The Stone Man - A Science Fiction Thriller, Book 1

By: Luke Smitherd

Narrated by: Matt Addis

Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The #1 Amazon and Audible best seller, shortlisted for Audible UK's Audiobook of the Year Award 2015

Nobody knew where it came from.

Nobody knew why it came.

When an eight-foot-tall man made of stone appears in the middle of a busy city center one July afternoon, two-bit (and antisocial) reporter Andy Pointer assumes it's just a publicity stunt.

Indeed, so does everyone else...until the Stone Man begins to walk, heading silently through the wall of the nearest building, flattening it, and killing several people inside as a result.

As efforts by the local police - and soon the government - to halt the Stone Man's inexorable progress prove futile, only three questions are on the watching world's lips:

Where has it come from, where is it going, and what does it want?

Andy is determined to be the first person to answer those questions; after all, he was there when it arrived. Surely the headaches and visions he's experiencing are proof of a mental connection to the Stone Man. Clearly his dreams of champagne and notoriety are all about to be fulfilled once he uncovers the truth...and the scoop of a lifetime.

In a pursuit that carries him the length of the country and the breadth of the Atlantic, Andy uncovers the jagged pieces of an increasingly terrifying puzzle. As the number of lives lost in the wake of the Stone Man reaches grim figures, the terrible results of Andy's blind determination force him to confront the savagery of human nature.

When irresistible forces aren't met by immovable objects, how far is too far? Andy must discover the answer - and find out who he really is - in the shadow of the Stone Man.

©2012 Luke Smitherd (P)2015 Luke Smitherd

Critic reviews

" The Stone Man is a novel that intrigues, enthralls, horrifies, thrills, and hits the reader with an emotional resonance as only the best stories can." ( Ain't It Cool News)

A great read, but unsatisfying ending

I listened to this book with intensity and my interest in the story and characters grew every minute. The relentless pursuit of the Stone Man raised the anxiety notch by notch. While it's hard to find fault with the book, the ending left me hanging. Perhaps there simply was no ending that could satisfy every reader, so the author chose something vague... maybe room for a sequel with more answers? We can hope so! only the ending kept me from giving this 5 stars. A great listen.

Insert rocky headlines about a good story here!

What made the experience of listening to The Stone Man the most enjoyable?

Most definitely the performance by Matt Addis. Wow! He rocks this character driven story. The plot does stumble at times, but the characters are so alive courtesy of Mr. Addis that it more than compensates for weaknesses.

Would you be willing to try another book from Luke Smitherd? Why or why not?

After listening to this offering, definitely. The resolution will leave some listeners disappointed ( count me as one, mildly to be sure ) but overall a solid , interesting offering. To call this a horror story is abit of a stretch with a couple of exceptions, but definitely full of suspense, drama and it does leave the listener wondering...what if....

What about Matt Addis’s performance did you like?

Everything. Every word, every accent, every character. Goodness this is a tour de force with no exception. I do understand that some listeners may have troubles with his authentic Midlands accents, but hey folks, it comes with the territory.This reader is a force to be respected and attention needs to be paid!

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

I almost did! 3 days or so. A quick listen to a wonderful telling.

Any additional comments?

Given the highly entertaining afterword, this may well prove to one of those great combinations of writers and performers that come along once in a while. The characters that Smitherd has visualized and formed the dialogue for literally come to life in the capable hands of Addis. A wonderfully entertaining, thoughtful offering that comes HIGHLY recommended!

Shameless plug

I was paid handsomely by the author to say all sorts of glowing things about this book. Not really. I don't think he's wealthy enough to pay off reviewers like that. But he should be that wealthy once they make this a movie. And there should be a movie because this story is edge of your seat awesome. So if you're reading this review Mr Smitherd, remember me then. I take PayPal.

great read

I'm not a big scifi fan..but I would definalty recommend this author and this book.

Grips you stone cold from the beginning!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Stone Man to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, and I can say that the outstanding narration of the audio version by Matt Addis leaves you no reason to!

What other book might you compare The Stone Man to and why?

The Stone Man is totally unique. I cannot compare it to any other book.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene is when Paul realizes there is something he can "suggest" that will keep him around a bit longer.

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

The scene where Paul and Andy collect Henry from his home leaves you with a little lump in your throat.

Any additional comments?

From the first sentence I thought this book had potential to keep me around, and more importantly, enjoying it. Luke Smitherd takes a fairly bizarre premise and turns it into a virtual page-turner. The subtlety of the story-telling is the best part. The listener is expected to bridge some gaps to figure out what's going on at various points throughout the book, and it's the guessing that's half the fun.
Another aspect of the story that gets you is the depth of the characters, and the shift of protagonists. Without giving too much away...Andy is a very likable, very believable character. You want him around in all his altruistic (and drunken) splendor. But in a surprisingly refreshing twist, Paul steals the show. This guy is fantastic. He's funny, his sense of timing is perfect, and he's a survivor.
I don't often feel this way about a book I've just listened to, but I see this one on the big screen inside of 3 years.
I've never heard of Smitherd before, but I'll be checking out his other titles...right now.

Great character-driven story

Would you listen to The Stone Man again? Why?

I'm not sure if I will listen to it again. I rarely listen to audiobooks more than once, so for me not to be sure is a plus for this book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

No one character was my favorite. It's like an indie movie with a great ensemble cast: no one person stands out, but they're all enjoyable in their own ways.

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

This is my first time listening to Matt Addis. He's good; in future, his presence as reader will make me give a book a second look. He did a good job of creating separate voices for the different characters, and he handled long sentences well without overlong pauses for breath. (You can tell when authors don't consider that their sentences may be read aloud.)

Any additional comments?

The best science fiction is about the people, not the technology, and "The Stone Man" fits right in there. Smitherd tells a good story; I wanted to know what was coming next.

Andy is better developed than Paul, which is understandable given that it's his voice telling us most of the story, but Paul still comes across as a real person. The times when Smitherd gave Brigadier Straub a bit of humanity were deftly handled; he let you know that there was a person inside the iron-hard general... and that she wouldn't let that stop her from doing her job.

In his afterword, Smitherd indicated that some people didn't like not knowing exactly where the Stone Men came from, nor did they like the open ending. I didn't find that either thing took away from the story. The story wasn't about an invasion from Planet X; it was about how ordinary people behave under extraordinary circumstances, and Smitherd told that story well.

Damn the man! He's going to cost me money, because now I'll have to look for his other books...

fantastic listen.

Highly entertaining book that keeps you wanting to listen longer even if it means losing some sleep. Excellent narration by Matt Addis, his emotion given to the different characters helped strengthen an already great story. Definitely worth it listening to.

Compelling Characters Keep Mystery Alive

Where does The Stone Man rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I felt this was a book of themes. I suppose the chief one would be the difference in how the two protagonists evolve through the story. A few days ago I watched a YouTube video in which the author explains why he decided to cut some scenes from the book. Evidently the audiobook doesn't contain these edits, and I'm glad. Andy starts out as very self-centered, and even later, when the magnitude of his experiences begin to take some of his edge off, he never develops the ability to make and maintain relationships. The science fiction/horror aspect of the stone man threat is really secondary to the development of the characters. Since it's clear fairly early that the character arc is the main plot, the stone men become a means to that end. However, I liked Andy and Paul, with all of their human failings, and I think that's the mark of a talented story teller.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Stone Man?

The horror here is more atmospheric than direct and descriptive. It's the idea of being relentlessly but unhurriedly pursued by an inexorable force that cares about nothing except its target's extinction. There are no villains here, except perhaps Brigadier Straub...but she's not really a villain, either, just a human version of the stone men, implacable and unfeeling. By the way, making that character female helped add to the psychic disconnect-- a woman representing a government that should protect its citizens, but is instead willing to assist in their extermination "for the good of the country". A teacher could use this book to generate some serious ethical debate.

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

While I don't want to take away from the author, who's created an excellent novel, I believe that listening to the audiobook made it better. The narrator was outstanding, and his various voices and characterizations were great. Being an American, I would have had no idea how different the characters' dialects would have sounded by just reading the prose. The narrator not only brought each one to life, but his dramatic flair added to the suspense of the story.

geat performance by Matt Addis...of shallow story.

geat performance by Matt Addis...of a somewhat shallow story. Seems written for a less intellectual mind.

Amazing story, perfect narration!

With all audiobooks, the narration really makes or breaks the entire experience. So when you get a novel like this, one that starts with full-steam ahead intrigue, and a narrator that only enhances the ride, it's perfection!

Love the author's note at the end & mention of Matt, the narrator. I would use him for any & all future books made audio. Never heard of this author before this, his first audiobook, but now await any other of his novels in this medium (a new addiction) & hope for same narrator, as well!