Lord of All Things

By: Samuel Willcocks - translator, Andreas Eschbach

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Length: 21 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the 2012 Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis.

They are just children when they first meet: Charlotte, daughter of the French ambassador, and Hiroshi, a laundress’s son. One day in the playground, Hiroshi declares that he has an idea that will change the world. An idea that will sweep away all differences between rich and poor.

When Hiroshi runs into Charlotte several years later, he is trying to build a brighter future through robotics. Determined to win Charlotte’s love, he resurrects his childhood dream, convinced that he can eradicate world poverty by pushing the limits of technology beyond imagination. But as Hiroshi circles ever closer to realizing his vision, he discovers that his utopian dream may contain the seeds of a nightmare — one that could obliterate life as we know it.

Crisscrossing the globe, from Tokyo to the hallowed halls of MIT to desolate Arctic islands and Buenos Aires and beyond — far beyond — Lord of All Things explores not only technology’s dizzying potential, but also its formidable dangers.

©2011 Andreas Eschbach and Bastei Lübbe GmbH & Co. KG. English translation © 2014 by Samuel Willcocks. (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

WOW, THAT WAS SOME STORY

BEING BORED IS SOMETHING WE LEARN IN SCHOOL
Was that 21 hours or 21 minutes. I am the Impatient one, but I listened to every word. This. excellently written story drew me in.

HE WAS SUCH A ROMANTIC
This book took several turns, so many it is hard to place it in one genre. There is almost no Science Fiction in the entire first half of the book and only a tiny bit of fantasy. I normally need a lot of bang, excitement or wonderment to keep listening, but the first half had none of that. The first half is character development. I became invested in the characters. Had it stayed that way throughout I still would have been happy, but later Science does happen. When it happens, it happens in a big way and gets bigger and bigger. At first I was reminded of Blood Music by Greg Bear and than it was more like Daniel Suarez. Through out is a running romance, kind of similar to Forrest Gump. He loves her from the beginning and always. She falls for the bad boy (the opposite of him), and others. He follows his dreams, while she gets sidetracked. She gets sick, etc... The book covers a lot of time and a lot of countries.

FATE
Early on there are conversations that just seem that, conversations. Have fate that they will return in a big way.

PERHAPS THERE WERE FEWER CONSEQUENCES IN LIFE THAN PEOPLE THOUGHT.
With the exception of the maybe over done voice of the main bad boy, the narrator was so good I didn't realize he was there. His voice seemed like the voice in my head. I had to consciously think I am listening to be aware of the narrator.

Low-key Romance Meets Sci-Fi

What did you love best about Lord of All Things?

The thing I loved best about Lord of All Things was Hiroshi's commitment to change humanity.

What did you like best about this story?

The intertwining love story without the cliche sappy romance. The love story sub-plot was heartfelt and did not overwhelm the main plot.

What does Nick Podehl bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nick's ability to bring forth Hiroshi's emotions.

Weak ending

A long story that was entertaining but without much payoff at the end. Decent Sci Fi and romance novel mix.

Could be 5 Stars

Spoilers *****

This book is the first few chapters setting up an amazing, epic story. It could just end, leaving the reader looking out at the fascinating but uncertain future. That would have earned 5 stars. Instead the author spoils the soup by letting a bunch of character development come to nothing, or with nonsensical and out of character behavior. It feels like there author didn't want to keep telling the story. Admittedly, the type of story was changing. I want to rip the roots of the bad ending and maybe another author could write book two.

The best, most original story in a long time.

I listen to a lot of sf and it has been a long time since I've found a writer with the sensitivity and vision of Eschbach. I hope he keeps writing for a long time.

classic sci fi par excellance

Eschbach has written here a new classic. with rich, deeply imagined characters, Eschbach weaves a wondrous story about humanity, the eternal solitude to which we constantly consign ourselves, both at the individual and social level, and how we simultaneously strive for redemption. The futuristic, technical details are lucidly explained. The story, while incredibly complex, unfolds dramatically, leaving the reader with a profound sense of satisfaction. while the story begins somewhat slowly, the imaginative reader will enjoy the constant but subtle foreshadowing. Eschbach is my new favorite story teller and imaginer of worlds.

Idea still lingering in the mind

Any additional comments?

This was a bargain book and what an amazing surprise. If you like ideas and a story that follows through logically no matter where it leads, try this one. Not trying for a spoiler alert, just saying the surprises are solid. Reminds me a little of Octavia Butler at her best - take an idea and just tease it out to its end.

Starts as a love story, ramps up to explosive sci fi

Another great performance by Nick Podehl. Great characters, left me wanting more at the end.

Phenomenal

Give it time, it gets so good! This book is truly a saga that is so much more than imagined.

Lord of all Things - love

This has been one of the best books I have listened to in a while. The writing was smooth and flawless. The narration was excellent. But the concept and idea for the book was what sent it over the top for me. I definitely will listen to this book again, if not several times.