The Fuller Memorandum

A Laundry Files Novel

By: Charles Stross

Narrated by: Gideon Emery

Hugo Award-winning author Charles Stross is renowned for his cutting-edge science fiction. This third entry in his “edgy … spoof of Cold War spy thrillers” (Booklist) finds covert agent Bob Howard learning about a top-secret dossier that vanishes with his boss. Determined to discover the contents of this memorandum, Howard runs afoul of Russian spies, ancient demons, and apostles of a hideous cult planning to raise the Eater of Souls from the undead.

©2010 Charles Stross (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Office Drama and Gibbering Horrors

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A return to fun office workplace Lovecraftian shenanigans!

Yes, you read that right, with The Fuller Memorandum, Stross has once again decided to spoof typical workplace drama with his Lovecraft flavor. I wouldn't say it is a satire anymore, which I am sad about. However, it has become a very competent, creative, and entertaining urban fantasy with a twist. I don't actually know what that twist is, but there is something about this series that defies definition and makes me hesitate to even call it urban fantasy.

To the uninitiated: go buy The Atrocity Archives. Really, do it now. This book is a continuation of what happened previously and follows Bob as he gets into trouble. His mouth gets him into trouble most of all, but his competency and ability to get out of sticky (and sometimes hilarious) situations makes him a prime target for gibbering horrors and those that worship them.

This time Bob has to navigate interoffice politics, a missing boss, a growing disaster, and an iPhone. The bits about the iPhone are worth reading every book up to this one just to fully appreciate those jokes. So. Flipping. Funny.

I continue to recommend this book to anyone who has an office job, especially a governmental one. It is funny, entertaining, and quite good all around with its likable characters, relatable protagonist and fun story.

Another great Laundry book!

Was a really great story! Watching the characters develop between books is great and heartbreaking!

Just another day at the office

Charles Stross’ The Fuller Memorandum is another installment in his Laundry Files series. The ‘Laundry’ is a secret government agency assigned to keep all manner of supernatural beings from wreaking havoc on the world (so named because its first offices were in a former laundry) through mathematical and scientific means. Bob is a field agent whose boss has gone missing and must find the ‘Fuller memorandum’ which describes the ‘Eater of Souls.’ Meanwhile there are Alastair Crowley want-to-bes who are after the same memo in a Satanic cult like manner. Bob is eventually kidnapped as the prospective vessel for the eater of souls, but that job’s been taken, and Bob wakes the dead to save himself. His wife and their Russian counterparts join in the fun as well.

Stross plays this episode as a spy thriller, especially with the Russian counterparts that recapitulates the cold war spy theme of enemies banding together for their own interest. At the same time, he pokes fun at British bureaucracies with Bob undergoing audits and reviews all while people are trying to do him harm and his wife is recovering from a bad violin performance.

The narration is wonderful with excellent character distinction. Pacing is brisk making for a quick listen.

Definitely worth a listen

The story is sort of a Monty Python/BBC version of Men in Black using subtle British humor in the face of scenarios that should be terrifying. The main characters were likable and interesting and the plot was off-beat enough to keep you guessing the whole way. It made my 14 hour drive fly by nicely.

Wow, what a rush.

I'm a big fan of urban fantasy, and listen to Jim Butcher's Dresden series over and over, catching new nuances each time.

But this is to Dresden what Dan Simmons' Hyperion is to "Goodnight Moon." I'm absorbing the Laundry Files ad quickly as my shuddering gray matter can accept it, and must applaud true Bardship when I experience it. Scary, nightmare inducing as it may be, it's something truly amazing to behold, like watching the Hindenburg burn -- from the INSIDE.

Bravo, Mr. Stross, bravo.

Great book.

Very intense and another great Laundry book. Charles Stross' story pulled me in and Gideon Emery did a wonderful job of portraying the different characters. REALLY looking forward to the next Laundry novel.

Combines the best of several genres...

As the title says, I really enjoy the mesh work of history with occult background woven together that wraps me in a happy blanket. A solid listen that is worth the credits for the entire series.

Excellent listen

Great story, great narration, wonderful series. You won't be disappointed. Check out the rest of the series too.

fantasy written as hard science fiction

Stross finally hits his stride in this story. This is not a Dresden files wannabe. Steeped in occult history, philosophy and technology this is not a god botherer friendly book, if your faith is so fragile that reading a story where god doesn't exist, and what we think are gods are actually extra dimensional aliens upsets you, do yourself a favor and go read the left behind series instead. The interlacing of tech, history and occult is done very creatively, the narrator does a great job with accents and his tone and timing is top notch.

Digital necromancy, ho!

I like the frame that is built to explain the first person accounts, but I’m not sure the entire novel holds together under that scrutiny. But it doesn’t keep me from enjoying the series. The audiobooks are fantastically narrated.