Bulb

By: Bradley Wind

Narrated by: Christopher Lawson

Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

If light records everything we do, can even shadows hide our secrets?

Imagine your entire life is available for review. Imagine, each day, any event can be watched over and over again - your birth, your first kiss, your recent shower, that private itch - all replayable from any angle. Now, imagine these can be viewed by anyone at any time.

Is a world where there is far less ego, little crime, and even the smallest moments are recorded and available publicly through the "Grand Archive" an utopia or a dystopia?

Traumatized by memories he does not want to recall, artist Ben Tinthawin is recruited by the enigmatic Grand Archive creator Dr. Mamon, who seeks help for his next-gen designs to enhance the world. Ben stumbles across a secret revealing the doctor’s true scheme in all its surreal splendor and questions whether the doctor really is the benevolent soul he claims to be.

As the paths of a broken man and a brilliant revolutionary cross, the world shifts, and cracks start to appear. Even our most fundamental codes can be encrypted or corrupted.

If the wrong information is discovered, more than Ben’s life will be in danger of total shut down.

Prepare yourself for full exposure.

©2019 Bradley T. Wind (P)2020 Bradley T. Wind

A Never-Before Read (or listen to)

Although there were parts that seemed to go over my head (for example, I had a hard time getting into the story at the beginning), overall, I really enjoyed it. The majority of the descriptions were really interesting, beautiful, and/or cool to imagine. I’m not sure if I’ve read or listened to a story with such an idea that everyone could easily find out everyone else’s life with essentially a click of a button. The author did a great job writing this though as he was able to create a new world unlike the majority of Sci-Fi stories that I’ve read (as one person stated, there are no robots or flying cars in this one). The concept was neat but scary at the same time. The author’s little snippet at the end of the book was a nice bonus as well.

The narrator did a great job!

Questions/Comments:

Prior to the accident with Ben and his family, there was a part when they passed some dead deer on the side of the road. It was described as two deer facing each other but also being in a yin yang position. How would that be possible if they were facing each other though? Not to mention the fact, Ben was able to see their eyes…at night…while driving.

Talking about descriptions of scenes that shouldn’t have been possible, Ben and Lenny are driving and he tosses some or maybe just a single orange seed into the water they’re driving past. He’s able to see it hit the water, go under for a second, then pop back up. There was no mention of them driving extremely slowly, so this description/scene stuck out to me.

Okay, I get this was a futuristic-type story, but some of the clothing seemed questionable. For example, Martina who seems to be the only character with the strange clothing (if you can call it that) and who Ben gets his work from seems to always be wearing very revealing clothing, ie he’s able to see her vagina/vulva in one scene and her nipples.

I received a free audiobook copy at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Unique Worldbuilding

In the future, everything is accessible via “archives.” These are files of people’s brains that allow outsiders to see into every moment of their life if they wish. Ben doesn’t understand the fascination. He has memories that he would never like to see again. In the midst of coping with his tragic past, he’s recruited by archive scientist Dr. Mamon for a special project. Ben isn’t sure at first, but when he sees the doctor has a secret, a potential dark motive for his new project, he must do what he can to stop him.

This was different.

That’s my first thought after finishing this story. It wasn’t bad, per se, but it was very hard to follow. The worldbuilding is phenomenal with all kinds of scientific advancements in a progressed society. This was what I loved the most about the book. However, the book had sporadic pacing and random events that made it hard to follow at times.

For the most part, I liked Ben. In the midst of recovering from his own tragedies, he’s a force to be reckoned with. At times, I wanted to root for him, but other times, I wanted to strangle him. All in all, this wasn’t a bad read. Just be prepared to possibly listen to the story twice. That’s what I did to gain the necessary clarity to really enjoy the prose.

Narration was well done.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Slow start

The book was good not great. It took about halfway to really pull me in. I wish there were more of an explanation of the “light” and it’s purpose and would of finished what the sound/song and lights were and how it played into everything. We never got to know more about Lizard either. The narrator did a good job.

Very Strange Sci Fi with a Slow Build

Bulb is a strange book that takes place in a strange world. It starts kind of slowly and can be a bit confusing to start but it builds slowly and I really did get into it. It takes place in a strange futuristic Big Brother type world where everything you do is recorded and viewable by anyone and I mean everything you do, there is no privacy. I don't know if this is a metaphor about our current social media habits where everything often seems on display or not but it makes you think about things. The book is filled with tons of interesting characters and I really came to enjoy most of them. Of course there is an evil protagonist as well and nothing is as it seems.

The narration by Christopher Lawson was done very well and really keeps you engrossed in the story. Overall I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you like things on the stranger side.

"Please note I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

What happened?

I fished the book. I understand the alleged events. I just don’t get it. That’s okay. I know that some folks really like open ended stories where you imagine what it all means and reflects on your life.

I enjoyed the world building, I was intrigued by the plot twists and I fell in love with the characters (and hated the bad guy).

And then the final couple of twists? Way too much for me.

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for a review.