Level Six

Killday, Book 2

By: William Ledbetter

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Fifteen years after warring artificial intelligences nearly destroyed Earth, a young woman finds an artifact from that struggle, upsetting a delicate balance of power and dragging her into the middle of a new fight for humanity's survival. 

With a significant portion of the planet covered in heat-absorbing black dust, Earth's biosphere teeters on the edge of collapse. One AI faction is attempting to fix the damage, with huge machines trundling across the countryside sucking up dust and planting grass, while another faction cares only about elevating itself to a higher plane of intelligence and will destroy anyone who gets in the way. 

As the only humans still not controlled by AIs race to build huge orbital habitats so some humans will survive should temperatures continue to rise, a more secretive organization grows in the shadows and idolizes the man who triggered the nano-replicator attacks that nearly destroyed the world. They, too, believe the only way to stop the AIs is to annihilate everything. 

In Nebula Award winner William Ledbetter’s Level Six, one woman has the power to save humanity - if she can survive long enough to use it.

©2020 William Ledbetter (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Could’ve but Wasn’t

I was expecting L6 to be a solid follow up to L5, which I thought was compelling, stimulating, and well written. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. Precisely 66.6% of L6 consists of internal dialogue of wish-washy teenage emotion regarding matters of the heart (cringe). Not what I want in my AI sci-fi novels. The rest was just meh.
If you’re anticipating a continuation of the action, science, and suspense from L5, then you should also plan on being disappointed.
MacLeod’s superb narration is the book’s only hallmark — what that man can do with his voice is truly incredible.

As good if not better than the first book

Good character development, even better story. If you like books about AI, snap this one up. Word of caution as well as mild spoiler alert: it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger.

Phenomenal!

Start with Level 5 by the same author. Both are killer hard sci-fi techno-thrillers!!!

Breathtaking ending

My all-time favorite series. The perfect blend of details, characters, suspense and great entertainment.

Right up my alley!

I very much enjoyed this continuation of Mortimer's story, and it was wonderful to see him again through human eyes. This story has the perfect blend of humanity and machine and proves again we are more alike than different. Additionally, it's wonderful to read speculative fiction that gets the science so spot on. Thank you Mr. Ledbetter for another amazing story. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Simply fantastic!

Level 5 and Level 6 are both simply fantastic! Best I have enjoyed! You won’t be disappointed.

I couldn't stop listening

loved the story. the narration of the AI's was wonderful. It's worth the time to listen.

Not as good as the first but definitely worth listening to.

The characters weren’t as well developed and the pace was slower. But still interesting plot and good science fiction. I’m looking forward to the next installment!

A Worthy Successor

A great continuation and expansion of the world which Ledbetter so deftly built (and tore down) in Level 5. While the sequel does not pack as many twists and gee-whiz technical marvels as the first installment, great character writing and tightly depicted tension-filled sequences make up for it. Andrews' narration is as varied and expressive as ever as he brings the characters to life with impressive depth and bredth.

I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

A great continuation of the story

Another great story with a pace that never leaves you bored. Highly recommend if you’re into AI and nanotech Sci-Fi!