Karen Toonen

Thought-provoking Cyberpunk Police Procedural

Revisado: 03-03-19

Twenty-five years ago, the Haden's syndrome virus changed the world. For 1% of the population -- nearly 5 million Americans -- the final result was a condition known as lock-in where an active brain is trapped in a frozen body. Rookie FBI agent Chris Shane is a Haden who is mobile as with the aid of a "Threep", a robotic body nicknamed after C3P0. Shane and his veteran partner Leslie Vann take over a murder case from Metro Police because the suspect is a Haden. As they follow the trail of death, conspiracy combines with multiple murder for a thrilling ride. Scalzi has created a fascinating police procedural amidst a vibrant new world.

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Famous first lines launch all new stories!

Revisado: 07-27-18

Normally, I don't enjoy short stories because, well, they are short. However, I LOVED nine of these stories and really enjoyed the rest of them. These short stories I will listen to multiple times. Each is short, but complete. The narrators are perfect complements to each story. A collection not just for short story fans, but for all speculative fiction fans!

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"Read in print instead", says the audiophile.

Revisado: 06-19-18

This production makes the story hard to enjoy. The speed is too fast, and mispronunciations abound. I enjoyed this book in print, but prefer audio to reading print. However, I gave up on this audio.

If you commonly listen to your books at 1.5 speed, you may not have the problems I did. I grew up 20 years in the South, and have now lived 20 years in the Midwest. I couldn't enjoy the story because the narration was too fast.

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Supernatural Thriller w/ Strong Military Ethos

Revisado: 05-23-18

Owen Zastava Pitt is a warrior hiding as an accountant in hopes of a "normal life". When his boss becomes a werewolf and attacks him, he is recruited into the Monster Hunter International organization. MHI recruits from those who survive monster attacks, with sanity and/or finesse, including a librarian, a stripper, and Baptist in Z's squad. The series launches with MHI saving the world from transdimenional demon invasion.

Imagine if <i>Supernatural</i>'s Winchesters brothers founded a business organization, with quasi-governmental connections, with Sam tending to the businesses while Dean tending to the training. The writing captures the military ethos of John Ringo's writing with the monster hunting of Jonathan Maberry's <i>Joe Ledger</i> series.

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GREAT Novella Mixing Space Opera & Crime

Revisado: 05-17-18

After hacking its controlling governor, the semi-organic Security Unit, which has named itself Murderbot, decided not to commit mass murder. Instead, Murderbot escapes into the fantasy realm video serials while doing the bare minimum of its job. SecUnits work for The Corporation by recording all they see, policing humans, and killing as necessary. Naturally humans aren’t comfortable around SecUnits. Murderbot find humans equally confusing, odious, and distasteful. (However, they are necessary to keep creating video serials.) When a hidden planetary expedition group starts plotting to kill Murderbot’s humans, it puts some of those vid tactics to stunning effect. Part crime, part space opera, the Murderbot diaries are fast-paced, suspenseful adventure – especially for introverts who prefer escapist fiction to their day job. The world controlled by corporations adds creepy undertones, while issues of freedom and free will provoke thought.

Kevin R. Free provides a nuanced internal dialog for the genderless Murderbot, while also creating a believable team of scientist explorers, totally unprepared for the lethal competition they encounter. He brings the issue of at how part clone part cyborg Murderbot is human, and isn’t, to the fore.

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Dresden Files with LOTS of Vampires

Revisado: 04-01-18

In the 6th Dresden File, the action turns more towards the paranormal instead of crime investigation. Butcher continues to enhance the world-building in this urban fantasy, including the creation of three different vampire courts. Blood Rites begins after Dresden has effectively started a war between the White Council and the Red Court vampires. While the White Court vampires drive the action, the Black Court vampires starting to enter the stage.

For once Dresden can say, "The building was on fire, and it wasn’t my fault." After helping Dresden (again) White Court vampire Thomas Raith hires Dresden to prevent an entropy curse from killing more stars on his friend's Arturo Genosa film set -- a porn film set. But Mavra's Black Court scourge is simultaneously hunting Dresden in retaliation for his actions against Bianca and the Red Court. For protection, Dresden calls on Karin Murphy, Kincaid, and Ebenezer. In addition to high action, Dresden learns more about his personal life and the lives of his friends.

James Marsters does an excellent job of capturing Dresden's snarky humour, emotions, and internal dialogue. He keeps the pace moving, but captures the personal side as well. Together Marsters and Butcher make a wonderfully entertaining urban fantasy series.

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Strong female Urban Fantasy in complex universe!

Revisado: 04-01-18

In this second installment of The Hollows series, Rachel Morgan discovers hidden secrets about herself, and the dangerous reality in which Ivy exists. The danger and emotional drama increase as Kim Harrison increases the world-building, without slowing the breakneck pace. When the FIB come seeking help catching a serial killer targeting leyline witches, Rachel hopes her financial situation will improve. But her obsession with Trent Kalamack, ties to an Ever After demon, Piscary's interest in her relationship with Ivy, and her "normal" human boyfriend all weave into making her life difficult. Even as Jenks continues to provide comic relief, his role and backstory become more developed. While Dead Witch Walking was a great series opener, The Good, the Bad, and the Undead adds depth making Vampiric Charms truly enthralling!

Perfect for fans of early Anita Blake by Laurell K. Hamilton, Weather Warden by Rachel Caine, and Jim Butcher fans who long for more Karin Murphy in The Dresden Files.

Marguerite Gavin's narration make theseries more enchanting and absorbing!

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Start hoping you are murdered...

Revisado: 02-17-18

Scazli has an original premise. A world in which murder victims suddenly reappear -- creating the job of "Dispatcher" to insure the near death are murdered. When a Dispatcher goes missing, Tony Valdez is drafted by the police to find his friend and reveal the underworld of unrecorded dispatching and killing.

It's a good short story, I just wish it was a novel.

Zachary Quinto is an excellent narrator, and someone to keep listening to!

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Werewolves of all kinds!

Revisado: 01-24-18

Jim Butcher weaves a complex tale that includes multiple werewolf mythologies. All the mythologies and variations become important if Dresden is to save Chicago and the innocents.

No one brings Dresden to life like James Marsters. Marsters should narrate more books, but definitely all the Dresden novels!

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Richly detailed space opera fans rejoice!

Revisado: 01-24-18

Everyone knows you can’t travel faster than the speed of light. But, the Flow provides a convenient workaround. The Flow connects the 47 habitable star systems remaining after Earth was lost. The Flow led to the philosophy of Interdependency. No one colony can survive on its own. Interdependency has shaped politics and religion to an equal extent as they have shaped economics. But can the Interdependency survive the coming instability of The Flow?

Fans of complex, through provoking space-opera rich in world-building (à la Frank Herbert’s Dune series) will rejoice.

When the trilogy is over, I hope for a companion The Collected Wisdom of Kiva Lagos. Her mastery of inventive cursing is matched only by her Machiavellian streak. I have so much to learn from her!

Wil Wheaton again shows why he is one of my favorite narrators!

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