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 Flicker Men  By  cover art

The Flicker Men

By: Ted Kosmatka
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.56

Buy for $15.56

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

A quantum physicist shocks the world with a startling experiment, igniting a struggle between science and theology, free will and fate, and antagonizing forces not known to exist.

Eric Argus is a washout. His prodigious early work clouded his reputation and strained his sanity. But an old friend gives him another chance, an opportunity to step back into the light.

With three months to produce new research, Eric replicates the paradoxical double-slit experiment to see for himself the mysterious dual nature of light and matter. A simple but unprecedented inference blooms into a staggering discovery about human consciousness and the structure of the universe.

His findings are celebrated and condemned in equal measure, but no one can predict where the truth will lead. And as Eric seeks to understand the unfolding revelations, he must evade shadowy pursuers who believe he knows entirely too much already.

©2015 Ted Kosmatka (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about The Flicker Men

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    221
  • 4 Stars
    263
  • 3 Stars
    154
  • 2 Stars
    25
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    304
  • 4 Stars
    226
  • 3 Stars
    65
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    193
  • 4 Stars
    241
  • 3 Stars
    137
  • 2 Stars
    37
  • 1 Stars
    11

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

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

Started out good but fell flat

Enjoyed the beginning but about 1/3 into the story I started losing interest. The story hinges around the theoretical multi-universe, do we have a soul, do we really exist, etc. From there it is just about the protagonist learning about how the world really isn't what he thinks and him running from the bad guys. Lost interest and never got it back!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

38 people found this helpful

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

Boring, Depressing and too much Angst

What disappointed you about The Flicker Men?

I was expecting a sci fi story about quantum physics and it is possible that it may have gotten there. But the beginning was so full of the main character's self pity, angst, drinking and suicidal tendencies that it lost me early on. I find that if I don't like the characters in a book, than the story isn't interesting to me.

What could Ted Kosmatka have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The main character could have been more likeable and interesting.

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

Keith is great and I've listened to many of his narrations. This one is every bit as good, but the material is not great.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Flicker Men?

I didn't get far in to the story, however I wouldn't have started the book off by having the main character sitting on a beach, drunk and holding a gun to his head.

Any additional comments?

I read all of the other reviews of this book and they were all so positive. I guess we all have different tastes. If you are like me, and don't care for maudlin types of main characters, then you probably won't like this either.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

38 people found this helpful

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

Ted Kosmatka is My New Favorite Writer

What did you love best about The Flicker Men?

The writing in The Flickermen is superb--some of the best I have ever read. The writer uses dramatic images fleshed out in tight text to cast characters and a plot that is exciting, interesting and engrossing. At the risk of sounding cliche, this book was a page turner that I had trouble setting down.

What did you like best about this story?

The story was fresh and compelling. In a lot of audio books, I find myself wishing to get by certain points. . .the authors either draw things out too long or are too choppy for comfort. Not so with this story; the character development is efficient and the scenes rich and varied; little in this book is over done.

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

My first impression of the narrator was that his voice sounded too old for the main character. After a bit, though, I came to love his performance. Keith Szarabajka made the main character into an old wise soul while Ted Kosmatka keep him from being a super hero or a know-it-all.

As I eye up future books to listen to, I disappointed that Keith Szarabajka does not perform other books by the author.

Any additional comments?

This book is now one of my all time favorite audio books and that is saying something. I highly recommend this to others. It is a real shame that more people have not experienced this book to date.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

33 people found this helpful

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

Science-Fiction Masterpiece, Perfectly Narrated

Would you listen to The Flicker Men again? Why?

Yes. This book has the most lucid explanation of quantum physics I've ever come across in popular fiction. The story itself is vivid and compelling, and the writing and characterizations are sublimely subtle. And I've rarely listened to a story so uniquely supported by the narrator.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Flicker Men?

As I and many others have repeatedly pointed out, this question asks each reviewer for major spoilers. For that good reason, I refuse to answer it. Ever.

Which character – as performed by Keith Szarabajka – was your favorite?

The very best narrators, like this one, never read one character better than another.Their narration is a unifying flow that carries the listener from beginning to end.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This is a very slight variation of the SAME spoiler question as the first one
I write reviews to support writers and narrators, and for my fellow customers who are interested in reading reviews. But this new format is discouraging to many who like to write thorough and thoughtful reviews- without ruining the story for others.

Any additional comments?

I've never read Ted Kosmatka or heard the narrator before. So taking a chance on this book has been just about as rewarding as it gets. I've listened to many enjoyable books this year, but so far this is the best yet. Naturally, other people will inevitably have a wide variety of experiences with the same book. This was mine.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

30 people found this helpful

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

Pay attention...you will need too.

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

I would if that friend was into quantum physics, string theory and pan universe creatures.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Edit, edit and edit some more. It does get off into the deep end discussions about the nature of the universe, to such a degree that it does become something of a chore to get through at times.
Oh, and edit.

Which character – as performed by Keith Szarabajka – was your favorite?

Difficult to say without somewhat a spoiler effect, so suffice to say that the various incarnations of one of the " bad" guys was compelling.

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

It is book that is both action filled and thoughtful , if not abit too "out there". It did not promote that level of emotion, but certainly it gives the listener pause to listen, concentrate and think.

Any additional comments?

Kieth S. does a remarkable job of bringing this wordy, at times complicated but highly entertaining book to life. Ted S. is consistent in this regard, bringing high concept stories to the table, filling them with characters and action that sparkle. I was highly entertained, at times confused, but certainly glad for the experience. Worth the credit.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

28 people found this helpful

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

Better start than finish

I was very intrigued at the start of this book and it held my attention and interest until just over halfway. The science was a bit difficult for me to follow, but not unreasonably so, and I very much liked the forays into philosophy (and religion). As the story progressed it become a more standard tale and one that, for me, lost its uniqueness.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

24 people found this helpful

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

Great story! Original and riveting

Well written characters, fast moving plot, original ideas. This was a great read, and the performance was excellent. Highly recommended.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

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

Very intriguing concept

The double-slit, wave collapse thing is tough going for me. I kept listening anyway, despite some frustration at making sense out of all the elements of this story. One silly part though -among the many worker bee folk who cannot collapse the wave there are no scientists. Aren't they special? As a non-scientist, I am offended. In fact I am so offended I am going to listen to this darn book again, just for its mind bending qualities. The writing is good. The narrator does sound a bit mature for the part, but he's good at what he does.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

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

Stick with it, the plots worth it

Would you listen to The Flicker Men again? Why?

I had to relisten to sections to get some pseudo science technology parts (don't know what's supported by hard science). Won't comment on what the scifi leads to as it might be a Spoiler.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

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

If you love quantum mechanics!

A fascinating new twist on quantum mechanics! And something I would never have dreamed of before. I enjoyed it but sometimes it just went on a bit too long in parts. I thought the narrator was excellent and did well with different voices.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful