Starbound

By: Joe Haldeman

Narrated by: Annie Henk, George Guidall, Jefferson Mays

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and John W. Campbell Award winner Joe Haldeman has given the world such science-fiction masterpieces as The Forever War and Forever Peace. Here, he tells the tale of Carmen Dula’s six-year journey through space to the home of The Others, where she represents Earth in hopes of forging a peace accord. But due to Relativity, 50 Earth years have passed since Carmen left. And while humans have been busy constructing an enormous flotilla of warships, The Others possess power and technology far beyond anything Earth can imagine.

©2010 Joe Haldeman (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

"[I]mportant and entertaining.” ( Library Journal)

Great SciFi

Haldeman has a great track record writing SciFi. Starbound only enhances his reputation. One of the most interesting and entertaining characteristics of this book is the use of multiple narrators. The integration of the characters, text, and narrators is so well done this might qualify as a dramatization. The only reason it could not qualify as a dramatization is the narrators do not assume different roles exclusively. Still, the way the author has woven the use of the multiple narrators into the fabric of the story is commendable and makes this one of the best books I have listened to in this genre.

Good book where Humanity does not learn

I can see why this a good book. It explores that ration views of humanity and all of its fears and arrogance.

Good listen. Bleak outlook?

Excellent voices in narration. I liked the interplay of characters on this long bizarre mission. When you hear the news it'll make you wonder whether we are up to meeting other races. We don't seem to be up to the standards that we may find are expected of us.

Too many important technical goofs

it was a decent story till the last 2 chapters. then it went completely off the rails. one spoiler ro make the point. You can't destroy the moon without killing the planet. but the author does with tge expectation life will be able to go on more or less as mormal.
Overall, it might have been an interesting story if it wasn't for the plot holes you could pass the moon through... litterally.

Great Science Viction

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

If you like whitchs's, goblins, vampires and magic then this is not for you. If on the other hand you, like me thinks phantasy should be kept in a different section of the library and never allowed to be mixed with Sci-FI then this is a classic. This book also contains the thing that is so often missing in todays science fiction a tru omg twisted ending that makes yiou stop and think. So many just end.

Any additional comments?

I didn't read the first book in this series (Marsbounound) because it had a poor rating. I am now reading the last book (Earthbound). After this book I just had to read the final book. If it turns out to be any where near as good as this one was then I will be reading the first book last. I'll let you know.