Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
London Calling  By  cover art

London Calling

By: Edward Bloor
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.55

Buy for $17.55

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Martin Conway comes from a family filled with heroes and disgraces. His grandfather was a statesman who worked at the US Embassy in London during WWII. His father is an alcoholic who left his family. His sister is an overachieving Ivy League graduate. And Martin? Martin is stuck in between—floundering.

But during the summer after 7th grade, Martin meets a boy who will change his life forever. Jimmy Harker appears one night with a deceptively simple question: Will you help? Where did this boy come from, with his strange accent and urgent request? Is he a dream? It's the most vivid dream Martin's ever had. And he meets Jimmy again and again—but how can his dreams be set in London during the Blitz? How can he see his own grandather, standing outside the Embassy? How can he wake up with a head full of people and facts and events that he certainly didn't know when he went to sleep—but which turn out to be verifiably real?

The people and the scenes Martin witnesses have a profound effect on him. They become almost more real to him than his waking companions. And he begins to believe that maybe he can help Jimmy. Or maybe that he must help Jimmy, precisely because all logic and reason argue against it.

This is a truly remarkable and deeply affecting novel about fathers and sons, heroes and scapegoats. About finding a way to live with faith and honor and integrity. And about having an answer to the question: What did you do to help?

©2006 Edward Bloor (P)2006 Random House Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

“Bloor continues to demonstrate his range, this time mixing historical fiction with time travel in a poignant adventure story about fathers and sons. . . . Have tissues on hand for the final pages.”–Publishers Weekly

“Martin’s determination and the vivid scenes of London during the Blitz are sure to appeal.”–Kliatt

More from the same

What listeners say about London Calling

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    59
  • 4 Stars
    47
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    52
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    41
  • 4 Stars
    29
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Call this book

I heard about this book on NPR but the description was a bit light. I decided to get it anyways but it was a months before I actually listened to it. I should have listened sooner, what a sleeper ! I was very pleasantly surprised by the story line. The author did a fine job of mixing an unusual idea of an old radio that could transport a young boy back in time to help ease a souls passage in the afterlife. But it was more than that, it was a young boy learning about himself, how to care about others, how to trust one's own self even when others are very discouraging to you and how to forgive. The dialog over all was fairly well written, a few place it was a bit cramped but it did not distract from overall feel and pace. A few times I found myself not stepping out of the car to finish listening to a section of the story because I was so entranced by it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like something a bit different from the typical fiction fare.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Worth a listen!... Good family book.

This story started a bit slow at first, but built momentum to become a very interesting story. Give it an hour and you'll be hooked til the end!

The author had a great ability to teach about human weakness, love, trust of self, a historical time in WWII history, truth, and other nice lessons.

Martin, the main character, travels back in time to London England during WWII and witnesses events that aren't well documented in modern day history. Events that have been twisted by members of his immediate community during modern times. His father is an alcoholic, his mother a doormat and his sister a strong young woman. As Martin's confidence in himself grows, those around him change for the better as well.

If Martin was my son I'd be mighty proud of him!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A good running companion

I'm training for a marathon and listen to audiobooks to help pass the time on long runs. This was an excellent listen. I know that it is a book written for teens, but it was full of adult themes and real heart. I heartily recommend it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • JC
  • 04-17-10

Spell Binding

Just like little Jimmy Harker!
The end is far too sudden and oh so final. Leaving you with one solemn wish.
If there only could have been more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book! Well written and spellbinding.

This book is well worth the read. It takes you to an exciting place and is spiritually uplifting (not what you would expect from a time travel book!)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Worth Reading

I really enjoyed this book. It was unique and different from what I had been reading. I was very glad I grabbed it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Totally unexpected

Nothing bad to say about this book. Story and narration are both very well done. Good on ya.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Good book

It was hard to get into but im glad i stuck with it its a good story about war and family and the hardships in life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

I love it

This book is amazing and I had to do a book report and I picked this book and I’m so glad I did I love this book and I would recommend this book for anyone it’s amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Over the top Religion

Would have been better if it wasn't shoving religion down your throat so much, but I guess that was the whole point of the story. Sort of anti climactic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!