Logan's Run

By: William F. Nolan, George Clayton Johnson

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

It's the 23rd Century and at age 21... your life is over! Logan-6 has been trained to kill; born and bred from conception to be the best of the best. But his time is short and before his life ends he's got one final mission: Find and destroy Sanctuary, a fabled haven for those that chose to defy the system. But when Logan meets and falls in love with Jessica, he begins to question the very system he swore to protect and soon they're both running for their lives. When Last Day comes, will you lie down and die... or run!

©1967 William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[T]he story of a reluctant rebel fighting back in a computer-run world in which people voluntarily submit to death at the age of 21 is a fascinating adventure. Narrator Oliver Wyman's excellent vocal performance guides listeners into this harsh world where children rule. He does a credible job imitating children's and women's voices. When he speaks as Jenny, Logan's running mate, one can clearly see the character in one’s mind. The book differs from the popular film of the same name—and has a far superior ending." ( AudioFile)

I had no idea the story was so different from the movie/tv show

My brother had read the books well before seeing the movie. I was a little girl when Logan’s run came out in the theaters and watched it on a edited TV version as we used to do back then. I loved the movie and the tv series. I so loved the movie that as I approached my last day I rented the vHS of the movie and my brother told me “you should read the books. They are so much better and make way more sense. He told me that his favorite character was Box.” I promised him that I would read them. I never found the time. Before my brother passed away and I promised him that I would read the books. I guess listening to them on audible is almost the same and it fit into my schedule. In some ways the books were far “racier” than I had expected with the sex and drugs aspects but it really makes you think what a utopian life style (or what robots/ thinker would think we wanted as humans as “utopia”) would be like. I also like the book version of Box. Way more scary in the book. I think the story is my favorite futuristic story. I now can profess that I love the book more than the movie.

I really did try to like this book.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I read Dan Brown's new book 'Inferno', and this book was referenced in it. The idea of voluntary suicide at the age of 21 in order to control the world population was very intriguing to me. I was expecting a book with more depth... this book was more like listening to a star trek tv episode. There were a few interesting parts - but overall, it didn't hold my attention.

What was most disappointing about William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson ’s story?

I didn't like the main characters at all. They had no depth - and I had no idea what their motives were throughout the entire book.

Any additional comments?

Needless to say, I won't be reading the rest of the books in the Logan's Run series.

AMAZING

Not at all what I expected. I can't wait to listen to the next. Excellent narration! BRAVO!

Different rendition but still a good story

If you could sum up Logan's Run in three words, what would they be?

Run Logan Run

Who was your favorite character and why?

Logan. He had all of the best parts of the story.

Which scene was your favorite?

Traveling through the maze and visiting the Florida Keys.

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

No.

Any additional comments?

The audio book was okay. I have seen the movie a couple of times, years ago. I figured I should "read" the book.

The Book Is Always Better

Being a fan of the movie has interested in the book and the book doesn't disappoint. Get a full picture of the world of Logan's Run

Finally....

I have been waiting to read this for years. As a fan of the film, I have been fascinated by the story and the characters. This did not disappoint in any way. So looking forward to the next installment.

Vivid tale of a future society

What made the experience of listening to Logan's Run the most enjoyable?

It delivers the complete original text. I'm glad they went with that instead of a movie tie-in, because the movie had key differences with the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Logan's Run?

The scene with the ice creature. You got the feeling that the heroes might not make it out of there.

Which scene was your favorite?

The point in which Logan decides that the only thing he can do is escape. He realizes the community around him is not a pleasure palace but a sham.

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

Although it was a fantasy vision of the future, it did make you think that you would have to do the same to obtain freedom in that world. You wondered if all the other people would ever have the courage to escape.

Any additional comments?

I expect the other books in the trilogy will be just as good. This one was very exciting. I miss science fiction which is not just war stories in space.

Movie should have used this story.

The boom was better than the movie, a bit drawn out but overall a much better story.

Different than the movie!

The movie went in a different direction in the second half, which I prefer. But obviously i have my whole life of bias towards the masterpiece film. The narrator was EXCELLENT. i couldn’t believe some of the voices were him!

If you liked the movie, you'll like this series

This is book 1 of 3, which I'm reviewing as a set. I enjoyed the movie (and somewhat, the TV series), so I was drawn to the audiobook. I wouldn't consider Logan's run good writing, at all, but I found it entertaining, none-the-less. The characters are extremely shallow, the plot contrived, and there are serious flaws in the whole concept. Still, if you have good feelings about the movie, you'll find this series tolerable.

The first book in the series is the movie (with some differences). The second two books in the series continue the story. Book two is essentially a "return of Logan" that quickly breaks down into a haphazard search for his lost wife ending in a somewhat disappointing battle royal. Book three is an alternative reality 'cheat' to put a different twist on the first book.

The performance is not good. The reader talks very slow which tends to sap the energy out of the story. However, I found that my iPod allows me to increase the speed (x2) which made it very comfortable with minimal distortion in only a few spots. I would totally recommend you do the same. I find it hard to beleive that the producers couldn't do this for us!

All-in-all, if you are listening to the series for the sake of nostalgia, then you'll probably have a good time.