• Free Fall

  • By: Peter Cawdron
  • Narrated by: Jeff Hays
  • Length: 1 hr and 8 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (67 ratings)

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Free Fall  By  cover art

Free Fall

By: Peter Cawdron
Narrated by: Jeff Hays
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Publisher's summary

Jackson is an astronaut testing a prototype interstellar craft in deep space. When he returns home, there's no one to greet him. Earth has fallen silent. Now he must decide: stay in orbit, watching a dead planet roll slowly by beneath his windows, or land on Earth and fight for life.

©2015 Peter Ronald Cawdron (P)2016 Peter Ronald Cawdron

What listeners say about Free Fall

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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

You don’t need 400 pages to make someone feel

Jackson is returning from deep space where he was testing a brand new prototype interstellar spacecraft. On his return, he tries to radio home, but no one answers, Earth is silent. Jackson isn’t sure if his radio is broken or if there is a darker problem to blame.

The narration of Free Fall was done by Jeff Hays, and he does a superb job. Hays is able to voice Jackson in such a way that the reader actually feels for him. The story was short and to the point, but that didn’t stop Hays from being able to shine in his narration.

Any author who can write a sharp and to the point short story like Free Fall that actually makes a reader feel something must be doing something right. Free Fall really made me feel hopeless for Jackson, and then hopeful again, then hopeless. The cyclical take by Cawdron really took a toll on me, making me glad that the audiobook was only an hour long.

The key to writing a good short story is skipping most of the character development, but still showing the reader who someone is by their actions. I didn’t have hours of being told who Jackson was and why he was chosen for this mission. But I did quickly find out that he cares a lot, and that he is someone who does things methodically. I’m always amazed when an author can accomplish this — and believe me, Cawdron does.

If you liked books like Andy Weir’s The Martian or Hugh Howey’s Beacon 23 then this book is for you. Also, if you have a couple bucks, and area looking for a quick, hour-long audiobook that is full of emotion and sharp writing — you can’t miss with this book.

If you found this review helpful, please vote for it! See more like it at BriansBookBlog DOT com.

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6 people found this helpful

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

Quickly Freefalls Into Stupidity

Started out great...an astronaut can’t get any response from the quickly approaching Earth, with just enough hard science sprinkled in to keep it realistic. Then, before you know it, you’ve spiraled into a cheap B-rated horror flick complete with (SPOILER ALERT!) zombies, of all things. Really?!?! Zombies? That was the cleverest apocalyptic ending to humanity this author could come up with? Dude, the whole Zombie thing has been done to death, and frankly there’s nothing remotely original or interesting about them in this book, either. Save your credit!!

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2 people found this helpful

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

Compelling story

I always enjoy Peters work and this story is no different. I would be extremely surprised if it were a standalone novel as I am definitely left wanting more. That is the only reason I have given it 4 stars instead of 5. Because I was not ready for the story to end at that point. I felt that we were barely getting started.

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1 person found this helpful

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

The space through which we travel...


I first read this excellent book some months ago in Kindle format and was very excited when I learned that it was now available as an audio book. My thanks to the author, Peter Cawdron, for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story is short but the impact, like his protagonist's earth landing, is huge. In the most human and compelling way, Peter Cawdron charts his astronaut's joy of Homecoming then the realisation that something is terribly wrong. No answer from Houston, no stations on the radio - then a single voice, crying for help. All is read by the narrator, Jeff Hays, with a subtle energy which perfectly reflects the text.
This is not so much a zombie story as one of inner strength, of hope against all odds and, above all, of humanity when everything is ripped apart. Some scenes are inevitably unpleasant but it is the beauty of both the prose and it's imagery which really resonate The book will stay with the listener/reader long after the last page is turned.

Highly recommended

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1 person found this helpful

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

Short, fun, and well read

I've listened to a lot of audio books on Audible, but this was the first novel / novella I've listened to. At first, the narration sounded strange to me, because it wasn't too usual guide kind of book I was used to listening to, but I quickly got adjusted and was totally sucked in to the world Peter Cawdron had created. It's definitely worth the $6. I know this is kind of like a prequel to another book, but I hope he also has a chance to continue this story line.

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

short but we'll written

an easy listen. well written, I like all.of Peter Cawdrons books. good narration worth a listen

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

A creepy space man story

Free Fall is a short story but has all the creep factors a novel has! An astronaut is coming home but isn't about to contact anyone at all. He opens all channels and gets a little girl and what she says chills him to the bone. From there, he does something very unusual. Great story.
I love this narrator anyway and he does an extra special job here!

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

Really short and really good!

This story begins inncoent as an astronaut on a solo mission is orbiting the Earth. He attempts to make contact and gets no response. He ffollows all the correct protocal, following every rule and precaution until he finally makes contact with a child. No adult, no Houston but a young girl.This gets his blood boiling and he drops the rules and protocal with no other thought than getting to the girl.

For a short story the plot and characterization are well developed. There wasn't much to solve as I'd figured out te ending yet I couldn't stop listening. The authors words kep me on the edge of my seat and I cringed several times. I even listened a second time to this story with a couple days.

ts one of those stories that made my mind think what if... the possibilities are endless. Great story!

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

Just a Short Story but Still Good

Where does Free Fall rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's one of the better stories. Four stars only because it was so short.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Free Fall?

The landing

Which character – as performed by Jeff Hays – was your favorite?

The astronaut. My favorite line was "who put a red-neck in space?!"

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes his encounter with a child zombie

Any additional comments?

I read this on Kindle about a year ago, I think. I really wish he'd expand this story to a full sized book. Also based on its short length it wouldn't hurt to offer it as free or less than a dollar.

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

Great little story

What made the experience of listening to Free Fall the most enjoyable?

It's an interesting story and I liked the narrator's voice.

What did you like best about this story?

A unique sci-fi story line that I hadn't heard before

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

No, I haven't

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

This is a great little story, well worth a listen. It begins as one story and ends up introing into a whole other plot about the end of the world. Very original, like all of Peter Cawdron's books.

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