Warp Speed Charlie

The Dragon Mage, Book 8

By: Scott Baron

Narrated by: Gary Bennett

Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's Summary

When your luck just plain sucks in not one galaxy, but two, most people would throw in the towel. But not Charlie. In fact, it almost seemed like he was a glutton for that sort of misery. 

His friends were spread across two distant galaxies, separated by a heavily guarded magical portal and struggling to deal with a war now spilling over into both the technological realm as well as the magical one. And it was beginning to look like they’d reached their breaking point. 

But Charlie wasn’t about to give up, nor would he give in. If it was war they wanted, it was war they’d get, and he would cross space, and even time, if need be, to protect those he cared for. 

He would soon realize, however, that he was facing off against an adversary not only more powerful than any he’d ever battled, but one also possessing a diabolical plan worse than he’d ever imagined.

©2019 Scott Baron (P)2020 Scott Baron

More Charlie, what can I ask for...

As we come to the second to last audiobook in this wonderful science fiction series, Charlie and his amazing adventures continue to impress and grow on me. I’m not sure if Scott Baron (author) had everything worked out from the start, but each of the books in the series has a great flow and consistency. “Warp Speed Charlie” is the eighth book in “The Dragon Mage” series available in audiobook format on Audible. The series has carried me across vast distances and allowed me to encounter some rather unique inhabitants and places along the way, I like the way Scott tells a story. While on this journey, it has been good to have the same narrator along with solid audio production performed by Gary Bennett. What has kept me coming back has been the detailed writing and exceptional narration. I do not recall mentioning in my previous reviews, but I have enjoyed the cover artwork quite a bit. The artwork often reveals something key to the story in the given audiobook, however you often do not fully understand its meaning until you finish listening. It is fun to look back and recall the stories through their artwork alone. I am excited to have taken the journey thus far, while I also do not look forward to the series soon concluding.

This audiobook in the series drops the reader right into the action as it resumed from the previous one. Charlie and his band of rebels continues to try to overthrow a very powerful vesla whose magic capabilities have vastly outgrown the others. Charlie understand that he will be unable to destroy a foe of this magnitude only by himself and his magical dragon. Even in this audiobook, we have his growing band of counterparts along with the assistance of Daisy (a second series by the author), her sister and her many AI/ship friends. I found the ability for the AIs to replicate (like giving birth) an added interest as the story progressed. The team realizes that this battle will not be an easy one, so there are many sessions that include planning and strategizing. Everyone knows that they would not be able to go on a full offensive attack and succeed. We see that to solve their problem, it will require combining both magic and technology; which the author has blended well over the many stories. Those who are not fully trained magic users must depend on stored magic in their metal bands. We also see the return of the council members along with some good backstory on their purpose.

The author continues to throw in pop culture references, often spoken by Charlie, such as from the movie “Top Gun”. I often enjoyed when Charlie would claim a well-known phrase as his own because the aliens would not know the quotes true source. We see less of this in later books. What I find most interesting is the additional backstory on a few of the characters (Wampus) and the strong relationships between a few of them. Bob and Hunza (sp?) were ones I liked learning more about along with the Grazenhunds. We begin to see the importance of the Balamar waters and that the power from it may be required to help defeat this power foe. The author lets us in on a secret type of fight club where people go to prove their power and claim prizes. On top of this there was a fair amount of technology used to assist Charlie and the team. For me, I found the tracking ammunition rounds a bit of fascinating tech. Place a GPS type of tracker into the rounds fired by a bullet and you will later be able to find the ship you were targeting.

Garry Bennett, as with all of the previous audiobooks in the series, did an exceptional job producing this audiobook. Again, his ability to keep track of all the many characters and personalities impresses me. He is able to keep the characters personalities across books which is quite remarkable. Some of this may be the writing, but I have to give credit to the narrator here. There were no noticeable audio issues (background noise, swallows, page turns, etc.) and only a few small plugs where the audio was patched. As with the other books, these issues are nothing that would prevent me from listening or becoming overly distracted. For me, Mr. Bennett will be the voice of Charlie for years to come.

For parents and younger listeners, the audiobook contains vulgar language, some graphic violence and other mature topics which may not be appropriate for younger listeners. The author could have released a child-friendly version and I bet it would take off in the schools.

In summary, as we are on the edge of this series being closed out, I would recommend listeners of science fiction give this series a try. There is a fair amount of action and adventure. The wonderful storytelling and narration have made this series what it has become to this point. The characters, although powerful, still have a feeling of being fragile. No one character seems like they will be able to pull of their ultimate goal. I know we will get the answers to these in the last and final book in the series which is soon to be released on Audible. I cannot wait.

Disclaimer: This audiobook was provided a no charge by the author, narrator and/or publisher in exchange for posting a non-bias review.

… I Am Charlie

Warp Speed Charlie had some amazing moments in it. If, somehow, you’re not familiar with The Dragon Mage series – but you’re reading this review. Check out my review of the first book, Bad Luck Charlie, then check out my reviews on the rest of the series. The Dragon Mage series has been nonstop fun since book one (that sounds like an election button), and each book offers something different. A mix/mashup of Science Fiction and Fantasy which can be hard to do well, but Baron nails it. The last few books also feature appearances of characters from Baron’s other series The Clockwork Chimera.

In Warp Speed Charlie, you can sort of feel things winding down. I say that but I know darn well that the ninth book is going to be full of action. There are some arcs coming to a close (not all the way) but you can definitely feel the story starting to wind down. Which is amazing because some parts of the story have been full-speed-ahead for 8 straight books.

I’m sad to see these characters go, but I’m glad to know that I have at least one more book with them. The cool part is I’m going to be finishing this book, then the last book in The Clockwork Chimera, then the final book in this series within a week or so of each other. It’ll allow the series’ to finish up and allow me to take a breath!

There were some scenes (trying not to give anything away) in Warp Speed Charlie that had me cracking up. And there were scenes where I took a big dramatic gasp. I hope that Baron finishes up the stories and the arcs nicely in the ninth book and I feel like he will.

The series has been narrated by the same narrator throughout and he’s done an awesome job with each book. Gary Bennett IS the voice of Charlie and really lends his voice well to this series. He takes already great books and makes them better. I’ve heard a lot of voices in the 4 years I’ve been reviewing audiobooks and I’ve grown fond to his narrations – especially in this series.

I know that they’re not cheap, but I would love to hear the parts of the book with Daisy voiced by Vivienne Leheny and Charlie and crew’s parts done by Bennett. I think that would be an awesome way to end the series, but I get that budgets are tight right now.

Overall, another great addition to the series and one I couldn’t put down no matter how hard I tried.

I'm speachless

I don't even know what to say right now. this was such a great book

Pirates, Smugglers, and Assassins are good guys?

The situation with the portal is becoming tense. Visla Dominus is amassing an army and navy (space navy?) on one side. Then you have Charlie and team, as well as pirates, smugglers, and assassins comprising the good guys. Only Scott Baron could do something like that. This book is action-packed while building up the story for an epic battle in the next book. There are also some great ties back to Clockwork Chimera if you were a fan of that series. Overall, it was an enjoyable listen and I’m looking forward to book 9.

This audiobook was provided by the author at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

I feel lucky

This series has taken me on an amazing journey through both space and time and I feel truly lucky to have come across it. Not every author has the ability to craft such a wonderous and well thought out universe with characters and a story line as robust as the one Scott Baron has created here. This wasn't a paid thing and for the record while I try to find beauty in everything if I thought the work was trash or sub par I'd say so. The most valuable thing any of us has to offer in this lifetime is just that, time. I wouldn't encourage someone to waste their time reading something that wasn't truly gripping and engaging. This series has it all! I highly recommend it to anyone with a pulse. I anxiously await reading new material from Scott Baron in the future! No pressure Scott!

Book 8 and still great

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

The end is in sight for Charlie and I won't lie I'm going to miss this series, between this and Daisy I've listened to over 100 hours of story from this universe and I'm going to miss it when it's gone.

Love the series

Seen this in a Facebook ad. Currently on book 8 and have enjoyed everyone. Looking forward to the final saga.

Now for the next chapter....

This audiobook is not as good as some of the previous work. It seemed more teenage style and everything just seemed to magically (har har) fall into place. Some good character development with Groonx. How did they miss the Wampa prisoner? Charlie can see a shimmer ship but not a prison cell which had to be close or the DNA scan from Freya to notice the wampa. If your gonna pull something out of your artistic psyche please consider the effects. Thank you author / producers for the book. I'll be buying the next Charlie's Spacers to see where this ride goes.

sweet series

wish it had more in each book like 20 hrs each the story could progress more or add more elements

Nemesis revealed.

We finally learn who is really behind the plot against humanity. Come enjoy as Scott Baron weaves a new tale in which Charlie and Daisy finally get to see each other in battle as the they try to devise a way to take on their nemesis.

what happened

The books up to this one where ok or better. give or take the odd silly/idiotic call by one of the characters. But this book takes the P##s Your at war with a enemy you know very little about even though it is obvious who it is from the writing. But the you add in we have teck and we are starting to understand magic so let's have every character in this series lose the plot in one way shape or form. Just for plot devices it makes no sense . I see the next book is out I can only hope the writer got there Sh#t together and did a better job on that one.

Enjoyable series

This is the type of SF books I used to read in the 80s, Not overly taxing but enjoyable and light.

I would say they a would be better aimed at the young adult market.

I liked the narrator and the books get better through the series. - minor niggle please learn to pronounce caValry (not caLvary)

One negative is that the scenes can jump around a little, and feel that they have been edited down from larger text, e.g. some fights start and instantly end as if a dozen paragraphs have been cut out to shorten the book.

another great book by Scott

and again I was left wanting more... I can't wait for the next book to come out... and just as you think the whole group is back together something else happens to catch you off guard