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Pastwatch

By: Orson Scott Card
Narrated by: Scott Brick, Christopher Cazenove, Gabrielle de Cuir, Arte Johnson, Moira Quirk, Stefan Rudnicki, Orson Scott Card
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Publisher's summary

In a not-too-distant future that is not quite ours, there has been a major scientific breakthrough. It is a way to open windows into the past, permitting historical researchers to view, but not participate, in the events of the past.

In one of the most powerful and thought-provoking novels of his remarkable career, Orson Scott Card interweaves a compelling portrait of Christopher Columbus with the story of a future scientist who believes she can alter human history from a tragedy of bloodshed and brutality to a world filled with hope and healing.

©1996 Orson Scott Card (P)2005 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A bold and compassionate alternative history filled with believable historical and fictional characters." ( Library Journal)

What listeners say about Pastwatch

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A New Perspective

Card's ability to represent fiction with reason and fact makes this story so interesting. It really makes you think. The only issue I had with this book was that the ending what a little anti-climatic.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Pastwatch

Excellent book as I come to expect from Orson. His ideas and storytelling ability make for a very enjoyable read. He merges history and science fiction to give us some thought provoking views on how our world might be, both in the future of the book and in our own reality.

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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

Great Book! OSC hit this one out of the park!

I am a huge OSC fan and have read almost everything he has ever published. I kept putting off listening to this one because the title of the book made it seem like it would be kind of boring. It was actually really great... right on par with OSC's other works, if not one if his better ones. It is really interesting and I love the speculative alternative histories. Very entertaining and informative. Love the Pastwatch idea. OSC always comes up with really good fantasy and sci fi ideas. 10 out of 10.

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

An intriguing alternate history

Orson Scot Card indeed is one of the best science fiction writers of all time. With books exploring issues of time space humanity and politics they are thought provoking and entertaining.
This book like his others is an excellent examination of humanity and is enlightening and entertaining. And the performance of the actors is excellent as well.
Highly recommended read.

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

Faith

Faith requires all forms of strength to help us overcome our darkest fears; great story.

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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

All tme favorite story by this author

Exciting and interesting to see/hear the story develop. I think Card has yet another winner.

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

So Disappointed

I listened all the way through this less than impressive work of fiction out of my respect for all the joy OSC has given me. But this was just such discount rack level garbage, I’m actually kind of insulted.

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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

This was a really good book

In all honesty I didn't expect much when I first started listening to it. the description caught my interest but when I heard who this book was about I thought to myself, boring. Since I was driving I couldn't exactly look for something different to listento. However, more I listened, the more I enjoyed, till eventually I couldn't wait to get back to the story. I'm not going to spoil the story for you but what I will say is give it a chance, it has a really nice ending.

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

I was very happy excellent book too many narrators

I was actually more than impressed with this book I read it out of a lack of material that I am familiar with so I thought I would give it a shot and was very very happy two of the narrators I'm very familiar with as they do a lot of his books but I've got to say that it was a little confusing in this particular book I would actually say that there was too many narrators if we had had one for each character that would have been great but it was like they all took turns and it made it a little confusing and as much as I enjoy the female narrator in this it is very weird having a female narrator do a male's part in the book I don't mean any offense if that offends anybody but it's like a man doing a woman's part in a book it just doesn't hit you right

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

favorite book

one of my favorites of all time. really, really, really, really, really, really liked it.

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