The Octagonal Raven

De: L. E. Modesitt Jr.

Narrado por: Joel Richards

Someone is trying to kill Daryn Alwyn.

Born to privilege, with preselected genetic advantages and the best nanotech augmentation his father's fabulous money can buy, Daryn spurned the lucrative family Media Network to seek his own path, a crafty raven among soaring eagles. After serving with distinction as a space pilot in the military, he enjoys success as a media consultant. But when he finds himself the target of sophisticated murder attempts, his world is turned upside down.

It seems unlikely his success outside the family business could have inspired such expensive assassination attempts, and his father and brother and sister would be more obvious targets within the family. Then his sister is killed, and Daryn is her heir - suddenly one of the richest and most powerful men in the world.

©2010 Modesitt Family Revocable Living Trust (P)2021 Tantor

Not Modesitt's best story and poor narration

Modesitt is one of my favorite authors, with a wide range of stories, many of which are self-contained and do not require the commitment to a many volume story that may not finish well. Unfortunately this story is not one of his best, although as always the world building is excellent. There is a lot of tell-not-show so you'll be exposed to a lot of that world via information dumping as opposed to picking it up as the story unfolds, which is my preferred way to learn about the environment the story is happening in.

The narrator does a particularly poor job for my tastes, slow sonorous reading. Sometimes I listen to audiobooks whilst doing other things, even tasks such as driving. It helps to have a story teller who can read in a manner that keeps your attention but with this one there'd be important events such as an attempt on the life of the main character, and it's related in such a deadpan manner that I realize that I've missed a major plot point only two sentences back and have to rewind and listen again, only to have my attention wander by the soporific recital. Speeding up the playback even to double speed did not help, still full reading.

It never hurts to listen to a Modesitt book, even one so poorly told as this, but I'd recommend starting your journey into his work with a different title.

Thought provoking

This is my second Modesitt book. My sister is a huge fan and has read all of his books several times! This one has such salient points on society’s problems. Things we are facing now and as he points out will be facing in coming times.

listening to an old favorite

One of the stories I've read over several times. Listening is a different experience.

one of my favorites! author and story

I don't leave alot of reviews, I have read and listened to literally 1000's of books, over a year of listening time on audible.
on the book, this is like Starship Troopers. a story of growth and 'eye opening' in both personal and society for the main character.

great pace and transition in the book, I know I'm a wannabe writer and strive for this in my writing.

How morality is rarely black and white

Wonderful writing as always in Modesitt’s books..Also , very interesting characters as well as twists and turns throughout

Well written, great story

One of his earlier works that shows
just why he is a great science fiction writer.

Not one of Modesitt's best at all.

I enjoy most of Modesitt's books. This was turgid at best. I cared nothing for any character nor for perceptual testing. Pap.