Waking Gods

By: Sylvain Neuvel

Narrated by: full cast

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the gripping sequel to Sleeping Giants, which was hailed by Pierce Brown as "a luminous conspiracy yarn...reminiscent of The Martian and World War Z", Sylvain Neuvel's innovative series about human-alien contact takes another giant step forward. 

As a child Rose Franklin made an astonishing discovery: a giant metallic hand buried deep within the earth. As an adult she's dedicated her brilliant scientific career to solving the mystery that began that fateful day: Why was a titanic robot of unknown origin buried in pieces around the world? Years of investigation have produced intriguing answers - and even more perplexing questions. But the truth is closer now than ever before when a second robot, more massive than the first, materializes and lashes out with deadly force. 

Now humankind faces a nightmare invasion scenario made real, as more colossal machines touch down across the globe. But Rose and her team at the Earth Defense Corps refuse to surrender. They can turn the tide if they can unlock the last secrets of an advanced alien technology. The greatest weapon humanity wields is knowledge in a do-or-die battle to inherit the Earth...and maybe even the stars. 

Cast of narrators:
Andy Secombe - Interviewer
Eric Meyers - Headings
Roy McMillan - Jacob Lawson
Laurel Lefkow - Rose Franklin
Adna Sablylich - Marina Antoniou a.k.a. Alyssa Papantoniou
Charlie Anson - Vincent Couture; Jamie
Christopher Ragland - Ryan Mitchell; Lieutenant General Alan A Simms
William Hope - Mr Burns; Eugene Govender
Madeleine Rose - Kara Resnik
Karina Fernandez - Eva Reyes
Olivia Dowd - Sarah Kent
Sarah Wells - Deborah Horsburgh

©2017 Sylvain Neuvel (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“Kick-ass, one-on-one robot action combines with mind-bending scientific and philosophical speculation. Series science-fiction fans will enjoy this follow-up filled with unexpected revelations and a surprise finale.” (Booklist)

“Pure, unadulterated literary escapism featuring giant killer robots and the looming end of mankind. In a word: unputdownable.” (Kirkus Reviews [starred review])

“Sheer escapist fun.” (Shelf Awareness)

All Too Short

Any additional comments?

I still cannot figure out why so many people hated the first book, I mean, i really liked it and I'm unnecessarily picky. Now this book is even better, even though it's a bit of a different flavor.

To recap, the first book was about the mystery of the "sleeping giant" and moved at a sedate pace filled with tension and the unknown. Waking Gods however has a sense of urgency as the repercussions of the mystery of the first book comes to a head. Here, the mystery that drives the plot is something more insidious, but nothing obvious. The unknown is really the most dangerous enemy of all.

It so often feels like I've seen it all, so I don't tend to give very many five star reviews these days. This book did a pretty great job surprising me and making me just completely lose track of time. Seriously, how did I finish this book so fast!? The style of telling the story through a series of records and files is just impeccably done and works naturally, as in no gimmicky feeling or anything.

So yeah, I recommend this book and this series. If you want a bit of a mystery thriller about a what if and the unknown, then pick this up.

Now then, I really really want the next book right now.

Content Warning

WARNING: Chapter 33 consists entirely of a transcript of a long torture sequence, where an innocent man is brutally tortured while begging for mercy while the Nameless Man from the first book brutally interrogates him, then reveals that despite having received all the answers he needs to be satisfied, he will continue to torture this man *forever*, slowly destroying his nerves one by one.

There are other terrible things that happen in this book, and all of them are very well narrated, but this scene in particular was personal enough and so pointlessly cruel enough that it fucked me up.

It's a great book, and a very well produced reading, but you should know what you're getting into.

One character can ruin it all.

Not to spoil it for everyone but I will say that one main character was replaced by another character and that character is TERRIBLE! Unfortunately I'm guessing that character will be around for the next book. The voice actor was horrendous for "eva". They seriously should go back and re do all of her parts. I wouldn't waste the time listening to this. Just go buy the book.

great cast aside from Eva. holy crap she is bad.

everything was amazing. aside from Eva. loud whiny Latin voice killed me. I wish they would have given her a more calm terrified. instead of whiny baby terrified.

THE KNOWN IS FINE, THE UNKNOWN INFINITE

Talking, talking, talking
I liked book one and was slammed by a couple of voters out of the gate. This book I don't understand what people liked about it. I found it very boring and their was way too much discussion.

Full cast is great

Entertaining Science Fiction Thrill Ride

Any additional comments?

Waking Gods bolsters and expands upon the Sleeping Giants storyline by adding high levels of adrenaline and excitement in this highly anticipated follow-up. Ten years have passed since the end of Sleeping Giants when Rose and team completed the reconstruction of the metal giant they named Themis after the ancient Greek Titan-goddess. They were beginning to slowly piece together information surrounding the mystery of her origins and are only briefly grasping her full technological capabilities when another metal giant appears in the center of London. It stands immobile for weeks, but without provocation, it attacks one-day leaving thousands dead, but some miraculously survived. More giants appear around the globe and Rose and team are given the impossible task of determining how to stop these attacks and to find out the reason behind them before Earth’s population is exterminated.

No sophomore slump to be had here. Listening to Waking Gods felt akin to being on a high-speed roller coaster: you’re buckled in, the ride is moving, and the time to change your mind has long since passed. But damn, is it a crazy good time.

Waking Gods continues with the same interview style of storytelling, with a few new characters/voices to acquaint ourselves with. The plot was incredibly fast paced and read much like an action movie would just minus the visuals. Incredibly similar to The War of the Worlds in regards to the severity and devastation of the attacks but much less straightforward in terms of the reasoning behind the attacks themselves (and far more fascinatingly scientific View Spoiler ».) Neuvel imbues his alien invasion with a history and purpose essentially giving the human race a chance at survival. He also manages to add a level of humor (there’s something unequivocally humorous about two individuals trying to manhandle a giant robot, albeit clunkily, into battle) that somehow manages to meld harmoniously with such a somber narrative. There are twists and turns aplenty, one particular scene made me loudly gasp and another where my face started leaking, and the ending will leave you thunderstruck. Neuvel’s endings, while definitely worthy of the term ‘cliffhanger’, never feel cheap but rather an apt ending that will lead to a brilliant beginning of the next, and possibly last, installment.

story great.. one miscast character

while as a whole it is great.. my god the actor for Eva Reyes (10yr old girl) just really missed the mark for me.. her scenes made me cringe and even skip sometimes.. just unbearable. unfortunately nearly ruined the whole thing.

Slow and a bit boring

An interesting follow up to book one but just not as catchy. It was super slow getting the plot started and kind of boring even in the climatic parts. Loves the idea of the story but the execution could have been better. The voice actors performance was amazing but I did find Ava's voice extremely annoying. 3 out of 5 overall

Nice but drawn-out

Well, it’s a great story but the ‘Eva’ voice was really annoying. I didn’t even know she was supposed to be a child until 1/3 through the book. Everything else is great!

Awesome except for one key flaw

As others have noted, Eva is horrible. I loved the first book, and loved this entire book except for both the character of Eva and the actor that voiced her. I did not like the addition of Eva to the story. She did not seem believable for a 10 year old, and her interactions with the other characters were strained. The actor did not help this either, she was awful.

Aside from the horribleness of the aforementioned Eva, I do look forward to the next book in the series, and plan on getting it.