Patrick

Great world held back by slow pacing

Revisado: 03-25-16

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I listened to all 25 hours, so clearly I enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll listen to the future installments in this series. It was about 30% too long, the pacing was uneven, and it didn't end up going anywhere really. And yet I listened to all of it.

What three words best describe Sarah Coomes’s performance?

Her voice is pleasant, but it is obvious she narrates a lot of romance novels. Her voice could be really shaky, breathless, and dramatic too often. Half the time I liked it and half the time it drove me nuts. Kind of like the rest of the book.

Did Twelve Kings in Sharakhai inspire you to do anything?

Search out other fantasy stories set in non-Western worlds.

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Star Trek meets police procedural meets thriller

Revisado: 09-27-14

What did you love best about Leviathan Wakes?

It did an excellent job of establishing the world it was set in, the political stakes involved at all ends, and unfolding the story in a way that made you want to keep listening. Besides being engaging and thrilling, it also made me think. This isn't just a popcorn book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Miller the best - the tormented, homicidal, suicidal ex-cop who is in love with a woman he's never met.

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Enjoyable listen even with a few gripes

Revisado: 05-16-14

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Michael Page is an excellent narrator, and brings this fun tale to life.

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Interesting but underwhelming

Revisado: 03-07-14

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I enjoyed most of the book, but the last 1/3 lost me.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Less repetition in the storytelling - the same events are covered twice by both narrators. The section describing Rupert Angier's trick was overlong - I get that we needed to know how it worked, but there was too much.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The faux 19th century dialogue was sometimes too florid for my tastes. Vance is a fine narrator, though.

Do you think The Prestige needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It's not clear what exactly happens at the end. I'm not sure what a follow up book would document, but it would be interesting to hear what happens to the ancestors after the last page of this book.

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An interesting take on fantasy

Revisado: 03-04-14

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

I liked the Japanese setting, which was a nice change of pace from your typical medieval European setting. I'm not sure if I would recommend it. I enjoyed it, but after it ended I had no desire to listen to the other books in the series. The story was perhaps too simplistic, or maybe I was annoyed by the star crossed lover angle.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I thought Kevin Gray was excellent - quiet and reserved, much like the protagonist. Aiko Nakasone was not as good. She tended to over annunciate and was reading the story rather than performing it.

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Not the full book

Revisado: 10-11-13

What would have made Quicksilver better?

I wish it had included the other two volumes that make up the print/ebook edition of "Quicksilver." As it is, it is only the first third of the book.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

This ends after the first third of the book, so there isn't a real ending. I found the ending to the book a bit disappointing, in that after 927 pages not much had actually been resolved. I found it interesting enough to immediately buy "The Confusion," which is the sequel to this book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

This is a fast, entertaining book. The narrators were good, but it is probably best enjoyed in print form so that you can quickly skim through the parts where Stephenson goes on a long tangent totally unrelated to the story.

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Well written and engaging but hard to follow

Revisado: 10-11-13

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It was really hard for me to follow what was going on. Gibson is a good writer, but his habit of telling stories from three or four different perspectives without given much backstory or exposition makes it tough to track what is happening. I was lost the first seven hours, and it was only until the second half of the book that I finally started to understand how the threads intertwined.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Gibson is a gifted writer, and Jonathan Davis captured the dark mood of the story. Even when I didn't know what was going on or where Count Zero was going, I kept listening.

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Classic Noir

Revisado: 07-31-13

Where does The Ivory Grin rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Ross McDonald is one of my favorite author's and Grover Gardner did his creation Lew Archer justice. The plot is strong, and the narrator captures Archer's world-weariness. Highly recommended.

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Lovecraft meets Burroughs meets Bill and Ted

Revisado: 06-23-13

What did you love best about John Dies at the End?

The narrator perfectly capture the goofy charm of the book.

Any additional comments?

This book was the perfect combination of goofy humor, surreal imagery, and horror. It made fun of a lot of horror cliches while still being terrifying in places. The only knock I can give it is that its origins as a blog serial are evident in the slightly disjointed nature of the story.

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A dated classic

Revisado: 06-23-13

Would you listen to Dr. No again? Why?

The performance was excellent, and really brought the story to life.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved Bond's superspy workout: Run a mile, swim half a mile, sunbathe for an hour, and drink four drinks. I also loved that he had three or four drinks when he was on his missions. Maybe it helped him stay sharp.

Any additional comments?

Yes, Dr. No is sexist and racist, and the action is ridiculous. However, if you can look past the dated attitudes, it's a fun period piece.

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