Commune

By: Joshua Gayou

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

For dinosaurs, it was a big rock. For humans: Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). 

When the Earth is hit by the greatest CME in recorded history (several times larger than the Carrington Event of 1859), the combined societies of the planet's most developed nations struggle to adapt to a life thrust back into the Dark Ages. 

In the United States, the military scrambles to speed the nation's recovery on multiple fronts including putting down riots, establishing relief camps, delivering medical aid, and bringing communication and travel back on line. 

Just as a real foothold is established in retaking the skies (utilizing existing commercial aircraft supplemented by military resources and ground control systems), a mysterious virus takes hold of the population, spreading globally over the very flight routes that the survivors fought so hard to rebuild. The communicability and mortality rates are devastating, leaving only small pockets of survivors scattered throughout the countryside. 

Commune: Book One is the story of one small group of survivors who must adapt to a primitive, hostile world or die. As they learn the rules of this new era, they must decide how far they're willing to go to continue living, continually asking themselves the same question daily: is survival worth the loss of humanity?

©2017 Joshua Gayou (P)2017 Joshua Gayou

I want to adopt the characters into my family

First, if R.C. Bray described the process of picking lint from his belly button in one of his many voices, I'd pay money for it. I often pick titles just on the basis of his voice credit, and it's a crying shame he doesn't top Audible's list.

However, as excellent as his narration is, the story itself is THAT good, and I have to give credit to Josh for what is shaping up to be an absolute epic, with a hint of plausibility that is terrifying. Josh puts a lot of emphasis into character development, and this is what makes the book so inviting. His characters immerse themselves into your imagination, full of depth, yet also so shrouded in mystery. That mystery sets you up for a subtle cliffhanger that pervades through the entire story, and leaves you wanting more even after the bonus epilogue.

The documentary format sucks you in, and you quickly lose sight of the interviewer/interviewee context as you journey into the detail of Josh's visualizations. I live in the Western U.S., so all the locations are familiar and well-described, but as I've never personally considered them. I look forward to visualizing them again in my travels, but this time in Josh's artistry through words.

Back to Bray. Bob is hands down the best narrator in the biz. He utterly nails each voice, and the extent to which he prepares is evident in the expert voicing of the story. To say he brings this story to life is an understatement.

This duo will make a formidable pair in Audible's PA genre. Well done fellas!

RC Bray as Hispanic Woman - Just Wow!

Commune left me on the fence, and I'm still debating if I purchase Book 2. I have to admit that it mostly held my attention, but other than the first person POV narration style, there's not much new. It's pretty much talking guns, eating MREs, scavenging through Walmart and killing 72% of the people you meet. And did I say talking guns (ad nauseam). But the thing that really bugged me was how on one hand it seemed they had the prepper thing down to a gnat's ass, but then something would happen in the story that even a rookie wouldn't let happen. I think Josh was too busy thinking about bullet calibers and opening chess moves (which actually was pretty good), rather than ensuring his hombres always practiced basic common sense. I also felt the final act was pretty lame - don't want to leak any spoilers, but let's just say it showed an incredible lack of creativity (and again, common sense) in what should have been the climax of the book. It certainly didn't leave me rushing out to buy more credits! As far as the performance goes, RC Bray totally makes the book! Only he could have pulled off the 1st Person POV style. I suspect had he not been the narrator, we would be seeing a lot more 3 stars in the reviews. Gread job RC Bray. So I guess I'm going to buy book 2, just because I live off Post Ap books. I can only hope it doesn't have any more long winded explanations on how a Glock is .000073 % more accurate on a humid day than a Beretta when using 147gr JHP 9mm ammo.

A Contender For Best of 2017

I’ve read a lot of post-apocalyptic books. A lot. And when I find something new I’m always shocked. In PA books there’s always a reason for the apocalypse, the journey is hard (in most books), and they get to where they are going only to have to defend their turf. Sure, that’s the same basic plotline of Commune, but the way that it gets there is totally different. Gayou was able to write new life into the same kind of story. It was a difference in tone. It was told from the point of view of storytellers (and the person recording the history of the story). Which made it completely unique among hundreds of books I’ve read in this genre.

Each person’s story was different. Just like the way that everyone has their own origin story to life. Each person in Commune felt different and interesting in their own way. There were quiet people who you knew had a lot going on under the surface. And the caring ones who cared, almost to a fault. Along with what I would call someone with the “papa bear” mentality. They all came together in different parts of this book and made something beautiful in the ashes of the apocalypse.

The back and forth of the characters playing out the same or similar situation really made this book stand out to me. I loved hearing about the story from Jake’s perspective and then Amanda’s. I also really like that everything is happening in the past and Commune is a sort of retelling. A ‘back to your roots’ sort of storytelling. Like the older generations used to do. That was how history was passed down from generation to generation. The back-to-basics sort of feel, looking back on their stories was something I’ve never read in any post-apocalyptic book.

I won’t ruin the ending or even how it gets to the ending, but I actually completely understand the way that Gayou went. I want to write more about it, but anything else I write here will become a spoiler. Let’s just say that I’m excited to see the direction that is taken in the other books in the series.

Sometimes I wonder if Bray picks books that make him laugh out loud at least once in them. I can’t even think if the last book I read by him made me laugh (it was about a guy out for revenge) but I’m sure it did. Ever since The Martian, almost every book Bray’s narrated has had me in stitches (even when it’s a serious book). Commune was no different. Numerous times (pretty much every listening session to and from work) I laughed at least once. Also, any book that Bray read the opening of and says “yeah, I’ll narrate your book” to an author he met on a Reddit AMA says a lot to me.

Overall, Commune Book 1 will easily be a contender for the best book I read in 2017. It’s easily one that I won’t forget for some time. Before I even finished it I told my wife that she had to listen to it. I woke up this morning to hear her in the kitchen listening to it.

I was given a free copy of this book which has not affected my review in any way.

Endless Descriptions

Is there anything you would change about this book?

There is a good story woven through the endless descriptions of everything.

What was most disappointing about Joshua Gayou’s story?

I enjoy a well detailed story world,but a blow by blow description of tying a garage door in the up position using an orange not yellow, orange, 16 gauge extension cord secured around the wheel axle between the track and door, was a bit too much.

I am not a firearm fanatic. I did carry on the job for many years but a firearm is a tool not a hobby. The never ending descriptions of proper gun etiquette, tactics and even how to attach a shoulder strap to some sort of a Swedish wonder gun.... just ruined the story.

Much was made in other reviews about this not being another super prepper fantasy. Well it is just another super prepper fantasy thinly disguised by Including a couple of inexperienced characters that are constantly being lectured in proper prepper etiquette thereby showing the authors super prepper prowess does not help. I get it you are ready for the end of the world.

Have you listened to any of R.C. Bray’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The audio performance was very good with believable changes in tone for each character.

Was Commune worth the listening time?

I wanted it to be worth the time, I really did. Based on many of the other reviews I was expecting something other than another description of how a super prepper will survive while everyone else dies.

Any additional comments?

As a manual for how to select the proper firearms for the end of the world, Great. as a novel with a rich cast of characters and a interesting world, not so much.

Solid Post-Apocalyptic Story

I don't go searching out this type of post-apocalyptic story. Most of them sound similar to me, and I am certainly not seeking out zombie books (this is NOT a zombie book). What drew me toward Commune were the reviews that raved about the book being very character-driven and well-done. And of course, our familiar and very beloved friend, R.C. Bray, who is always a sure bet as narrator. So, how could I go wrong? I don't think I did go wrong. The three main characters (I'm not counting the small child) carried the story, were well-developed, interesting, and I really cared what happened to them. As the story progressed, it maintained a high level of believability, and I was always wanting to know, "What comes next?" Why not 5 stars? Just a few quibbles. I felt there was a bit too much emphasis on weapons. It is not that I thought the weapons were unnecessary--they were imperative. I just felt the author went overboard in showing us his knowledge and prowess with guns. In addition, I had a lot of short listening periods and for a while, could not easily determine the difference between Jake and Billy. And, the child was too saintly and well-behaved, all the time. Know a child like that? I don't! In addition, I think the book could have benefited from a few more characters joining the triad 'commune'. None of the above-mentioned issues were a deal breaker for me. I expect my minor complaints to be remedied in Book 2, which if I am not mistaken, is already available for listening and very well-reviewed and rated. I will most likely get it. (And, if you just can't get enough of character-driven P-A, non-zombie stories, get 'The Dog Stars', my all-time favorite. Sorry, Joshua.)

Just wondering why RC Bray is not in the #1 spot

If you would look at all of books I have purchased and the books I returned, you would see that I have purchased more books read by RC Bray then any other narrator and the least number of returns by far and he did not even make your list this year. Most weeks, I read at the very least 3 or more books and usually more. I've always said a good narrator can change a bad store book into a a great one and a bad narrator can take a classic and turn it into trash. And RC Bray is not on your list, wow

Plausible

Very plausible situations that happen throughout the book. Nothing like crazy prepper that has everything in the bag. Kind of slow beginning but it gets better as you go on.

A good book about life in the apocalypse

I have read a lot of books about possible apocalyptic events going all the way back to Philip Wylie and Edwin Balme's "When Worlds Collide", John Wyndham's "Day of the Triffids", Larry Niven's "Footfall" and Stephen King's "The Stand", but I mostly stopped buying them when they turned into Zombie books because I found most of those to be nothing but violence and killing with the only differences being how to kill the Zombies. There were some bright spots, like William R. Forstchen's "One Second After", but those were hard to find. Given that I thought that this book was a welcome find. Here we have a world gone back to basics by the combined actions of a large Coronal Mass Ejection and a devastation plague, with only a few people left alive. As expected, the book deals with efforts to survive in a very hostile environment where normal interactions between people have become dangerous and the bounds of propriety have ceased to exist. What makes this book interesting are the characters involved and the way the tale is told, with four main characters who meet and form a family of sorts and try to survive in a world where all of the norms have disappeared. While there is violence, most of the story is basically the tales of the people, all of whom seem both reasonably drawn and normal. There are no Rambos here, no people with abnormal abilities and no situations that seem out of reason given the premise of the story. I found I cared about all of them, about what happened to them and what their futures might hold, and I plan to buy the sequel to see how the story continues to unfold. If you are looking for Zombies, this is not your book. If you are looking for the tale of people trying to survive in a world irrevocably changed, where danger lurks everywhere and life hangs at a thread, you might want to give this book a try. It is the best book of this type that I have read since "One Second After" and, although different in many ways, is as good as that book was.

not bad, but.....

spoilers from here on out.

first off, I liked the story, the characters and, of course, the narration. I will almost certainly be listening to the sequels.

My issue is, like so many newer post apocalyptic books these days it seems to follow the same basic formula. it glosses over "the event", whatever that may be, with a brief description or presenting it as a mystery as to what happened, then just kind of throwing you into the story of "survivor/s" who just happens to be a prepper with all the latest and best equipment. there is no real struggle to survive beyond a few brief encounters with some bad guys who, in a world filled with whatever they want, have no real motivation to be bad guys(although the bad guys the mother has to deal with were probably the most believable bad guys in a story like this that I've seen in a long time.).

I hate comparing every post apocalyptic book with The Stand, but in that example, by far the most interesting part is seeing the virus spread, how he government tries to deal with the problem and contain it, and watching society slowly start to collapse, and how the characters react to and deal with it. the shock and loss of what happened and where they go from there.

here it's just a brief description of what happened, then we are dropped in the lap of our small group and are occasionally reminded of how much things sucked while society collapsed, but thank god they happened to find this prepper guy who knows exactly what to look for and where to go.

here, Billy has a solar powered house with a wood shop and a metal shop. tons of barrels ready for fuel, a diesel truck with trailer, food, etc... Imagine a post apocalyptic series where they DON'T have those things and they struggle to get them and rebuild. rather than the standared where they already have them and occasionally fight some bad guys off. how about a story where our hero/group ISN'T prepared as they watch society collapse and must figure out what to do about it.

having said all that, I liked the book and wished it was longer. I know I sound like I didn't like it, but I really did. I just want something more and this book just happened to be the last in a string of books I listened to that all seem to suffer from the same problems.

Exceptional

RC Bray is amazing. Take the time to listen to his read. It is exceptional.

Best apocalyptic book in a long time. Since Alas Babylon I have been a fan of the genre. This book stands out in that it doesn't rely on fantastic events. I related to the characters. There is a constant feeling of being involved in the story. The writing style is so rich I hit rewind many times. RC Bray has a way with voices that gave the words punch. The most powerful moment in the book caused me to cry as I drove. I love stories written as if characters are each telling their own story. It makes the story real. Highly recommend this book.

Fantastic! Brilliant post appocolyse series!

I am really enjoying this book and can't wait for the next book to be released. I like that's its a post appocolyse book with no Zombies. I do like the zombie books but it's a fresh of breath air when a writer writes a book like this. I strongly suggest if you like this book to read also 'After It Happen' - (see my review for more details) both series is narrated by RC Bray who I wish was my uncle or bear freiend because he had brought every book I listen to life... Man he can read the phone book and i be exited and engaged!

Great story. R C Bray awesome as always

Good to hear a end of the world story that isn't zombies. R C Bray does a fantastic job at bring the people to life with the voices he's does. Can't wait for the next one.

Excellent listen

I Had reservations about this type of book where you are listening to events from different people's lives and perspectives however this has been stitched together in a way that really keeps you interested. If i was to have a criticism it would be that the book was finished really quickly which took me by surprise. The characters have plenty of empathy and are easy to relate too. The descriptive parts are well done and balanced rather than describing each and every nut and bolt. Truely a fantastic read! A pat on the back of the author. And as usual RC Bray is absolutely brilliant and has a way of bringing characters to life which not every narrator can do.

Good listen

Really enjoyed this book, it’s a good start to what will hopefully be a series. As always R.C Bray did a grand job, he’s one of our favourite narrators.

A really good listen...

A brilliant job done R C Bray (again!), made this a start to finish listen, bringing it all to life. It is a good story too.

brilliant

I cant wait for the next one of these. R C Bray is just so engaging.

Need the next one now!

Need the next one now!, R C Bray could read just about anything given and I would listen to it.

great book, similar till after it happened

Great book, highly suggest it, can't wait for the next, author please don't change narrator please

brilliant end of the world saga in the making

I've read two "end of the world" books and this one was brilliant. I won't name the other one as I got bored half way and returned it although that book seems to have high ratingsb for some reason. With regards to this book in question I found the characters brilliant and RC Bray bought them to life with his narration. it's scary to think that if the world ended it would probably descend into a chaos like that described in the book - everyone for themselves splitting into good and evil. However you would hope that, like the book, a number of good people existed. This books drops you into such situations and describes the inner demons everyone faces while trying to survive having to do things they would never have done in normal circumstances. I'm looking forward to the next book, its a shame that my favourite character in the book won't be in it!

So confused why this book gets so much love

I've had to give up listening and I'm only at chapter 7. I was already fairly bored and unimpressed with the strange talking heads narration style. Why not just tell the story as it happened instead of reducing it to some kind of journal-entry blow by blow? From the get-go I was holding on to some fairly hefty side-eye towards the sole female character, Amanda. Did she really have to be a single mother, pregnant at 19 and widowed at twenty-something? It is so yawn-worthy to see this tired old trope of women always having to be mothers and wives when the men just get to be the infinitely capable, silent lone-wolf types with no familial responsibilities to burden them. Anyway, I was willing to overlook it and see how she evolved and where her story went. Well imagine my surprise (not) when only 7 chapters in we find her square in the middle of that old favourite, the post-apocalyptic gang rape fantasy. I mean seriously. Why do so many male storytellers feel the overwhelming desire to put their female characters through degrading and traumatic sexual violence in order for them to emerge as that "STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER" they can then have a wank over. Balls to that.. Pretty sure this little gem of a line is what really sealed the deal for me - "What he was describing (being raped every night for the rest of time by four men while your soon-to-be-at-risk-too daughter sleeps near by) didn't actually sound like the worst thing that could happen. Our culture has it all built up like rape is the absolute worst thing that could happen to a woman. But it's really not." Umm ok, pal. Thanks so much for the enlightenment! Listen up ladies! Rape's ok! No need to make a fuss about it. Just "roll over" and do your bit for mankind. They have needs you know. And listen, if you're lucky then a couple of 'nice guys' will come along and save you and you can feel like a regular damsel in distress. Then they can teach your pretty little head how to use guns and survive. Gee, what would you ever have done without all these men. So yeah...I'm out. There are far far better post-apoc stories out there with nuanced, well-rounded characters that also don't go on about bullet diameters for paragraphs upon paragraphs. Joshua - your rape and gun fetishes are showing. Might wanna tuck those in.