A Time to Die

The Untold Story of the Kursk Tragedy

By: Robert Moore

Narrated by: Pete Cross

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

On a quiet Saturday morning in August 2000, two explosions - one so massive it was detected by seismologists around the world - shot through the shallow Arctic waters of the Barents Sea. Russia's prized submarine, the Kursk, began her fatal plunge to the ocean floor. Award-winning journalist Robert Moore presents a riveting, brilliantly researched account of the deadliest submarine disaster in history.

Journey down into the heart of the Kursk to witness the last hours of the 23 young men who survived the initial blasts. Visit the highly restricted Arctic submarine base to which Moore obtained secret admission, where the families of the crew clamored for news of their loved ones.

©2003 Robert Moore (P)2016 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Excellent

A very thoroughly researched account of the Kursk tragedy, well balanced reporting by Robert Moore. Very detailed analysis of the Russian bureaucracies attempted cover up of the sinking of one of the most powerful submarines in Russia's nuclear arsenal, and the ineptitude, poor training and budget cuts that contributed to the disaster.

Being trapped underwater - a universal fear

Pete Cross is an excellent narrator. I have listened to and enjoyed several of his audiobooks. The Kursk submarine tragedy brings out some of the best in attempts at international cooperation as well as some of the worst in the residual cold war fears of the superpowers after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Disaster was almost inevitable in the Russian Northern Fleet following severe funding cutbacks and safety shortcuts in the late 1990s. When governments lie to their people and mislead even their own leaders, as Russia did repeatedly in this tragic incident, lives are lost along with opportunities for international cooperation.

The deliberate coverup and spurious answers propounded by the Russian naval leadership, together with the consequences thereof, remind one of the false narratives propounded by the Soviets in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster fourteen years earlier.

The Kursk explosion was Vladimir Putin's first big domestic crisis and this book covers his government's response to it very well.

Human drama, clear technical explanation and well researched background make this audiobook one that I strongly recommend.

Worth it!

The author had a horribly great story to tell!
Performance was well done!
Pros:
-In depth look at Russian secrets and why they guard them. As well as Russian military pay, morale and general conditions.
-Being able to read and understand history that is NOT boring.
-if you are in the Navy, want to be in the Navy or are interested in submarines, stealth and secrecy of them, or just love books on subs.
-Reader made this great book, so much better. Readers make or break books on Audible.
Cons:
- If you just hate books where real live characters who have actual names die a horrible, tragic death.
(BTW- it's really not that bad and listening to it helps understand the world and tragic death as well as learn Russia.
- if you just really really hate submarines that fall out of the ocean.
Enjoy.
God bless the sailors

A Gripping Story For All to Read!

exceptionally well researched, easy to read by all ages, a stunning example of the inner workings of Russian submariners and their navy

Great book, very sad story.

This was a great book about a real tragedy. The author goes to great length to share all the grim details about this doomed ship and her crew.

riveting

amazingly researched, amazingly written, amazingly read story. incredible insight into an international tragedy. hopefully, some Future Good Will Come from the lessons learned by the deaths of these men.

Doomed To Unspeakable Deaths

What a great though tragic story now finally being told. I was one of the people around the globe who watched and waited as the Kursk sat on the ocean floor, its submariners trapped but maybe alive.
And they WERE alive.
"A Time to Die" chronicles the explosions that rocked her, the flailing attempts to save her, the international pleas to Russia with offers of help, the rescue that finally becomes a recovery, and the horrific pain caused to the frustrated loved ones. Time and time again, the listener is held helpless as things become more desperate. And where was Putin? (Indeed, the story shows that only a single individual in the entire military chain of command was allowed to contact him directly).
Sometimes frustrating, sometimes sad, but always tense, this is a story worth hearing and will have you on the edge of your seat, even knowing the final outcome.
IF, however, you speed up the narration speed, which is its biggest flaw. I admit, I'm a 1.25x kinda gal, but Pete Cross's sloooow narration had me so itchy I had to hitch it up to 1.5x.
If you can do that, you're in for a tremendous story, well-documented, well-written. The Epilogue is an eye-opener, and the Appendix, with the names of all the men who suffered (and they did suffer, what they faced is documented in all its tragedy), is a fine requiem to them.

Good Lord, what we do to ourselves

What did you love best about A Time to Die?

It is an incredible story

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Time to Die?

1) Mrs. Tyllik's emotional outburst against Russian officials and their deceptions
2) The world of elite, deep-water divers

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

No. It's too long for that, but it may be my quickest 'listen'.

Any additional comments?

It is well past time for the US (the 'west') and Russia to drop their mutual suspicions, and antagonisms. Better to focus on improving the lives for our children.

A little dated but still very interesting

I'm a sucker for submarine stories. I really enjoyed this especially recalling it in the news. Very interesting look behind the scenes at the Russian Military.