Earth

By: David Brin

Narrated by: David DeVries, Kristin Kalbli

Length: 26 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

The long-awaited new novel by the award-winning, best-selling author of Startide Rising and The Uplift War- an epic novel set 50 years from tomorrow, a carefully-reasoned, scientifically faithful tale of the fate of our world.

©1990 David Brin (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"One hell of a novel.... has what sci-fi readers want these days; intelligence, action, and an epic scale" ( Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine)

"The prime attraction of Earth is the author's unfailing resourcefulness in extrapolating a post-greenhouse-effect future that is plausible, dismaying, and amazing in equal parts…. Brin's prose ranges from regular to high octant…. His characters have vivid intellectual lives." ( Entertainment Weekly)

"Brin has conceived his story on a supremely ambitious scale, and executed it with all the skills at this command." ( Chicago Sun-Times)

what an amazing prescient and exquisite story!

I have listened to this fascinating book twice now...and it is so filled with thoughtful insights and exciting plotlines I may listen to it annually!

David Brin has grown hugely as an author and storyteller. This book is so much richer than all the typical dystopian novels littering the sci fi landscape I wish everyone could consume this book... as it deliciously depicts the unfolding future on many levels. It will cause you to think and reflect on where we are and where we are headed all wrapped neatly in a mystery filled with intrigue and emotion.

The narrator's are wonderful, adding to the rich depictions and extrapolations which combine to bring this story alive and give any thinking human a reason to pause and reflect on all we are doing and how things might unfold.

while the plotlines are fun and unique, it is the world Brin depicts that is the true beauty of this majestic adventure... do not miss it!

and I must add...absolutely the best endings ever... you get three... all connected and wonderful... the main story, Brian's discussion, and a lovely postscript... each of which it's absolutely marvelous

David has an inside line on the future

What made the experience of listening to Earth the most enjoyable?

The narration was great the characters came alive.

What other book might you compare Earth to and why?

Accelerando by Charles Stross, it's a strong view of a possible future.

Any additional comments?

I'm just got done re-reading David Brin's "Earth" written in 1989 after a 15 year break to see how well it holds (the Audible version with a nice short story at the end that takes place in the same universe). In some of the sub-plot lines, he talks about the leaders with Swiss bank accounts? Check A world linked by computers and camera's recording everything done by the people? Check. Ice melting? Check. Earthquakes next to the coast taking out nuclear power plant? Check. The cost of connecting to the world wide web dropping to less then the cost of gas and food? Soon. Clearly he has a good inner line on projecting what could go on in the near future, check him out of you're looking for a good read.

Great story! Needed better voice direction.

This is a great story. Heady sci fi with intense action and drama with the fate of the Earth at stake. Modern readers need to remember that this book originally came out in 1990. Yes it is a bit environmentally preachy but given where the planet is right now in terms of global warming, it’s nice to see SOME people could see the direction things were headed and used their craft to draw attention to the problem 30+ years ago.
The problem I have is with the performances. David DeVries is good and for the most part does an excellent job. Whoever directed him though (assuming he was directed) let him give a New Zealand accent to a clearly American character. The book has shared narration, with the male characters chapters read by DeVries and the female character chapters read by Kristin Kalbli. For the most part the characters don’t overlap but in a few chapters they do. DeVries first encountered the American character in New Zealand so he must’ve assumed she was from there. A clear example of why voice talent should read the script PRIOR to acting the part. Aside from that, he does a fantastic job.
Kristin Kalbli on the other hand, while not the worst reader I’ve heard, still comes across as over articulated and a bit stilted at times. She’s a little too careful to make sure she reads E V E R Y L E T T E R to the point that it’s a bit distracting. Hitting the last consonant a little to hard. Don’T do thaT iT sounds weirD to the ear.
So for performance DeVries gets 4 stars and Kalbli gets 2 - combined average = 3 stars.
The story is a lot of fun and a bit unnerving. Interesting to see how accurate Brin was about some things like email and the internet but completely missed cell phones and the form the internet would take. As if early forums and email was as far as internet technology was going to go. I can forgive that though. I would recommend this book, just arm yourself for some of the disappointing aspects of the voice performance.

Milestone

Great book, not perfect reading.
A truly remarkable re-imagining of our planet used as a trick to go deep into the theories on how to preserve our dear earth.
I loved it in paper and wanted to listen to it, I was mostly happy about this version too.

always surprised

I'm always surprised by how early David Brin's books were written after I've read them. I think that they must be written after 2010 to find out they were written before 1990

long but good it drags at times....the ideas prese

this book drags a bit however the ideas presented are worth the listen and the performance is excellent

preachy

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I love David Brin and I am sympathetic to the message but it makes for a super boring and preachy book. Skip this one, its a stinker.

What was most disappointing about David Brin’s story?

Very heavy ecological message.

Earth review.

I love this book. please, if Ms. Kalbli is set to narrate any further books, encourage them to not do so in a manner that presents them as hating what they're doing and bored out of their mind. All areas narrated by Ms Kalbli were flat and lifeless and uninspired. It is a shame to have such a good story treated in such a careless fashion. Other than this point I really enjoyed the book.

Amazing

This is my favorite standalone novel of all time. As we get closer to the imagined time when the story takes place, it is interesting to see the differences and similarities between his imagined future and our current reality. It was interesting to get to experience this story in a new format as an audiobook.
Overall, thank you Mr. David Brin for this incredible story.

Black holes in the late 2030s

David Brin's Earth is a comprehensive worldview of the planet in 2038. Projecting 50 years ahead, Btin envisioned a world splintered with a substantial 'Gaiaist' contingent. The internet had also matured as well as cheap, personal surveillance. Against this backdrop, science has advanced to create microscopic black holes of which one escapes and bounces around the Earth's interior. Attempts to rein it in in secret are a major focus until government agencies become aware and intercede for control. Eventually, an ecoterrorist takes control in an attempt to wipe out humanity.

While the physics of black holes dominates, the other elements display Brin's prescience for how technology and the societal responses to that technology would shape the first half of the 21st century. Writing in the late 80's, he was able to discern the impact of email, the internet, and the gradual erosion of privacy. To create a major tipping point, he envisioned (occurring prior to the main plot) a major war against Switzerland as the holder of banking privacy and piracy. The depth and breadth of detail is awesome.

The choice for two narrator was a wide decision and assisted with the story flow. Character distinction is excellent, especially given such a large cast. This is a long, but worthwhile listen.

Such an interesting book, David Brin is awesome.

I really love the way he deals with the big issues of the time with realistic plots, yet is optimistic. His characters can be a bit too wonderful, a bit too exceptional, and he's certainly US-centric. On the whole very thought provoking and inspiring

Let down

The narrators are not bad, but I just couldn't get into the story. Stopped listening half way through.

class

excellent writing and performance, was not aware this is not a recent book. has aged well

Just could not get into it. Tried twice.

This is one of my favourite subjects but this book seems too disjointed and lacks something.

loved it

Great read. I think I'll start it again I liked it so much. That was a year ago so it's second time around.