-
Dark Space
- Dark Space, Book 1
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Series: Dark Space, Book 1
- Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Audible Premium Plus
$14.95 a month
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Invisible War
- Dark Space, Book 2
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ethan Ortane has just met his long lost son, Atton, but the circumstances could have been better. After a devastating bio-attack and the ensuing battle, they've fled Dark Space aboard the Defiant to get away from the crime lord, Alec Brondi, who has just stolen the most powerful vessel left in the Imperial Fleet--the Valiant, a five-kilometer-long gladiator-class carrier. They need reinforcements to face Brondi, but beyond Dark Space the comm relays are all down, meaning that they must cross Sythian Space to contact the rest of the fleet.
-
-
A great, but depressing second entry
- By Michael Long on 09-09-15
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Origin
- Dark Space, Book 3
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ethan and his son, Atton, have been arrested for high treason and conspiracy, crimes which will surely mean the death sentence, but it's beginning to look like theirs aren't the only lives in jeopardy--the Defiant is stranded in Sythian Space, and the vessel which Commander Caldin sent to get help has used all its fuel to get to Obsidian Station, only to find out that the station has been destroyed. Now the Defiant's last hope for a rescue is gone, and everyone on board is about to die a cold, dark death.
-
-
Great
- By Theresa Horton on 08-13-18
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Avilon
- Dark Space, Book 5
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 17 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dark Space, the last refuge of humanity, is overrun; its citizens are either enslaved or dead. The relentless Sythians have slaughtered humanity wherever they could find them, and now only a few hundred survivors remain. Desperate to escape, these few chase rumors of a lost sector of humanity and end up on Avilon, a planet covered with a vast, kilometers-high city that lies hidden and shielded from the rest of the galaxy by its impossibly advanced technology and its benevolent ruler.
-
-
Things are falling into place
- By Michael Long on 12-15-15
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Armageddon
- Dark Space, Book 6
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 15 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Omnius has been hiding a lot from the people of Avilon. The war with the Sythians is not what we thought, but that raises the question: If not the Sythians, then what did Omnius go to fight in the Getties Cluster? Omnius knows what people will do before they do it. He predicts citizens' behavior, and, some suspect, he even makes those predictions come true.
-
-
Can’t recommend it
- By Loraki on 06-06-20
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Revenge
- Dark Space, Book 4
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Humanity has just won a major victory against the invading Sythians - the first victory in the history of the war. The savage Gors have joined forces with Dark Space, and now for the first time since the invasion, it looks like the tide is turning. But the Sythians weren't defeated. Humanity just bloodied their noses. Now they know where Dark Space is, and they are coming back for revenge.
-
-
😜 and you are?
- By James T. Scheinbaum on 07-03-17
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Occupied Earth
- Ascension Wars, Book 2
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ben Jaeger-Thomas
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Captain Clayton Cross and his crew encountered the Kyra, an advanced race of avian carnivores. They fled this first encounter, but the Kyra beat them back to Earth by almost a century. Earth lost the war in just a few weeks. Our cities burned, and billions died. After we surrendered, the Kyra helped us to rebuild, but on their terms, confining us to city centers and building high walls to keep us in.
-
-
New story line - good scifi and character dev
- By Bill on 08-07-20
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
The Invisible War
- Dark Space, Book 2
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ethan Ortane has just met his long lost son, Atton, but the circumstances could have been better. After a devastating bio-attack and the ensuing battle, they've fled Dark Space aboard the Defiant to get away from the crime lord, Alec Brondi, who has just stolen the most powerful vessel left in the Imperial Fleet--the Valiant, a five-kilometer-long gladiator-class carrier. They need reinforcements to face Brondi, but beyond Dark Space the comm relays are all down, meaning that they must cross Sythian Space to contact the rest of the fleet.
-
-
A great, but depressing second entry
- By Michael Long on 09-09-15
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Origin
- Dark Space, Book 3
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ethan and his son, Atton, have been arrested for high treason and conspiracy, crimes which will surely mean the death sentence, but it's beginning to look like theirs aren't the only lives in jeopardy--the Defiant is stranded in Sythian Space, and the vessel which Commander Caldin sent to get help has used all its fuel to get to Obsidian Station, only to find out that the station has been destroyed. Now the Defiant's last hope for a rescue is gone, and everyone on board is about to die a cold, dark death.
-
-
Great
- By Theresa Horton on 08-13-18
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Avilon
- Dark Space, Book 5
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 17 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dark Space, the last refuge of humanity, is overrun; its citizens are either enslaved or dead. The relentless Sythians have slaughtered humanity wherever they could find them, and now only a few hundred survivors remain. Desperate to escape, these few chase rumors of a lost sector of humanity and end up on Avilon, a planet covered with a vast, kilometers-high city that lies hidden and shielded from the rest of the galaxy by its impossibly advanced technology and its benevolent ruler.
-
-
Things are falling into place
- By Michael Long on 12-15-15
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Armageddon
- Dark Space, Book 6
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 15 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Omnius has been hiding a lot from the people of Avilon. The war with the Sythians is not what we thought, but that raises the question: If not the Sythians, then what did Omnius go to fight in the Getties Cluster? Omnius knows what people will do before they do it. He predicts citizens' behavior, and, some suspect, he even makes those predictions come true.
-
-
Can’t recommend it
- By Loraki on 06-06-20
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Revenge
- Dark Space, Book 4
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Humanity has just won a major victory against the invading Sythians - the first victory in the history of the war. The savage Gors have joined forces with Dark Space, and now for the first time since the invasion, it looks like the tide is turning. But the Sythians weren't defeated. Humanity just bloodied their noses. Now they know where Dark Space is, and they are coming back for revenge.
-
-
😜 and you are?
- By James T. Scheinbaum on 07-03-17
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Occupied Earth
- Ascension Wars, Book 2
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ben Jaeger-Thomas
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Captain Clayton Cross and his crew encountered the Kyra, an advanced race of avian carnivores. They fled this first encounter, but the Kyra beat them back to Earth by almost a century. Earth lost the war in just a few weeks. Our cities burned, and billions died. After we surrendered, the Kyra helped us to rebuild, but on their terms, confining us to city centers and building high walls to keep us in.
-
-
New story line - good scifi and character dev
- By Bill on 08-07-20
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Fractured Earth
- Ascension Wars, Book 3
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ben Jaeger-Thomas
- Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Clayton Cross has been reunited with his family, and he’s joined forces with the remnants of Phoenix, a human resistance group from the Wastes outside of New Houston. But following a traitorous double-cross by their Chrona ally, Specter, most of the world’s remaining population has turned into the failed human-alien hybrids known as Dregs. The world is no longer divided into safe, civilized cities run by the Kyra, and even they have abandoned Earth, declaring it a quarantine zone to contain a deadly new version of their virus, engineered by the Chrona.
-
-
Exciting
- By Barbara Gilbert on 01-18-21
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
First Encounter
- Ascension Wars, Book 1
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ben Jaeger-Thomas
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The United Nations of Earth sent out the Forerunner ships to explore and colonize the four most promising star systems within 50 light-years of Earth. Forerunner One left Earth under the command of Captain Clayton Cross, heading for Trappist-1. After a ninety year journey to reach it, the crew encountered not only a habitable world, but alien life already inhabiting it, and dark secrets lurking beneath the surface. The revelation of who these aliens are and what they want proves more terrifying than promising, and Captain Cross is forced to make tough decisions that will affect not only his crew, but the fate of the entire human race.
-
-
Good Story and Concept; Narrator mispronouncing
- By Parents on 02-18-20
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Frozen Earth
- Rogue Star, Book 1
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Flynn Earl Jones
- Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Logan Willis’s life is falling apart: he lost his job and found out that his wife is cheating on him all in the same day. Thinking that his world has ended, Logan checks into a hotel and turns on the TV to see that he's not far wrong - radio telescopes have detected mysterious signals coming from inside our solar system, and the source is moving toward us at over 500 miles per second. The media concludes that these signals must be of an alien origin. Still reeling from the news, Logan gets a phone call from his brother-in-law.
-
-
Not that good
- By Kindle Customer on 12-27-18
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
The Awakening
- Broken Worlds, Book 1
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Darius Drake is desperate to save his daughter, Cassandra. So desperate he's willing to risk their lives in cryo-sleep to give her a future. But the dark, freezing vault where he wakes up is nothing like the luxurious Florida hospital he remembers. Everything about this place is alien to him, even the language. Little does he know how alien it really is. Darius and his daughter go exploring their new surroundings with a few others from the cryo pods, and they soon discover frozen, mutilated bodies everywhere.
-
-
Not worth my time.
- By bookaholic536 on 10-24-19
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
New Worlds
- Rogue Star, Book 2
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Flynn Earl Jones
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Logan Willis and his family are hiding safely in Haven, an underwater colony designed by billionaire Akron Massey to be his private shelter. But Logan's son, Alex, didn't make it. Logan is desperate to get out and find him. Meanwhile, OneZero, a friendly Screecher locked in Haven's brig, also wants to get out, and so does Akron Massey, who plans to build another rocket from the Mars mission prototype and use it to join his family on the red planet. Together these three must find a way to leave Haven and accomplish their goals, but the world they left is not the one they are returning to.
-
-
Protagonist is too stupid for words
- By Pachypanchax on 02-06-19
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Final Days
- Final Days, Book 1
- By: Nathan Hystad, Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A mysterious convergence of natural disasters threatens to destroy life as we know it, and people across the United States are going missing. With no one left to investigate, Special Agent Kendra Baker takes the case, trying to solve the disappearances before she’s out of time. Among those abducted is Valeria Miller, the daughter of ex-Marine Corporal Andrew Miller, and he’ll stop at nothing to find her. With the help of an unstable conspiracy theorist, they find themselves on the trail of a reclusive billionaire who just might have all the answers.
-
-
Excellent, fast-paced action packed adventure!
- By Dr. Geoff on 06-28-20
By: Nathan Hystad, and others
-
Under Darkness
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ben Jaeger-Thomas
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bill Steele is in the trenches, trying to survive in the competitive world of luxury vacation resorts on the island of Kauai. Then a dark shadow falls over the island. It’s not a lunar eclipse, because Bill can clearly see the crescent moon shimmering on the water. This is something else. Moments later, the meteors begin to fall. One of them lands in the water just beyond the resort. On the news, the anchorman is fleeing from his hillside vantage point with his cameraman in hot pursuit. Their muffled screams are the last thing anyone hears before the signal is lost....
-
-
Heart-thumping thriller!
- By Ecualegacy on 04-16-19
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Second Encounter
- Ascension Wars, Book 4
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ben Jaeger-Thomas
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With a fragile peace established in the Enclave between humans and Chimeras, both species must learn to put aside their differences to ensure their continued survival. But racial tensions are simmering just beneath the surface, ready to explode. Meanwhile, Clayton and Samara’s daughter, Dora, might be the answer that everyone is looking for: her immunity to both strains of the Chimeran virus could soon lead to a cure, making it possible to establish new settlements beyond the Enclave.
-
-
Amazing conclusion
- By kixfan on 12-10-20
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Final Days: Colony
- Final Days, Book 2
- By: Nathan Hystad, Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kendra, Andrew, and the other survivors arrive with Lewis Hound’s chosen people at an unfamiliar planet with more questions than answers: how did they get there? Where did all of the advanced technology come from? And is this really Proxima B Centauri? The colony ship breaks into sections and makes an emergency landing amidst a meteor shower, and Lewis Hound, Eden’s enigmatic leader, goes missing.
-
-
Captivating Sci-fi
- By S.R. on 07-08-20
By: Nathan Hystad, and others
-
Final Days: Escape
- Final Days, Book 3
- By: Nathan Hystad, Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Andrew and Kendra have learned what’s on the other side of the ridge, but it leaves them with more questions than answers. Their colony has turned into a dictatorship under the thumb of its delusional self-appointed leader, the Reverend, making their lives a living nightmare. With a plan in place and help from their new allies, the group plans to sneak out of the colony and make contact with their new neighbors. But nothing in Eden is ever as simple as it seems.
-
-
This is an Outstanding Finale to the Series!!
- By Jas P on 08-12-20
By: Nathan Hystad, and others
-
Excelsior
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The year is AD 2790. With space elevators and giant orbital fleets hovering over Earth, open war looks inevitable, and people are anxious to get away. The lines are drawn, with the Confederacy in the East and the First World Alliance in the West. In hopes of finding a refuge from the looming war, the Alliance is sending Captain Alexander de Leon to explore an Earth-type planet, code-named Wonderland, but at the last minute before launch, a Confederate fleet leaves orbit on a trajectory that threatens both the mission and Alliance sovereignty.
-
-
difficult to listen to
- By Amazon Customer on 11-01-16
By: Jasper T. Scott
-
Universe
- Dark Space, Book 7
- By: Jasper T. Scott
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lucien Ortane is a Paragon in the Etherian Empire. His job is to explore the universe and spread Etherian doctrines of peace, justice, and immortality to sentient beings everywhere. Like all Paragons and most citizens, Lucien believes that Etherus, the benevolent ruler of the empire, is exactly who he claims to be: the one true God and creator of the universe.
-
-
Another engrossing tale by Jasper Scott
- By Jim K on 01-02-20
By: Jasper T. Scott
Publisher's Summary
Humanity is defeated.
Ten years ago the Sythians invaded the galaxy with one goal: to wipe out the human race.
They are hiding.
Now the survivors are hiding in the last human sector of the galaxy: Dark Space--once a place of exile for criminals, now the last refuge of mankind.
They are isolated.
The once galaxy-spanning Imperium of Star Systems is left guarding the gate which is the only way in or out of Dark Space--but not everyone is satisfied with their governance.
More from the same
What listeners say about Dark Space
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Travis
- 02-09-14
An upgrade to the lost fleet series.
I really enjoyed this book, partly because William Dufris is as usual amazing, and partly because this was just really well written. The plot line is engaging, you hate the bad guys, and the hero isn't so noble as is the case in most of these contemporary sci fi books.
As far as the actual combat I thought they were the best I've read. Better then the lost fleet, and more dramatic. If you like military sci-fi I believe you'll find a lot of enjoyment in this title.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Doug D. Eigsti
- 05-11-15
Tongue-In-Cheek Matinee Sci-Fi
This has a little bit of the attitude from the TV series Firefly. The level of sarcasm is as high as the level of rebelliousness. Ethan is the ever competent pilot caught in an unwanted war just trying to eke out a living while bucking the system. I like the devious war lords and the indomitable warriors fighting tyranny. And, lest I forget, the insectoid alien invaders that continue to threaten to exterminate humanity throughout the galaxy. This book has so many Sci-Fi elements included that it seems more like a television series gone amok than it does an ordinary Space Opera. If I do decide to continue with this series it will be because of the dramatic performance of William Dufris and the sheer fun of the thing.
William Dufris is always wonderful. He put so much emotion into his performance that the story comes to life. I really like his character voices. Other great Dufris audiobook performances include Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson, and Woken Furies by Richard K. Morgan.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Aaron G. Sword
- 08-20-14
Great story and reader, couldn't stop listening!
Would you consider the audio edition of Dark Space to be better than the print version?
Probably so since you get to hear the great William Dufris bring the story and it's characters to life!
Who was your favorite character and why?
Alara/Angel, I liked her fight to survive and how she handled her situation.
What about William Dufris’s performance did you like?
Everything, he is a masterful story reader.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes! Which is rare for me, I couldn't stop listening to this book it was so intense and suspenseful and entertaining!!
Any additional comments?
This is great pure sci-fi goodness at its best, if you like space sagas you will love this book!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- john
- 08-05-14
Decently good book.
If you could sum up Dark Space in three words, what would they be?
Another reviewer compared to lost fleet. It's a little less science then that if possible. Straight sci fi story. Good with out the long draw on of how long it takes to travel 1000000 miles across a planetary system ect ect that some authored love to tell you about for endless hours. I call it sci fi light which is what I like. So I enjoyed the heck out of the book. A little short for a credit is the only negative I can give this book. Narrator did a decent job. Not sure why others didn't like him.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gina
- 03-23-15
Mediocre with a sudden solution to all problems
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
No, I wouldn't.
Spoiler alert.......
The book was going along fine, not impressive or anything but passable and then suddenly all his problems are solved all at once in the course of less than 2 minutes of tape. It was an abrupt solution that totally ruined the book.
Would you ever listen to anything by Jasper T. Scott again?
I don't think so. If all his books end with an miraculous solution to the problem in seconds rather than a build or even a left turn, I don't think I will listen to more. I mean it was like he had a page count and suddenly realized he had to finish the book on this page.
Would you listen to another book narrated by William Dufris?
He was a passable narrator.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Justin
- 01-29-15
Really really bad!
Wow that was bad. The worst book that I ever finished and that is saying something. The ending is so bad that I feel taken advantage of. It feels like it was written for a horrible tv show. I dont mind the reader but I understand why others would not like him. He is a little light and goofy sounding. Sorry but I do not want to waste anymore time thinking about this garbage. You have been warned.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Joki
- 03-22-15
Blech
Somewhere about the half way mark of listening to the Audible version of Dark Space, I began to realize that this was very much a Mary Sue (or, at least, a Gary Stu - pure middle age male wish fulfillment fantasy). The deus ex machina is so thick here as to really be mind boggling - in a very bad way. From the loser 'salt and pepper haired' main character with the hot exotic girlfriend half his age, perfect wife and son, and chance to really inexplicably prove he's still studly to the evil moustache twirling bad guy. Really, take a blender and add in Firefly and Star Wars and here you go.
Story (such as it is): Ethan and the surviving humans have fled to a place called "Dark Space" - closing a gate behind them so that the vernicious knids...er...evil aliens...can't continue to exterminate the humans. Han Solo...er...Ethan Ortane wants to rejoin the army but his ship is in hock to Jabba...er....Brondi and Brondi concocts the most senile plot ever in order for Ethan to get his debt paid. Ethan must use a holo device to pretend to be an officer of the surviving military - infiltrate and sabotage the last remaining law in the human universe. The only ones preventing the aliens from finding the humans....
Characters. Right off the bat we have the aging vet and hot girlfriend from well-to-do family slumming with him (for reasons unknown). He treats her like crap and she takes it - being so 'madly in love' with him. But he's still mooning over his missing wife and son from some 20 years previous, so it's ok that he abuses the girlfriend and treats her like crap. Of course, we have the wonderful cliche of women: exotic 'super' gorgeous young girlfriend with 'violet' eyes and fancy name like Alara. Contrast that with the other female character, a hard hitting, tough talking pilot with the common name Gina. Because who would want to date a Gina when you could have an Alara?
It's hard not to go into the silliness of the holo device, lack of any ability of detection of someone using it, and that no one seems to question the personality change of the office he is impersonating. Better yet, (mild spoiler here), everyone seems to forgive quite easily that he was involved in the officer (and mate) being tortured and killed for that identity and used it to do harm (actually, kill) 10,000 other people. But hey, it's ok, no biggie.
We're also supposed to like a character that is willing to hurt so many in order to save his own hide or that of his idiot girlfriend. I didn't buy it and everyone seemed to have 1 second of half hearted regret before patting him on the back and welcoming the loser to their fold - no biggie that he killed so many.
The bad guy is so over the top and yet so incredibly stupid. Half the time the set up is gentle coercion but it always turns into kidnapping of family, etc. E.g., Brondi has Ethan over the coals for the debt but only thinks to kidnap the girlfriend on impulse later? Or the scientists who are concocting Brondi's evil scheme for a payment - only to have family members kidnapped after completion anyway. Why not just kidnap in the beginning and get it over with? It just seemed silly and a forced way to escalate the drama/plot.
There are some 'plot twists' at the end that are so left field as to make implausible segue straight to impossible. I won't go into it for spoilers but the book ends abruptly on the spoiler and not in a very eager or satisfying end of arc way.
There was a lot I really didn't like about Dark Space. It lacked gravitas, realistic characters, or an interesting storyline. I hated each one of the cliche characters and never invested in any part of the story.
I listened to the Audible version and the narrator did an ok job with a really silly story.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Midwestbonsai
- 01-13-16
soft on science but long on potential
I wanted to sink my teeth into some strong, hard science fiction and Dark Space by Jasper T. Scott landed in my lap. My teeth looked it at and said, "I'll sink into that."
So I hit play on Dark Space, and sat back to enjoy William Dufris' reading of it.
For the most part, Dark Space is a very enjoyable (if thin and light) science fiction novella. Calling it a novel seems unfair as the audio clocks in at under six hours and the book itself is just 200 pages long. Comfortably I'd say it's a novella.
Perhaps Dark Space's greatest strength is clever concept of how humanity is hidden away in a galaxy surrounded by black holes. This 'dark space' has given our race a second chance after being nearly wiped out in a war against the alien Sythian race. People who have survived in the dark space region(previously a penal colony) are harder, darker and generally tougher because of the difficult times.
The main character Ethan Ortane is typical space opera fare. He's a down on his luck pilot with a debt to pay and when his debtor catches up to him, he's given an offer that will set his debt straight; sabotage the ship that guards the entrance to dark space. I don't think I need to spell out that messing with the line of defense of the last place humans are safe is a pretty bad idea, and that it won't be worth it to Ethan to do it.
Buuuut that's no fun, and if Ethan didn't jump into the convoluted plot there'd be no book to listen to. Luckily Dark Space starts out with an exciting space dogfight so you can get into it quickly and enjoy the tempo and forget about the fairly clichéd plot devices. One complaint I had was the lack of actual physics knowledge brought to bear by the author. Ships don't need rudders or stabilizers in a zero gravity environment to steer. Had the book been advertised as something other than 'hard science fiction' those little errors would be no big deal, but when you say you're hard on science, go hard on the science.
The book attempts a few twists towards the end to avoid what looks like the obvious, but in the end it does what I expected it to. It entertained me, but didn't blow me away.
WIlliam Dufris is a competent and pleasant narrator. He has great range of voice and reads at a very good clip. I didn't need to speed up the reading at all and felt like the book moved quite well. I'll check out other books he's put his voice to. I did experience a slight tinny quality to the audio, but messing with the levels fixed it easily.
Overall Dark Space is a short and entertaining listen that's soft on science but long on potential.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kevin
- 05-15-14
It is dark
Would you listen to Dark Space again? Why?
It is dark and you will question humanities right to survive. The main characters lack any concern beyond themselves and their friends/family leading predictably to disaster.
Scott makes it a scary statement on a familiar narcissistic society.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Dark Space?
The betrayal by the "hero" and the scientist of all morality for the sake of their families. Guess how that works out.
What about William Dufris’s performance did you like?
The voices could be confused but overall it was well done.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jan S
- 05-22-20
Space Opera
A good yarn. Although aliens are a backdrop, they do not appear in this book. The narrator was good, and I liked it enough to immediately buy the sequel.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Milan
- 11-17-16
Way too short.
It felt like first chapter and part of it was repeated twice.
Story is good, but the space battle didn't feel real.
-
Overall

- JChatwin
- 03-20-15
Enthralling
I enjoyed the story including the twist. The narrator was easy to listen to and his performance was very believable.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- johnnie
- 05-16-15
Low grade
Unimaginative plot. Little investment in context using off the peg technologies. A shoot me up story in a very short book with two further parts I won't be wasting money on.