• The Atomic Sea: Volume One

  • The Atomic Sea, Book 1
  • By: Jack Conner
  • Narrated by: Ray Greenley
  • Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
  • 3.3 out of 5 stars (44 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Atomic Sea: Volume One  By  cover art

The Atomic Sea: Volume One

By: Jack Conner
Narrated by: Ray Greenley
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Epic adventure in a strange world by best-selling author Jack Conner.

A thousand years ago, the sea began to change, and the change spread. Now the boiling, toxic, lightning-wreathed Atomic Sea has encompassed every ocean on the planet, and the creatures that live in it have become mutated and unnatural. The sea's taint can infect any human who comes in contact with it or with unprocessed seafood, killing them... or altering them.

No one knows why the sea has become this way or what it portends, only that it's irrevocably changed the world. Meanwhile, world war has erupted, and the small country of Ghenisa, like many others, is tottering on the brink of collapse under the onslaught of the Empire of Octung.

Dr. Francis Avery, a middle-aged widower, is aboard a military whaling ship far out on the Atomic Sea, when a series of murders onboard propels him down the rabbit-hole of danger and terror unlike any other. Soon he becomes aware of a spy on the ship, but that's just the beginning. With the help of the grizzled whaler Janx and a mysterious woman named Layanna, he will embark on an epic quest to save Ghenisa from Octung and unravel the secrets of the Atomic Sea.

This is the opening volume of a multi-volume saga of adventure and high stakes in an awe-inspiring world unlike any you've ever seen before. Welcome to the world of the Atomic Sea.

©2014 Allen Wise (P)2015 Allen Wise

What listeners say about The Atomic Sea: Volume One

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    18
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story with old-style 'Sea Monsters'

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

It was a short enough book so I would say it was a worthwhile listen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Atomic Sea: Volume One?

The world building and introduction that went into the first half of this short book was great. It set everything up and gave the reader a good sense of the world.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

He shouldn't have ended the book the way he did. I understand that there are several books in this series (which I haven't read yet) but it seems to be that the book was just chopped at this mid point toensure readers bought the next installment.

Did The Atomic Sea: Volume One inspire you to do anything?

Not especially. I would probably read the next book, because I so enjoyed the world which the author built.

Any additional comments?

I did enjoy this story overall, and liked the world in which it was set. Definitely has a Lovecraftian vibe from it. Just a shame the book is so short and ends abruptly.

I received a copy of this book in return for this honest review.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Interesting fantasy world - complex & complicated

My rating: 2.5 stars
Audiobook narrator Ray Greenley rating: 3.5 stars

This audiobook was gifted to me by the narrator in order to receive an honest review. This fantasy book certainly paints an interesting world of giant creatures, mutants, and a bleak war-torn nation. There were many parts of the book that I did enjoy, but I could not really get into it for some reason. I think there were too many characters initially which confused me and certain elements were not well defined.

I enjoyed the narrator and thought he was spot on for the main character. I did not like his voice too much for Captain Sheridan (it confused me when she was speaking) but he did a good job of changing his voice for different characters (something we do not see much these days in narrators).

I personally am giving this book altogether a 2.5 star rating. I usually round up in GoodReads (and Audible) for my half-star ratings but, for this book, I am rounding down because I did not like how the book ended. I know that the book is broken into three volumes but I was hoping there would be some wrapping up at the end and hoping that it could be read as stand-alone. I will not read the second (or third) book in this series.

Thank you Ray for letting me read (listen to) this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Cthulu-like sea creatures + espionage!

In a future Earth, the seas have become tainted with a mix of radiation, mutated dangerous sea life, and who knows what else. This taint can affect humans who eat affected seafood or fall into the oceans. Small nations of humans survive, but war is imminent. Dr. Avery, aboard a Ghenisian military whaling ship, stumbles upon espionage and perhaps something more when a mysterious unconscious woman is brought aboard.

This was a crazy cool mix of mutated sea beasties, military fiction, a touch of murder mystery, and espionage. The Cthulu spawn coupled with the dark, imminent danger atmosphere of this book had me hooked from the beginning. As a biologist, I was geeking out over the mutated sea life but also the chemical and/or biological weapons the Octung enemies kept throwing at Ghenisia. Later in the story, we have some human diseases, even mutations, brought about by eating tainted sea food, and the wicked biologist in me enjoyed that as well.

Dr. Francis Avery is an interesting man as well. He is not your typical hero. He’s an alcoholic, middle years, balding, not so sure of himself, and for part of the story, he is a little easy to manipulate. All this made him a very interesting character. He has the remnants of some high ideals, as much as the world he lives in will allow him, but by the end those once pristine black & white areas have all gone grey for him.

Captain Sheridan is also interesting. She was hard for me to guess what side of things she stood on and I very much enjoyed that. Dr. Avery spends quite a bit of time trying to figure her out as well. She is also a woman accustomed to getting her way in nearly everything, including the bedroom (which Avery well knows). I liked that the sex between them wasn’t all mushy but was completely focused on release of tension and lust. After all, this is a hard world and it breeds hard people, men and women alike.

The mysterious woman Layanna was brought up out of the sea unconscious. She poses a quandary as she is unblemished and remains that way while in sick bay. Perhaps she is some human genetic experiment gone right – making it possible for humans to remain untouched by the tainted sea. Perhaps she is a myth, something higher than humanity. At any rate, she is an item the Octung want and the Ghenisia government will want once they know about her.

Then we have all this cool espionage stuff going on in the background. Who aboard the Ghenisian whaler is dropping secret messages overboard? Who can Dr. Avery trust? Who killed those two sailors? So many questions for him to resolve!

Toss in big brawling Janx with his rag tag mutant, tattooed friends and you have quite the story! Indeed, I really enjoyed this book.

I was provided this audiobook at no charge from the author via the GoodReads Audiobooks Group in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks!

The Narration: Ray Greenley did an amazing job with this book. He really brought the characters to life and made them all distinct. He had believable female voices. I especially liked his voice for Janx and that of Janx’s buddy (who he fights in an organized match).

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The Atomic Sea is a terrific listening experience

Any additional comments?

THE ATOMIC SEA: Volume One

Author: Jack Conner

Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged

Narrator: Ray Greenley

Length: 6 hours, 40 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

Release Date: April 6, 2015

Publisher: Jack Conner

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE ATOMIC SEA is a very unique and interesting audiobook.

Dr. Avery is a medical doctor on board a Navy whaling ship that travels the Atomic Sea.

The Atomic Sea is exactly what it sounds like. The water is toxic and humans cannot even be exposed to the air or they will die. Any time someone needs to be on the deck of the ship they must wear an "environment suit."

A thousand years ago, the sea started to change. Now the waters are boiling and toxic. These changes have happened to every ocean on the planet.

The creatures that live in these toxic waters have become mutated. For example, many have extra limbs and even extra eyes located in strange places on their bodies. These creatures are inedible unless a person wishes to risk mutation or even death.

Meanwhile, there is a world war being fought. The small country of Ghenisa, is on the brink of collapse under the continuous barrage of attacks by the Empire of Octung.

Dr. Francis Avery is aboard a military whaling ship out on the Atomic Sea, when two murders occur over a two week span. the second murder victim had been a friend of his and he vows to find the murderer.

Avery becomes aware that there is an Octung spy on the ship, but that's just the beginning.

With the help of a huge and fierce whaler named Janx, a mysterious woman named Layanna, and a band of misfits, he finds himself on an quest to save Ghenisa from Octung.

This is the first book in a series that promises lots of twists and turns along with a cast of interesting characters.

The author has done an amazing job of world-building with this audiobook. His attention to detail (whether big or small) is readily apparent.

The only thing I did not like about this audiobook was the cliffhanger ending. I would have liked an ending that was a bit neater and did not leave the reader hanging.

The narrator, Ray Greenley, was wonderful. His voice was clear and his words were concise. There was no mumbling or stumbling over words. Also, his voice somehow adds an extra element to the story and draws the listener in. This allows the listener to fully engage with the audiobook. I give the narration 5 out of 5 stars.

* I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Story didn't captivate me

Where does The Atomic Sea: Volume One rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have only listened to 2 books so far, so this one ranks 2nd.

If you’ve listened to books by Jack Conner before, how does this one compare?

This was my first book by Jack Conner.

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

Yes, I have listened to Ray Greenley narrate the book Nebulous. His performance in both instances is excellent. He succeeds in distinguishing characters by using different voice styles. He articulates well and keeps the story interesting.

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

Powered by hot lard.

Any additional comments?

I feel like the story tried to tackle too much in too short of a time. There were many references to other nations, people, and past events that did not seem wholly important to the actual plot. I do find lore interesting in stories and the author has created a vast world which I can appreciate, but overall it was alright. I was moved by a part or two of the story when the protagonist experienced loss. I would have liked to have heard more like that. Really, the voice acting is what kept me interested in the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

wasted time

interesting premise, poor execution. the world building was lax, the descriptions worse. characters flat and interactions abysmal. the narrators performance was dreadful, no range at all everyone sounds the same. absolute shame, could've been a very interesting story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great World, Okay Book

Any additional comments?

I give this a 3 out of 5 stars, mainly because I really appreciated Jack Conner's world building, it was creative, new, and captivating. The characters, however, were not overly deep nor complicated and the plot was rater straightforward. Something in the story just seemed to be missing. I feel that the story ended before the characters and the plot were truly ready and that the book would be much better if it was longer and better developed. In addition, I did not appreciate the quantity and quality of the sex scenes as they served more as page filler than a tool to enhance the plot. Overall, I did appreciate the book, though, it is not one of the greats but it is good enough to be an enjoyable read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Lots of questions, but a fun ride

Would you listen to The Atomic Sea: Volume One again? Why?

Yes, I missed some details that might help with the many unanswered questions that have been bugging me. Having a great narrator helps though as I want to go back and hear the beginning again before moving on in the series.

What other book might you compare The Atomic Sea: Volume One to and why?

Hard to compare this to other sci-fi or fantasy books because it's different and I still have more questions about WTH is going on with the world than when I started. Alternative future planet with a jacked up sea, other worldly weapon technology and monsters coupled with interesting characters with complex motives.

Which character – as performed by Ray Greenley – was your favorite?

I liked the doctor best... loved how he take big risks to help others and how he handled himself with the captain :)

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

Yes, that wasn't possible but once I got in, it was hard to stop.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

It was a dark and stormy night...

Any additional comments?

This is a dark story within a depressing and dangerous environment that was itself a major character. The tale moves from sea to land, and that doesn't change. There are monsters in the water, in the air, and in government. I didn't like any of the characters and that means I didn't care what happened to them. I stuck with it, but there's no closure at the end of the book. I will not be reading more in this series. The narration was fine but a little monotone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • JB
  • 09-02-15

Good story, excellent narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book. I found the story to be very entertaining, the character development was excellent, and the ending absolutely has me wanting more. I'm very interested to see where the story goes!

What other book might you compare The Atomic Sea: Volume One to and why?

None really come to mind. It's got a good mix of fantasy, war, human emotion, etc.

What about Ray Greenley’s performance did you like?

I don't usually enjoy books that are narrated by one person using different voices, but Ray absolutely nailed it! The variety that he applied to the character voices was excellent, each one being unique enough that the listener is able to discern which character is speaking, even without the need of things like "said Mr. So and So...". I also enjoyed the level of emotion that Ray brought to the story; his narration really helps the listener understand the trials and tribulations that the characters go through. I'm looking forward to hearing more of Mr. Greenley's narrations in the future.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!