Zero Hour - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller: Omnibus Edition

By: Eamon Ambrose

Narrated by: James Highfield

Length: 5 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

A sole survivor. A quest for answers. A deadly race against time. Nothing is as it seems, in this breakthrough robo-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller. Expanded from an original short story to a best-selling serial, Zero Hour is now collected in a single volume.

©2016 Eamon Ambrose (P)2017 Eamon Ambrose

Inventive and intense take on the AI apocalypse

This is a very different kind of AI post-apocalypse story. It's equal parts action story and intensely intimate character portraits, all told in a highly stylized way that only adds to the tension and suspense. The twists are huge and gratifying. The ideas are big. I found myself reminded of Philip K. Dick's twisty, reality-bending stories while reading this, in the best way possible. I highly recommend this book!

great, unique story (to me)

The story is an interesting take on the post-apocolypse genre. The big (yet VERY forshadowed) twist comes at the very beginning, and it sets the stage for a unique story

The book is written from a first person perspective, so take that as you will. Not sure if it's just my ear, but the narrator seemed to have trouble differentiating several of the voices as well.

free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I, Robot!

A unique twist on the post-apocalypse genre. Told in second-person point of view, it takes a little while to get accustomed to this style. Our protagonist Sarah may be the last living survivor on the earth after a devastating robotic drone attack. Encountering the mad scientist behind the attack, Sarah’s psyche gets up close and personal with an AI-controlled robot, much more than she ever imagined, while the scientist possesses her body. Moving forward, Sarah and the AI search for survivors, ultimately endeavoring to save what remains of the human race. An interesting tale to be sure, although more science fiction than post-apocalyptic IMO. Somewhat confusing with the point of view flips, not one of my favorites. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Futuristic sci-fi dystopian

Definitely futuristic sci-fi dystopian not as I expected but enjoyed the characters especially Alex, Al, Grace and Bentley as they travel the wasteland and there are twists and turns and decent narration. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you

A fast paced thriller!

I love the Audio version of this omnibus edition. The narration is done by James Highfield, and he did a top-notch job!
  I had originally started reading the series as each of the 6 stories were released, but had given up by story 4 or 5 as I had completely lost the thread of the story,  so when the audible omnibus edition came out, I jumped on the chance to reacquaint myself with the characters and story, and finish the book that had started out so well. I'm glad I did!
  Get the omnibus copy so you can get the full impact of Eamon's work!

An Interesting Listen.

I had a hard time in the beginning, understanding what was going on, but I ended up liking the story. I don't read too many post-apocalyptic stories involving Sci-fi aspects (androids/robots) so I found the idea very interesting.

The narrator did a great job! I’d listen to him again.

I’m curious as to why the author wrote Sarah’s part in a second-person point of view? I wasn’t a fan of that, at all. It actually annoyed me with all the, “You” did this, “You did that.” Why second-person? How does the reader "get into" the story while being told what "you" did. That just wasn't working for me.

Besides the POV question, I only had two others. How did Bentley end up in Shepard’s body? Did I miss that part? I’m thinking I did. Also, where had he been once he left his old “robot” body that Sarah took over? Did I miss that, too?



I received a free audiobook code in exchange for an honest review.

Fast & Furious

Zero Hour definitely delivered, it's refreshing, and unique for the genre. Despite being an Omnibus edition and multi-parts, it was a quick listen and super engaging. The storyline is a gripping, fast-paced, unpredictable, action-packed, thrilling, downright intense ride; the entire time, I was on the very edge of my seat.

Wow to James Highfield's narration, his performance is flawless. He captured the animation and the intensity of the scenes. All round, this is a fantastic post-apocalyptic thriller, one I highly recommend. I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Excellent Audiobook Adaptation

James Highfield did an excellent multifaceted and at times very hilarious job on Eamon’s this six-part Artificial Intelligence / Dystopian Saga.

I read and really enjoyed the individual short stories as they came out through 2015 and 2016 and ‘twas great to revisit the Omnibus as an audiobook.

(Below my sometimes overexcitable original reviews -> each FIVE STAR).

Part One:
Great short story! (So good I already bought the second part straight after I finishing reading it, back when it came out as an individual short story)

No spoilers here -> yes there is a few surprises towards the end of of the book!

Part Two:
Speechless/ Sprachlos!

Part Three:
Excellent continuation of Eamon's AI / dystopian saga - number 3, from a total of 5!

Hurry up & get the next one, cause this is great fun & each page a surprise awaits the reader.

Part Four:

Bloody hell this was a great read!

Eamon, you did it again -> left us waiting & wondering WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Can we add a Greatreads feature to Goodreads? Anyone?

An epic story like this is a prime example of the excellent short stories being written by indie writers in the last few years. Good old fashioned dystopian literature in episodes, which has been written fresh 'n' fast, making sure WE the readers stay on the edge of our seats.

Part Five:
Loving it Eamon, but I don't have a clue how this all is gonna rap-up in the up and coming 'grand finale'?

Are you sure that you don't need another couple? Ah go on...

Part Six:
Tremendous ending to an amazing series of short stories from our man Eamon Ambrose!

Curious if there is more

This is the first book I have read/listened to by this author and I would be interested listen to another. It does end at a point that could easily lead into another story or stories. The main conflict present in this omnibus does come to a conclusion. I am unsure why there is the perspective switches. The character Sara is fully aware of who she is but we get her side of the story in the second person perspective, we get the character Alex’s perspective in the first person and the remainder of the characters we get a narrative of their actions. I got used to it although never fully understand stood why the second person perspective was used with the main character. It is a bit confusing at the end because the author switches and uses the second person perspective for a different character temporarily. I, like a few other listeners, had to go back and re-listen to make sure I was understanding who the character was. The second person perspective took me out of the story a bit. I was immersed during the parts with Alex but when it switched to Sara the story felt more distant and separate.——-

This is the first book I have listened to by this narrator ( James Highfield ) and I would definitely listen to another. He truly performs the story rather than just reads it and his character voices, including the female ones, were well done. His style drew me into the story but the second person perspective kept tugging me back out. ——-

There are no explicit sex scenes, or excessively described violence, there is some minor swearing. ——-

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.

Story 4/5
Narration 5/5

Not for me... not engaging

I tried multiple times to give this audiobook a shot... couldn't even get a full hour into it. Unfortunately the characters aren't relatable, storyline isn't engaging and I got bored with the narration.

* This audiobook was provided to me at no cost in exchange for my unbiased review.