Broken Angels

By: Richard K. Morgan

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Length: 16 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Cynical, quick-on-the-trigger Takeshi Kovacs, the ex-U.N. envoy turned private eye, has changed careers, and bodies, once more, trading sleuthing for soldiering as a warrior-for-hire and helping a far-flung planet's government put down a bloody revolution.

But when it comes to taking sides, the only one Kovacs is ever really on is his own. So when a rogue pilot and a sleazy corporate fat cat offer him a lucrative role in a treacherous treasure hunt, he's only too happy to go AWOL with a band of resurrected soldiers of fortune. All that stands between them and the ancient alien spacecraft they mean to salvage are a massacred city bathed in deadly radiation, unleashed nanotechnolgy with a million ways to kill, and whatever surprises the highly advanced Martian race may have in store. But armed with his genetically engineered instincts, and his trusty twin Kalashnikovs, Takeshi is ready to take on anything...and let the devil take whoever's left behind.

Broken Angels is the second Takeshi Kovacs novel. Don't miss the first, Altered Carbon, or the third, Woken Furies.

©2003 Richard K. Morgan (P)2005 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A superior, satisfying cyberpunk noir adventure." (Publishers Weekly)
"A lively follow-up to an energetic debut, with a still refreshingly cynical hero." (Booklist)

Very very good story, very very "adult"

I also listened to Altered Carbon (first book in the series). This one is slightly better in some way - it seems more smooth or something, less time spent explaining the backdrop perhaps. The story is independent of the first book so you don't have to read them in order (but Altered Carbon is good enough that you should anyway)

Same narrator as the first book and he is terrific! Probably one of the best readers I've heard: his women's voices don't sound absurd, and you can tell who's talking from his intonation.

It is graphic, with detailed (and very long) sex scenes which are gratuitous in nature - i.e. they don't advance the plot in any significant way. I'm not a prude and I don't mind listening to sex, but be forewarned that it is adult in nature, a.k.a pornographic, no two ways about it. I would have taken off a star for this but it's such a good story otherwise and there's always a fast forward button.

And, of course, it is violent and gory and has a dim view of the value of human life...

But, other than that, it's terrific!

Gritty, hard-boiled space action

The first in this series, Altered Carbon, was all the rage a few years back. It was a gritty, hard-boiled detective story set in the 25th century, complete with pithy first person narration by sardonic tough guy male protagonist. The universe is a little reminiscent of the one in the movie Blade Runner, with powerful corporations that run everything and crime syndicates and rebel groups in the shadows. The most notable technological feature of this reality is the ability to back human consciousness up on a "cortical stack" implant, allowing people to "resleeve" in a new body if the old one gets excessively damaged. The implications of this made for some interesting twists, both in terms of plot and human themes.

In this novel, a loose sequel to Altered Carbon, Takeshi Kovacs has put aside the detective work and is back to his former trade of soldiering. He's serving as a mercenary on behalf of a corporate power battling rebel fanatics on a planet whose civilian populace is receiving the brunt of the misery and suffering. He's feeling about ready to jump ship on his contract when a pilot points Kovacs to a xenoarchaeologist in a prison camp, who knows something about a gateway leading to an ancient, derelict alien starship -- the find of the century. Can he put together a team to stake legal claim?

As with many sequels to hot first novels, the dazzle factor of the author’s style and universe has worn off a little, and this reader notices the formula a little more. For those who liked the grit, hard-boiled cynicism, manga-like universe, over-the-top sex scenes, and action movie machismo of Altered Carbon, Broken Angels brings more of that, but the characters and plot are more familiar and forgettable. While the part surrounding the entering of the long-dead ghost ship, the high point of the book, has a cool eeriness similar to the opening of the movie Alien and its own horror to deliver about the fate of a superior civilization, the story leading up this point isn’t hugely riveting. Yes, the sequences about locating a corporate backer (without being screwed over by the same), recruiting a squad of soldiers from the colorful personalities found in a pile of discarded cortical stacks, battling nanobots, and discovering what became of a previous expedition to the alien ship, were a pleasant audio distraction while I was doing yard work, a lot of other science fiction novels could have done as much. The war going on in the background had potential to be interesting, but wasn’t fleshed out much -- I suspect it will come more into play in the next book.

All in all, this is a recommendation for those who loved Altered Carbon and want to go further into the Takeshi Kovacs universe, but other readers could probably take it or leave it. Audiobook reader Todd McLaren has a square-jawed voice that suits the hard-boiled nature of Morgan's prose well and keeps it from coming across as too self-serious, but his sultry-voiced women can be a little irritating. Particularly the "sassy black girl" voice.

A great listen

A combination of Phillip K Dick and Raymond Chandler, it has great
writing and is excellently read. Thanks for including this book
in your line-up.

Stacks and Stacks of Technio Bable

RELIGION IS RELIGION HOWEVER YOU WIEGH IT.

This has received some really good reviews. I was into it for the first three chapters. It reminded me of a beefed up Joe Haldeman. It did not entertain me like a Duane Suarez. I felt the story got bogged down in the techno details. Saving a persons personality in what they called a stack from your vertebrae was cool the first fifteen times it was discussed. The 50th time, it was getting old. There was lots of other tech advances, matter of fact, almost everybody in the story was damaged in some way and was being cured through some sort of advanced tech.

The narrator was okay, his voice is a deep bass. I could hear him alright on ear phones, but through my truck radio the bass messed with my speakers.

A huge dissapointment after "Altered Carbon"

What disappointed you about Broken Angels?

I loved Altered Carbon's take on sci-fi noir, and the way that it explored the stack system (where people's minds can be transferred to different bodies. Broken Angels ditches the noir/mystery feel, doesn't do much with the concept of stacks, and instead goes for an ultra-violent military thriller with a little "Alien" thrown in. The story didn't make a lot of sense to me, and I got turned off by the frequent graphic sex and violence. Granted, Altered Carbon also had a lot of sex and violence, but at least it was held together with a good story. Also, Kovacs, who was a bit of an anti-hero in "Altered Carbon" comes off as pretty much unlikeable in this.

Has Broken Angels turned you off from other books in this genre?

The genre, no, but the author, yes.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the scene where they were exploring the Martian space ship.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The Martians were interesting.

A Solid 4 Star Hardcore Scifi Roller-coaster Ride

Richard Morgan is a fun read/listen for any hard tech scifi lover. Period. He just gets it. He's into the moment, wherever you are in this great audiobook, and you can feel it. He's brought warfare, technology, moral crises, hard action, plots within plots, backstabbing, subterfuge, turn-on-a-dime plot direction, and so much more to this novel. From Voodoo tech dealers, to mega corp nanotech battles, to virtual playgrounds, to bionic enhancements that offer virtual immortality, to gigantic alien ark ships, you, dear reader, are going to be busy in a great way.

Remember, if you like the soft gentle scifi writings of early Heinlein or Norton, this won't quite be your cup of tea.

Otherwise, jump in, pull the bar close to your chest, keep your arms in the car at all times - You're in for a wild ride!

This guy is scary good!

Can't believe it's only his 2nd novel. I enjoyed Altered Carbon but had a hard time following or really getting engaged with the characters. This sequel has a much different feel although Kovach is still central...different sleeve and still sorta Mickey Spillanesque but with some light and warmth in the darkness. You do NOT have to read the first one to appreciate this sequel, but it may jump start you on some of the concepts. The throw-away sidebar ideas are an ideational feast...wish someone would flesh many of them out into full stories. This guy is scary. Can't wait to see what happens when the Martians and/or the real badass aliens come into focus. He creates a fantastic but very coherent world which begs many philosop[hical questions. But more importantly, it's a fast-moving, engaging and fun read...with several interesting twists. I'm ready for volume 3.

Enjoyed this second one in the series alot, too!

Not quite as good as Altered Carbon but almost so. The element of surprise at the world Morgan created was missing, but I was happy with how it felt comfortable and familiar to return to Kovacs world. Cyber noir or cyber punk--whichever it is, I certainly had a fun listen here and wouldn't hesitate to get the third book in the series, "Woken Furies".

More pulp sci fil with Takeshi Kovacs!

A great successor to the first novel, 'Altered Carbon'.

In this book, mercenary-for-hire, ex Envoy special agent Takeshi Kovacs has left Earth after his noir detective stint and proffered his talents to an elite paramilitary private contracting unit. He's serving in an engagement off-world when he gets an offer to lead a very dangerous and very secret archaeological expedition in the war-torn region to recover advanced, ancient alien relics.

Bottom line - if you liked the first novel, you'll like this one as well.

Now That I've Listened...

to both Richard K. Morgan Takeshi Kovacs tomes, the scenes and characters have seeped into my psyche. All is vivid. All is extremely well-written. However, I don't like the feelings I'm left with, after time. Sure, I was fascinated when listening, but now I realize the problem which is causing me pain and unhappiness.

Takeshi Kovacs, the character who would naturally seem to be the protagonist, sympathetic, likable, even lovable, is none of these.

He is a superior fighter, has a brilliant mind, and can kill without conscience. I do not like him--and his world depresses me. Very much.

I feel sick, at times, when I recall the most vivid scenes and the actions taken by Kovacs. This is bloody, violent, no love here. Lots of sex. No love that I remember.

OK if you want it, but I'm not going to buy the third book, Woken Furies. I will stay far away. I hope hundreds of years away in time.