Who?

By: Algis Budrys

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Set against a backdrop of Cold War paranoia, this futuristic novel about identity and technology is "one of the unrecognized classics of SF" (Locus).

East and West have fused into separate superstates known as the Allied National Government (ANG) and the Soviet International Bloc (SIB). As the Cold War rages, brilliant scientist Lucas Martino works on a top-secret project known only as K-Eighty-eight that could alter the balance of world power. The project goes horribly awry at an Allied research facility near the Soviet border, and Martino is abducted.

After several months of tense negotiations, he returns severely injured from the lab explosion, and under pressure from America, he undergoes extensive reconstructive surgery. He has a mechanical arm. His polished metal skull - a kind of craniofacial prosthesis - contains few discernible features. Several of his internal organs are artificial. While his fingerprints are identified as belonging to Lucas Martino, they could be the result of transplant.

Is he the real Martino? Or a technologically altered impostor sent by America's enemies for the purpose of spying and infiltration? Tasked with uncovering the truth, ANG Security Chief Shawn Rogers makes some shocking discoveries.

Narrated in chapters alternating between Rogers and Martino, Who? poses existential questions about the human condition.

©2016 Algis Budrys (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

excellent story writing narration

excellent story. interesting writing. superb narration. i thoroughly enjoyed this. highly reccomend. i hope there is more from this author.

Text published in 1958 and it reads like it

I grabbed this audiobook because it was narrated by Grover Gardner. Which left me confused, until I looked up the text published date.

This book feels old. Dated. It is very much a 50's idea of the future I was confused, at first, because audible lists this book as being from 2018. When I confirmed this was a an older, it made more sense.

Almost all the characters in this book are white males. There is almost no diversity, no inclusion, or any significant roles occupied by anything other than what what would have been common in 50's America.

While this doesn't get in the way of the story and it didn't upset me, per se, I felt this was poor writing. I find it odd when sci fi writers, in the past, just wrote as if the future would continue to be this "leave it to beaver" type of existence.

Now, I understand that even if the author did see how society would change, that they may be hesitant to write that. The paying audience for this type of book would be mostly white men, in the past, so that's what they wrote. However, I feel this is grossly unambitious. Sci fi, I believe, should push boundaries, not color inside the lines.

This book, is less about the future, though, and more about the nature of humanity. It explores what makes a person themselves and if we are all just a collection of memories or if there is something more.

However, the book doesn't really come to a conclusion. It is an interesting journey and raises some thought provoking questions, only to leave them open.

The couple main characters are engaging, but the writing style is solidly 50's so they feel bipolar, at times. One minute even keel, ext minute violent, then back to even keel. This book isn't as extreme as something like "The Stars My Destination", but does have more examples of this than a contemporary work.

The narration, by Grover Gardner, is great. I forgot how much I missed his style, since he stepped away from narration. He is a delight.

All in all, this is a solidly OK book. It has to be said it is a product of the 50's, so if you don't like older sci fi, avoid this book. It offers some interesting questions, but no answers. The voice narration is great, but as all the characters are same-y, it definitely does not showcase Grover Gardners talents.

I

have no idea what this was about. I am not stupid, I did miss some of the start tho, however, I hope someone understand this..