Stephen Furness

The next step of cyberpunk evolution

Revisado: 06-02-21

Anna Mocikat's Behind Blue Eyes is as substantive as it is packed with kick-ass action! Brains meet brawn in this deep and moving cyberpunk epic that manages to be thoughtful and thrilling, often within the same scene. Mocikat takes great pains to build three dimensional characters that we care about, even if we don't think we will at first. After listening to this, you'll be begging for more. And lucky you -- there's a sequel!

Sean Duregger's narration is also noteworthy. He keeps the action moving at a swift pace, but has totally locked into Mocikat's characters and makes them believable.

Okay, so stop reading this review, purchase this audiobook, sit back, and be transported into a future filled with killer cyborgs and totalitarian governments. Do it... or a cyborg may come knocking on your door.

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Is not worth the time invested

Revisado: 07-28-17

If you could sum up The Stand in three words, what would they be?

Upon completion of this audiobook, I wish I'd chosen a better book. King spends hour after hour eloquently building this post-apocalyptic world, the good and evil sides readying for the ultimate battle; the stand. But when the "final showdown" finally commences, we're left with an entirely underwhelming result. The "stand" of the book seemed entirely like an afterthought, as if King was so engrossed in building this world, he forgot he had to write the climax. Honestly! He spends more time writing mundane details of characters who barely factor into the story at all. Like Mickey Spillane once wrote: "people don't read a book to get to the middle."

Another qualm I have: King spends very little time musing the difference between good and evil; what they are, where they come from. Again, he spends most of his time creating needless detail. I'm all for world building, but here King fails miserably.

Would you recommend The Stand to your friends? Why or why not?

Not really. It's long, it's interesting in many places, but in the end I felt cheated. The Stand is far, far away from King's best work. Stephen King is either really good, or painfully bad. I find there's very little in between.

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

I have not, but Gardner did a fantastic job. It couldn't have been easy, but he pulled it off magnificently. If I'm telling the truth, Gardner's narration was the best part of this book.

Who was the most memorable character of The Stand and why?

Randal Flagg is the most obvious answer, but King felt compelled to shroud so many details about his character in mystery. Lots of observations as to what he symbolizes. I suppose that was the whole point, but personally I wanted more.

Any additional comments?

The Stand is a monumentally long novel, but I'm of the opinion that King's best work comes in smaller, more traditional lengths. Pet Sematary, The Dark Half, The Shining. There's probably a good reason why his publisher originally ordered King to abbreviate the novel. It's needlessly long.

Or lets put it like this: I'd have appreciated The Stand so much more if King made good on his promise of an ultimate battle between good and evil.

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It just isn't very good, frankly..

Revisado: 04-29-17

Although it's eloquently written, the literary aspirations of the writer are drowned in a banal story that becomes less interesting by the minute. This could have been something good, but the writer seemed to be too engaged in amusing himself with directionless prose.

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Neo-Noir that blasts with both barrels!

Revisado: 04-03-16

Would you consider the audio edition of Bust to be better than the print version?

That's a touch call to make. The impact of the story would be mightily felt, regardless. I enjoyed the narration very much -- the reader is able to convey a character's voice with great precision. Starr and Bruen seamlessly weave their talents together to create a noir masterpiece -- so hardboiled, you'll likely chip a tooth.

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EXCELLENT story -- HORRIBLE narration

Revisado: 02-16-16

Would you try another book from Richard S. Prather and/or Maynard Villers?

Richard Prather, yes. Maynard Villers? Absolutely not. One of the many excellent themes that run through Shell Scott stories are the speed with which they move. The narration by Maynard Villers obliterates this. His pauses between sentences are maddening -- they serve no purpose whatsoever. I've not heard any other books narrated by him, but his delivery is strictly amateur-ville.

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