The California Voodoo Game

Dream Park, Book 3

By: Larry Niven, Steven Barnes

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 14 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Dream Park, the ultimate in amusement parks, was about to embark on the greatest game ever: the California Voodoo Game. Across the world bets were being placed; fortunes and reputations hung in the balance. Gaming careers would be made - or destroyed. And the most advanced software package ever invented was going to be tested.

But one of the players was a murderer - and worse. Only Alex Griffin, head of Dream Park Security, and Game Master Tony McWhirter guessed the extent of the treachery tainting the Game. Somehow, they had to catch the killer - but above all, the Game must go on....

©2011 Larry Niven and Steven Barnes (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Took a while to get what the heck was going on

What the game entailed took a while to clarify. I swear I listened to the first three chapters three times to get the pieces assembled in my head. Admittedly that might be me and not the story. In any case, once it got rolling it was a pretty dang good story. I don’t usually think “this would make an awesome movie,” but this would make an awesome movie.

Okay

I was concerned a little at first cause I got a little lost on where this story was going. But once it did and I could see the path the story made absolute sense to me. I know I can trust in Larry Niven’s writing. I have not found many of his books that I did not care for. This one was in line with the two previous stories of the Dream Park series.

Dungeons and Dragons meets Westworld, Awesome!

This Dreampark novel is more tech current than the previous two. Augmented Reality and AI all make appearances. MIMIC, the gargantuan quake damaged housing experiment turned truly dangerous gaming area is a memorable place. What the Game Masters created there is stark raving genius. Hero’s, villains, humor and a fun, fast pace make this tough to turn off. Grover Gardner does a superb narration job, as usual.

Good book

Second book in this series. I enjoyed both of them and love anything from Larry Niven!

Good story, very enjoyable

Continually impressed that the technology these guys were writing about starting in 1981 (with Dream Park book #1) and then 10 years later with this one (#3 in the 4 book series) they’re still impressive. The characters that have made it through all 3 books continue to delight and have you rooting for them to achieve their goal. Great stuff, the narration isn’t what I consider to be the pinnacle of the audio book world but it’s very enjoyable I’d easily give the narrator a good 8/10, same with the writing. This isn’t Shakespeare,more like starship troopers meets the office or something.

Best one yet

Really been enjoying this series but this is the best one yet. If you've just finished Book 2 and are wondering if its worth continuing, you have my assurance that it is.

worth it, but not spectacular

if youve read or listened to the other Dream Park books this is a good endcap. but honestly, for me, it lacks the prestiege the other books had.

story in a story. crime mystery

you SHOULD listen to the first 2 books but written so well you dont need to. great crime mystery with a few very suspenseful moments.

Not Quite As Good

The first installment was an unusual but technologically magical and the plot and story had a sort of whimsy to the violent actuality. This book however is like a tribute to how Dreampark will one up any rival and I don't feel invested or hoping for any character at all or disliking others. When the book ended I barely felt anything meaningful had happened apart from some characters who don't die but their karma is pretty harsh.

Won't leave reviews if you make me do this

This is a stupid waste of my time and my last review. Happy to leave stars, but not going to do this every time.