The Sunborn

By: Gregory Benford

Narrated by: Richard Gilliland, Susan Hanfield, Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 14 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

The award-winning author of Timescape and Eater returns with a gripping new novel set in the same dynamic future as his wildly popular The Martian Race.

Their historic mission to Mars made Julia and Victor the most famous astronauts of all time. Now, decades later, they are ordered by the Consortium to Pluto, where they will rendezvous with another starship led by the brilliant, arrogant Captain Shanna Axelrod. Here, on the frozen ammonia shore of Pluto's methane sea, Shanna has discovered intelligent creatures thriving in the -300° degree temperatures. But even as their findings shift from the amazing to the inconceivable, the two crews must overcome their own intense rivalry to work together, for the most remote reaches of the solar system are filled with unimaginable wonders... and countless forces that will crush all human life.

©2005 Abbenford Associates (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc. and Skyboat Media, Inc.

I'm cranky this wasn't better

The print book has been out for some years, though I somehow missed it. There is some absolutely fabulous world-building here, but the continuity errors and various other inconsistencies keep getting in the way. In fact, they're maddening. Why is it so hard to communicate with the Beings? In the previous chapter, weren't they transmitting in English? The multiple narrators don't help. Some chapters are read by the incomparable Gabrielle DeCuir (who for some reason isn't credited on Audible) and a joy to listen to. She does a convincing accent for the Aussie character. But in other chapters we've got Susan Hanfield, who can't do Aussie to save her life. Continuity errors are compounded by a further layer of confusion.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Bring an extra sweater and your attention span!

If you could sum up The Sunborn in three words, what would they be?

Fascinating.
Thoughtful.
Fufilling.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Human: Victor. Complex, authentic and rarely predictable.
Non Human : difficult to say without a spoiler effect, but all the non human characters are fascinating and totally original.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

All 3 of them were shockingly real, consistent and professional ( unlike some of the recent performances I have listened to.) Stephan and Susan created , and completely own, Julie and Victor, and their total honesty is refreshing. Richard adds a level of complexity to an already rich offering.

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

Farewell Charron.

Any additional comments?

This stunning offering continues the Martian saga into the next set of the planets. It does have that Ben Boca feel to it, but the characters are such that the listener genuinely cares about their lives . I for one hope there is another book ( at least ) and the saga continues.
I highly recommend this offering!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Images of cold

Very good story and narration. Cold and excitement are always interesting bedfellows.
Gabriell's voice is music.

Unbearable

Any additional comments?

Full of sermons and opinions that get in the way of the plot. Much more self indulgent that the first book on Mars.