-
Plugged
- How Hyperconnectivity and the Beam Changed the Way We Think
- Narrated by: Blaine Moore
- Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $14.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's Summary
Throughout the 21st Century, our world (at least for those of us inside the NAU) has become increasingly connected. So much so that we really are now thinking as a single fluid organism, changing not just how we live our daily lives, but who we are as a species. In Sterling Gibson's newest thoughtful exploration, one of the NAU's most renowned thinkers explores and illuminates how hyperconnectivity and The Beam have changed us forever.
More from the same
What listeners say about Plugged
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Erik Marshall
- 07-14-14
Great SF take on Malcolm Gladwell-style journalism
This book is a faux-journalistic style book is meant as an adjunct to The Beam universe, by Johnny B. Truant and Sean Platt. If you don't know The Beam, this won't make much sense. If you do know The Beam, however, (and you should -- it's great), this explains a lot of things that happened pre-Beam, and gives insight on how the technology of The Beam came about, filling in holes between the (so far) two seasons of the series.
It's not just a history, though, but a thought piece on how these technologies have changed the way people think in the future. The beauty of this book is in how the fictional author extrapolates ways of thinking, living and being from the technological advances, and how, although it is SF, one can see these happening today. The best science fiction is rooted in the present, and this does not fail to shed light on our current trends of dealing with increasingly connected technology.
I am also happy to see that the author, Sterling Gibson, has begun to play a fairly pivotal role in the most recent episodes of The Beam: Season Two. Talk about hyperconnectivity!
The audio narration is fluid and easy to follow, even in some of the denser passages.I could imagine a narrator getting bogged down in the details, but that doesn't happen here. I would recommend this for anyone who has at least read the first season of The Beam, but not for anyone unversed in the universe.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- mm46
- 10-26-16
Dense.
As a Beam fan, I wanted to get into this book. Basically, this thing is dense like a high school history book. The narrator made me feel like I was in a 3 hour night class lecture. There is a TON of information inside but the delivery is droning and overloading. It was a grind getting through to the end. I give props to Platt and Truant for going all in on this project. Holy cow there are DEEP storylines behind the storylines. They go so deep with background information that it is easily mistaken for a true life historical account. There are things that allude to some of the characters or environments in Seasons 1 & 2. In that way, I was excited to make the connections, but was it worth it? Your mileage may very.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lukas
- 06-22-16
This is almost more science then it's fiction.
great book. if u already have red the beam 1 or 2. there are no spoilers to speak of.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rock Star Kimberly
- 06-30-14
Thought Provoking and Entertaining
Science fiction is at its best when it has emotional realism as its foundation. In this regard, Plugged absolutely delivers. It is thought provoking in the extreme. Will we know we’ve gone too far only after we’ve passed the point of no return? What happens when our technology outstrips our humanity? Such are the ever-present questions in Plugged.
The book is a companion to The Beam series, but can stand alone. It starts out a little infodumpish, but I stuck with it because the fictional world of 2097 seemed like both a threat and a promise of what was to come, and I simply had to know more. I loved having this book on audio, because I could speed up the sections that I, who hadn’t already read The Beam, thought dragged a bit, and slow down and savor the really good parts.
If you’re already a fan of The Beam, Plugged will be like backstory heaven. If you weren’t already a fan, then prepare to make another purchase. You’ll be wanting more.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jim
- 06-19-14
Fascinating and Intriguing Book
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. I was intrigued by how the problematic issues of population control, health care, and politics and technology on a global scale were addressed in the book.How much should we allow technology to control our lives, our health, and our social interactions with one another? This is the question this book attempts to answer and does so intelligently.
What other book might you compare Plugged to and why?
1984 by George Orwell in its way it gives a fictional historical vision of the world.
Would you listen to another book narrated by Blaine Moore?
No. I felt the narrator Blaine Moore became a huge distraction. I found it difficult to concentrate on this fascinating story because he spoke a bit too fast throughout the book and almost stumbled through the sentences especially noticeable in the introductory chapter). He didn’t really do a good job reading dialogue well either.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
It’s a scary thought to have technology control our lives to the extent described in this book, especially when our human bodies would be controlled by it. We all know what it’s like when the Internet goes down on our computer. What happens when the Internet that’s controlling you goes out? That's something I hope I never find out.
Any additional comments?
I have been a hardcore fan of Johnny B. Truant and Sean Platt for years and they always offer a fresh twist to their storytelling that will leave you wanting more after each and every book.This is a book I highly recommend reading, especially if you are a science fiction fan. Thank you Johnny and Sean for writing this book.
Related to this topic
-
Project Hail Mary
- By: Andy Weir
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission - and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
-
-
Pure Science Fiction
- By Leif on 05-04-21
By: Andy Weir
-
Travel by Bullet
- The Dispatcher, Book 3
- By: John Scalzi
- Narrated by: Zachary Quinto
- Length: 3 hrs and 43 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The world has changed. Now, when someone is murdered, they almost always come back to life—and there are professionals, called “dispatchers”, who kill in order to save lives, to give those near the end a second chance. Tony Valdez is a dispatcher, and he has never been busier. But for as much as the world has changed, some things have stayed the same. Greed, corruption, and avarice are still in full swing.
-
-
The best Dispatcher story yet ....
- By Sharon on 09-02-22
By: John Scalzi
-
He Who Fights with Monsters: A LitRPG Adventure
- He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 1
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 28 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s not easy making the career jump from office-supplies-store middle manager to heroic interdimensional adventurer. At least, Jason tries to be heroic, but it's hard to be good when all your powers are evil. He’ll face off against cannibals, cultists, wizards, monsters...and that’s just on the first day. He’s going to need courage, he’s going to need wit, and he’s going to need some magic powers of his own. But first, he’s going to need pants.
-
-
Great!
- By tb3 on 03-10-21
By: Shirtaloon, and others
-
He Who Fights with Monsters 8
- A LitRPG Adventure (He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 8)
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 18 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After a much longed-for reunion, Jason Asano works on moving past old traumas as he looks to a brighter future. Despite warnings of danger that awaits him, he gets back in the saddle as an adventurer, ready to tackle new challenges. But as enemies that have lurked in the background start moving into the light, those challenges are not hard to find.
-
-
Explanations Kill the Tempo
- By Anonymous User on 12-13-22
By: Shirtaloon, and others
-
Columbus Day
- Expeditionary Force, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved.
-
-
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 01-04-17
By: Craig Alanson
-
The Dispatcher
- By: John Scalzi
- Narrated by: Zachary Quinto
- Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Zachary Quinto - best known for his role as the Nimoy-approved Spock in the recent Star Trek reboot and the menacing, power-stealing serial killer, Sylar, in Heroes - brings his well-earned sci-fi credentials and simmering intensity to this audio-exclusive novella from master storyteller John Scalzi. One day, not long from now, it becomes almost impossible to murder anyone - 999 times out of a thousand, anyone who is intentionally killed comes back. How? We don't know.
-
-
IT'S HARD TO GET MYSTICAL ABOUT YOUR JOB
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 10-05-16
By: John Scalzi
-
Project Hail Mary
- By: Andy Weir
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission - and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
-
-
Pure Science Fiction
- By Leif on 05-04-21
By: Andy Weir
-
Travel by Bullet
- The Dispatcher, Book 3
- By: John Scalzi
- Narrated by: Zachary Quinto
- Length: 3 hrs and 43 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The world has changed. Now, when someone is murdered, they almost always come back to life—and there are professionals, called “dispatchers”, who kill in order to save lives, to give those near the end a second chance. Tony Valdez is a dispatcher, and he has never been busier. But for as much as the world has changed, some things have stayed the same. Greed, corruption, and avarice are still in full swing.
-
-
The best Dispatcher story yet ....
- By Sharon on 09-02-22
By: John Scalzi
-
He Who Fights with Monsters: A LitRPG Adventure
- He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 1
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 28 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s not easy making the career jump from office-supplies-store middle manager to heroic interdimensional adventurer. At least, Jason tries to be heroic, but it's hard to be good when all your powers are evil. He’ll face off against cannibals, cultists, wizards, monsters...and that’s just on the first day. He’s going to need courage, he’s going to need wit, and he’s going to need some magic powers of his own. But first, he’s going to need pants.
-
-
Great!
- By tb3 on 03-10-21
By: Shirtaloon, and others
-
He Who Fights with Monsters 8
- A LitRPG Adventure (He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 8)
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 18 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After a much longed-for reunion, Jason Asano works on moving past old traumas as he looks to a brighter future. Despite warnings of danger that awaits him, he gets back in the saddle as an adventurer, ready to tackle new challenges. But as enemies that have lurked in the background start moving into the light, those challenges are not hard to find.
-
-
Explanations Kill the Tempo
- By Anonymous User on 12-13-22
By: Shirtaloon, and others
-
Columbus Day
- Expeditionary Force, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved.
-
-
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 01-04-17
By: Craig Alanson
-
The Dispatcher
- By: John Scalzi
- Narrated by: Zachary Quinto
- Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Zachary Quinto - best known for his role as the Nimoy-approved Spock in the recent Star Trek reboot and the menacing, power-stealing serial killer, Sylar, in Heroes - brings his well-earned sci-fi credentials and simmering intensity to this audio-exclusive novella from master storyteller John Scalzi. One day, not long from now, it becomes almost impossible to murder anyone - 999 times out of a thousand, anyone who is intentionally killed comes back. How? We don't know.
-
-
IT'S HARD TO GET MYSTICAL ABOUT YOUR JOB
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 10-05-16
By: John Scalzi
-
House of Earth and Blood
- Crescent City, Book 1
- By: Sarah J. Maas
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Evans
- Length: 27 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night - until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths. Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose - to assassinate his boss' enemies, no questions asked.
-
-
What a disappointment
- By Hollie Morales on 03-09-20
By: Sarah J. Maas
-
Failure Mode
- Expeditionary Force, Book 15
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 19 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The galaxy is doomed. Monkeys may be clever and too stubborn to give up, but Skippy The Idiot Who Got Played knows the harsh truth: this is a fight he can’t win. The odds are not only stacked against him, he was designed not to win this fight. Maybe he can salvage some faint memory of the civilizations that inhabit the galaxy, but those beings are doomed. Doomed. Including the Merry Band of Pirates.
-
-
it was an ending.
- By Stephen on 12-08-22
By: Craig Alanson
-
The Sandman
- By: Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs
- Narrated by: Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When The Sandman, also known as Lord Morpheus - the immortal king of dreams, stories and the imagination - is pulled from his realm and imprisoned on Earth by a nefarious cult, he languishes for decades before finally escaping. Once free, he must retrieve the three “tools” that will restore his power and help him to rebuild his dominion, which has deteriorated in his absence.
-
-
absolutely Epic!
- By Victor @ theAudiobookBlog dot com on 07-16-20
By: Neil Gaiman, and others
-
The Silence of Unworthy Gods
- Arcane Ascension, Book 4
- By: Andrew Rowe
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 20 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Upon returning to Valia after his journey to Caelford and the Unclaimed Lands, Corin Cadence is confronted with a familiar foe—his own father. While his strength has vastly increased since his last encounter with Magnus Cadence, Corin knows that he’ll need every trick at his disposal—and maybe a few new ones—if he wants to survive a duel with his father intact. While Corin struggles with his family, his friends must face a second year at Lorian Heights with new classes, familiar but new chancellor, and deadly new enemies both on and off the campus.
-
-
Wasted chapters and filler
- By Phades on 12-30-22
By: Andrew Rowe
-
We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
- Bobiverse, Book 1
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's a reason We Are Legion was named Audible's Best Science Fiction Book of 2016: Its irresistibly irreverent wit! Bob Johansson has just sold his software company for a small fortune and is looking forward to a life of leisure. The first item on his to-do list: Spending his newfound windfall. On an urge to splurge, he signs up to have his head cryogenically preserved in case of death. Then he gets himself killed crossing the street. Waking up 117 years later, Bob discovers his mind has been uploaded into a sentient space probe with the ability to replicate itself.
-
-
Ignore the Publisher's Summary! This is Amazing!
- By PW on 04-12-17
By: Dennis E. Taylor
-
He Who Fights with Monsters 3
- A LitRPG Adventure (He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 3)
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 24 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For all that Jason knows, life is amazing. But he's about to learn that all his new power, wealth, and influence comes at a price. Riding high on success, he and his team are looking to the future, preparing themselves for the challenges to come. Nothing, however, could have prepared him for the lessons his enemies have to teach. When magic is involved, the stakes can be even greater than life and death. While Jason’s personal enemies make plans, the greater foes plaguing his new home have been pushed to the brink.
-
-
Why say it once when you can say it ten times?
- By Joseph on 09-08-21
By: Shirtaloon, and others
-
He Who Fights with Monsters 2
- A LitRPG Adventure (He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 2)
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 22 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
But Jason Asano is settling into his new life. Now, a contest draws young elites to the city of Greenstone to compete for a grand prize. Jason must gather a band of companions if he is to stand a chance against the best the world has to offer. While the young adventurers are caught up in competition, the city leaders deal with revelations of betrayal as a vast and terrible enemy is revealed. Although Jason seems uninvolved, he has unknowingly crossed the enemy’s path before.
-
-
Contrary to common reviews
- By Karen on 05-21-21
By: Shirtaloon, and others
-
He Who Fights with Monsters 6
- A LitRPG Adventure (He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 6)
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 15 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The world teeters on the brink of destruction. The people who should be saving the Earth ignore Jason Asano's warnings and choose to loot the house as it burns down around them. He lacks the strength to save the world himself, but resolves to do it anyway, impossible be damned. The impossible, in this case, means seizing a power that no mortal should touch. It's a choice from which there is no turning back, and marks Jason's first step into a wider cosmos that he is not yet ready to face. Holding the fate of two worlds in his hands, Jason must decide for himself what home truly means.
-
-
It felt like half of a book.
- By Jay on 06-29-22
By: Shirtaloon, and others
-
Space: 1969
- By: Bill Oakley
- Narrated by: Natasha Lyonne, full cast
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nancy Kranich (played by Emmy-nominated actress Natasha Lyonne of Russian Doll and Orange Is the New Black) is a night nurse on an orbiting space station. But Nancy hates her job, is sick of space, and longs to find adventure and a safe place to smoke cigarettes that won’t blow everyone up. But when Nancy gets caught up in an outer-space conspiracy involving President Kennedy, former vice-president Richard Nixon, and an intergalactic object that could change the course of history, she gets way more adventure than she bargained for.
-
-
Simply the Best Full-Cast Audio Book Ever!
- By Veritas on 07-09-22
By: Bill Oakley
-
He Who Fights with Monsters 7
- A LitRPG Adventure (He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 7)
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 18 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jason arrives at a kingdom in peril and he's surprised to discover that it's not his job to save it. With the authorities fulfilling their responsibilities (for once), he looks forward to some quiet time to rest and recuperate. The locals might not find ceaseless monster onslaughts and an interdimensional invasion relaxing, but Jason has had a rough few years. He's doing his best to let go of his anger. While his team is caught up in duty, Jason has no shortage of people looking to interfere with his rest. Enemies—old and new—are circling, and even would-be allies are trouble.
-
-
1 of the 2 best LitRpg series of novels
- By J Steven Sarvis on 09-16-22
By: Shirtaloon, and others
-
House of Sky and Breath
- Crescent City, Book 2
- By: Sarah J. Maas
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Evans
- Length: 27 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal - they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.
-
-
20 hr prologue to 7 hr book and 1 hr not-finale
- By Phx17 on 02-20-22
By: Sarah J. Maas
-
He Who Fights with Monsters 4
- A LitRPG Adventure (He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 4)
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 22 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the wake of an unexpected homecoming, Jason questions if there is still a place for him in the world he left behind. Forced to confront what he has become in his time away, he feels more alien than ever. But his old world is hiding secrets that he never knew. As he starts to unravel what has been hidden from him his entire life, he discovers that not only might he fit in better than ever but he may be exactly what the world needs.
-
-
To be honest.
- By Anonymous User on 01-05-22
By: Shirtaloon, and others