The Beam: Season 2

By: Sean Platt, Johnny B. Truant

Narrated by: Rachel Fulginiti, Julia Whelan, R.C. Bray, Tara Sands, Ralph Lister, Johnny Heller, plus a full cast

Length: 20 hrs

Publisher's Summary

See how deep deception goes…in the sci-fi political thriller that has readers screaming for more.

Two weeks after the end of The Beam's first groundbreaking season, one thing is abundantly clear: the more the world changes, the harder those in power work behind the curtain to keep it all the same.

With Shift, the NAU's national election, now just days away, the country's political parties fight even harder to win the citizen's minds—minds that are almost all permanently connected to The Beam, addicted to connectivity more deeply than any drug. Only those with the courage to think for themselves can work to change what seems like a certain future.

Meanwhile, using the screaming pundits on ubiquitous viewscreens as cover, an organization advances human enhancements further than they were ever meant to go—further than the struggling, crumbling NAU can hope to survive.

Doc is still on the run after his near-fatal case of mistaken identity. Kai wants to help him, but not as much as she wants to protect herself—a job that's becoming harder and harder. Leah is stuck with old man Crumb, who has emerged from madness into lucidity with sudden, almost frightening speed. And Nicolai wants nothing more than to cut ties with the Ryans, who have controlled his life since long before he knew their true purpose … but politics is a dirty game, and no one gets away clean.

Shift is heating up. All the petty games played around it have had their stakes raised to lethal levels. And in the face of its relentless, implacable advance, not everyone will make it out alive.

Continue the thrilling series that readers are calling the greatest thing to hit sci-fi in decades. Download the second season of The Beam NOW!

©2014 Sean Platt & Johnny B. Truant (P)2015 Podium Publishing

The story deapens

What did you love best about The Beam: Season 2?

How we learned new layers to characters and the back story of this future world that we didn't know about in the first season. It helped raise the stakes and deepen the connections of everyone to each other.

What other book might you compare The Beam: Season 2 to and why?

None really, the Nicolais backstory kind of reminded me of The Postman.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Their performances were pretty good. I just wish they could do the male and female voices they do for their character in all the sections and not in just the character viewpoint they are doing.

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

Yes, I listened to it on the job and finished it in two days.

Any additional comments?

I look forward to season 3.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Another fantastic sequel

The Beam is back--this time it goes deeper into the characters, and in many ways it's more intriguing than the first season. I won't give away any spoilers, but If you loved Season 1, you'll love this. It's dark, intriguing, philosophical without being too much so, and always entertaining.

What I love most about the series is the writing style--it translates incredibly well into audio. I listened to the audio narration, which was fantastic as usual. Podium Publishing seriously has some of the best narrators around. They make this story come ALIVE. The funny thing is that I don't normally read hard sci-fi, but I love this series. Probably the deepest and most complex series in the Sterling & Stone franchises.

I enjoyed this, and I'm looking forward to Season 3. I would recommend you read this while listening to the audio version---honestly, no one should read this series without it.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

I'm ready for more

I've really enjoyed the two seasons of the Beam- Now I want more.
The story line is good but the multiple narrators are some of the very best!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

The Best Fiction I've Ever Experienced

A word of warning, The Beam season 2 just like its predecessor should be rated mature. There are descriptions of drug use, sex, and violence throughout.

That being said the world of The Beam is my favorite fictional world to exist in. That's what sets The Beam apart. When I am listening to the narration I lose myself in the story. The room I'm in fades away and I'm as firmly in the story as if I were in a holodeck on the USS Enterprise.

For those who liked the first season, you will love season two. New characters are introduced, the world gets bigger and more fleshed out, and the political infighting gets more fun. The Beam season 2 does everything a sequel should do. The fans get more of what they want and the world with larger scope. I didn't even think that was possible!

I would recommend buying season 1 before you buy season 2. If there some reason you don't want to, the first part of the story has a, "previously in The Beam" prologue.

I plan on buying Plugged: How The Beam and Hyperconnectivity Changed the Way We Think with my next credit. That's a book by Sterling Gibson explaining the science of the Beam.

It's fascinating to me how real and natural this world feels. That's what world-class storytellers and the cast of amazing narrators can do for you. This is why I love science fiction!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Awesome

I really enjoyed this audio book. I cannot wait for season three to get here

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Absolutely in love with this series!

Tried to pace myself with this, but it's hard to stop listening. Great story, good character development, very intriguing setting. I love it all...

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Can't wait for the next season

I loved this second season of The Beam and I think I have become addicted to this world.
The story continues to flesh out the characters and the world as a whole and we learn some very interesting nuggets about the creation of the beam.
If you haven't read/listened to the first season then you won't fully appreciate what is happening, but if you, like me, were intrigued by the first season then this will immerse you deeper in the world, answer some questions and raise even more.
Truant and Platt are master story tellers and I recommend this series to anyone who likes sci-fi and/or futuristic fantasy

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Loved It

This author team doesn't fail. I was a fan of Yesterday's gone also.

Both post apocalyptic

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Almost....

I really enjoyed Season One of The Beam and was eager to listen to Season Two...

I had high hopes that Season Two would continue at the incredibly high level of plot and character development that Season One set as a benchmark. Unfortunately, Season Two mires itself in a little too much in some complex intertwining of the main characters we've come to know in Season One, perhaps unnecessarily so as to challenge my suspension of disbelief.

I also would have to say that any listener will get more out of Season Two after listening to Season One.

All this being said, the narration(s) are still absolutely first rate and compelling, and the story lines are advanced a considerable distance past where they left off in Season One.

I'm still enough of a fan to want to hear what comes next.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

great

honestly looking forward to season 3. The only down to this is that you have to wait.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Shaggy dog story

nothing happens and it takes forever to get that far with a lot of pseudo science and philosophical mumbo jumbo thrown in for added boredom. nothing ever gets resolved. questions just get raised and never answered. characters are pretty two dimensional. I listened to season 1 and 2 just expecting it to get to the point and some point and it never did. the Voice acting is good but because different chapters are read by different people you get the same character voiced by two different people which can be weird. sorry I can't be more positive about it but it honestly feels like it will never end and life is too short.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Inventive and immersive

Draws you in and holds your attention. We'll thought out and convincing. The only bad bit was the sudden ending leaving you wanting more

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great story

Can't wait for season 3

Story really makes you think. And could so be possible.

I like the fact there are multiple narrators.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not quite as strong as Part 1 but still good!

I enjoyed this and could not miss it after listening to Part 1. I’d say it’s not quite as strong as part 1, but still worth a listen. The only thing that has REALLY irritated me is that there doesn’t appear to be a part 3 to listen to so I will never know what happens to these characters. I truly loved the vision and concept of the future told here and it is extremely believable and interesting. A good listen, cracking performances and just a shame there is no part 3!

What bookt

Wow! How long does this go on for.? I gather I'm not finished yet. Enjoy the different people making the characters. Makes it different. Great so far!!!

Interesting political thriller

I like the way several people read the story, it's kind of weird at first but makes it more interesting.

Fantastic follow on from season 1

The story is great. The multiple narrator format is fantastic. I can't wait for season-three.