The Whispering Swarm

The Sanctuary of the White Friars, Book 1

By: Michael Moorcock

Narrated by: Julian Elfer

Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Almost anyone who has read or written science fiction or fantasy has been inspired by the work of Michael Moorcock. His literary flair and grand sense of adventure have been evident since his controversial first novel Behold the Man, from the stories and novels featuring his most famous character, Elric of Melniboné, to his fantasy masterpiece, Gloriana, winner of both the Campbell Memorial and World Fantasy awards for best novel. Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, and Michael Chabon all cite Moorcock as a major influence; as editor of New Worlds magazine, he helped launch the careers of many of his contemporaries, including Harlan Ellison, Philip K. Dick, and J. G. Ballard.

Moorcock's first independent novel in nine years is a tale both fantastical and autobiographical, a celebration of London and what it meant to be young there in the years after World War II. The Whispering Swarm is the first in a trilogy that will follow a young man named Michael as he simultaneously discovers himself and a secret realm hidden deep in the heart of London.

©2014 Michael Moorcock (P)2014 Audible Inc.

A rather long list of publications

I really wanted to enjoy this story - I had found Inkheart series pick up after the author in the first few chapters got listing books out her system and set down the story. Yet when I got to Chapter 7 and the author had provided about 1 and half chapters of story and the rest backdrop and lists of books and music I decided that was more then I was willing to wait through. As for the story it appears to be a copy of Neil Gamin's Neverwhere and inkheart onle with list of books before you move forward another step.

Me, me, me, me!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Who might enjoy this book? Moorcock's close friends and family members, perhaps, and maybe undying fans whose rose colored glasses are too darkly tinted to see the unrelenting narcissistic blather that overshadows nearly all the story's impact. Maybe the stuff about Moorcock is all true. Doesn't matter. Glad it's finally over.

This book is killing me, it just rambles on and on

What would have made The Whispering Swarm better?

Speed up the story line, it's just not clear. It is telling all this history and there just isn't any point.

What do you think your next listen will be?

The Wise Man's Fear: Kingkiller Chronicles

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I don't think the narrator did detract from the book, he's good and pleasant to listen
to, it's just the story in general.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

How do I get my credit back??

Still not sure what to think

The first 70% of the book was pretty much a stale biography. It started to get really interesting later on, but then it ended.

Not my thing

It's like Mary Sue fanfic with a male protagonist. Sigh. If you know you like Moorcock, you might be fine, but as a first time listener/reader, it wasn't what I expected.

For Moorcock Fans

A lot of people are rough on this book, and I think that's primarily because they went into it with the wrong expectations. If you've been initiated into Moorcock's multiverse (which is practically a genre and category of fiction unto itself) then you will appreciate this introspective, epic, pseudo-historical and semi-autobiographical chimera of a novel. If you haven't, then maybe consider familiarizing yourself with his work first, before coming back around to this one. It's brilliant, but perhaps not overly kind to newcomers.

Boring !

I bought this because the review said this author was a master of the fantasy genre. I wasted my time ... there was no true imagination. It could be the performance of the reader, but I will wait to get it from the library.

Strange

It was very hard to get into this story. But the narrator made everything so vivid that I couldn’t put it down.

Boring autobiography

I started listening to this book a few months ago but could not get into it so stopped. I started again a couple of days ago but can only conclude the problem is the book not me. I am on chapter 30 of 55 but I doubt I'll carry on. It is mainly an autobiography with occasional visits to a fictional place / world, whatever, in London. I think even if the autobiographical content was removed it would still be dull.
The only intrigue for me was Alsatia, was it really a fictional place or the authors description of what was going on in his head while an inpatient at a mental health facility!

Incredibly boring - I'm very disappointed

This book is listed as fiction, but reads like a biography. I don’t get biographies for a reason. I’m into it 11 chapters and 4 hours of my time I can’t get back and still there’s not really a plot. Just goes over Michael’s life, which is not very interesting at all. I’m returning this one (only the second book I've returned in 3 years). I continued to listen after the first 2 hours only because the narrator was enjoyable to listen too, but not worth another 12 hours.