Axiom's End

A Novel

By: Lindsay Ellis

Narrated by: Abigail Thorn, Stephanie Willis

Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

The instant New York Times best seller

The alternate-history first-contact adventure Axiom's End is an extraordinary debut from Hugo finalist and video essayist Lindsay Ellis. Truth is a human right.

It's fall 2007. A well-timed leak has revealed that the US government might have engaged in first contact. Cora Sabino is doing everything she can to avoid the whole mess, since the force driving the controversy is her whistleblower father. Even though Cora hasn't spoken to him in years, his celebrity has caught the attention of the press, the internet, the paparazzi, and the government - and with him in hiding, that attention is on her. She neither knows nor cares whether her father's leaks are a hoax and wants nothing to do with him - until she learns just how deeply entrenched her family is in the cover-up and that an extraterrestrial presence has been on Earth for decades.

Realizing the extent to which both she and the public have been lied to, she sets out to gather as much information as she can and finds that the best way for her to uncover the truth is not as a whistleblower, but as an intermediary. The alien presence has been completely uncommunicative until she convinces one of them that she can act as their interpreter, becoming the first and only human vessel of communication. Their otherworldly connection will change everything she thought she knew about being human - and could unleash a force more sinister than she ever imagined.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

"Axiom’s End is one of the most unique science fiction novels in years. It’s a heartfelt story of alien first contact, but, luckily, unlike so many 'big idea' sci-fi books, it’s utterly unpretentious." (SYFY.com)

©2020 Lindsay Ellis (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

HOW DOES SHE NOT KNOW THE BATMAN THEME?

This narrator should stick to voice-over work if she is too lazy to look up the Batman theme from the 60's. Who edited this before dumping it here?

And Pulitzer is pronounced "Pull-it-sir." That's direct from the Pulitzer website... I didn't make it up. This is the kind of stuff that drives listeners like me crazy. I'm only a couple hours in, and all the characters sound super bored. This Narrator is driving me to actually read. (But of course I won't.)

Guess I'll trudge through this and hope she finds her footing.

absolutely engaged

I just love this book, the voice and characters. I'm really impressed with Lindsay Ellis's writing in book form. I also love her YouTube channel

so so

It's a good sci-fi story, I think it would probably make a good movie. Unfortunately I just couldn't connect with Cora, and the last third of the book just dragged a lot. I listened to the audiobook, so I can't be sure if my dislike of Cora is fully on the character, or if it's the performance, either way, I found my self being super annoyed at her for a lot of the story.

I was not expecting something this grand

I thought I'd try Lindsay Ellis' book, knowing her YouTube work in film analysis for some time. I didn't know it was a fiction book, even. I'm just blown away. The Axiom's End is an emotional tour de force from beginning to end, rarely relaxing from of a tight clinch of action, drama, philosophy, and sentiment. It's incredibly heartwarming at times, at other times causing an unexpected surge of internal examination. The book takes from many elements of popular culture, but it also draws up from a fathomless well of world and character building that make my own aspirations as a writer feel shriveled and stilted. This is the great American novel in its modern form, in its sci-fi form; hopefully Ellis will go on to write many more like it.

Love Lindsay's Youtube presence. HAD 2 GET THE BK

Great read. Can't wait for more from this author. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Complete with the right amount of sci-fi, pop culture reference and plot twists. I will definitely be ordering a physical copy as well.

I truly don’t understand the hype

I do, however see how the book was targeted directly to a specific demographic. The author goes out of their way to specify that the events take place in 2007. Although published after that date. I’m not in its target demographic.

A new favorite!

I've never written a book review but I feel I have to, so here goes.
Like many, I'm a fan of Ellis' video essays and became interested in the book through them. I wasn't sure what to expect but I'm so glad I had faith in her writing because I enjoyed almost minute of the story. There was the occasional scene that dragged, particularly in some of the cat and mouse type situations as Cora is so often pursued by something. But the satisfying arc of her growing relationship with Ampersand and it's unflinching conclusion helped propel the story through the rare slowdown. I also really enjoyed a lot of the supporting cast; their relatability and banter really helped to sell some of the parts that might have been too trope-y.

I hesitated getting the audiobook because I have a physical copy coming but when I heard Oliver Thorn of Philosophy Tube was narrating it, I had to jump on it. I was initially disappointed when I found out that he only did part of the voiceover but that disappointment faded rapidly. The female narrator was far and away the stand out talent here(Sorry, Ollie! Still love ya!). Her range of voices for the characters, her pacing and emotion sucked me right into the story and never let up. I had to pause the book at times and take a break to breathe because when she was describing the main characters pain or despair, I really felt it, and things get particularly dark in the book's last half. The fantastic acting in the audiobook really pushed an already great story to an just an amazing overall experience. I'm not exaggerating when I say I can not think of a single piece of media I've enjoyed this much in at least the past year, probably longer. Highly, highly, highly recommend and I am already dying for more.

the greatest scifi story since star wars

loved it. a story that grabs you and wont let go I'm fusion boned now

Enthralling

Very good novel. i couldn't step away. I had to know what was going to happen next.

Pretty decent listen

Overall pretty good. The ending felt familiar and a little predictable. Enjoyable overall and would recommend.