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The Outside
- Narrated by: Nancy Wu
- Length: 16 hrs and 38 mins
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction
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Publisher's Summary
Humanity's super-intelligent AI gods brutally punish breaches in reality, as one young scientist discovers, in this intense and brilliant space opera.
Autistic scientist Yasira Shien has developed a radical new energy drive that could change the future of humanity. But when she activates it, reality warps, destroying the space station and everyone aboard. The AI gods who rule the galaxy declare her work heretical, and Yasira is abducted by their agents. Instead of simply executing her, they offer mercy - if she'll help them hunt down a bigger target: her own mysterious, vanished mentor.
With her homeworld's fate in the balance, Yasira must choose who to trust: the gods and their ruthless post-human angels, or the rebel scientist whose unorthodox mathematics could turn her world inside out.
Critic Reviews
"Hoffmann confidently layers morality and disability rights into a breezily told adventure that bursts with sheer fun.... This beautifully smart, uncynical space opera will charm fans of Charles Stross and Lois McMaster Bujold." (Publishers Weekly)
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What listeners say about The Outside
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-04-20
Not good.
Not much happens and then a character becomes suddenly important and we're supposed to care.
3 people found this helpful
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- S. Murray
- 08-29-20
Exhausting main character paralyzed by self doubt
The main character in this story is the most self-deprecating, fearful, unhappy creature I've ever encountered in fiction. At first this is likable, but the character keeps on passing up opportunities for self-growth or for questioning the "way things are" this combined with the worried narration makes it exhausting to listen to.
1 person found this helpful
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- Ross
- 07-28-20
An engaging new take on lovecraftian horrors!
The Outside is an engaging new take on lovecraftian horrors in a scifi setting!
The world building is detailed but it never feels like you're getting bogged down in trivia.
The main character and main antagonist being on the autistic spectrum adds a delightful layer to the story, as from their perspective humans are themselves arbitrary alien messes with incomprehensible rules.
The book works well enough as a stand alone story, but I hope there is a sequel!
1 person found this helpful
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- MsHarmony
- 01-27-20
Satisfied All My Cravings For a Sci-Fi Book
Hoffmann’s world is populated by a variety of post op angels, vague gods who rule over them, good, bad and so-so aliens, and an intrepid and brilliant young autistic scientist who embarks on the journey of her life. Without getting into the story line, let me just say, it was interesting, clever and refreshingly original; beautifully written and spot on narration. It kept my full attention front to back.
I just read there is a sequel tentatively set. I hope it’s with the same narrator, Nancy Wu.
Anyway, 5 stars, 2 thumbs’ up and a resounding Yes!
PS It's months later and I've re-read The Outside only to love it even more than the first time. I thought Nancy Wu's narration was perfect. Her voice captured the inner musings of young Yasira, the hesitant, lost and confused and yet oh-so determined genius scientist we follow on her path of discoveries. Please Ada Hoffmann, hurry with the next one!
1 person found this helpful
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- Ron A. Parsons
- 12-14-19
Gods, souls, religion
Did a double take on this, thought it was scify
-turned out medieval fantasy
Was closer
1 person found this helpful
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- josh
- 09-13-19
not enough. poor story arc.
the parts of a story are there. it has interesting sci-fi. add it to your love craft portfolio.
but it lacks story arc. i'm left saying to my self, Do i care what happens? should i sit through this?
great narration.
2 people found this helpful
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- martin kenna
- 07-25-19
an author with her own original ideas
it's not often I cant wait to finish a book so I can get to the ratings bit to comment. the narrator is not my taste but tells the story well. well done Nancy. the story itself. Wow. having read thousands of books I can normally predict the plot 9 out of 10 times. Not this one. Because it's so original I had no idea where it was going to end up. So impressed
2 people found this helpful
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- Michael Harry
- 11-09-19
Meandering and boring story
The story was far too long and we spend far too much time inside the protagonist's head with her thoughts and worries that repeat and go on and on. Too many filler scenes, repetitive scenes that say things we've already been told. The central mystery about outside is not worth finding out about.
The voice acting kept me listening but honestly this was a slog to get through and I should have abandoned it