Bill S.

Not up to JD Barker greatness

Revisado: 10-15-24

I absollutely think JD is a masterful writer, but sometimes even masters take a dump. This is his. My fear is that JD lowered his standards working James Patterson, master only of predictable, formulaic pulp, and couldn't see that this novel is sub-par for the likes of the person who brought us the monkey series. In the author's note, JD mentions that he wrote this and then set it aside rather than sending it to his publisher. His instincts told him it wasn't very good and it's not. The characters are contrived and foolish, the tech is preposterous, the sociopaths have far too many feelings, and the dialogue is beginner-level (made even worse by the terrible narration). If you're expecting anything close to his earlier books, you will be sorely disappointed.

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How did the sci-fi bar get so low?

Revisado: 03-22-24

This was a painful listen that I couldn't finish. The narration is abysmal matched only by the bad dialogue and rambling pseudo-philosophical diatribes. Skip it.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Tolerate the intolerable

Revisado: 03-10-24

I almost returned this one a few hours in. I cut the book a lot of slack for the bad dialogue as it can't be easy to translate a book from Chinese to English for the ears of a western audience. I also had to let go of normal story structure. It seems to meander all over the place at different times to unnecessarily draw out the comparison of the revolution to the activist Earthlings.

What I found almost unbearable was the terrible narration. For one thing, why hire a white guy narrator for a story that primarily takes place in China with Chinese characters? Not that I think an Asian narrator would or should have used Chinese accents, but listenting to this guy give one of the primary characters the accent of a grizzled Chicago cop was absolutely ludicrous and took me out of the story every time he spoke. The narrator also seemed to have a great deal of trouble conveying accurate emotions as exemplified by the caucasian naturalist who can only speak in angry tones. Stick to Minecraft, Luke.

I recommend this book because, as a sci-fi nerd and physics enthusiast it has some of the most unique spins I've ever seen. Grit your teeth and stick with it.

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Not just the narrator

Revisado: 11-30-22

A great many reviews here are bashing the narrator. She's not the best I've heard but certainly not the worst. The book is not very well written, especially the dialogue so I tend to cut the narrator some slack given the source. I used a credit to get this book because I started watching the Amazon series and I prefer to have read the book first in these cases. Not necessary here. The book has some good ideas but execution is mediocre at best. The Amazon series, on the other hand, makes up for the shortcomings of the book.

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Glad I didn’t pay for it

Revisado: 05-30-22

Dull. No surprises. No likable characters. Inept narration. The only good thing about it is it’s short. Do better Audible Originals.

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Where's the editor?

Revisado: 03-12-22

This is two books. One beautifully written and narrated historical fiction novel and one YA novel that seems to be read by a refugee from the cast of Twilight. I can't really fault the writer or the narrator. The editor should be fired. This novel is absurdly long, and I love long novels, but this one and should have been rendered in two upon first reading. The "Hollywood" story is pointless drivel about a spoiled, entitled actress who has no idea who she is and never finds out. I kept hoping that the past and present would somehow reveal itself, tie together, and make me love both stories. It doesn't. The present-day part of the story is a distraction from what otherwise is a brilliant, compelling, and deeply heartfelt story. Had I known this I would have gladly skipped the present day chapters altogether.

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Toxic Masculinity Writes a Book

Revisado: 02-10-22

Where to start? I have over 300 titles in my Audible library and this one wins for absolutely worst dreck I have ever suffered through. When the aliens finally got around to invading I really hoped they would start with Hooters and the morons who think there's some skill involved in eating a chicken wing.

Sexist doesn't even begin to describe this garbage. There are no unattractive women with small breasts ("knockers" is the term the authors prefer) and no female character goes any deeper than flicking her long hair behind an ear or wearing perfume that distracts the mysoginist scientists and military leaders.

The plot meanders, exposition is repeated ad nausem, and the story goes off on unexplained tangets that do nothing to forward the story. This is a 5 hour book that takes 14 hours to get through.

The narrator should not be allowed to read audiobooks. His characters have little to distinguish them, even if they're female, unless a non-American accent is called for which he does BADLY across the board. He seems to relish it sexism of almost every male character and does his best to amplify them with his tone and inflection.

This is a book for 14-year-old boys in 1973 Texas. Everyone else should stay away as there is nothing redeeming about this trash.

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esto le resultó útil a 14 personas

Nope

Revisado: 02-05-22

Whenever I read or listen to a book and can’t figure why after hours I stop and don’t look back. Returned unfinished.

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Grishom Fans Take Note

Revisado: 01-17-22

This is a sports novel with very little conflict or suspense. Unusual for Grishom. It's not a bad book, it's just not what I expected from this author. I haven't read a sports book since I was in high school and that was non-fiction. Not sure I understand the point of making up a story about a ficticious basketball player when there are already so many true stories that should be told. Sorry, John, this is my second return in 15 years.

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Never returned a free book before but...

Revisado: 07-31-19

Not sure what the point here is or how authentic all these rave reviews are, but I can see why it was free. Seems like they were going for the tone of Infinte Jest and the oddball humor of Hitchhiker's Guide and failed miserably on both counts. Don't bother.

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