Traveling in Space

By: Steven Paul Leiva

Narrated by: Jeff Cannata

Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

A unique science fiction first-contact novel told from the aliens' point-of-view; a 21st-century Gulliver's Travels with Homo sapiens as the Lilliputians. The last thing the factfinders - who call themselves Life - expected to find while traveling in space in The Curious on a mission from their planet, The Living World, was other life. But one day they stumble upon the third planet out from a backwater sun and find it teeming with a vast diversity of life, including one sentient and cognizant, if primitive, species that they dub: Otherlife. Being not only from The Curious but inherently curious themselves, they begin to study the Otherlife and their alien culture, discovering such strange things as: marriage, intoxicating drinks, weapons of minor and mass destruction, the gleeful inhaling of toxic substances, two-parent families, layered language, genocide, non-nude bathing, and - the strangest thing of all - religion. This first contact between Life and Otherlife, disconcerting for both, has moments of humor and moments of horror - and neither escape the encounter unchanged.

©2011 Steven Paul Leiva (P)2014 Steven Paul Leiva

Narrator Cannata was wonderful

Where does Traveling in Space rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5

What other book might you compare Traveling in Space to and why?

Ringworld

What does Jeff Cannata bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Definitely wouldn’t have enjoyed this book as much if I were to read myself. I thought Jeff Cannata did an outstanding job. Loved this book!

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I came across this audiobook by accident. Was not disappointed. Great story, with a great narrator. He sounded delightful in my ear helping me get through my day at work. I really enjoyed his multiple voices and personalities. Great Listen. Would recommend to anyone who is interested in this type of genre. I hope the narrator gets more opportunities in the future. Well done…

Imaginative but poorly executed

What did you love best about Traveling in Space?

Jeff Cannata's spectacular performance

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The very ending was actually very nice but it felt like it took ages to get there.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Cannata’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I listen to a lot of Jeff Cannata's podcasts but this is a truly singular performance. One of the best I've ever heard.

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

No! I tore into the beginning or so, but the middle third dragged on and the pacing got weird and wonky.

Any additional comments?

The book does an extreme amount of telling instead of showing. Even most of the climax is presented this way, which infuriates me. The schtick of the aliens being extremely literal and almost entirely without subtext was really funny at first but grew tiresome. I think this would have functioned as a better short story than the very long novel it is. Jeff Cannata, however, makes the best of the material and it's one of the best performances I've ever heard. I really hope he does more books.

A different first contact story

There has been a pletora of first contact stories trough the years, this one is special because in this case we are the other life, the book describes the perplexity of a culture based in the search of knowledge and the absolute love for life and hate for death when confronted with the reality of our inner contradictions as a culture, and the awe and horror of the good and the bad that we are capable of.
An special mention to Mr Cannata who gives a moving perfomance he gives voice and personality to all the characters i sincerily hope this is not his last performance

Fun sci fi novel

Great performance by Jeff.
Great production value and sound effects.
Good story and enjoyable to listen to repeatedly.

Great story Incredible narration

The story was insightful. Jeff Canatta's narration was stellar. I wished this audio book would never end. I can't believe that was a single voice actor!

Great idea, too silly and comic book for my taste

This seemed to be to be an excuse for showing how irrational aspects of human society are. The alien characters are 2 dimensional and portrayed as logical intellects that are confused and dismayed by all the obvious human failings.
Some thought provoking ideas, but the big drama near the end did not produce the required suspension of disbelief.
The narrator was fabulous and totally inhabited the various characters with enthusiasm.
I could see this as a tongue in cheek movie like Mars Attacks, but it was a little too predictable for my taste.
I would have given it two stars but the narrator really put lifer into it.

Please normalize the audio!

1) Wonderfully entertaining story, characters, and a funny (if not slightly out of date) perspective on Americans and humans.
2) The huge difference in volume between the reader's normal voice and his "excited" voice left me having to tweak the volume back and forth continuously through the whole book.
3) Also, the BONG sounds between sections is both completely unnecessary and seems to have been designed to vibrate the inner lining of my skull.

Interesting story with a great performance!

This was an interesting story that Jeff did a great job performing!

My only complaint would be with the volume levels at times. I'd sometimes have to turn up the volume to hear a quieter voice, only to be deafened by a louder voice that quickly followed. Jeff's different voices were fantastic and varied, I just wish on the technical side the voice volumes had been leveled out a bit.

Layers!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is the kind of book you recommend if you want people interested in audio books. A large group of characters given not just their own vocal tone but own personality through the performance of Jeff Cannata. When I saw this was his only audio book performance I was a bit bummed, hope he does more!

What did you like best about this story?

The point of view. A First contact story as told by aliens is an interesting hook enough but the fact that all the aliens have different views and perspectives made it even more fascinating. The discussion of Genocide was quite brilliant.

What does Jeff Cannata bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

See my recommendation. I've never heard an audio book done by a full cast that was in actuality one guy. The energy he brings to each characters performance is fantastic.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Sci Fi comedy starring Jennifer Lawrence and Channing Tatum.

I know what your thinking, that isn't a catchy Tag line but that's what I think would fill seats and I would really like people to see this if it was a movie.

Any additional comments?

A very good sit.

Loved concept and performance

Great concept of a first contact told from perspective of the aliens contacting humans. It is criminal that this is the only audio book on audible Read by Mr. Cannata his performance is stellar.