Extremes

A Retrieval Artist Novel

By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

His name: Miles Flint. His occupation: Retrieval Artist. His job: find the Disappeared - outlaws on the run, wanted for crimes against alien cultures. The catch: Flint isn't working on the side of the law anymore.

One simple mistake and a Disappeared could end up dead. But this time, the death of an ailing Retrieval Artist has caught Flint's attention. He suspects it was foul play, not a viral infection. Equally suspicious is a young woman's sudden demise during the Moon's prestigious Extreme Marathon. As Flint investigates, he finds an ominous connection. Both deaths lead back to a scientist - a scientist who is now one of the Disappeared.

Listen to more in the Retrieval Artist series.

©2003 White Mist Mountain, Inc. (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A very readable and thought-provoking novel that satisfied the reader in just about every possible way." (Analog)

"Top 10 Greatest Science Fiction Detective Novels of all Time." (io9.com)

"If you love puzzle mysteries, crime novels, well-invented sci-fi worlds or stories about characters you can believe in and care about, you owe it to yourself to give Rusch's Retrieval Artist novels a try." (Orson Scott Card)

Extreme Moon Marathon Murder Mystery

STORY (sci-fi) - This is Book 2 of the Retrieval Artist series. It occurs sometime in the future when humans live on the moon in a city under the Armstrong Dome...in a time when humans accidentally violate alien laws and are supposed to be surrendered for alien punishment. These humans often make arrangements to become "Disappeareds" to escape cruel alien punishment or death, and occasionally their families try to find them by using "Retrieval Artists" such as Miles Flint, the main character of the series.

The story begins as a female athlete's body is found curled up in the fetal position during an extreme marathon taking place outside Armstrong Dome. Did her survival suit fail causing her to die from lack of oxygen, or was it murder? And who is she...a frequent competitor with plenty of enemies, a brilliant scientist/murderess who has disappeared, or someone else? And why is there a mysterious virus which seems to be infecting people associated with the marathon? Flint and others are in a race against time to solve the crime and find the virus antidote before it's too late for everyone in Armstrong Dome.

PERFORMANCE - Jay Snyder has a sexy male voice and what I'd call an American accent. Some reviewers have criticized his attempts at female characters as sounding nasally. Bottom line...I knew when it was a female talking, so I appreciated the distinction.

OVERALL - Very "clean" book with no sex, cursing and only a small amount of violence. I'd recommend this book/series to anyone who likes sci-fi and might enjoy trying to solve a pretty intricate murder scenario.

Usually, I can make it through a book...

I have tried to listen to this book a couple of times, but I failed. The story progression is slow, but that’s not all of it. The narration is really the issue. The voices of the characters are too painful to endure, especially the female ones. The narrator’s falsetto is reminiscent of a Monty Python sketch. His overly forced PRO-NUN-CI-A-TION-S would be helpful if I was just learning English, or maybe at a Spelling Bee, but the end effect is to progress the story with the lethargic stagger of a death march.

When you combine a slow story with a ponderous narration, the end experience is hard to take. I found myself two thirds through the book wishing all the characters would die just to make it end. I guess it’s time to stop listening.

A good second book in this series

Ms. Rusch delivered a good second book in this series, focusing on the characters and the detective work, even by the ex-detective Flint.

Some of the plot twists seem contrived, but not annoying.

Another stellar performance by Jay Snyder, as well.

Engrossing and exciting.

This was my third novel by this author. What good writing. Everything is so interesting. The reader is excellent, too. This is science fiction that makes sense.

PLEASE stop voicing women in a whining falsetto

Any additional comments?

This is a pretty good series--interesting premise and a decent story. I've heard jay Snyder read the EX- series and he had to voice the women in the fourth book. He wasn't nearly as bad at it as he is in this series.. Why on earth do men think a breathy falsetto is what women sound like??? And why on earth is the producer letting it go thru??? It's annoying at the very least. I doubt I'll continue with the series.

A great continuation

This is the second book in the Retrieval Artist series of books and is a great continuation of the storyline.

In this book Flint and Noelle are no longer working together and Flint is learning that he really can’t trust anyone, which is very hard for him as he really wants to trust Noelle with everything he knows, but telling her to much will endanger his clients and their families.

The tension between Noelle and Flint is growing; they are trying to figure out what there new relationship is and how it will work in the future. It is not something that will be resolved anytime soon. It is this tension between the characters along with the crime-mystery drama that makes these books enjoyable for me.

Jay Snyder continues doing a great job bringing the characters to life.

Great Aliens and 26K races on the Moon - love it!

What a great story arc---a marathon on the moon...Rusch really comes up with different ideas and I love it! Jay Snyder has the aliens down pat..voices and attitude-he's got it made.

A new protagonist-Miles Flint is introduced in this novel. He's a Retrieval Artist (why artist? I wonder)..someone who makes it safe for those who have crossed an alien culture go into hiding..ya gotta read these..or listen to them..to get what I'm talking about here.

In any case, as a former runner I could totally connect with this novel. And enjoyed it as much as the first. I'm sad to see there's only one more written in this series because I'm hooked as I haven"t been since "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". And thats saying something!

A Gem of a Find

My first experience with Kristine Kathryn Rusch was the first novel of this series "The Disappeared" and it will not be the last. This novel ("Extremes") picks up where "The Disappeared" left off, on the moon, and ended up being even better than the first of the series. Flint is now a Retrieval artist and getting good at it. I can hardly wait until I get the next one downloaded to pick up where this left off. Rusch rates right up there with the Sci-Fi greats.

Fine for a light read about a space detective.

It's a good story and the basic premise is engaging. I like the main characters and I found the idea of a moon Marathon and the troubles around it interesting. I was frustrated by the contrived ways the author added obstacles for the main characters. Specifically their communication s being down or having uncooperative officials refusing to help stop problems.

Pulp

What disappointed you about Extremes?

I'm sorry, a lot of readers obviously enjoy this author's work, but I find both the story and writing quite bland, bordering on tedious. The thing seems to have been slapped out in a rush, and is littered with the sort of jarring repetition and mis-coined phrases that kill my suspension of disbelief. That might be okay if the story was particularly creative, but it's quite pedestrian. I don't know much about the author, but I read she has a "business blog", and has published "The Pursuit of Perfection: And How It Harms Writers". I can't help thinking that provides an insight into her approach to writing - get it out there, don't be too precious about the quality, hope to hit more than miss. Well, that approach may be good for writers, but it's not doing much for this reader X-/

What do you think your next listen will be?

Try out the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jay Snyder?

Maybe

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not particlarly