Wormhole

The Rho Agenda, Book 3

By: Richard Phillips

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

When the Rho Project’s lead scientist, Dr. Donald Stephenson, is imprisoned for his crimes against humanity, the world dares to think the threat posed by the Rho Project’s alien technologies is finally over. The world is wrong. In Switzerland, scientists working on the Large Hadron Collider have discovered a new threat, a scientific anomaly capable of destroying the earth - and only Rho Project technology can stop it. In exchange for a full pardon, Dr. Stephenson agrees to create a wormhole that will send the anomaly into deep space.

But his promise masks the alien agenda that brought the Rho Ship to earth. Now a trio of accidentally altered humans must infiltrate Stephenson’s wormhole project and stop it, no matter the cost. The final battle has begun - and this is one battle mankind cannot afford to lose.

©2012 Richard Phillips (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

SPECTACULAR SERIES!

What made the experience of listening to Wormhole the most enjoyable?

The story telling was exceptional and the narration was great. For many key events, the author "rewinds" and re-tells the scene from a different character's perspective. Beware, it is hard to put down (or turn off) this book. I whipped through all three books in under two weeks. I found myself listening any chance I could get.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wormhole?

I liked the imprisonment, "attempted" torturer, and escape. Plus the ending was pretty epic and didn't pull any punches.

Any additional comments?

Bravo Mr. Phillips. This was an extremely well done series that just kept getting better book-to-book. As I mentioned in my review of "Immune," I could see this story being produced into a TV series such as how Game of Thrones was done. It was fun envisioning how that would be done as I read/listened. The characters were well developed, especially by this third book, and you do come to care for them.

There have been reviewers saying this is teen/YA fare, but alas, I say NO. I think Richard Phillips simply accomplished a great feat of making it appeal to all ages Teen and up (especially the last two books.) In fact, some material may not be appropriate for young teens. I am pushing 50 and thoroughly enjoyed this story to no end!!

There were a few loose ends that were unexplored that I'm hoping will be used in a forth book. I don't know if a fourth book is in the works, but he left it open for one. If i have a vote, PLEASE write one more!!

James Bond Meets Witch Mountain

This book is what you' d get if you put James Bond and the Disney Witch Mountain series into a blender. This is a great book and is actually the best of the three in this series in my opinion. This is so action packed and over the top, but it works beautifully. This ends the series well but leaves plenty to explore in the next book (which he is currently working on).

Macleod Andrews is top notch. There are a lot of characters and each sounds different. In fact, none of the myriad of voices even sound similar to characters in other series he reads. How he pulls that off is beyond me. Simply Amazing. This is a great novel and definitely worth a listen.

A Great Series at a Great Price

I got hooked into this immensely interesting universe by a couple of good reviews and a special price for the first of the three books. The pricing set at $9.79 per book with each providing from 11 - 15 hours of great entertainment wasn't necessary to keep me going, but it sure didn't hurt. This pricing may not last, so I would recommend not burning a credit here and picking up as many as your pocketbook will allow.

My wife is currently delighting in book two of this series and she isn't even a science fiction fan - she is just a fan of a well written book. You will find three of them in the Rho Agenda series.

These books were so enjoyable, I actually could have been talked into using two credits on the last one. I loved the story-lines, the science felt right and the characters were superbly handled. Most importantly the ending was satisfying and still left me wanting more.

Although a lot of loose ends were sewn up in this series finale, I was left wondering about a special talent that Jack Greggory possessed and the status of a certain newly born child.

And - Lo and behold, my check of the listings for this author shows a new book has just popped up into my view that purports to explain my first question about Jack. It is selling for only $7.90 and weighing in at 11 hours already has 120 favorable reviews.

I'm definitely not going to use up a credit here (they cost me more) and get this book as soon as this review gets submitted.

My new favorite trilogy - LOVED IT ALL

What made the experience of listening to Wormhole the most enjoyable?

For me the alien science/technology was extremely compelling and presented in a reasonable manner, making the evolution of the characters and story that much more plausible. The characters were very interesting and I loved the teens unbridled approach to solving problems (being young, you are not saddled with experience and wisdom that might hold you back).

Who was your favorite character and why?

Likely Heather, but Mark was a very close second. Although Heather started out as a typical teen, she grew into her new capabilities and basically owned it. I liked her approach to problem solving and her brutal resolve in carrying out actions once a decision was made. She still retained great humanity, though, and experienced sincere regret towards harming others.

I should add, that although not a character in the true sense, the second ship was extremely interesting and full of surprises. I could not wait for that next trip to the ship, or attachment with the headsets and learning more of what the ship had to offer. The scene where the teens interact and spar with the ships AI was fascinating! And the result can easily justify a spinoff book (I am hoping!!!).

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

This was my first listen to McLeod Andrews. Overall he did a great job performing this book. His development of the characters was believable and lent strongly to my personal view of each one. Well done!

Any additional comments?

I happened upon the first book, "The Second Ship", and quickly became deeply attached. As soon as book two, then finally three were released I was all over them. The trilogy absolutely did not disappoint. To me, everything was reasonable and believable, with the right mix of alien technology, advanced science, and clever storytelling to keep me wanting more. In fact that is my only gripe - that the book ended and I could easily see another book in the series, or perhaps a spin off. My favorite part (spanning all three books) was the way the alien technology "evolved" the human brains of the main characters but they were free to use their newfound capabilities as they saw fit. Tremendous processing power and the freedom to explore at will, unhindered. Additionally, the second ship itself is extremely interesting and compelling. And as it gives up details information of its origins, the battle that damaged it, and the back story on the species that created both ships I found myself in awe of the whole thing.

Very well presented. I loved it! Please add one more book on the future of everyone involved at the end (don't want to give anything away).

In Significant Need of Copy-Editing

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of MacLeod Andrews?

Anyone with more experience.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

One review for all three books, I guess. I just don’t think they deserve more.

This is the final book in a series of three where the plot is supposed to come to a logical conclusion with the help of a number of sci-fi gimmicks and CIA training.
Unfortunately, it feels as if the author forgot about at least a third of the plot lines he started, mostly neglected the evil heroes from the previous two books and completely botched all science he could, thus losing all potential credibility.
I still can’t figure out why a spaceship couldn’t carry live crew on a wormhole transit, but aliens and others could just jump about through gateways, no harm done, even though the gateways were supposed to be wormholes themselves in the first place…
Also, how come the admittedly clever Dr. Stephenson ended up so unerringly brilliant without being ‘improved’ by the second ship and without an active connection to the Rho ship? Furthermore, if he had somehow managed to memorise all Rho ship science on his own, why did he need all the research staff on the Rho project for so many years?

Frankly, I believe this book (as well as its two predecessors) would have benefitted enormously form a serious dose of professional copy-editing. I’m not saying it wasn’t done, but it looks as it was done by some amateur. I’ve read many authors’ first published works and have rarely encountered any with such poor writing, character and plot development.
Which, in all, is a pity, as the premise is quite intriguing in itself.

Of Wormholes and Plot Holes

The three high school kids from The Second Ship and Immune are back, and they once again must foil the mad scientist hellbent on global domination (despite having already foiled him in Immune). More than that, they must save the world from a black hole and an alien invasion (though they cannot save the world from its own insanity, including nuclear bombs).

The watchword for Richard Phillips in the first installment of this trilogy was how well he put the science back in science fiction, having studied and worked as a physicist. The next entry was lighter on science and heavier on action, but still retained its credibility, despite banking on Area 51 conspiracies as its basis.

Wormhole remains strong on science and long on action. But its credibility is riddled by plot holes wide enough for space ships to fly through. I can't be too specific in order to avoid spoilers, but let me say that there is a major transference from one character to another that is never brought up again.

I would expect this to reappear in a future Rho Agenda book, except that Phillips says he has no plans for a direct successor to the series. Anyway, this plot twist is as central to this story as one can imagine, so it really needed more attention here. There are other situations which are left unattended, and other revelations that strain credulity, even as the two-hour denouement goes totally over the top and off the charts.

Still, a good science fiction thriller, a decent conclusion to this trilogy. One star deducted from the Story rating for the plot holes. I already have the audio version of the first of two completed entries in a second Rho Agenda trilogy, a prequel featuring Jack "Ripper" Gregory. He's a great character so I have high expectations.

Sorry it's over!!!

Finished this 3rd book in the trilogy yesterday and I'm totally jonesing for another trilogy just like it!

I'm off to find out what else Richard Phillips has written.

Also can't wait to read this one over again in the future.

This was the most fun I've had reading scifi in a long, long time!

Fitting end for the trilogy

Wormhole completes the Rho Agenda trilogy, while the characters may continue in additional installments, the "rho agenda" has been finished. Book 3 picks up essentially where Book 2 left off. All the main characters are back (including Tolbear and Freddy) with the kids down in South America with Jack. We learn a bit more of Donald Stephenson's master plan which eventually forms the crux of the tale and includes the potential destruction of Earth. Everything goes badly for our intrepid teenagers at first, but with Jack's training and their ever expanding abilities, they come through in the end. The story is fast paced with constant shifting among multiple parallel scenes.

The story remains true to its pre-teen / teen orientation in style and complexity. Portrayals of scientists, politicians, and spies are almost caricature-like with little nuance. At the same time Jack still retains almost mystical powers that defy explanation (I was hoping he would turn out to be a nonscientist Ultrian agent). Inconvenient messes generated along the way never seem to be resolved. The ending while bringing closure to the main plot line, still leaves many questions unanswered (what about: the 2nd ship? Jack's son? the NSA hacker?). In spite of these deficiencies, the tale is simply good, solid storytelling.

The narration is quite good with a great range of voices and a pace that invites one more chapter throughout.

Absolutely 5-Star. Leaves you wanting more!

Any additional comments?

All I can say is WOW. After listening to hundreds of SciFi and espionage/political intrigue books, I finally decided to write a review. No, three reviews. After this one, maybe I won't write any more. If you read my reviews of the previous two books in the series, you know that I've fallen in love with this story, the characters, the author's writing style and the excellence of the narrations. This third in the series tops off the story perfectly. It not only gives a satisfying completion to the story, it still leaves openings for other story spins to be worked in the future. I don't expect everyone will have the reaction I've had but if you like this series enough to be checking out book three, I expect you are already hooked. You might as well give in to the pull. You will not be disappointed in this final entry...but you will be wishing it could go on and on...

I understand the Richard Phillips is working on a prequel about Jack Gregory (The Ripper) called "Once Dead" due to come out later this year. It's about how he came to have his special talents and powers. I can't wait! The author's plans, I think, are to write three books in "The Ripper" series and then start on a series about 20 years in the future that focuses on Robbie and the adventures of the Rho Agenda characters in the new world that all this alien encounter has created. I usually don't experience this thing of being a "Fan" but it looks like I'm captive now and I will be waiting anxiously for every book he produces.

Great Trilogy

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

Start at the 2nd ship and then progress to end. It's REALLY worth the money. The story is very original, complex, and well thought out. The author creates situations that should only be presented to adults, without sinking into un-necessary details (one doesn't have to smell the excrement to know that it stinks). Why don't other authors do that?
I'll definitely look for other titles by this author.

Also, the Narrator does a great job. I hope the publisher doesn't do something stupid like using a different narrator to save money.

Still hardcore clichés at the end of each chapter

I just love it. Seriously, I'm not complaining. Suspend your disbelief and just roll with it. 🤣

5* Original Syfi Story

This is the second time I’ve listened to this trilogy. I’ve enjoyed every second, and the last book is a fitting climax to a excellent original storyline.

Action adventure meets sci fi

Loved it, didnt expect to but ended up being a proper page turner. Read all 3 in this series

Genuinely un-putdownable!

The technical content is almost as thrilling as the action sequences. Such detail! An excellent culmination to the trilogy. I'm interested to see how the next trilogy fares with a different narrator as the narrator for this was terrific.

Great Adventure Story

Kept up the quality of the two previous books in this series. Sorry I have finished them.

STILL very intriguing..

I'm actually still quite surprised that I'm still into this tale: three books in... as initially the teen angst characters weren't my thing. But, I'm still listening, and now about to start on the spin-off stories. I'm normally quite picky with my beloved sci-fi genre.. but these 'Rho Books' are obviously a testament to how powerful great authorship AND awesome narration can be.

Gets better and better

When I purchased the first book, not being my usual sci-fi listen, I was open minded.

This series of books goes from strength to strength as the series progresses and it is one of the best series I have purchased.

I would certainly recommend this series.

Awful narrating

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This book, although a really interesting story and I'm still tempted to buy it to read myself, was incredibly difficult to follow due to the incredibly poor narrating. Really cringey reading and didn't flow very well. Nevertheless, if you're into fantasy stories I think it would be a really interesting book to read yourself. Particularly apt for anyone who enjoyed The Host or Hunger Games.

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

Didn't make it that far.

Would you be willing to try another one of MacLeod Andrews’s performances?

No

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Irrational irritation at the narrators voice

Any additional comments?

none.

Good SciFi trilogy. Interesting tread.

Good narration. Great trilogy. well worth the credits. Flowed well and kept to the plot. no overly complicated plot and story line. Well written . kept your interest through all three books.