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Failure of Direction, not Narration

Revisado: 08-21-21

Disappointing failure of audio production. The narrators for Koontz' Elsewhere were provided direction, sound engineering and audio recording support, for every word of every chapter. Likely, Dean Koontz himself didn't make the directorial decision to have multiple narrators. There are 9 different narrators in this story: Edoardo Ballerini, Imani Parks, Josh Bloomberg, Brian Holden, Kevin T. Collins, Soneela Nankani, Alexander Cendese, and Amanda Leigh Cobb.

Whomever made the decision to use Imani Parks for the voice of Amity, must have lost a bet or had a debt. The imbalance in narration ruins the story. Frankly, this isn't an ensemble-style story - one experienced narrator would have worked just fine.

A lot of reviews are very critical towards Parks narration but the blame lies elsewhere - with the director.

See what I did there? 😏

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Will Patton Is a Phenom!

Revisado: 08-24-20

This is the 2nd time I've listened to Mr. Mercedes. I was inspired to listen again after finishing the novella, If It Bleeds, from Stephen King's novel of the same name.

Early on during my second listen, I lost my place in the book due to changing the device I was using for playback. I found myself "flipping through the book" by listening to a snippet of Patton's narration at the beginning of each chapter. It was amazing to me that just by hearing the chapter number, I could immediately tell who the chapter belonged to, either Brady or Bill Hodges. That is true talent.

The story itself is another exceptional nightmare put to page by King. It is both a harrowing exposé of a disturbed mind if a domestic terrorist and a moving story of love, friendship and the beauty of how these things begin.

The Constant Reader is introduced to Holly Gibney in this book. Holly might just be King's best character ever. I'm so glad her story continues in several more books and stories.

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Hot Mess of a Story

Revisado: 04-07-20

I've enjoyed several other Peter Clines stories but not this one. The Fold, 14 and especially The Junkie Quatrain.

The mechanics of dual worlds was poorly explained. The island's ecosystem - having various non-native trees growing; the green cockroaches; the 'doorway' operation - they Tesla connection. It was a jumble of extraneous info that added to the confusion of the story. The crux of the plot hinged on the ability for the protagonist to fix arachic technology and then break it again. The Family origins and rivalry with whatever that group was called that was against the Family - another unclear aspect of the story.

And the kids used to become vessels for the clone mind of Alex - sorry, that just stretched my ability to suspend disbelief to a snapping point.

The idea of the story is very intriguing. The execution, not so great. In my observation, when a gifted author, like Clines produces a hot mess of a story - the culprit is the Editor for not reigning in the plot confusion.

Ray Porter performs admirably, as always.

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30+ Years in Print for a Reason

Revisado: 12-05-19

I have no qualms saying this is the best Dean Koontz book ever written. even Koontz feels like this is the best book he's ever written. Don't believe me? Listen to the afterword.

There's a good reason why this story endures decade after decade. It's a wonderful story of hope, love, redemption and faith.

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Dead Moon is Dead Last of Threshold series

Revisado: 11-01-19

Peter Clines has been described as writing "accessible science-fiction" which is a fair assessment.

What I particularly like about the Threshold series overall is that there's no true connection among them in regards to characters or story line. It's a trilogy that's only connected by some extreme threshold event where humanity encounters something beyond its experience and usually its grasp.

The novel, The Fold and 14 both take on a multidimensional universe construct but in very different settings with very different characters. of those two I particularly like 14 the best.

The challenge with dead Moon is that we don't get confronted with a multi-dimensional universe problem, we get confronted with an unknowable monster. Where it comes from; what its motivations are; what it wants to achieve; its purpose: none of it is explained in any depth. Because of that, the monster itself is fairly superficial.

I like the Peter Clines novels don't really give you answers about why something is happening. That's an acceptable approach to science fiction, we won't always know why. But because this monster seems so superficial and unknowable the story suffers.

The idea of the Moon becoming a massive graveyard for humanity is a pretty interesting idea. Having a collection of caretakers face off with a zombie-making meteorite with psychokinetic powers would have been more enjoyable had there been more context about said meteorite.

Ray Porter as narrator does an amazing job, as always.

Overall this book is fairly forgettable and a lot like a fun action movie forgotten a week later.

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Delightful Hodgepodge of Creepy

Revisado: 10-21-19

Story after story after story. This is a collection of creepy, funny, horrific, darling gems. All of which come at you, one after the other, from various angles. Sometimes right up front, sometimes sideways, the best of them sneak up behind you and gently tap you on the shoulder.

The title story, 20th Century Ghost, is a fine tale that pays a sweet tribute to the era of the silver screen.

In the Rundown had me dreading the ending - so much so I almost skipped ahead to the next story. Glad I didn't. It has the perfect ending. (If you appreciate films like Inception and Limbo, you'll love the way it ends too.)

Bobby Conroy Comes Back From the Dead gave me a new reason to love George Romero.

My Father's Mask is my favorite story from this collection. I really hope that Joe Hill finds his way back to Jack.

Only cause of complaint.... Audible why can't you code this audiobook work its titles!?!?! I shouldn't have to go to Wikipedia to find out the name of the story I've listened to - it should be on my screen.

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A Gift for the Constant Reader

Revisado: 09-27-19

As one of the millions of Constant Readers of Stephen King's oeuvre, I believe this book is a special milestone in American literature.

What I find so remarkable about this story is how it perfectly blends history, conspiracy theory, the magic of childhood, the angst of aging, the monster under the bed and the experience of being an American growing up in a Stephen King world.

Try to imagine this world without the books of Stephen King. Really try. Think of all the long running King references peppered throughout our lives. Eminem had to get out of Salem's Lot. Every big scary dog is Cujo. Christine the killer car. Mocking a teenage activitist as one of the Children of the Corn. Red balloons tied to sewer grates. Killer clown sightings. Even non-readers get these references.

King's words are ubiquitous.

Now take all of that away and start with this book. A story unfolds that carries the reader, like Luke in Pokey, through the currents of our shared fears: loss; terror; conspiracies; abuse; being powerless and out of control; Them and They - the shadowy puppet masters who can't possibly exist and yet we're not sure. King deftly pulls us down that river and ties our fragile dingy to a rotting dock. We disembark, shaky but feeling a little safer, a little more understood, and maybe with a sense of loss.

This novel made me feel reconnected to the power of every Stephen King book I'd ever read over the last 40 years. The story hums with a subconscious connection to every story that came before it.

I've grown up and grown old reading Stephen King. I've lived to see things I never imaged could happen. I've had wonderful moments of bliss and times of sorrow I never thought I'd survive. And yet here I am writing a review of a book that made me feel like my life wouldn't be what it is today if Stephen King had never published a single word.

If King's books could hold hands and harness their collective power, then this book would be Avery saying, "I loved having friends" except instead of friends, it would be Constant Readers.

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Almost Excellent but for one thing

Revisado: 09-13-19

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Bobiverse and book 2 doesn't disappoint. The story picks up right where book 1 ends, subjectively.

When I listen to an audiobook I expect to be mentally transported elsewhere and this series delivers that transportation in abundance by providing several "elsewheres" to visit.

Unfortunately the audio engineering of this audiobook crashed my listening vibe several times throughout the recording. Being able to hear where edited clips were inserted into the recording is a huge annoyance for me. The engineering team gets a D- on putting this book together. I really hope this doesn't continue through the rest of the series.

I gave Performance 2 stars even though I follow Ray Porter (it's how I discovered this series!) - but as a voice over narrator, he had to know the editing was sub par. It honestly sounded like he recorded his edits in a closet. Audible needs a category for Listenability or something to be able to rate the recording value as well as the narration.

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Negative Reviews Miss the Point

Revisado: 07-31-19

I don't often take the time to write a review for the audiobooks I listen to but this one merits an exception.



Junk can be looked at as another spin on the age old trope of good versus evil. I found it to be much more than that. The story takes the reader/listener all over the world; through a labyrinth of (pick-your-favorite)'ology theories, flawed heroes, grotesque villains, crazy conspiracies; strange coincidences, magic, history, folklore, music and tribal power grabs.



Frankly, it's been one of the most interesting books I've listened to in a long while. Sure there's an apocalypse happening but you can still get your caramel macchiato from Starbucks. It's occasionally funny with insights about the human condition shared in an offbeat sideways fashion.



To my knowledge, it's not part of a series - it's just a stand alone story, which I really appreciate. There's enough meat to this story to launch a trilogy but it doesn't need to be strung out.



There is violence and sexual assault and sadistic acts of cruelty that aren't worth dwelling on but the story telling is such that those horrible acts really are necessary to paint the picture. The author doesn't linger unnecessarily on these points.



I'm glad I took a chance on this Audible Exclusive. I gave it a try because of the book summary and the fact that John Waters narrates. He does okay, not great, not horrible - pretty much just straight-up narration. It works perfectly for this story.



What the negative reviews seen to focus on is the cynicism of the storyline. But it's not a cynical story. Every hero is flawed. Every villain has redeeming qualities. Junk provides the reader/listener a twisted world view with which to see these universal truths. That isn't cynicism. What the bad guys do once they've 'bloomed' and lose all connection with their morality is horrific. But take away all the moral, societal, ingrained concepts of right and wrong and the brutality enacted by the bad guys is a lot more honest than the cruelty people already inflict upon each other without the excuse of being infected with alien DNA.



This book is a worthwhile listen/read. It's a story that stays with you after it's over. It really is much better than the negative reviews make it seem. I hope others will give it a chance.

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The Best of Discworld

Revisado: 10-02-18

I wish the recording were as good as this story. The method of recording is very high in treble and not the greatest quality.

But the story... this is the best of Discworld. All the novels are special and I'm a huge fan of Tiffany Aching, but this is still by far my favorite story.

Timeless tale of justice; right beside wrong; good versus evil and the delicate blurring of each into the other.

Rest in peace, Terry Pratchett.

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