The Punch Escrow

By: Tal M. Klein

Narrated by: Matthew Mercer

It's the year 2147. Advancements in nanotechnology have enabled us to control aging. We've genetically engineered mosquitoes to feast on carbon fumes instead of blood, ending air pollution. And teleportation has become the ideal mode of transportation, offered exclusively by International Transport - a secretive firm headquartered in New York City. Their slogan: Departure...Arrival...Delight!

Joel Byram, our smartass protagonist, is an everyday 22nd century guy. He spends his days training artificial-intelligence engines to act more human, jamming out to 1980s new wave - an extremely obscure genre - and trying to salvage his deteriorating marriage. Joel is pretty much an everyday guy with everyday problems - until he's accidentally duplicated while teleporting. Now Joel must outsmart the shadowy organization that controls teleportation, outrun the religious sect out to destroy it, and find a way to get back to the woman he loves in a world that now has two of him.

©2017 Tal M. Klein (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Matthew Mercer is perfectly cast as smart-ass Joel Byram. One can almost see Joel's facial expressions as he navigates a world in which he's been duplicated in a teleportation accident. This futuristic story is made Monty Python-like by Mercer's outstanding voicings. His version of the synthesized voice of the 171-year-old founder of a religious cult is beautifully mechanical. His rendering of the two Levantine spies' accents is marvelous. And his depiction of the transformation of a hardworking science guy into full-fledged mad scientist is spot-on. Many characters, many voices - one terrific performance." (AudioFile)

Difficult To Suspend Disbelief

A nice story but so riddled with logical errors that it becomes difficult to suspend my disbelief.

Finished it in one day

Picked it up for Matthew Mercer, Stayed for the amazing story and characters. Very much worth a listen, the story and plot are very compelling and Mercer's range is impeccable.

Matthew Mercer, wow, my new favorite narrator!!

What a great story, well told and narrated by Matthew Mercer. Bring on the future!!

Amazing story & voice actor

Loved hearing Mercer for hours! His voice can make anything come to life! Just like in Critical Role by just using his voice he can help you picture the characters and it was a wonderful ride.

Matt Mercer is fantastic

There were times I forgot it was just one person reading. He was animated and charismatic during the whole book. Can't wait for more from him.