The Wild Shore

The Three Californias Triptych, Book 1

By: Kim Stanley Robinson

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of the award-winning Mars trilogy comes a vision of a radically different alternative future, where every day is a fight to survive.

North America, 2047. For the small Pacific Coast community of San Onofre, life in the aftermath of a devastating nuclear attack is a matter of survival, a day-to-day struggle to stay alive. But young Hank Fletcher dreams of the world that might have been, that might yet be - and dreams of playing a crucial role in America's rebirth.

Kim Stanley Robinson's first novel, The Wild Shore, is an epic tale that will appeal to adults and young adults alike.

©1984 Kim Stanley Robinson (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc., and Skyboat Media, Inc.

Interesting

Worth a listen but probably not to everyone’s taste. I liked it, the descriptions were fabulous, characters were flushed out.

Character of America

A solid 3 stars, entertaining that doesn’t require full attention and good descriptions of CA. The story is in many ways believable especially now in 2023/2024 with the problems in the country. Unlike other “post-apocalyptic” books with a nuclear war with hardly any people left and desolation.
If we aren’t wise and we aren’t that wise anyway apparently, we may just find the good ole USA scattered in the dust.
Maybe 2024 will see the turning point!

Story peters out

I’m not sure what this book wanted to be. There were some interesting details, good characters and lovely language (inspired no doubt by long walks along the West Coast). But the story got lost and evaporated.

Inspiring

Rich in detail, both external and internal to the point of view character, this novel wastes little time telling why we should care about this world, preferring to immerse us in it and let us draw our own conclusions.

A ruthless gaze, a kind mind, a primal heart.

Lies and dreams embrace until characters become people. Hopes and fears crash against a world too soft to hate and too harsh to ignore.

Incredibly beautiful writing for a strong and honest story. Powerful.

If u like this author you will enjoy this title

Story was Okay. Interesting characters. Narrator sounded slow from time to time, hard to understand, had to listen to the same parts 2 or 3 times. Will try next part.

Needs 6 stars

This book redefines great sci-fi, it is a great story and good literature. It has lots of ringing truths and it punches through similar books with a rich inner life expressed in terms of the New World lost in the ruins of the old.

Good book but characters are racist and sexist

Provocative vision of a possible future. However - I was troubled by the racism and sexism in the book and couldn't tell how much of it was the author's biases and how much he was intentionally making the characters bigoted. Also, why is nobody using horses for transportation? This is never explained.

Stefan Rudnicki’s Voice makes me Puke

Great stories.

However, Rudnicki’s baritone is not merely an odd choice for stories about young adults, his dramatic range is profoundly limited. So particularly female characters are just not very good. It’s frequently absurdly distracting. I’m glad they got another guy for the mars books.

Rudnicki’s voice makes me so sick I couldn’t even finish listening to Gold Coast and I’ll just read Pacific Edge myself.

An excellent post apocalyptic story

I loved this portrayal of the post apocalypse, especially that of southern California which is the setting of so many other books and video games that I've enjoyed before. I started with the third book, and so was curious how this related to the world I already knew and which, tbh I was a bit homesick for.