Ryan Mcfadden

Guess Classic SF isn't for me

Revisado: 10-18-16

This is considered a classic...but I found it extremely boring. Cool concepts, but so much happens off-page. It's more about people getting together and *talking* about what just happened (which I guess is a lot like Scalzi and many of the other Hard SF writers). I do enjoy SF but maybe it's more of the soft stuff (Altered Carbon, the Expanse, etc). I felt like I was missing something.

The main character was so unlikable but maybe that was the point. The narration was good. I just didn't like the story.

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Great Writing in a new world

Revisado: 09-19-16

Really enjoyable read. Very well written and with a great main character (Quills). The story was very satisfying -- though I'm curious how all the Hellmaw stories will tie together eventually.

The performance was good, not great - but I'm being picky. I would've liked a little more differentiation between the characters but the emotion, tone, etc was very good. Most definitely worth the listen however.

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Ended up returning to the e-book

Revisado: 10-13-15

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I love Joe Abercrombie books. This is the first I tried as an audio book...and it was very disappointing. I think it was mostly the performance, not the writing. Halfway through, I found that I had no idea what was happening because I kept tuning out. So I picked up the ebook and immediately was engrossed in the action and characters.

So this was a tough one to rate because when I finally read it, I really really enjoyed it (not quite five star but definitely a 4 plus).

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A breather before the storm

Revisado: 09-21-15

I do love this world, the magic, and the characters... But this one felt like it was a breather before the conclusion. Still good, but not as good as the first... But that would be a hard book to match. My only real criticism is the final battle feels extensions and I started skipping ahead. Still highly recommended.

As always, Bronson Pinchot was masterful.

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Dreadful performance ruins the book

Revisado: 05-10-15

What disappointed you about Broken Angels?

Huge fan of Richard Morgan, but the performance was so dreary...that I had trouble staying awake. There's a lot going on in the world, but Todd McLaren's voice droned that I couldn't stay engaged. I kept having to replay sections because I had no idea what happened in that buzzing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kovach, of course. The world is such an interesting, complex place with very cool technology.

Would you be willing to try another one of Todd McLaren’s performances?

Nope, never.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The story was great. I bombed out of the audiobook but bought the ebook and quite enjoyed it.

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A fun, hilarious ride

Revisado: 05-06-15

Yes, I said ride. But it was really funny. Several times I lol'd. Hoping there'll be a sequel to Sawback and company. The performance was fantastic

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There's nothing new, at all, in this book

Revisado: 04-30-15

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, I'd tell them to go watch Starship Troopers, because this book is a ripoff of that. There is nothing original in this book - nor does it try. HUDs - check, battle armor- check, basic training - check, men and women showering together - yup...you get the idea. The characters are largely forgettable (I can't even remember their names).

Not poorly written, but it's not Starship Troopers (the book) either.

What was most disappointing about Marko Kloos’s story?

That there was no originality in it. No characterizations. Every trope from military SF is here.

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

I haven't, but I liked the performance. Thought he did an excellent job.

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

Maybe. I liked Starship Troopers

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Really well written

Revisado: 04-28-15

I'm always intrigued by when a literary writer switches to genre. They bring with them a plethora of writing skills and the Nick Cutter persona is no exception. Full of classic horror tropes, The Deep is both unsettling and horrific. Lots of body horror reminiscent of Clive Barker, and chills ala Stephen King.

So why not 5 stars? Because I think this story would've been better suited as a novella. I don't think any author can sustain horror for an entire novel, not the horror levels that this book strives for. So I found that I grew weary of the horror... It almost became redundant about two thirds thorough and I started skipping ahead.

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Long setup but cool payoff

Revisado: 04-17-15

I thought this was going to be a haunted apartment story... But got something else entirely. A great something else but it took very long to get there

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More of a character study than a story

Revisado: 04-02-15

I almost quit on this a few times. I found my mind wandering as the characters struggled with life's details rather than any semblance of a plot.

Very well written however. And the performance was excellent.

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