a love story, ramps up to explosive sci fi

Another great performance by Nick Podehl. Great characters, left me wanting more at the end.

Phenomenal

Give it time, it gets so good! This book is truly a saga that is so much more than imagined.

Lord of all Things - love

This has been one of the best books I have listened to in a while. The writing was smooth and flawless. The narration was excellent. But the concept and idea for the book was what sent it over the top for me. I definitely will listen to this book again, if not several times.

One of the worst Sci Fi books I've read

This book is completely unnecessary and filled with irrelevant details about the characters. In fact that's all this book is about as the actual concept is so small that the author just filled it with random garbage to make a whole book out of it. unfortunately I did not have anything better to do so I finished the whole book hoping that something bigger will be introduced but it was a complete and utter disasspointment.

Great Story, Well-Narrated!

I don't know whether to call this science fiction or fantasy, because there is an aspect that seems to go beyond science, but in either case, it is a great story that holds its pace all the way through. What was especially wonderful was how the author started with the most simple of events and expanded it into a story of enormous scope and possibility. He works the science in without getting bogged down.

The narrator did a fine job, using various voices and the right pace.

I will happily listen to another book by Eschbach.

Great book

It's a great book. The narrator is awesome. BUT don't read it if you don't like anything but happy endings.