Michael Valentine

Holy Guacamole! - 40 Shades of Star Trek

Revisado: 09-23-19

A well written, steamy science fiction thriller. This book was referred by a friend who thought that I might enjoy it.
Well, I did. It was exciting, dangerous and fun. Great writing and wonderful narration combine to transport the listener to a different universe.

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Fantastic fun and hilarious!

Revisado: 08-06-18

Bryson does it again. And while at first I kindly wish he had hired a professional narrator, by the third listen I cannot imagine anyone else reading this book aloud.

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Immersive and Interesting

Revisado: 09-03-15

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

Yes, and I have. You can see Mr.Lonergan's complete understanding of the subject matter (germ warfare) from the beginning.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Antidote?

The crossing into Georgia from Russia.

Which character – as performed by Dan Lawson – was your favorite?

His voices for the computers and his Slavic accents were wonderful, but my favorite was Robert Cook. I could feel his life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me a bit nervous.

Any additional comments?

This book started off kind of slow; both the writing and the narration. But once the ground work was laid and the story really got going (around Chapter 4), I felt as though I had been transported to another life. Very good!

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An instant classic!

Revisado: 09-08-14

If you could sum up The Art of Fielding in three words, what would they be?

heartfelt, layered, human (as viewed through an American)

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Art of Fielding?

Without giving any spoilers - the entire book

Which scene was your favorite?

Henry arriving at Westish.

If you could rename The Art of Fielding, what would you call it?

Skrimshander

Any additional comments?

I don't want to give too much away. Like all classic literature, Chad Harbach transports us into college life through the eyes of a baseball player. He immerses us in the lives of his characters so richly, that it's as though we lived with them, along slide them, and in between them. We are by turns: parents, teammates, classmates, coaches, and college presidents. I've listened to it three times and read it three times.

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Who done it? ...and why?

Revisado: 09-08-14

If you could sum up Blast from the Past in three words, what would they be?

quick-paced, engaging, fun

What other book might you compare Blast from the Past to and why?

One specific book? That's tough! Blast From the Past follows in the great tradition of pulp page-turners. Their are hints of Patterson, Christie and Grafton

Which character – as performed by Dan Lawson – was your favorite?

Gnarly of course! For humans, I'd have to say Bogie.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Just when you thought you've outrun your past, you turn to find it standing in front of you!

Any additional comments?

This was a fun summer listen. The characters were rich and engaging. The voice talent does not disappoint.

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Author and Narrator on the Rise!

Revisado: 05-11-14

If you could sum up Darmageddon in three words, what would they be?

Imaginative. Emerging. Fun.

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

The story is left unfinished. Quite a few questions need to be answered! I'm guessing "Dardemption" is next.

Which scene was your favorite?

Any scene with the character named Brownie was great.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not too extreme. This book has quite a bit more humor than the previous two. Which works well.

Any additional comments?

Now before you listen to this audiobook and start ripping me for the high rating I gave it, know this: This isn't a book by Arthur C Clarke. This book is like a triple "A" affiliate in baseball. As such, you don't go to a minor league game with the same expectations as you do for a major league game. You judge the individual game on it's own merits. Having said that: Souza has grown immensely since the release of his first book. His writing has improved in all areas as he discovers his "voice." Make no mistake, he does have a ways to go. Hiring a competent editor is a must for his next book. I have a bit of OCD, and when I read a book that's part of a series, I must read the entire series! It's a problem, I know (I even slogged through all of the "Wheel of Time" books even though there was nothing new after book four). Souza is going to be a very good fiction writer in the near future, and Darmageddon is another step in the right direction. As for the narrator, Dan Lawson: This guy is amazing! His characterizations are some of the best I've ever heard in audiobooks. Some of the characters (Brownie, General Townsend, Cephus, and Jamal to name a few) are so diverse that I was sure that there was more than one narrator being used. Some of Lawson's earlier audiobook narrations aren't very good; even bordering on terrible. But like Souza, he has gotten better and better by leaps and bounds. This narration is one of his best, and one of the best books I've listened to in the last year (performance-wise). I found myself listening to several chapters multiple times! He has narrated quite a few books that are not available on Audible, but can be found on other sites such as iTunes and Simply Audiobooks. If you're a fan of discovering artists before they blow-up, then listen to Darmageddon. Souza and Lawson are on the rise. And one day you can say, "I knew them when.."

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Better than the Reawakwening, but still needs work

Revisado: 03-19-13

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The writing needs to improve. Many times you are left pondering the grammar.

Would you ever listen to anything by Joseph Souza again?

In the future,sure. The growth from his first book to the second was huge. But still a ways to go.

Which character – as performed by Dan Lawson – was your favorite?

Brabas had a cool voice. And I like the guys from Boston; they were hilarious.

What character would you cut from Darpocalypse?

Not sure.

Any additional comments?

The only reason I listened to this book was because I bought it in tandem with the first and it was already on my smartphone. I ran out of material and decided to give it a try. I was expecting it to be horrible -and let's be clear, it wasn't very good- but it was much better than The Reawkening by far. Better writing, better character development and better narration. It felt like I was listening to a cheesy Saturday matinee movie. Which made me nostalgic, so I listened to it while eating popcorn :)

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Shatner; Reads. His Own. Book.

Revisado: 03-14-13

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

Yes. It's William Freakin' Shatner!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Star Trek Memories?

Listening to how one of the networks heard all of Gene Roddenberry's ideas about Star Trek. Passed on the idea. Then created Lost in Space from Gene's notes.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Well...it IS William Shatner.

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

Not really a "movie" kind of book

Any additional comments?

If you're curious about Star Trek or are a major fan, this is an awesome book.

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Ambition Ahead of Ability

Revisado: 03-14-13

What would have made The Reawakening better?

Editing. The writing was very juvenile.

What could Joseph Souza have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Hired a better editor.

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

I liked the narrator. Good voice. Dark. It was hard to listen to because the writing was all over the place.

What character would you cut from The Reawakening?

I wouldn't cut him but I'd change the Uncle. He was a walking talking cliche.

Any additional comments?

I'm a sucker for Zombie books. I simply can't get enough of them. This one had some lofty ideas that weren't fully realized. It was really amateur and badly written.

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A Wild Ride to the Past from the Future

Revisado: 03-13-13

Where does Ready Player One rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top for sheer pop entertainment!

What did you like best about this story?

How creative it was. It was an awesome blend of several great stories from the past.

Which character – as performed by Wil Wheaton – was your favorite?

Og the Great and Powerful and Sorentto.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Pretty much

Any additional comments?

If you love video games, the 80's and movies you'll love this book!

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