Natural Selection

By: Dave Freedman

Narrated by: Brian Emerson

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

A team of marine scientists is on the verge of making the most stunning discovery in the history of man: a previously unknown predatory species, alive now, evolving just like the dinosaurs, and being forced out of its world and into man's for a violent first encounter.

In their quest for answers, they engage a host of fascinating characters, experts in neurology and deep sea geology, flight-simulation wizards, and evolution historians, and set off together to exotic locales, experiencing love, friendship, loyalty, and betrayal along the way. When people start dying, the real hunt begins.

Weaving science and thriller in a way not seen since Jurassic Park, Natural Selection is that rare blend of intricately layered research, rich characters, and tornado pacing.

©2006 Dave Freedman (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Jaws meets Charles Darwin." (USA Today)
"[An] entertaining debut; possesses all the predatory features to provide maximum chills....An awesome beach read." (Publishers Weekly)

enjoyed this - can see it as a movie

This had several climax points. There were a few unbelievable spots where the character was diving to 130 feet without gear and for longer than typically possible. but all in all it was a fun read

incredible story

I loved everything this book had to offer
from the description of the demon Ray's themselves to the way everyone slowly understood it
it had an amazing balance of pseudo science and actual terms
and the characters were so well established, that I actually got attached to them
I hope to god more books are like this

Good brainless thriller

So I actaully liked this book because it was a fun listen and the author was imaginative. He tried to cover all of his bases which made the preposterous believable. Overall the far fetched ideas made for a more scifi like story than a science meets humakind thriller like the title suggests. Granted it's no literary masterpiece but the narration was good and I was happy for my daily drive home or a jog.

Incredibly fun story!

I love this book! Filled with science, intrigue, suspense, danger, and action. The details keep coming without boghing the story down. Highly recommend!

Stretched my sense of credibility

Good brainless read for those who have brains to follow some of the concepts... The author needs to work on his description of action scenes though. Willing suspension of disbelief is so important to enjoying a good tale, you cannot disrespect it with too much ridiculous description. Once I started questioning the events in the story, I started to question the book's premise, and it ruined it for me.

Fun read

A bit ridiculous but a fun read. At times very tense, the science behind it is questionable, but all in all a good read.

Natural Selection

The concept was good and started out with potential, however ended as a min. word essay littered throughout with broken story lines. The characters were weak and reminiscent of a party of "Ed Flanders" out in the world for the first time. Never being able to connect with this group it at least relieved the listener from the suspense of hero's in trouble, I found myself wanting the beast to devour our troupe at every opportunity. The only word that came to mind following the anticlimactic end was "HUH"

Artic Penguins?

Another hit from Audible and Blackstone. I enjoyed this "very tall tale" immensely and would have given it +4 because of all the great visuals it inspires, CGI creators will have fun with the movie. However, with all the research mentioned in the book, the author (Dave Freedman) somehow overlooked the simple fact that there are NO PENGUINS in the Arctic, Walru, Polar Bear and Puffins, YES, but no Penguins. I found this ovesight to be humorous but also dismaying. How could all the editors and the author himself allowed this to go to print?

JD Writer

Ok listen, B Horror feel.

This is like a Sci-Fi channel original movie. Not as bad as everyone else made it out to be but not worth the one credit. If you can get it on sale then worth a listen if you like generic horror.

Becoming Reality

I absolutely love this audiobook and have listen to the story many times. The deep ocean is a realm that few of us has ever ventured. Do we know what it is really like down there? A new species of manta rays have been discovered and are being monitored by a group of scientists who are realizing the horror these species represent to mankind.

Brian Emerson's narration is spot on and gives this audiobook its life. Dave Freedman's story is fictional yet every time I enter the ocean, I have to wonder if such creatures can really exist. Dinosaurs roamed the land and sea at one time and are thought to be extinct. What if they are here, still evolving?

"Audible 20 Review Sweepstakes Entry"