Sleeper Ship

Book Two of the Rim Confederacy

By: Jim Rudnick

Narrated by: Eric Martin

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

"As penance for not being honest with his admiral, Captain Tanner Scott has been sent on a boring routine maintenance mission of checking the RIM boundary buoys one after another, and that lets him enjoy his Scotch in peace.

Imagine his surprise when a Sleeper ship suddenly arrives on the RIM, and he learns that the thousands of alien Sleepers are all children! While making that known has already gotten RIM confederacy realms fighting, the real hidden problem is the secret that a virus infects the alien Sleepers.

Finding out the Sleeper's secret is one thing but the news of what that virus could bring to the RIM and what it might do is the real reason that a powerful RIM royal realm wants to enslave the alien Sleepers.

When Captain Scott realizes that another RIM planetary realm has also learned what the virus could be worth, they too try to take over the Sleeper ship and that means that Tanner can't as per usual self-medicate with Scotch but instead has to overcome the RIM's adversaries and somehow save the alien Sleepers too!"

©2015 Jim Rudnick (P)2015 Jim Rudnick

Very Good First Contact Storyline

This was another one of those audiobooks that I listened to through the night just to finish. I thought it sounded interesting from the description, but you can never fully appreciate how good it will be until you dive in.
This had a little bit of everything... Politics, space tactics, and a first contact scenario. First contact stories tend to be my favorite for some reason, and this one didn't disappoint.
I started with this book (the second in the series) but the author did a decent job with making this its own independent story. There were a few references to the previous book that were brief in the beginning, but I didn't feel at all lost.

The story begins with a drunken Captain beginning what is meant to be a punishment mission repairing sensor stations on the border of the Confederacy. One of the stations they are repairing previously detected a very large ship traveling at slower-than-light speeds, but was unable to report the find due to damage. When they finally catch up to the gargantuan ship, they discover that it is a "sleeper ship" (similar to another previously encountered decades prior) with thousands of aliens in cryogenic suspension fleeing their home world.
With multiple factions out to claim the new colonists, their technology, and their secret to long-life that could prove priceless, the Captain must mediate and provide a voice of reason through the hostile (and sometimes violent) negotiations for resettlement of the colonists.

Narration was good as well. In my opinion, a good narrator never distracts from the story. If I'm not distracted by strange voices or mispronunciations (which to be honest is all to often), I usually give 5 stars. This is the case with the narrator in this book.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, publisher, or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review. I was NOT required to write a positive review and this reflects my honest opinion of the work.

Sleepers looking for a new home.

Good story, probably need to have read the first book, as it seemed to refer back to that story. Captain Scott has potential, but seemed to spend to much time drunk!!

Well read by Eric Martin, delivers a polished performance. Needed a more likeable leading character to really sell it.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

Space drama

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com.

Not a terrible way to spend the day but some of the drama between characters didn't appear to developed enough. In the end I enjoyed the book and am happy I listened to it. A little less focus on the alcoholic behavior of the captain would have helped.

Interesting read

Would you consider the audio edition of Sleeper Ship to be better than the print version?

Not for this book. Audio version was produced just fine. I enjoyed the story.

What does Eric Martin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Quality narration makes a big difference here. Eric positioned characters in a believable situations and had a convincing delivery. You can't ask for more.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was annoyed by the overuse of Scotch. To me, it lowered the quality of the book. First, it made people in charge look like idiots. There was booze everywhere and only captain had a drinking problem. It's just not likely. Content editing should catch this.

Any additional comments?

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com

A mix of video game and book cliches

What would have made Sleeper Ship better?

Original concepts. This book copies several other stories' and video games' concepts and even names of technologies.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Nothing by this author.

Which character – as performed by Eric Martin – was your favorite?

I think the tribals on the sleeper ship were nicely done.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Even though there were copied concepts, they were fleshed out pretty nicely.

Any additional comments?

If you write a book, and you copy technologies and other concepts, at the minimum, change the names.

Entertaining space opera type book

Where does Sleeper Ship rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The story line is interesting; though it would be better if the main character had more lucid moments. Though it does offer some interesting twists and turns to the plot.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sleeper Ship?

When the sleepers were able to save their ship while the advance technology was useless.

What does Eric Martin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Eric Martin is with out a doubt one of the best narrators I have run across. He differentiates the various characters and is always understandable. He adds excitement to the story line at the correct times as well. Eric's narration is possibly the strongest thing going for this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My reaction is that the main character needs to become more of a character and move forward.

Any additional comments?

I was sent this audio book in exchange for a review. I enjoyed the story and especially a narrator that I can understand. The story line could be developed a bit more and I hope the third book will fulfill this. For a space navy they spend little time in any kind of battle situation and most of their time going from one personal interaction between the Captain and the Lady. The series started with great potential. Now if it can close with a bang and bring it all together it would be great.

Very Good First Contact Storyline

Would you consider the audio edition of Sleeper Ship to be better than the print version?

Did not read the printed version, Eric Martin has a great voice that is very easy to listen to. He does a great range of voices for both genders, does different levels of emotions well, and is clear in his speech

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favourite character in all of the series has to be Lady St August. Her tenacity, the dialogue she comes out with, her attitude are just fantastic and make the book so much better

Which scene was your favorite?

Enjoyed the whole book, looking forward to the rest of the series

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher

Excellet Sequel to Pirates, Well Worth the Listen

What made the experience of listening to Sleeper Ship the most enjoyable?

Rudnick has created an outstanding Universe within which to tell his stories, with the RIM Fleet, the Barony and Duke as well as other Royals, and several other races all vying for power. His Characters are outstanding as they try and manouevre through the plot, to uncover what is happening in this particular story. The best part of this story has to be the Ikarian Sleeper Ship though, and the descriptions of all of this.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favourite character in all of the series has to be Lady St August. Her tenacity, the dialogue she comes out with, her attitude are just fantastic and make the book so much better.

Have you listened to any of Eric Martin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Only through the other RIM Confederacy titles. This one is much the same as the others, but all of them are excellent. He has a great voice that is very easy to listen to. He does a great range of voices for both genders, does different levels of emotions well, and is clear in his speech. He really adds something to the story in its telling that you wouldn't get from just reading it, making it so much better to listen to.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Very much so, and I got through it in only 2 or 3 sittings as it was I enjoyed it so much.

Any additional comments?

This was a brilliant book, the story and characters are outstanding. The introduction of the sleeper ship, first contact and all of the RIM based politics was exceptional. Rudnick writes so well as he combines the Military, Royalty and Political situations into a story as well as the personalities of a few key characters to tell an interesting and engaging story. This is Military Sci-Fi as it should be, interesting, detailed, exciting, fun, with some really fast paced and well described combat scenes, as well as brilliant dialogue and intrigue across sectors of space. Outstanding effort.

Great book, make a heck of a movie!

Enjoyed the book, looking forward to the rest of the series.



This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.

What do you do with a drunken sailor!?

The captain is a drunk, the soviets have their own planetary realm and there's a royal rich b*tch! What more could you ask from a political sci-fi story!
This is a story that touches on many modern issues and is attempting to make some kind of a political statement, although I'm not exactly sure what that statement is.
The main character is a drunk, and although he's supposed to carry the story, he really doesn't do much except fantasize about drinking when he isn't drinking.
This is the second book in a series, but it works fine as a stand-alone listen.
The narration is excellent! The narrator really carries this story, he brings the characters to life and he really enhances the listening experience.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."