Burning Paradise

By: Robert Charles Wilson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

From Robert Charles Wilson, the author of the Hugo-winning Spin, comes Burning Paradise, a new tale of humans coming to grips with a universe of implacable strangeness. Cassie Klyne, 19 years old, lives in the United States in the year 2015 - but it's not our United States, and it's not our 2015. Cassies world has been at peace since the Great Armistice of 1918. There was no World War II, no Great Depression. Poverty is declining, prosperity is increasing everywhere; social instability is rare. But Cassie knows the world isn't what it seems. Her parents were part of a group who gradually discovered the awful truth: That for decades - back to the dawn of radio communications - human progress has been interfered with, made more peaceful and benign, by an extraterrestrial entity. That by interfering with our communications, this entity has tweaked history in massive and subtle ways. That humanity is, for purposes unknown, being farmed. Cassie's parents were killed for this knowledge, along with most of the other members of their group. Since then, the survivors have scattered and gone into hiding. Cassie and her younger brother Thomas now live with her aunt Nerissa, who shares these dangerous secrets. Others live nearby. For eight years they have attempted to lead unexceptional lives in order to escape detection. The tactic has worked. Until now. Because the killers are back. And they're not human.

©2013 Robert Charles Wilson (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

I'm not much for science fiction, but....

What did you love best about Burning Paradise?

This is a pretty good book- surprisingly believable and well laid out as to not give it all away at the beginning.

What did you like best about this story?

Very well thought out and surprisingly gripping- Weird comparison, but kind of like the movie Red Dawn, but without the Russians or bad acting

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Took me about three days or so to finish the book- was very compelled to hear the whole thing.

Entertaining

A vague description of the plot is that there is a hyper colony surrounding the Earth made up of almost microscopic spores that are manipulating mankind by controlling the radio transmissions. There is also a parasitic entity of spores that wants to replace and take over from the original hyper colony. A group of people that are aware of these hyper colonies, are attempting to end the manipulation of humankind. This book deals with their efforts to do so, and I don’t want to get any more specific so as to give away spoilers. By the way, in this book World War II and the subsequent history, after the first world war do not have. But this book is not about fixing the proper timeline. I’m going back to the one that we know. I enjoyed this book that’s well worth spending a credit. 

A sci-fi writer who can do characters. Go figure.

I enjoyed this very much. The characters were actually believable and nuanced, while the world-building was outstanding.

Scott Brick is amazing

Phenomenal book. Scott Brick's narration reminded me of Orson Welles and really gave the novel weight. Fantastic science fiction horror. Loved the story and the character development. Robert Charles Wilson is amazing.

A new variation on an old theme

I wouldn't rank Burning Paradise among Robert Charles Wilson's best efforts but it's an interesting and original variation on the old "aliens who look like humans" theme that doubles as an alternate history novel. Conceptually, I liked it quite a bit but the story plays as out as a thriller that never quite becomes thrilling. Some of that may be due to the narration. Scott Brick usually does a solid job but he read this book in a somnambulant, melancholy tone that rendered both action and drama a little lifeless.

The novel ends on a strong note and it was an enjoyable diversion but I can't quite recommend it.