Zero World

By: Jason M. Hough

Narrated by: Gideon Emery

Length: 15 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

Technologically enhanced superspy Peter Caswell has been dispatched on a top-secret assignment unlike any he's ever faced. A spaceship that vanished years ago has been found, along with the bodies of its murdered crew - save one. Peter's mission is to find the missing crew member, who fled through what appears to be a tear in the fabric of space. Beyond this mysterious doorway lies an even more confounding reality: a world that seems to be Earth's twin. Peter discovers that this mirrored world is indeed different from his home and far more dangerous. Cut off from all support, and with only days to complete his operation, Peter must track his quarry alone on an alien world. But he's unprepared for what awaits on the planet's surface, where his skills will be put to the ultimate test - and everything he knows about the universe will be challenged in ways he never could have imagined.

©2015 Jason Hough (P)2015 Recorded Books

A Conduit to SciFi Entertainment

Zero World quickly pulled me in, held my interest, and didn't disappoint. It contains good science fiction, some space travel, a James Bond character with an amazing thyroid, and that parallel universe thing going strong. These all mixed together in an enjoyable way, helped by interesting main characters, challenging problems, and enough twists to keep you on your toes. The only negative is that Gideon Emery's female voices are a bit irritating; but he is excellent otherwise. With a 15 hour read time, it is definitely worth a credit.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Please, let this be the first of a series!

Really dug this book a lot. The author has a talent for super-imaginative world building, and the main characters are interesting, sympathetic, and real. I cared about them.
The story goes places you'll never expect; there are not one, but several plot twists that left me gaping and going, WHAT?? (but in a good way)
Very nicely performed by Gideon Emery, who handles vocal characterization of both male and female characters quite well. Lots of cool action, some thought provoking ideas and moments, and an ending that both satisfies and leaves things wide open for "the further adventures of..."
Wholeheartedly recommended.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

Starts as a Three Star Book - Ends as a Four Star

Preparing to write this review, I noticed a review tearing a strip off this book for some lame premises. That exactly sums up my impression in the first half of the book. One example is two worlds unknown to each other where they both speak English. The explanation that comes later elevates that premise from anemic to plausible. By that time, the adventure has gotten interesting enough that it is acceptable to me.

Our main character, Peter Caswell, is a physically enhanced assassin who gets his memory wiped after each mission. He tells himself that he is working for the good guys and he is a better operative without the guilt of killing bad people encumbering him. His mission this time is to another world similar to earth with a nineteenth century technology. An astronaut has killed all of her crewmates, downloaded earth's technology and set herself up on this new world as a genius. Earth is unaware of this other world and just thinks that all the people on a weapons test space mission died.

The organization that employs Peter is concerned that she will disrupt the natural technological development of that world and that may end in catastrophe.

Get ready for some twists as he meets a native spy, Melnie when attempting to assassinate the very well protected astronaut who has had ten years to endear herself to a nation on the brink of war.

This book started out as a three star book for me, but ended in four star territory and I would buy the next one as soon it comes out. It has a satisfying conclusion, but there is still important work to be done by Peter and Melnie. Earth's fate hangs in the balance.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Loved this book.

I enjoyed this book right from the beginning. I like the story and the characters. The narrator did great job. If you like sci fi I recommend this book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

It's a Deadman's Party! Who could ask for more?

Solid read/listen! Hough's parlayed his sci-fi cred to push him past "Dire Earth's" tentative upstart energy with an even more clever imagining of a future pock-marked with the consequences of our current sins. "Zero" intelligently comments on some unexpected issues without condensation and a sly wit that winks at convention while brutally carrying out it's main action packed mission. My only complaint... Del Rey should have had more confidence in Hough's progressive vision by adding the real hero to "Zero World's" cover art. A recommended read. Gratitude!

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Zero Regrets

Decided to try something a little different and I'm so glad I did. Plot twists and turns I didn't expect, great characters, nonstop action, excellent reader. Lots of wonderful little touches that stick with you.
Gratitude, Mr. Hough! I'm another fan hoping this becomes a series.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Exciting story, average narration

Crazy. Different. Exciting. Sci-fi action, adventure, thriller in space and on land. It took me about a third of the book to really get into it and even a little longer to start liking Caswell (the assassin main character), but once it took off for me, it really took off. That's not to say it was bad for the first third, it just didn't, really grab me. Some of that may have been the average narration of the audiobook. The reader wasn't bad, he just wasn't anything special. I much preferred the book in print. If my initial description sounds interesting, I'd recommend giving this book a try, just maybe not in audio format. Leave all preconceived expectations behind and prepare for lots of twists and turns. Be aware that this book sets up for a series but doesn't end in a cliffhanger (thank goodness).

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Outstanding investment of a credit

If you could sum up Zero World in three words, what would they be?

Fascinating
Original
Compelling

What did you like best about this story?

The combination of creativity and scientific reasoning. Certainly there was some stretches and it did require a suspension of disbelief, but not so much so that it rendered the story silly.

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

One of my first, but won't be the last. He did wonderful work here.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The complex last 3rd of the book, when our hero starts to realize who he really is, was very interesting and made me think about my own self image, candidly.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend this. It is clearly the start of a series, but the book stands on its own merits. Spend the credit and enjoy.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Gripping and Intense

I really enjoyed the pace of this book. It wasn't a fast paced nonstop action sort of book, but yet provided a fair balance of action and processing time. The story was great, and I found myself surprised over and over again. The story actually sounds like something somewhat plausible. The characters are interesting without being too complex, and they are cleverly written. The narrator did a wonderful job, and made the main character sound very attractive. I was very pleased with his job on the female voices. I would recommend this to anyone who loves sci-fi and action. Definitely worth the listen.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Can't say enough.

What did you love best about Zero World?

The writing was very well done, the story veered this way and that, then twisted far from where I thought it was going, like riding up a mountain on a series of switchbacks. The narrator was superb in bringing this book to life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Caswell was a very intriguing character, but I had such a great time listening to Melnee, the narrator such a superb job finding her rhythm and voice.

Which scene was your favorite?

I'd rather not say, I don't want to give any spoilers away for future readers. But, I will say it was in the last third of the book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yep. Again. Spoilers!! You'll have to read the book. I'm sure we will all agree how moving the end of this book is.

Any additional comments?

Already listened to it twice. Excellent choice. This was actually a recommendation from well known author Pierce Brown, and I'm very thankful. Great story, start to finish.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful