Virus: Earth's Last Battle

By: Ray Jay Perreault

Narrated by: George Napier

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the second book in the Virus series, which parallels the SIMPOC series.

A suspicious virus has killed 99.99997 percent of the people. A ruthless warlord who moved into the White House attacked the government at Camp David. The president moved the remaining government to an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic and left a military unit to deal with the warlord.

The decimated US Navy is still functional. They must defend themselves from the remnants of militaries with a grudge against the US that use the opportunity to get revenge.

Joan Herl and her remaining space station Oasis crew returned to Earth, and a computer playing by different rules attacked them. Their only ally was the first thinking computer SIMPOC and his surrogate Alpha. Dr. Julius, who was one of the moon colony crew members, steals the research for thinking computers, and with his expertise he creates another computer that rivals SIMPOC and who starts making its own plans.

Eventually, they all find out why the virus started and who is responsible.

©2015 Raymond J Perrealt (P)2017 Raymond J Perreault

Cools scifi story of AI

Enjoyed the twist halfway through the book !
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Entertaining SciFi story

This audiobook is a variation of the SIMPOC story but told from the human POV rather that the AI’s. A virus has wiped out most of the worlds population and this story details how the remaining populous, both on Earth and in space, cope with the devolution of society and the prominence of intelligent computers. An entertaining SciFi story that’s a bit slow in the beginning but soon heats up. The narrator did a good job but I did find the background beeps and noises a bit distracting. It is a well written story that has some great surprises.

Last Battle

I really tried to like this book. But, between the jumping around of the story to the horrible narration, I just couldn't finish it. In my opinion, this book didn't have a cohesive storyline, but was more like several different ones thrown together.

The sound quality was poor and the addition of so many sound effects really distracted from being able to listen to the book. Some of the sound effects made sense in a way, but some were not even realistic for the story. One of these was a phone ringing in the background, but nothing was said in the book about a phone call.

Most of the dialogue sounded like the people were far away and were very tinny. All in all, it was too much of a struggle to listen to really enjoy the book. I think this book would be better as a "real" book instead of an audiobook.

Virus

The virus is a bit tough topic. A terrible virus has killed most of the people. Whether you're a sci fi fan this is fun to listen .

AIs Viruses and Aliens - This Story Has Everything

A well written story by an author who really knows his stuff. The story line is very complex with multiple characters and settings spanning from Earth to Mars so it takes awhile to get everything sorted out.
The characters are well voiced and once you figure out who goes where, it's a great story that you'll hate to have to turn off.
in the Epilogue, Perreault promises a second story. I'll be very interested in seeing where this one goes.

Worth your time and credit.

4.5 stars

After a virus has wiped out most of the population on the planet those left both on Earth and those in space struggle to survive the aftermath.

Thoroughly enjoyable. Having already listened to SIMPOC previously I was really looking forward to this book and was not disappointed. It pulled me in from the start and held my complete attention from start to finish. I was one of those people who after listening to SIMPOC wanted the other side of the story and this book filled in all those lingering questions/sides. This book was no less engaging or enjoyable even though parts of it are the same story being told from the human POV. At the same time it's different. Even though you know how some things are going to turn out it still has enough little twists to keep the story fresh, the action moving and the suspense building keeping you glued to the story. It's definitley worth your time and credit.

What happens when computers become self aware enough to make decisions on their own and become independent thinkers? What happens when humans can no longer control them? What happens when their coarse of action contradicts what is best for humanity? Add in a delusional scientist and suddenly surviving a virus and an altered world is not the only thing they will have to survive.

While overall I really enjoyed the story and the narration at the same time the narration was so well done it was distracting at times. I know that sounds contradictory but SIMPOC and Alpha are AI characters and the narration with a computerized edge for them was fantastic as well as annoying at the same time.

George Napier did a fantastic job with the narration. Even though at times I would have liked just a little more normal narration the narration is actually fantastic. You can tell the work and dedication that went into bringing this story to life. Nice voice that is easy to listen to for long periods of time. Clearly spoken with a nice even pace. Really good character voices both male and female. Even with my slight complaint the narration is very enjoyable and entertaining.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily provided this review.

Great Sci-fi

I love the SIMPOC series! I've loved each book so far and this is no exception. I wasn't too crazy about the narration this time though. The series is set in the future after a virus has wiped out most of humanity. SIMPOC is an AI trying to help the survivors. This is great apocalyptic sci-fi!

This audio book is great.

Not only is the story well written and plausible, but the narration is spot on. If you wonder what could happen, here is one answer for you. I received this audio book for free at my request and voluntarily reviewed.

Human side to SIMPOC 2

This book is the continuation to ‘Virus: 72 Hours to Live‘, and the human side of ‘SIMPOC 2‘. Here we witness how the humans left on Earth get ready for what is coming.

I always enjoy Perreault’s books. He proposes a believable scenarios with down to earth characters. I remember enjoying the SIMPOC novels, and the Virus series is an expansion of it. I missed some of the technical aspects from SIMPOC but I think the Virus series is more approachable for the general public.

There are several events happening in parallel, and the tension is palpable for most of the book. I grew especially attached to Joan and her husband. I found it a bit surprising that SIMPOC 2 and this book tell the same events from different POV’s (AI’s vs. humans) and the length of the later is three times of SIMPOC 2. In my opinion, this book drags a bit in some parts, and the surprise factor is mostly gone if you have read SIMPOC 2. Nevertheless, both novels complement each other well, but I still prefer the ones from the AI’s POV.

The first book and both SIMPOC novels had been narrated by Zachary Johnson, so I was surprised that for this one Perreault decided to change and have a completely different production, with several narrators and sound effects. The background sounds were lower than in other audiobooks, which I am glad for, but the sound effects applied to some of the voices sacrificed intelligibility. For me, an audiobook is something that I can listen to at any time of the day, and that allows me to multitask. If sound FX and other things like music are introduced, it becomes a different kind of product, to be listened in a quiet environment and a different level of attention. Sadly, this is just not for me, but I see the appeal that it can have for some people.

The book ends on a cliffanger, like SIMPOC 2. I am anxious to know what’s next, I’m sure Perreault has something good in store for us.

I received a copy of this book in audio format from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Good story but sound effects can be annoying

Ray Jay Perreault writes good sci-fi. He has good ideas and does a reasonable job executing those ideas to his readers/listeners. I do think he needs better editors. As with most of his stories this one is full of inconsistencies. This one even goes so far as to get events counting aliens out of order. 12 plus 12 is not 36 and the second 12 passing the moon is in the story well before the second 12 is entering the solar system.
Other than these somewhat minor points, I think these stories are well worth listening to. They are creative and action packed and the plot keeps moving nicely.

This audiobook was a move in a new direction for the narration. George Napier and Soundware Media did a full sound effect production for this book. Most were appropriate however there was just too much noise most of the time to make for a good listen. It was a good attempt but just maybe it went overboard on the sound effects. One truly odd note was a phone ringing in the background. No one answered it and it did not fit in the story. (Most of the population is dead… who’s calling who?)

I was offered a free copy of this book in audio format by the author in exchange for an honest review.