Leviathans of Jupiter

The Grand Tour Series

By: Ben Bova

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Gabrielle de Cuir, Samantha Eggar, Rosalyn Landor, Stefan Rudnicki, Judy Young

Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

What secrets lurk in the depths of Jupiter’s oceans?

In Ben Bova’s novel Jupiter, physicist Grant Archer led an expedition into Jupiter’s planet-wide ocean, attempting to study the unusual and massive creatures that call the planet their home. Unprepared for the hostile environment and crushing pressures, Grant’s team faced certain death as their ship malfunctioned and slowly sank to the planet’s depths. However, one of Jupiter’s native creatures—a city-sized leviathan—saved the doomed ship. This creature’s act convinced Grant that they were intelligent, but he lacked scientific proof. Now, several years later, Grant prepares a new expedition to prove it once and for all. The new team faces dangers from both the hostile environment and from humans who will do anything to make sure the mission is a failure—even if it means murdering the entire crew.

©2011 Ben Bova (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Fully realized characters and a fast-action plot…Bova’s fans and hard SF lovers should flock to his latest novel.” ( Library Journal)

“Multiple Hugo winner Bova’s 18th Grand Tour novel is a quick-paced space adventure.” ( Publishers Weekly)

One of the female narrators has the most grating voice I've ever heard, but the book still pulls through.

I'm guessing it's Judy Young, because I've found videos of the other four female voice actors online, and it isn't any of them. With the volume cranked up in my car or headphones at work, any time she began to speak, I immediately paused the book and skipped ahead to a time she was no longer speaking.

All that said, the book quickly captures your attention, and the story progresses fast enough to keep you hooked. The other voice actors did a great job creating an immersive experience.

eh

i just am really not digging the inconsistent voices... I wish they would go back to either a single narrator or give each character a consistent voice actor!

Best for Bova Fans

This book has an ambitious premise and is a good read overall. Folks who are not familiar with Bova's earlier works may feel a little lost in the references to events from previous novels and may find character's motivations and mentality to be too quick or unilateral, but this is the universe that Bova has set up, one where politicians and public figures are primarily motivated by greed, desire to control, and their own egos rather than a sense of public service meeting offset by scientists, who, although flawed, ultimately seek to find new knowledge and better humanity somehow. in that sense, it approximates reality more often than fiction, but if you don't know the Bovaverse at least a little bit, you might miss some of that.

Second shot at Jupiter is a winner

So much better than Jupiter. Storyline is good and maintained interest throughout.

I didn’t care too much for the voice used for Archer. I also don’t like the fact that there wasn’t more accountability for attempted murder besides a dose of gas.

Great Story marred by Poor Performance Chorus

Where does Leviathans of Jupiter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the better stories, original and interesting.

What other book might you compare Leviathans of Jupiter to and why?

Reminds me a little of "Stranger in a Strange Land".

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Three or four voices reading, handing off in strange places. The trouble is their accents or reading of the characters are all different. It would throw me off every time. One reader would give a character a strong Australian accent, another one wouldn't. It took me out of the story trying to figure out who the character was. It really hurt the flow of the story. Really a good example of never to do it again in the same way.

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

Second contact, on Jupiter

Any additional comments?

I also had technical issues with the file, the first time in years. It seemed to jump around backwards. Sometimes a few chapters, sometimes more. It was a little disconcerting, but also surprising how I could listen to the same thing over again and hear more of the story the second time. So, I didn't hate it.

Life Elsewhere?

The question this book asks is "If we met an alien life form, how would me determine if it was intelligent? Also, how would the alien life form determine if we were intelligent? Westfall's inclusion as antagonist is unnecessary, made even worse in that her character is idiotic, her motives are stupid, as are her actions. I would have liked to see more politics by the Leviathan elders as it would have been the aliens discovering about us and about paradigm changes. Ben Bova knows how to tell a good story and I want to see if the heroine returns.

One of my favorites if not the favorite

Aside from the times when the Australian chick was also speaking for the men at times this was a great read/listen. I loved this book so much I wanted more and wished that the next book was about more of this journey. I loved the unexpected relationships that blossomed between the group and all of the characters. I had just the right amount of hate for characters that warranted it and love for those on the other side of the coin. The journey itself is what left me wishing for a follow up. But all in all it was a good book. Not very hard sci fi but a really good story, well written and almost as equally well narrated. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed almost all of the voice actors aside from the chick who had a crush on Max. It just gets annoying when a dialogue is being had by one person when there are voices to fill those gaps but not used. I’d listen to books by any of the voice actors though any day. With the exception of the one very brief part where a different woman is used to speak for the Russian with the crush on Max. I could live without her narrating.

good story with some faults

it's a great concept and pretty well worked out. I wanted to continue listening to find out how the contact between races would go. However, I was really bothered by the motivation of the bad guy in the story. It really asks a lot from your willing suspension of disbelief. (and this is scifi :).
All in all a good read with some top notch performances.

solid

a solid read, good to see returning mains, voices good, fun read and themes done well

fantastic

I had no idea what I was really going to be listening to it was just the title that interested me but it was a really terrific book and I can't wait to read some more my wish list is just loaded with Ben bova's books