Sub-Human

Post-Human Series, Book 1

By: David Simpson

Narrated by: Ray Chase

Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Before he was Old-timer, he was Craig Emilson, a young doctor, sucked into military service at the outbreak of World War III. Enlisting to become a Special Forces suborbital paratrooper, Craig is selected to take part in the most important mission in American military history - a sortie into enemy territory to eliminate the world's first strong Artificial Intelligence. The mission is only the beginning of Craig's story, and for the story of humanity as well, as they accelerate towards a world that is post-human.

If you're already a fan of the smash-hit Post-Human Series, this prequel to Post-Human, Sub-Human, will answer the previously unanswered questions of how the post-human world came to be. And, if you're new to the series, Sub-Human will serve as an engrossing introduction to a possible future that has enraptured tens of thousands of listeners!

©2012 David Simpson (P)2013 Podium Publishing

Written for a young adult

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The story was simplistic and formulaic. It has the outline of a good story, but the writing was juvenile.

What three words best describe Ray Chase’s voice?

Neutral.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Sub-Human?

I would have given the story to another author and asked them to rewrite it.

Any additional comments?

I have not loved this narrator all that much in the past, but with this story he was pretty irritating. But the story gave him not very much to work with so he did his best given the material. So I don't feel like this story is a good measure of his ability to be a good narrator.

Moronic Pulp Sci-Fi

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. It has a wonderful premise, which borrows from Philip Jose Farmer, and other sic-fi writers, but has an exceptionally idiotic plot and absolutely moronic set of cut-out characters.

What was most disappointing about David Simpson’s story?

The characters were unbelievably insipid caricatures.

Have you listened to any of Ray Chase’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Ray Chase was excellent. Too bad he had to narrate such a ridiculous novel.

Did Sub-Human inspire you to do anything?

Avoid any more David Simpson novels.

Any additional comments?

Very disappointing.

LUDDITE

CRAP YOUR PANTS IN 31 SECONDS
I was a little slow to get into this. Then I got into it big time and thought it was great. Then it turned into some type of super hero comic book. The intelligence and thought that went into creating the story got dropped by the way side. I got over half way through the book and called it quits.

What made things worse is I have a bad case of FOSB. Another reviewer came up with this term to describe the fear of Scott Brick. Ray Chase is not quite as bad as SB, but he is close. Everything he says should be written in capital letters. He screams most of the sentences. It is a good voice for announcing movies, but not reading a whole book. I think some narrators such as the two mentioned do not read the book ahead of time and feel that if they read every sentence dramatically it works, this way they can also read more books, since no prep time is necessary. They make more money or they are cheaper, I don't know which. Writers should take a bigger interest in production. Rarely will Stephen King let his books be butchered like this.