Saucer

Saucer, Book 1

By: Stephen Coonts

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

When Rip Cantrell, a seismic survey worker in the Sahara, spots a glint of reflected light in the distance - he investigates and finds a piece of metal apparently entombed in the sandstone. Before long, Rip and his colleagues uncover a flying saucer that has been resting there for 140,000 years.

Their discovery doesn't remain a secret for long. The U.S. Air Force sends a UFO investigation team, which arrives just minutes before a team sent by an Australian billionaire to steal the saucer's secrets. Before either side can outwit the other, the Libyan military arrives.

Meanwhile, Rip has been checking out the saucer. With the help of a beautiful ex-Air Force test pilot, Charley Pine, Rip flies the saucer away, embarking on a fantastic journey into space and around the world, keeping just ahead of those who want the saucer for themselves.

©2004 Stephen Coonts (P)2004 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A comic, feel-good sf adventure." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Dick Hill, who is a well-respected narrator, does a superb job....Hill's commendable performance illustrates well the saying that it often is not what one says but how one says it." ( Library Journal)

A Fun Read

I really enjoyed this book. I don't know why I hadn't heard of or read it before now but am glad I found it. I usually like very suspenseful thrillers and spy books. This has some government intrigue but is not your typical thriller. I actually laughed out loud more than a few times.
It was a thoroughly great read. I highly recommend it.

Reader misses the mark

Reader Dick Hill takes the wrong approach to this book, almost (but not quite) ruining it. True, Saucer could be for "young adult" readers - there's no real sex or profanity - but Hill reads it like it is a comic book. I practically expected the hero to shout, "Gee whiz, Ma... It's a real flying saucer!" If Hill had read it straight, it would have been a good adventure story without the phony Batman comic overtones.

A really nice listen

Aside from the bad character accents by the narrator (which make smart character sound dumb), I enjoyed listening to this book. If you are looking for something overly complicated and deep, keep looking. It's just a fun ride.

Interesting satire

This is my first Stephen Coonts book. I always figured he was way to serious and probably wrote to realistic violence for me. I can handle SciFi/Fantasy violence fine. But this one, the killings didn't bother me at all. I felt they all deserved what they got. I absolutely loved the political satire about the president and his stupidity about the orders he gave and his utter lack of basic knowledge. Also, the military intervention both by the U.S. and Australian government to me portrays exactly how the governments would or have handled such occurances.

The greed angle impressed me. It is amazing how realistic that was and was very believable.

I was surprised by the 'cougar' angle. Not a lot of what I have read handles that subject very much, it is a very common happening in real life.

Having actually seen with my own eyes UFOs many years ago. My sighting was validated with other identical sightings the same day by others who where with me and also reported in NYC at the same time and 75 miles east of where I was. It happened in the 50s before we even ventured into space. This is a subject that is of great interest to me. I love the ideas behind the saucer in this book as they are to me very valid premises.

It amazes me how many creationists can't embrace that if He could create what we have here on earth, that he would be limited to just this tiny little rock we live on and feel that such ideas as other worlds would smash their views of the religion they embrace instead of enhancing their awe of what He can do.

I am looking forward to the rest in the series.

A fun read by Hill.

Sometimes with these audiobooks I find the reader to be so mundane and monotone that it's hard to stay attentive. I find myself continually having to rewind to concentrate on what's being said. Hill has a way of holding your attention. As said by one of the reviewers Hill does seem almost comic bookish in his style of reading but he held my attention really well by giving every character a voice, style and accenting the moments with expressions of mood. The book is well written and adventurous. Good stuff, Coonts.

Maybe nice for teenagers

The first problem with "Saucer" is its completely predictable plot, which is 100% linear from beginning to end. The second problem is the lack of depth of its characters. None of them come across as very unique or engaging.
On the positive side, the story moves along at a fairly consistent pace, without getting too bogged down in irrelevant details.
And, although Dick Hill is a competent narrator, his nasal, whiny-sounding portrayal of women really gets on your nerves after a while.
Overall, this book doesn't even come up the level of brain candy—more like brain pablum.

A good listen-didn't care for the ending

A good Sci-fi story with a kinda of bad end. Will have to see what Saucer-Conquest is about.
Good Narration!

All time favorite

Would you consider the audio edition of Saucer to be better than the print version?

I had to think long and hard on this question but the answer is YES

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

And how! This story has so many twists and turns in it, it was non stop adventure.

Which character – as performed by Dick Hill – was your favorite?

it was a toss up, either Rip or Uncle Egg

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It hardly seems like the book that could make you laugh but there are so many parts that just make you bust out laughing.

Any additional comments?

I was already a huge Stephen Coonts fan- Jake Grafton rules! but this series was just so original.

Maybe good for young readers

I think I would have enjoyed this book when very young. Something about it reminds me about the Tom Swift series. I enjoyed Hong Kong.

very enjoyable!

The concept of this book could very well be based on reality...I for one feel there is alot we are unaware of in the universe. very entertaining!