Taj

Great potential but falls short in the third act

Revisado: 11-27-22

First, I didn't think that the narrator was that bad. I certainly have heard worse!

(Warning spoilers) I thought this book started strong, piquing my interest because of my work in the field of genomics. Everything leading up to them finding their mother's case and instructions was amazing, but then I am not sure what happened. The plot and the pacing disintegrated. It just didn't make sense that Logan and his sister couldn't reconcile a plan and work together, especially considering what Logan's final solution was. Here is what my holdup is... if Logan was concerned with 1) the impact of the upgrade globally and (later) 2) the mortality rate of the viral vector, then why on earth didn't he work with his sister in the first place to develop a safe vector as well as a include the gene targets for empathy/compassion that he included in his upgrade. Any moral argument he originally made about release such an upgrade was nullified as soon as he did the same thing. Again, there is no reason why he couldn't have done the testing needed to ensure a safe upgrade. Oh, and if Logan's mom had read about daisy-chain gene drives, then she could have avoided the entire Ramsy plague - Just saying.

Last, the pacing was all whacky in the 3rd act. The "battle of new york" was 100x more detailed then any other part and I wonder is that was to fill pages. Overall, I loved the concept and the start, but I would have like to see an alternate ending with a different conflict.

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I love the series and Book 4s are hard, BUT...

Revisado: 10-05-20

I just didn't love this book, and I was expecting so much more. I have listened to the first 3 books three times each, but I can't see myself listening to this one again. It had the makings of a good story, but it was just sooooo tedious. I am sure the author hoped the reader would find the same interest in the Quinn as we did the Deltins, but that just didn't happen for me. The first three books did such a great job of giving us perspectives from the different Bobs, but that was completely missing here... where was the perspective of the Skippies, the Gamers, Star fleet? Even more time with Bridgett, Will, or Bender would have been great. Instead, we got Bob working on a riverboat in Heavens River.... BORING! Benders return was even anticlimactic... he was surprised about alcohol? There wasn't even SCUT when he went off and the his missed the Others. A cameo of Daedalus and Icarus would have been great too!

I know that book 4s are exceptionally hard because they are trying to follow-up from where we left off as well as setup the next books, but there was so much squandered potential here. The worst part is that I felt the major hurdle in this was contrived... why come up with such a complicated plan to rescue Bender? Bob is pragmatic and parsimonious... he would never leave it all to essentially chance. Why not contact the "Administrator" right off the bat?! Honestly, I found the philosophical discussions the most interesting... more of that and less of Quinn chase scenes!

Okay, I'm done!

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esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

Shouldn't need a preface & afterward to apologize!

Revisado: 03-09-20

Honestly, another cliffhanger?! You really shouldn't need a preface and afterwards to explain your book and then apologize. Truly, I enjoyed the first three books - the plot hook for me was Suri's ascension and realization of power and the investigation of the mysterious characters. However, in the newer books, there is minimal story arch, no building of suspense, and a lot of meandering writing. The excuse was that the novel would be "too long"? Have you ever read a Don Winslow book? The Cartel was almost 800 pages (and 23.5 HOURS of narration!) in paperback compared to 432 in Age of Death. Each books should be self contained but still part of the larger arch. Take a look at Pierce Browns work for a good example of how to do back-to-back trilogies. I can understand the grumblings about a money grab. Want to prove them wrong?! Everyone who purchased Age of Legend and Age of Death should get Age Empyre of free! Oh, almost forgot - thank you MJS for making it possible to finish this book! You are always a pleasure to listen to.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

The harrowing conclusion to an epic trilogy

Revisado: 03-26-19

First, let's discuss the elephant in the room, the politics in this book. The two previous novels were inherently political. Perhaps because they were historical and not contemporary, US readers were desensitized to political issues such as the US's role in supporting contras in banana republics, which at the time was just as polarizing a topic as our current president. I find it extremely ironic the thesis of "The Border", that the US is quick to point the finger at Mexico but hypocritically hesitant to turn that critical gaze inward, is a point of contention in the political stance of the novel. It seems as if readers were eager to say "look at those violent barbarians and corrupt government officials" in books 1 and 2, but as soon as the author brings the current political debate in the US to the forefront, the same readers call foul. Personally, I thought the author crafted the current climate seamlessly into the final act of this masterpiece. Last, for those who say they read Don Winslow books and specifically this trilogy for "relaxation" and "escapism, what?! You relax by listening to stories of murder and torture, based on actual real-life events? I can't even count the number of times I had to pause the book because of the acute anxiety it caused as well as the number of times throughout non-listening hours I caught myself thinking about the events in the book. I think this speaks to the skill of the author to build tension, invest the reader in the characters, and provide a visceral experience.

Now for The Border and the trilogy overall: three books, 90 hours of narration! Among all the series I have read, this is the most captivating and well crafted. What I think is truly amazing is how Don Winslow's story arcs traverse all three books while providing intermediate resolutions at the end of each novel and avoiding the "reappear in the last act" flaw. I guess you could say that the novels are written in a hyperlink/anthology format where all of the various storylines of multiple characters intertwine and collide in the climax. The brilliance is that Winslow provides such in-depth background and storyline for each character, that the reader is emotionally invested in each one. As a result, the lines between good and bad get blurred and you can find yourself rooting for the bad guy or tragic hero. Each storyline serves the purpose of providing a unique, first-person look into aspects of the story, sub-plot, and often society, that further draws the reader in more. A clear example of this is the character Niko Ramirez in this book, whose young eyes provide perspective on critical issues in today's society. This is how Winslow can fill 30 hours of narration and never once lose the reader. In all, the writing, storytelling, and sheer visceral effect on the reader/listener speak to Winslow's consummate abilities as an author. In this book and throughout the others, I have laughed, cried, rejoiced, mourned, and felt motivated to take a more active role in addressing the issues raised in these books.

Last, this trilogy would not be what it is without the amazing narration of Ray Porter. His vocal and emotional range never ceases to amaze... a 7-year-old migrant girl, 60 yo compasino, 50 yo woman, snooty wall-street banker, 12-year-old ESL boy - nailed them. (Okay, one teeny-tiny critique - the Greek accent needs work - I brushed it off in Mayberry's Assasin's Creed and I only noticed because I speak Greek. No worries, it's just an excuse to take a trip to Santorini!). What is even more impressive is that Porter augments/matures the voice as a character's age or personality changes throughout the novel and even the trilogy. This is just one of those subtle details that set him far apart from other narrators. For this particular book, I really give him credit. There were certainly some parts that are hard to listen too, which means they were likely hard to narrate. Instead of throwing him off his game, he channels that emotion into the character, providing an unmatched experience for the listener. If I were to guess, I would say that Winslow writes with Porter's narration in mind and Porter narrates with the heart of Winslow's intention in his. It's a beautiful pairing.

So what are you waiting for?! Go listen to The Boarder!

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Not your average Zombie book!

Revisado: 11-14-18

I am not sure why I waited so long to listen to this book. I think at the time I was saturated with stories from the zombie genre. I just couldn't imagine how someone could tell a unique tale that wouldn't be the same old same old. Finally, after months of this book popping up in my recommendations, I decided to heed the ratings and reviews and give it a listen. Man, am I glad that I did! This is not your average Zombie book. I am not even sure if it is a zombie book. In any case, it sent me on a binge listening spree of The Joe Ledger Novels. Here is what I loved:

1.) You can't ignore the amazing performance of Ray Porter. He can make a technical book sound riveting (and he has)! As Joe Ledger, he embodies the complexity and depth of the character. His narration drips with emotion like a method actor at his finest. Further, his dynamic range in unmatched. I tried to count once how many "voices" Ray had. I supposed that he recycled a few, but I am hard pressed find exact matches in the characters he narrates. For example, Rudy's voice *could be borrowed from his narration of the Don Winslow books, but it's not! I could go on forever about the talents of Mr. Porter, but let's just end by saying that his knowledge of other languages, dynamic range to narrate both male/female/child characters, and full embodiment of the characters emotions make him unmatched as a narrator.

2) Jonathan Maberry is an amazing writer. Plot aside, his use of imagery and analogy is excellent. In these types of books, it is easy to regurgitate the same language as other action authors; however, it is like Maberry comes up with his own language to illustrate the action, inner conflict, and overall storytelling. After listening for five or more Ledger books, I never get tired of his writing. In fact, I sometimes pause the books and replay the last few sentences because the imagery is so unique and beautiful.

3) The plot of this and other Ledger books is extremely creative and unique. I mean, who comes up with this stuff?! The way he tells the story is also unique as the plot crescendoes at a different point than most authors. It is often right before most authors would reach the climax. However, this shows that Maberry uses violence to illustrate plot points and not to be the center of it. The theme of the books are also very complex and much deeper than just an action thriller. I mean deep!

4) Now for Captain Ledger - He is probably one of the most complex characters I have ever known, and I have read Don Winslow books, Lee Child, Bernard Cornwell, Vince Flynn, and Pierce Brown. Ledger ranks up there in my favorites with Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Mitch Rapp, and Darrow of Lykos. And if those names ring a bell with you, then you should be reading the Joe Ledger series if you haven't already! I like the depth of Ledger and his admission that he is a flawed hero, almost an anti-hero. His inner conflict and dialogue is mesmerizing. As an action hero, he is one-of-a-kind... perhaps I like him because he is a practitioner of jiu-jitsu! Overall, I love his "fight to win" mantra and his smartass quips.

Overall, if you are an action novel buff, science nerd, or Ray Porter fan, this series is for you! And while this is not a zombie book/series, it's got that too! #JoeIsMyHero #MaberryIsDaMan #PorterPerforms #NotYourAverageZombieBook #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

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Dind't love it and didn't hate it

Revisado: 11-14-18

This is my first book by Jeremy Robinson. Overall, the complexity of the story is impressive. If you are a fan of this genre, then I am sure you will enjoy this book. However, there are a number of elements that stopped me short of loving it. First, while complex, it was somewhat predictable. I surmised the plot twist ending well before the reveal... like right when it was set up. Second, there were a lot of borrowed plot elements from other similar works in this genre: fleeing a failing earth, humanities last hope, a mishap, virtual reality, etc. Also, the "Gal"/"Hal" nod was a little too on the nose. Last, I am not sure I liked the ending. There are a lot of ways the author could have taken it, but I was still left feeling the need for some resolution. Perhaps that was the intention though. In the end, I will likely listen to more Robinson books. #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes #NotMyReality #FTLspeed #BombShell

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So good, I had to put it down!

Revisado: 09-19-17

Would you consider the audio edition of The Power of the Dog to be better than the print version?

Yes, because Ray Porter's performance was amazing.

What did you like best about this story?

How gripping it is and how well author develops each character before their life collides with another.

What about Ray Porter’s performance did you like?

I ability to mount tension, speak in multiple accent/dialects/languages, and passion for his work.

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

I had to stop reading at several points because it was so intense.

Any additional comments?

"I couldn't put the book down" is what you usually hear people exclaim. However, this book is such a riveting emotional rollercoaster that you can't binge listen to it! I found myself feel anxious and concerned about the characters. So much so that I had to take a break and decompress. I think that is the definition of a good book! It was all made even better by Ray Porter's amazing performance!

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Good story, but just not the same.

Revisado: 10-16-16

What did you like best about Order to Kill? What did you like least?

Best: The return of Mitch Rapp. Least: The lack of depth, character development, and flat plot development.

Would you recommend Order to Kill to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, to those that love Rapp.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I would not be a Mitch Rapp book without George Guidall!

Was Order to Kill worth the listening time?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I know there is a lot of discussion on wether this matches up to Vince Flynn's version of Rapp. I have listened to all of the Mitch Rapp books and have enjoy them all. While I greatly enjoyed the return of Rapp and the story, I just had an overall sense that this was not the same Rapp. Vince Flynn had a gifted ability to build tension in his novels until the plot reached an action packed crescendo. For example, books like Extreme Measures had my heart racing, and even though I knew the protagonist would come out on top, there was a sense that he might not. And in every book, there was character development. Even though we all knew Rapp like our high school best friend, he continued to grow. While new relationships emerged in this book, there was no depth or growth. Last, I feel that some of the decisions Rapp made in this book, Flynn's version would not have done. I could point out several examples, but I don't want to give away spoilers. Now, having said all that, I am glad that Mills in carrying the torch. I would happily listen to any book about Rapp than none at all, and I am excited to see where Rapp's story goes. I just want to see more of Flynn's Rapp.

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Wonderful story, horrible narrator

Revisado: 05-06-16

Why so monotone? This was a great book, ruined by the sub-par performance of the narrator.

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Please retitle "Plants, Animals, and Agriculture"

Revisado: 03-06-15

What would have made Guns, Germs and Steel better?

Trimming 100 pages and several hours of narration by omitting endless lists of plant and animal species.

Any additional comments?

I am thoroughly interested in this topic as I am an evolutionary biologist who has taken coursework on molecular anthropology. I was highly recommended this book and decided to give it a try. It has good material and does a okay job of addressing all the important milestones throughout civilization, but it is tremendously boring. It should be retitled "Plants, animals, and agriculture" as these topics dominated the text. Since 1998, there has been a wealth of genetic data published as a result of the human genome project. These data more clearly address the questions raised in this book. While these data are more recent, there was still available studies on human genetic data in the 1990's that could have illustrated some of these points better. At the end of the book I will still unable to answer Rowlie's (sp?) question. If I had the time, I would go through an identify all the hypotheses in the text that have been subsequently refuted by genomic data.

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