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Lucifer's Hammer  By  cover art

Lucifer's Hammer

By: Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
Narrated by: Marc Vietor
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Publisher's summary

The gigantic comet had slammed into Earth, forging earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale, tidal waves thousands of feet high. Cities were turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam. It was the beginning of a new Ice Age and the end of civilization.

But for the terrified men and women chance had saved, it was also the dawn of a new struggle for survival - a struggle more dangerous and challenging than any they had ever known....

©1985 Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Take your earthquakes, waterlogged condominiums, swarms of bugs, colliding airplanes, and flaming what-nots, wrap them up and they wouldn't match one page of Lucifer's Hammer for sweaty-palmed suspense." ( Chicago Daily News)
"Massively entertaining." ( Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

What listeners say about Lucifer's Hammer

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    3,479
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Performance
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,924
  • 4 Stars
    1,664
  • 3 Stars
    789
  • 2 Stars
    226
  • 1 Stars
    106

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  • 03-01-13

A Primer for Being Prepared

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

I would and have recommended this book to friends. It was fantastic. Fiction for end of the world buffs and prepping fans. An end of the world saga for the survivalist. Truly amazing in every detail.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The postman - neither rain, nor sleet, nor deadly hammer! Made me think about a need to be useful.

Which scene was your favorite?

Two words - Thermite Grenades.

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

I can't stay awake that long. However, I always looked forward to the next part.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Worth a credit for sure!

If you could sum up Lucifer's Hammer in three words, what would they be?

TEOTWAWKI from California

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lucifer's Hammer?

Science saves the day near the end- More would be a spoiler.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Well thought out.

Enjoyable book to listen to. The characters never really came alive to me but the story was cool. Great perspective on post apocalyptic society.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Lots and lots of plots

This was a bit of a departure for me. I'm usually hard core sci-fi, maybe that's why I never could get into the storyline(s). Speaking of: there are way too many things going on! So many that I think it distracts, overall. The narrator did a really nice job...quite enjoyable!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

What if the earth were in the path of a comet?

Would you consider the audio edition of Lucifer's Hammer to be better than the print version?

When you have little spare tie in your day, it is easier to listen to a book while you are driving than find the time to actually read it. In this way it is easier to "read" more books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked the mailman because of his dedication to his job in all the chaos.

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

The book made me think. I wonder what would happen if a comet were to hit the earth and we were suddenly thrown back to conditions as they were centuries ago.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good sci-fi but dated and truncated

Would you consider the audio edition of Lucifer's Hammer to be better than the print version?

I've never read the print.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Well, this story is dated. Propaganda from the 60's is highly present.
1) The soviets claim it odd that Americans build the same device in multiple factories to different specifications. But the soviets always had at least two (or more) aircraft/automobile/etc factories producing similar goods, which is similar to the US.
2) Nuclear power plants were believed to be safe if they could be turned off. But in reality we all NOW know that nuke reactors can take years to cool down. If the nuke reactors in the story had been submerged in water they would have exploded.
3) The mustard gas that is used in the book immediately incapacitates an attacking army. Well...mustard gas takes anywhere from 12-24 hours to

What about Marc Vietor’s performance did you like?

He did a good job with it.

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

Nope

Any additional comments?

This is good science fiction. But the story fails to deliver in the final chapters. It's like watching a marathon runner who is within eye sight of the finish line give up and not complete the race.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it!

what a wonderful book. it starts going down into an apocalypse and ends in hope. well written and performed.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The Hammer didn't really Fall


A larger description of what was going on elsewhere would have helped along with a female reader for the female parts. A bit of a let-down at the conclusion.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good science

Good science but very dated. Still worth a listen for real sci/fi aficionados. Could use a modern day rewrite or update

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great Story Until....

The ending, it's like the authors stopped trying and just wanted to end the book. I was having a blast listening, and it ends like that!?

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