Keeping It Real

Quantum Gravity, Book 1

De: Justina Robson

Narrado por: Khristine Hvam

In 2015 the Quantum Bomb exploded. An accident at an atom-smasher has fractured reality and opened Earth - now called Otopia - to waves of immigration from other dimensions, home to demons, fairies, elves and elementals. It is now 2021 and Lila Black, a special operative condemned to live as a cyborg after losing her limbs on a dangerous mission, has been assigned as bodyguard to Zal, a charismatic elven rock star.

Zal's decision to live among humans and do unelven things such as eat meat and exist as a celebrity has made him many enemies among his own people in Alfheim, some of whom have made threats against him. Black has to protect Zal from death or capture whilst uncovering secrets that threaten the relationships between the realms

©2007 Justina Robson (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Clever and realistic

I really liked this book, I found the matter of fact treatment of elves, faries in the "real" world really interesting, and rewarding reading. I guess I am a techno geek, but I found the AI and human interaction made for good listening, though of course as always the AI was far, far too advanced for something available in 10 years from this date. The one thing both good and annoying was the fact that the author had the world of humans unclear about its own past.

As for the main character's self loathing, that was absolutely vital for any believability. There is no chance that the first such person would not have self loathing. Just look into any study of people with artifical limbs and their feelings towards them,and then consider someone who is at least have man made.

DO NOT BUY THIS

This series is awesome. Problem is, audible doesn't have rights to all 5 so you can do like me and get 3 of the 5, then get stuck never finishing the story. Just don't start it.

Narrator voice

I have listened to boo coos of Khristine Hvams narrated books and this does not sound like her, she could make the 3 Little Pigs the best book you have ever listen to, but something not right here.

Very Enjoyable...for the most part.

My husband and I read this to each other on a road trip, and although we both loved it, he took it and finished it himself and I never got around to it. I downloaded it as my first free credit, and although the fourth and fifth hours were pretty monotonous, I loved the premise, the plot, and her word choice. Sometimes I thought that Khristine Hvam gave Lyla a very immature and silly voice, and certain sentences or phrases I'd reread to myself in the temper I thought they deserved. Hvam wasn't great. But it's not stopping me from downloading the next two in the series.

Yes, there was constant talk of Lyla's AI self (AI self, AI self...she must have said that a billion times) but to me it was very interesting because it's what Lyla would be considering as she made every calculated move on her journey. I loved the idea of the Quantum bomb splitting Earth's reality into five realms that already existed and Otopia rebuilding history with the new elves and faeries. I was totally into Zal's silly band, the No-Shows. And I would have played that game with him, yes, and probably failed.

I give it four stars. If you love campy scifi and elves and faeries and mech ladies with a billion weapons and "Battle Standard," give it a shot.

surprised

I got this book thinking I'd review it for a friend who likes this kind of thing. I didn't expect to like it myself. However, I found the characters interesting- and the leading man simaltaneously sexy, repellant, and pitiful- and the plot compelling. There is a sort of mixture of high fantasy and gritty contemporary culture that is a jarringly nice combination. Despite myself, I got the next book in the series. I'm not sure where this is going, but I find myself- sadly devoid of other book recommendations- interested to find out.