The Bourne Legacy

By: Eric Van Lustbader

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 18 hrs

Publisher's Summary

In Robert Ludlum's ground-breaking career, no other character so captured the world's imagination as Jason Bourne. He appeared in three of Robert Ludlum's own best-selling novels, his best-selling works to this day. Now, with the major motion picture adaptation of Ludlum's The Bourne Supremacy, the Ludlum estate has finally acceded to the demands of readers around the world, turning to best-selling writer Eric Van Lustbader to create a brand new Jason Bourne novel, The Bourne Legacy.

Jason Bourne, international assassin of deadly repute, was an identity assumed by covert agent David Webb. Retired from the CIA and now a professor at Georgetown University, Webb's life is finally his own, until he becomes the target of an assassin and is framed for the murder of his two closest associates. Fighting for his life against unseen assailants, the Bourne identity asserts itself, leaving Jason Bourne in control. Barely a half-step ahead of his nemesis and the CIA, who believes he has gone rogue, Bourne finds himself a pawn in a larger, far deadlier game.

©2004 the Estate of Robert Ludlum (P)2004 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC and Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Scott Brick is one of the fastest-rising stars in the audiobook galaxy. His understated approach to each book serves him well, and whether he is handling a roomful of Russian generals or a series of dizzying scene changes, the listener stays with him for every word." (AudioFile)

It sure reads like a Ludlum book!

The book was wonderful! It was a perfect flow from the other Bourne books. Eric Van Lustbader has absorbed the Ludlum style so perfectly that Bourne himself wouldn't know it wasn't Ludlum. With so many different characters in the story it could easily have confused the listener if it weren't for the wonderful character development of the author, and the just as great character differentiation of the narrator. This is a MUST READ!

Listen carefully or you'll be lost in a heartbeat

Like the other reviews, I also enjoyed the story line and near immortality of Jason Bourne. The ONE major issue I have is with the reader. Scott Brick has a compelling voice and is masterful in his voice changes, tone, and pace. However, he continues between "segments" of chapters that change scenes with not even a microsecond of a pause.

He'll be reading about Jason eluding an assasin's bullet in one sentence and describing a CIA operative's exploits in Budapest in the next sentence. The book, of course, has a new sub-segment started as noted by a blank line. Brick, however, keeps on reading without taking a breath.

I found myself backing up thirty seconds or so on nearly every CD because I'd been caught daydreaming a few seconds and was catapaulted into a new scene of the book not knowing the seque to get there.

Other than this glitch, the book is well worth the effort and cost. Enjoy, but pay attention or you'll be left behind.

A Whole New Bourne

First off, compellingly great narration by Scott Brick made this book a must buy!

Story wise, at first I wasnt sure what to think. I have listened to this audio several times and I find I enjoy it more each time. However, like a few of the other reviewers, I must agree that the Bourne character is not quite on par with what Robert Ludlum created, though it is close.

I distinctly remember wondering as Bourne was repeatedly getting seriously injured(just like in other books), one how is this guy still standing much less fighting. And two just how OLD is Jason Bourne getting now? considering the time period and technology in place when the original books were written and noticing some of the far more advanced technology present in Van Lustbader's books, Bourne should be about 60 years old! Aside from that though, this book is still highly recommended to fans of the Bourne Character.

Fabulous Edition to the Bourne persona

Although this is the only Jason Bourne book not written by Robert Ludlum, it is an awesome addition to the existing trilogy. The book is very fast paced, with an intelligent plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. A lot of the loose ends concerning David Webb before the memory loss are tied up, and plot twists have been added which heighten the plots of the other three books. Amazingly, you can now read the other books again, and bring forth a new dimension of depth to the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and immediately had to listen to it a second time. That is something that I rarely do. I hope that the Ludlum family will contine to allow this author to add more books to this saga, as his ending would allow him to do so realatively easily.

It just keeps getting better

If you only met Jason Bourne through the movies, then treat yourself by listening to the books. You are there in the midst of all the action. It becomes almost impossible to put the book down. Truly glad I found you, audible.

Bourne again

Rollicking action - chases aplenty - shootups, punchups, cockups - Freud meets Fundamentalists. This ain't great literature, but it's good escapist stuff, which rolls out at a frantic pace. Just the thing to make you wish your commute was longer. The narrator, Scott Brick, is one of a kind. If you like this, and want to hear him narrate a superb spy masterpiece, download Robert Littel's 'The Company'.

The Bourne Legacy

I enjoyed the Bourne Legacy as much as any of the other Ludlum Bourne novels. The character development of Bourne adds a dimension to this thriller that makes this a truly enjoyable book. And of course the reader, Scott Brick, is great as always.

Horrible story that is poorly written

**Book Spoilers**

First, If someone writes a book about law enforcement, the author should contact someone in law enforcement to see if what they wrote is even close to believable.

The story is based on Jason being the suspect in the killing his best friend, Conklin. The agency believe he’s be planned this for a long time. With that said, he’s the prime suspect because he left his vehicle in the driveway of the house where the murder occurred. He left his fingerprints on a glass in the house. Isn’t Bourne supposed to be the best agent around? So you have the best agent planning a murder and he’s leaves his car and fingerprints at the scene? Then the CIA still think he planned the murder? I think even someone that has never been to an investigation school could see this is a setup.

In every case where Bourne is being chased by, supposedly by the top agents, there’s never a helicopter, dogs, and anything that would be actually used in a law enforcement search. What about setting up a perimeter before going in to get him? No the CIA isn’t smart enough to do that.

There’s another part in the book when Bourne discovers the last phone call Conklin made. He goes to that location and locates the person Conklin contacted. The person believes Bourne killed Conklin so he’s able to call the agency on Conklin’s private phone line. Then instead of just diverting Bourne’s attention and wait for the agency to arrive, he tells Bourne he called the agency and they’re on there way to get him. But of course before they arrive, he believes Bourne is innocent but the CIA still doesn’t but they can’t add two and two.

The author also add a few typical cheap fillers that are added when you can't come up with a new story: The CIA and local law enforcement don’t like each other; a guy in the CIA will use anyone to get ahead; the CIA and the other countries’ security service units don’t work together because they all think they’re better.

I couldn’t finish the book.

decent

This book was alright, it had alot of action that kept you entertained, but there were a huge amount of characters that all have little roles and it is hard to remember who they are and what they do because they are only mentioned in the book every other hour. The book jumps around alot and if you aren't listening carefully enough you will find yourself 10 mins later completely confused about what is going on because you didn't know the plot went to a different set of characters.

Bourne Supreme

Such enjoyment and intrigue was derived from this book. We really enjoyed listening to it whilst on 6 hour drive to Sydney. It fills in a lot of gaps about Jason Bourne but equally creates more gaps about him. Really enjoyable reading.

loved it

We just loved it, from beginning to end suspence, highly entertaining. I painted my house (inside) while listening to it Great!!!!!

Excellent audiobook

The book is very well narrated, he has a nice American accent and is able to put feeling into the text where necessary. This comes across much better than it did in film. I haven't listened to many audio books but I would recommend this one, I didn't want to stop listening!

Not in par with previous books.

Not happy with the fact that only on book 4, with a new author, it comes out that the son of the main character is still alive, when at no point in previous books this fact was mentioned.

Surprising

After the dreadful 3rd book in the Bourne series, I was not holding out much hope for this one.
Good plot which held my attention, narrative so much better..

Better than the originals

If you're a fan of the movies you'll enjoy this book more than the original novels because of the fast pace and relentless action. I'll read the others

Fantastic

Loved every minute of it.
Could not wait for each time I found to listen.

Some daft bits but a bit of a romp

It is not clear if it is the sighing in the narrator's voice or the daft things the author puts into his protagonists mouths that were most irritating. All in all it was OK. Well, it must have been as I stuck it out to the end.
Just don't expect great writing. Bourne at one point walks into an apartment in which there is a grand piano... It is an example of what I mean. If you dont get it listen again...

Excellent!

The narrator in this story has been top draw! Bourne never changes, just the same old Bourne. Overwhelmingly great, gripping and totally inescapable.

Great Listen

Really impressed with the narration and the story is well worth a listen.



Great series of books and work well on Audible format

Edge of my seat

I loved this audio novel, well-narrated and gripping to the end.



The only reason it doesn't get a full five stars it that there were a few holes in the plot. But for me Van Lustbader has managed to recreate the Bourne magic of Ludlum's classic creation.