First Activation

Activation Series, Book 1

By: Darren Wearmouth, Marcus Wearmouth

Narrated by: James Langton

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Brothers Harry and Jack leave Manchester for New York City for their annual weekend getaway. But upon arrival, they find a silent, deserted JFK, where the few ground crew they can spot have all been slaughtered.

Harry and Jack are military veterans, but they've never encountered anything like this.

As they witness the carnage and stumble across murderous madmen in a postapocalyptic New York City, it becomes clear that escape is the only option--that is if there is anywhere sane to which to escape....

©2015 Darren Wearmouth and Marcus Wearmouth (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What If the World Went Mad?

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

Yes, I like to listen rather than turn pages.

What was one of the most memorable moments of First Activation?

One of the most memorable moments of First Activation was when Harry and Jack first left the plane in search of help for their fellow passengers.

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

His narration gave a distinct voice to each character and the pace of his reading kept the plot moving forward well.

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

I found myself caring for the characters who were in search of answers and safety. I was horrified by the violence and mayhem.

Any additional comments?

Although it would be hard to watch the gore, this story could be made into a movie that many would go see.

Distopian thriller at its best!

Excellent book and narration. Probably the fastest I have gone through an Audiobook. Enjoyed it down to the last sentence.

You first...then it's my turn!

If you could sum up First Activation in three words, what would they be?

Original
Surprising
Driven

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Interesting...the source of the "issue".
Least...some of the characters have side issues that are derivative and don't easily move the story forward.

Which scene was your favorite?

The confrontation with the perpetrators was compelling and complicated.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I almost did. It came across as a short book, and, obviously, is the first of a series, which definitely left me wanting the sequel right away!

Any additional comments?

The performer, James Langton , is outstanding in this effort. His charcterizations are consistent, original and lively. He brings a great deal to this dystopian story, and does so with energy and thoughtfulness. His performance alone makes this a worthwhile credit!

First Activation

Great book, I loved it. With so many "end of days" movies & books coming out the last few years, this one really stands out. It offers a totaly new approach, that I really enjoyed, & kept me guessing. I think just about anyone, at any age, would enjoy this read, giving it a PG13, for violence & language.

MANNERS ARE FREE, BUT

HAVING NO MANNERS COMES WITH A COST
This is not going to be a classic. It is a little different. No zombies, but seemingly normal people who kill and than commit suicide. It is hard to tell who the bad guys are until they try and kill you. This makes for a more horrifying situation than zombies who are obviously zombies. The conspiracy behind how these people became monsters is a little unique. I have only read one other book with a similar type of scenario, unless you count the one with the Nazi's.

GOLF USUALLY BORED ME TO TEARS, I LIKE MY ACTION FAST AND SWIFT
The main characters are okay. The plot has some holes you can fly a plane through, but I could not stop listening and I am at lost to as to why. Best I can figure is that it did stay entertaining and I wanted to know who and what was behind the whole thing.

WHEN I START SOMETHING I LIKE TO FINISH IT AS QHICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
If the next book goes on sale, I will buy it, but I don't think I am going to spend a whole credit.

short, well paced ..... light for a post-apocaly

short, well paced ..... light for a post-apocalyptic yarn..... you know how seriously some of these writers can take the end of the world.

A solid post-apocalyptic tale, with a few holes

Where does First Activation rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The story has some shortcomings but Jack and Harry are solid characters that you want to root for. I immediately picked up and started the Second Activation once I finished up the First Activation. It's not my favorite post-apocalyptic novel but it's an interesting story.

What other book might you compare First Activation to and why?

The First Activation stops pretty suddenly the Second Activation picks up at the exact moment the first book ends.

What about James Langton’s performance did you like?

James' girl voice is a bit strange, the male characters are solid.

Any additional comments?

Don't get attached to anyone Jack and Harry meet.

refreshingly different take on a familiar subject

a refreshing take on a popular subject. not overly political in it's message. engaging and fast paced

A great thriller<br />

this book would make a great apocalypse movie so good own to book 2

Cliffhanger ending

Would you listen to First Activation again? Why?

No. It's memorable enough the first time.

Would you recommend First Activation to your friends? Why or why not?

Maybe. It would depend on their particular interest and whether they're agreeable to a thus-far unending and bloody series.

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

Not that I recall, although I'm starting to keep an exhaustive database of such details. But he did a fabulous differentiation of characaters through his amazing ability to change his voice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Blood and gory death everywhere.

Any additional comments?

If you're into lots of gory deaths, by all means try this series. But be forewarned, things do not end with book one.