Hover Car Racer

By: Matthew Reilly

Narrated by: Sean Mangan

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the best-selling author of Seven Deadly Wonders and Contest comes a thrilling racing adventure. In the world of the near future, the most popular sport is hover car racing. Superfast and dangerous, its heroes are the racers: part fighter pilot, part race-car driver, all superstar. But to get to the Pro Circuit, you must first pass through the International Race School, a brutal cauldron of wild races on even wilder courses, where only the best of the best will survive.

This is the story of Jason Chaser, a talented young racer selected to attend the Race School. He's younger than the other students. He's smaller. His trusty car, the Argonaut, is older. But Jason Chaser is no ordinary racer. And as he races against the best drivers in the world he will learn that at Race School winning is everything, that not everyone in this world fights fair, and that you never ever have any friends on the track.

©2004 Karanadon Entertainment Pty Ltd, Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd (P)2005 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd.

Critic Reviews

"No one writes faster-moving adventure fiction." (Publishers Weekly)
"Fast-paced, action-packed." (School Library Journal)
"Adrenaline-pumping accounts of the competitions." (Booklist)

Fun

This was a fun little book that somehow kept me interested in a sport (racing) that I generally find boring. This is a good book for adults or children alike who enjoy a fast paced thrill ride with a nice lesson about never giving up. I would love to see more unabridged books by this author. The reader was no Jim Dale but brought the book alive nonetheless. If done right this could make an exciting movie.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Racy

I enjoyed this book and found it thrilling and racy throughout. The narrator, in my mind, was good.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Fun Ride!

Fast paced, well written and excellent narration. Maybe a little unlikely to find a 14 & 12 year old competing against adults but then again, it's fiction and darn good fiction at that! Matthew Reilly is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I'm about to go and pick another one off the shelf.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fun ride

What made the experience of listening to Hover Car Racer the most enjoyable?

The Jason is a character who you like and the Bug seems sooo funny, that the combo of the two u can't help but like and get behind

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Bug because there seems to be more to him that meats the eye

Have you listened to any of Sean Mangan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

1st time

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Watch a boy become a man

Formula One Hovercar style!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hover Car Racer?

The Jason and the Golden Fleece race at the end was awesome. All the races in this book were well written, fast paced and all of them had their own twists and turns. Plenty of memorable moments in this book.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where Bug' s steers them to victory after Jason's blackout under too much g force.

Any additional comments?

The book is performed well by Sean Mangan and the story is well written and full of fast paced thrill rides. An enjoyable listen for those young adults who love action and adventure stories.

For teen boys, but not in a bad way

I didn't get far into this book ... about 3 hours. I understand why others liked it; it is a wholesome story about perseverance and honour. But the story wasn't for me. The characters weren't sufficiently adult for me to care much about them; good characters though they are for others.

I had trouble with the reader. His voice reminded me of a cartoon character from when I was a kid (1960s); I won't say which one. Although passionate I didn't find he transmitted excitement to me about events.

Not just for the kids

Would you listen to Hover Car Racer again? Why?

yes I have listened to it twice now. the storyline is great as are the characters

What other book might you compare Hover Car Racer to and why?

Hard to compare with other books except that Matthew Reily is a great arther

What about Sean Mangan’s performance did you like?

He does not get boring and keeps a good pace right through the book

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Car racing of the future

Any additional comments?

Matthew Reily has to be one of Australia,s best story tellers

great family audio book

What made the experience of listening to Hover Car Racer the most enjoyable?

I just did a 5000km road trip, one adult - 3 kids (including two boys aged 10 and 14) this book was our entertainment on parts of the trip when we were tired of talking... it was gripping, entertaining, non violent, brilliant story - got the boys imagination firing... I loved seeing my boys arms rise up in joy when there were successes in the book.. they loved it, I loved it...

now the only problem is where can I find another book with a story line as good as this with no killing and some cool boys stuff? I just don't know

What about Sean Mangan’s performance did you like?

Sean does most of Mathew Reilly's reading and I really really enjoy his reads... he's great

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

yes and no, because if we did we wouldn't have anything left to listen to afterwards

I was under the impression this was for kids!!!!

Wow different from Matthew's other books but every bit as good. Some artistic licence taken and some imagination needed but it works. Car racing of the future but he has nailed bringing it all together. I am 52 and very much enjoyed it so ages 8 to 68 pick it up and give it a go.

Fast paced action

This book is about a a young boys determination to be the best. No that is actually incorrect, as he learns, it is about being the best you can be. That it is set in a futuristic racing world, makes it fast and exiting. But it would have been just as good with ordinary racing. It is a story we all can relate to, because we all want to do our best. It is about that winning is only importuned if you win with honor and dignity. The honest boy in a world of intolerance, envy and jealousy. Truly a good story to be read. That the action is well described to makes this a great book. I am sorry that the books illustrations are not included, so I am thinking of buying the real book to.

Amazing

I first listened to this audio book many years ago and this was just as good this time around. So much so i found my self getting up early and staying up late, just so i could listen to some more. I haven't found any other book that compares to this, especially in this format. It was amazing from the first word right until the very last word. Matthew reilly never disappoints with any of his book and they are always full of great action and adventure. Sean Mangan does a very good job with the narration of this book and is easy to listen to.if you just want a top class listen then give this a try.

Wow fast paced action

wow this is as fastpaced compelling listen. very suitable for ages 9 and upwards, boys,girls and adults. i look after children in entertainment and am always being asked to put this on in my car when transporting them. in fact i listened to it in one sitting. looking forward to more like this

Well read but drawn out

Lets start by saying I enjoyed the book. The book is well read but it flows a little likje treacle at times. And in parts it is more than a little predictable.

The concept is novel and well conceived. As with a lot of Mathew Reilly the action just keeps on going. I think what makes this only four star is the action is at times too far fetched and almost obvious before you hear it. I know it's fiction but you need a little crediblity when you get your hero out of an impossible situation. I think this would be better rewritten to stop the obvious play for suspense which sees you waiting for the part after the one you are listening to. I actually found myself wnating to hear te story but tempted to fast forward through a bit to get somewhere.