Scum of the Earth

By: Alexander C. Kane

Narrated by: Scott Aiello

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Ezra Barker is a traitor. When the Merg invaded Earth, he didn’t fight or even hide. He cooperated, helping them as they seized control of the planet and began their pillaging of its resources. While others toil away in mines and quarries, Ezra works an office job, helping his boss, The Senator, rule over the swath of territory given to her by the Merg.

Sergeant Hayes is a brutal enforcer of the Merg’s rules. As an officer in the Health and Safety Department, he follows Merg orders, arresting, interrogating, and executing at their command.

With collaborators like Barker, The Senator, and Hayes, the Merg are strip-mining Earth, slaughtering its people, and destroying anyone who opposes them. The skies are gray, the air is poison, and the Merg seem invincible.

But there are others still fighting back.

©2023 Alexander C. Kane (P)2024 Audible, Inc.

Sad, dark, uplifting, wonderful

I enjoy when an author or other creative person explores a different vibe. I am a big fan of everything Mr. Kane has put out so far, and this darker, less comical, version of heroic, chaotic, flawed characters was no exception. I look forward to following every old or new avenue this author takes.

Very different from other Kane novels.

I love Alexander C Kane. I really love Andrea Vernon. This novel is VERY dark. Well written as all of his other novels, however, very dark. Maybe because this book totally captures our human nature and it can be too close to the truth, As other reviewers have said this very dark, We have warned you.

Alexander C. Kane does it again

Another terrific and imaginative book from Kane, who has a knack for making wildly unrealistic situations work by being attuned to the all-too-real ways humans and institutions work. If you haven’t discovered this author yet, you are in for a real treat. If you have, well, you won’t be disappointed. Here’s hoping there is a sequel in the works…

⚠️SPOILER⚠️ I enjoyed this as I had no idea about it.

I don't read book summaries. Most of the time I am reading an author I like, so I trust I will like the story. The "They won, I joined them." was enough for me. I like Alexander's writing. he always makes me laugh. This story kept me "turning the pages." I enjoyed it. Scott was a good narrator!

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SPOILER!!!!!!!!

The names of some of the characters were hard for me to follow so I didn't feel I got to know them as well as I do some other characters which is just as well because they died. I usually hate books where the characters die, but as I said I wasn't that invested with these ones, although I LOVED the explosives expert. The one I wanted to die didn't but I can dream. I liked Arkansas and Barker. This is a tough situation I hope to never be in. Curious as to who actually is the Scum in this story.

Not the norm

Definitely not like the others he’s written! I had a hard time getting into it & sticking w/ the story, but overall it was still pretty good!

Good audio book

Alien invasion story from a different point of view with the Great characters . Itwas very well preformed.

Another hit

Another fantastic listen from Kane. Tone is definitely more serious and dark than his previous works, but still funny at times. Characters you both love and hate. Imaginative plot. Loved it!

Despite humor, this was not an easy listen

I tend to enjoy Alexander C. Kane's audiobooks. his works tend to feature both violence and levity. While I'm not generally a fan of the former, I do appreciate the latter.

Scum of the Earth has both themes in abundance. However, this is the first time I've had a hard time rooting for a protagonist of his. Ezra Barker is a traitor to humankind. He is an unlikely hero. The fact that I can picture myself in his place, making unpalatable decisions to survive, makes my feelings of discomfort worse than if I couldn't relate to him at all.

Scott Aiello is a brilliant voice actor. I might not have been able to make it through this book without him.

Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining listen.

Rooting for The Scum of the Earth!

I've always enjoyed Kane's characters, so flawed and so very human. Even his inhuman characters never fail to be so vivid. This one's no exception!

Dystopian, not even slightly funny

Of course well written, full of imagination and plausible surprises. Maybe there will be a sequel, but there aren’t any obvious loose ends.