Bowl of Heaven

By: Gregory Benford, Larry Niven

Narrated by: James R. Cheatham

Bowl of Heaven and Shipstar collects two novels from science fiction masters Larry Niven (Ringworld) and Gregory Benford (Timescape) that weave a thrilling interstellar odyssey in the not-too-distant future.

"If you like hard SF with mind-stretching ideas—both physical and psychological—then you definitely want to read this book." —Analog on the New York Times bestseller Bowl of Heaven

A human expedition to colonize another star system is jeopardized by an encounter with an astonishingly immense artifact in interstellar space: a bowl-shaped structure cupping a star, with a habitable area equivalent to many millions of Earths. And which, tantalizingly, is on a direct path heading toward the same system.

Investigating the Bowl, or Shipstar, the human explorers are separated—one group captured by the gigantic structure's alien inhabitants, the other pursued across its strange and dangerous landscape—while the mystery of the Shipstar's origins and purpose propel the human voyagers toward discoveries that transform their understanding of their place in the universe.

©2012 Gregory Benford and Larry Niven (P)2012 Tantor Media

Poor narration is right!

Good concept, but the narration—ugh. For example, the whiny, nasal engineer is the epitome of stereotyping. Hard to believe this passed any sort of directorial oversight. On many occasions I had to take a break and go to a different audiobook for a few weeks to build my tolerance back up.

Awesome book, Bad narration

I love the books and waited eagerly for them to be posted on Audible however the narrator wasn't the right fit. Some of the voices for characters are just absolutely atrocious and sound like they were done by kindergartener. It actually makes some of the characters sound like idiots.

Poor narration

Did not like the reading perforamce. It has been a long time since I listened to a narrator this uninspired and amateurish

what's going on?

I believe this used to be 1 book that split in 2 and was re-released. I read this book years ago. I know the entire story of both books yet I've never read shipstar. the narration is old school but he does a good enough job to distinguish characters. I didn't mind it at all. the big ideas in this book are where it's at. Niven is legendary for these kinds of ideas. I was not disappointed with the story, just what I perceive as being greedy.

boring story and poor narration!

I don't know if it is the pace of the story or the poor narration that makes this audiobook terrible to listen to. I trudged through 1/3 of the book before finally giving up. I am a big fan of both Niven and Benford, but this is not up to their usual standards. The book meanders on and on, and the narrator puts you to sleep. Very disappointed!!