Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Dominion

By: Robert Ludlum, Eric Van Lustbader

Narrated by: Jeremy Davidson

Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jason Bourne is searching for an elusive cadre of terrorists planning to destroy America's most strategic natural resources - and needs the help of his longtime friend, General Boris Karpov. Karpov, the newly appointed head of Russia's most feared spy agency, FSB-2, is one of the most determined, honorable, and justice-hungry men that Bourne knows. But Karpov has made a deal with the devil. In order to remain the head of FSB-2, he must hunt down and kill Bourne. Now, these two trusted friends are on a deadly collision course. 

From the Colombian highlands to Munich, Cadiz, and Damascus, the clock is counting down to a disaster that will cripple America's economic and military future. Only Bourne and Karpov have a chance to avert the catastrophe - but if they destroy each other first, that chance will be gone forever. 

The Bourne Dominion Jason Bourne is one of the most compelling and best loved characters created by internationally best-selling novelist Robert Ludlum. The hero of eight novels, including The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, Bourne has also been featured in three blockbuster movies starring Matt Damon. Now, New York Times best-selling author Eric Van Lustbader presents a new story about the rogue secret agent who has lost his memory. 

©2011 Eric Van Lustbader (P)2011 Hachette

Critic Reviews

"Lustbader is an excellent storyteller and is not afraid to keep the twists and turns coming in this sequel...This is an explosive addition to a series with an unrivaled heritage and storied pedigree." (Bookreporter.com on The Bourne Betrayal)

"Don't ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day." (Chicago Sun Times) 

"As twisted, dark and exciting as the others." (The Oklahoman on The Bourne Sanction) 

"Reading a Ludlum novel is like watching a James Bond film...slickly paced...all-consuming." (Entertainment Weekly) 

A Lesson Learned

It is fairly rare that a series continued by a ghost author is as good as the original. Bourne Dominion is a case in point. It's long and a spook story, but that is where the similarities end. Ludlum was a master at developing complex plots and characters, infusing them with tension and still (usually) maintaining coherence. Van Lustbader is capable of neither. The plot is complex but poorly constructed and at times senseless. Characters are sometimes implausible (an uneducated blue collar worker is a member of and has knowledge of the most secret plans of an elitist organization?) and not rendered well. Even Bourne, whom we know well, is reduced to an almost comedic level. The production qualities are also a severe disappointment. A reader who only reads and does little to contribute to characters and worse to pace; and an insipid and annoying sound effect to alert us that fast paced action is occurring as if we weren't really listening at all make this a hard listen. I kept hoping it would get better, it didn't. Do yourself a favor. Don't.

My Last Bourne

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

This book was a waste of time. I suspect the book will be boring to most readers and listeners.

What was most disappointing about Robert Ludlum and Eric Van Lustbader ’s story?

The characters were poorly developed, the plot disjointed, and Bourne was treated as a super human hero.

Did Jeremy Davidson do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

The narration was not the issue with this horridly written book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was disappointed that the Bourne franchise has sunk to the level that the author no longer feels the need to develop a good story.

Probablly great as a movie

I am pretty sure this would be a fun movie to watch but it was not fun to read.

Needs to lose the background sounds from the read.

The story was good. The narrator reads the book well. But that background music is just too much and needs to be removed. I would have given 5 stars without the background stuff.,

Like a crazy parody of a terrible book.

Any additional comments?

I honestly can't believe the author was serious here. This book is an absolute train wreck.

My headline, above, says it all. The writing in the book gives the impression of a precocious seventh grader, with plotting to match.

If you're familiar with the annual Bulwer-Lytton contest (which "challenges entrants to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels"), imagine a whole book crafted in this style.

Awful.

Note, by the way, that I'm a fan of the series. Enough of a fan that I have stuck with it to this, the ninth entry. For me, the last. Put a pin in it, Ludlum Estate. Bourne is done.

Not a Ludlum

What would have made Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Dominion better?

I've been a big fan of the Bourne series and this one just feels like a money grab by the publisher. I actually didn't finish this one which is a surprise for me. I normally push through to the end but I decided this book was letting me down. The action sequences held my attention but the connecting pieces just didn't hold my attention.

What about Jeremy Davidson???s performance did you like?

The story wasn't just read it was acted. I quite enjoyed that.

NOt good book to listen to

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Of the more than 200 books I have download from Audible this is the only one I could not finish. It did not have the plot and continuity that all the preceding Ludhum that kept the reader involved. The number of characters that have foreign names and change of story makes the audible book very difficult to follow. Maybe if I had read the book instead of listening I could of flipped back and refreshed the character or plot. I started it twice and after15 % and 20% quit as I was unable to follow the story plot.

Who are all these characters?

What disappointed you about Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Dominion?

Too many characters. I need a notepad to draw connections and names just to keep up. Overly complex. I listen to books while driving so I can afford to take copious notes and draw complex connections whilst I drive. This was a horrrible story to listen to while driving. Perhaps someone in jail cell would enjoy this story as there would be nothing else to do but listen and concentrate!

What do you think your next listen will be?

Will not listen to anymore Lustbader books.

Have you listened to any of Jeremy Davidson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The performance was fine. I actually enjoyed the background music and sounds.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Dominion?

This book is a do-over.

Any additional comments?

After struggling to get through this book, I was actually hoping that a character would have put a bullet in Bourne and killed him off so Lustbader couldn't write anymore Bourne books!

Average at best..

Well I can say that this is better than the last few Van Lustbader offerings in the Bourne series. At least he has gotten rid of the silly magic/supernatural aspect of the last few novels. Even so the story is over complicated, sometimes hard to follow and other times way too predictable. Certainly not worthy of the spirit of the the first 3 books by Ludlam himself.

Another Bourne Success!!

Van Lustbader has continued the Bourne series with amazing ability. This is another thrilling adventure that you won't be able to put down.