The Swarm

A Novel of the Deep

By: Frank Schätzing, Sally-Ann Spencer - translator

Narrated by: George Weightman

Length: 37 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

More gripping than Crichton, classier than Cussler, Frank Schätzing's record-breaking ecological thriller is now in audiobook.

Frank Schätzing's amazing novel is a publishing phenomenon with translation rights sold around the world, drawing rave reviews for both pulsating suspense and great scientific knowledge.

The world begins to suffer an escalating and sensational series of natural disasters, and two marine biologists begin to develop a theory that the cause lies in the oceans, where an entity know as the Yrr has developed a massive network of single-cell organisms. It is wreaking havoc in order to prevent humankind from destroying the Earth's ecological balance forever.

The Americans, under the ruthless General Judith Lee, take a more pragmatic approach than the scientists, seeking to wipe out the being of the deep.

The scene is set for a massive confrontation....

©2004 Verlag Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Koln (P)2004 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Absolutely fantastic

It's definitely one of the best novels I've ever read
The main idea of the book is one of a kind and captivating
Very long and exhaustive, non-stop surprising plot turns, very engaging book
Great research and scientific background
Also, I liked the narration very much

In line with the best of Scifi

A gem, a book worth reading. Gripping, insightful, not afraid of admonishing but also inspire us.

A fascinating trip from start to finish!

I've read the book in German and watched the TV series also in German, but nothing compares to the experience of hearing this thrilling, bone-chilling and excellently played audiobook. I was riveted to the storyline from the first chapter and had a hard time stopping because the narrator did an excellent job of bringing the different characters to life, even the accented English of Norwegian-, German- and French-speakers made the reader truly immerse into the storyline. I usually read books, but since my stroke I have difficulty reading and so I've started listening to audiobooks. When I heard the first chapter I knew this book will take longer, since it became more like going on a journey through time and space. The plot is very realistic and if you think about it, this could really happen to us one day if we keep on plundering our seas, doing deep-sea excavations for oil, polluting our oceans with radioactive waste and chemicals thereby upsetting the fragile ecosystems and all its fauna and flora living in the oceans. It's a wild ride across the continents over and in the ocean depths encompassing the sciences, ethics, and philosophy which should also be a warning sign for us to take more care of our oceans and its living creatures...

Complex and well narrated

Good and detailed book, very well narrated with accents, and different voice tone for characters. No music or added effect which I prefer. Well done !

My Brain cells glows like a Yrr cluster

The whooping 37 hours of the book almost put me off. Couldn’t stop once I have started. Distinct and relatable character portrait, plausible storyline, delicate descriptions of interactions with a profound moral backed by science. As much of an informative marine biology, geology and geophysics lesson as a philosophical challenge of our own existence and what defines it.

Looking forward to watch the upcoming German series.

Almost hoping that Yrr exist. Lesson to humanity’s prodigal abuse to Mother Nature long overdue.

this one is worth it

is getting difficult lately to find good audiobooks. this one has it all. Smart, original and entertaining. Also is very long but in a good way. I really hope I can find something as good soon.

Methane does not have an odor.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Not finished yet, but the science suck. Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs, not methane. Neither methane or methane hydrate contain sulfur, so there is no reason for "sulfur bacteria" to be involved in a methanotrophic consortium.
The world is not in an energy crisis, we have more fossil fuels than we could ever use.
Tsunamis have little or no effect in deep water, even in the shallows of the Norwegian oilfields it is highly unlikely that an oil rig would be damaged at all. By the time a tsunami is running up a beach it will have slowed down to >50km/h (32m/h). Unless the pilot is fast asleep or the helicopter completely cold a tsunami will not endanger the aircraft once it is in the air.
The US military have no rank named "General Commander."
I'm not a nitpicker but there is a difference between artistic license and being too lazy to Google...