Justin Bielak

Love comes in many forms, all written by one man

Revisado: 07-21-21

BUY THIS AUDIOBOOK IF YOU LIKE FUN, DISLIKE NO FUN, AND ARE INDIFFERENT TO THINGS THAT ARE NEITHER FUN NOR NO FUN!!!

I've never felt connected to an author. I dig what a lot of people try to do. some do it well. But Jeremy Robinson does it best. Mastering the written form (spoken form?) of the best action/sci-fi/horror tropes, a good amount of Dues Ex Machina for the protagonist, all while being pure fun and chocked full of unabashed (and always well done) fan-service, all things that can be weaknesses for great authors, Jeremy Robinson blends them all seamlessly, and often times, relentlessly. He has become an icon of escapist fiction for a small group of like minded individuals in my hometown (KCMO). This story does it all again.

And his characters! Fuck I love his characters. Little 7yo Brie sneaking up and startling a demon with her unflinching curiousity and directness? small scene that I could picture perfectly in my head. Huge impact. Do I relate to the main character? No. then I read on. ok, a little. Read on, I understand him more. Finish the book, ok, maybe I am him. After Epilogue No way, I'm Henry!

The Epilogue brings me to my next point. I get lost in the stories I read, listen to, movies I watch, tv shows. I get swept up in them. The best (according to my brain and tastes) stories I don't do any thinking and just go for the ride. So when I snuck a peak at the reviews for this, I instantly regretted it because the connection to Sarah and Henry was spoiled. After shit went sideways when the sun vanished, it slipped my mind. After getting through the climax, it was completely forgotten to the point where "..wearing a Poison t-shirt" made my jaw drop and when Miah said "...Feels like a Good Time" I knew who it was and Gasped! after the credits rolled and Bray yelled Fuck because he can't pronounce sithster, I remembered that I already knew. That, to me, is the sign of a story teller. Or mental issues or memory problems. Man I love J Robinson. Bray and Kafer too. I need to join the community, because anyone that likes these books, I could have a conversation with. Until then I'll just write over-long reviews.

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J-Ro is a MANATEE!!

Revisado: 07-08-20

In a fun, multi-episode story arch in South Park, it is revealed that the creative team of writers for Family Guy are nothing more than Manatees in a large tank. The tank is full of balls with one word on each ball, essentially creating a ball pit with a huge vocabulary. To create the jokes of Family Guy, the Manatees place a series of balls in a row, and whatever sentence is created by the words on the ball, Boom, there's the joke.

So again, Jeremy Robinson is a MANATEE.

All of his stories, all the themes presented, all the genres spanned, all the different personalities you meet withing these stories, all of it points to the inescapable truth that Jeremy Robinson is a MANATEE that has access to a vast array of sci-fi/fantasy/mythos -themed words

And all of them are amazing.

Robinson isn't really a a manatee, *gazes suspiciously at Jeremy Robinson, checks for signs of manatee in a disguse* his brain is a mine that constantly produces gems.

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Getting deep with J Rob!

Revisado: 07-06-20

Let me first say, -3 stars for RC Bray not saying Bardarbunga. Nevermind, I'll give the stars back and just make a compilation of all the times he says it, then loop it.

But for real, Bray and Jeffrey Kafer have fit the stories of Robinson so well, that when this book was first teased I went insane with anticipation. and it did not disappoint. their narration is the bar I set for others. They do the voices and accents perfectly, so that they are clear when different characters are speaking, and the emotion needed, but nothing over the top or worse, Enders Game 20th anniversary (sounded like Barry White reading for a preteen character. spent the first 2 hours of the story trying to find the equalizer to lower the bass.)

Robinson/Bray/Kafer is a friggin dream team.

Now for the story.
This one is a treat. Space Force was a treat for the opposite reasons this is a treat. had to turn my mind on for this one. Still haven't been able to turn it off. I would probably call myself a Jeremy Robinson super fan. I have loved every book I've read by him. some inspiring, some suspenseful and full of twists, some action packed spectacles, Space Force. This is the first time I would analyze events while listening. the first time I had to really pause and think about what happened (literally pause between chapters). And although the end sorts things out (in a sense), after I finished, I spent time (still doing it) imagining the world in the story was this world, and how I would cope.

and honestly I was slightly terrified of the implications. And also sorta hopeful. Then dubious and doubtful. But then.... Simulation Theory. Fffffuuuuuuu@k. My mind keeps pulling on threads I don't know if I was meant to or not. Could someone eventually accumulate enough processing power to tap into the code? Perhaps the architect is too intelligent. but for the full expanding universe, no being anywhere can attain that intelligence? or at least near enough, to uncover the source code? If the architect is that advanced, what connection could a mind like that ever feel to the simpler minds? How could it relate to a human with their base emotions and what has to be painfully slow brain processes? But does that mean contact With man inevitably leads to man rising to the level of the Architect? just some of the thoughts I've had.

Oddly enough it brings me always back to Mirrorworld. How was that not more popular? Crazy deserved better.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

fun story, almost felt like a different writer

Revisado: 11-12-19

I enjoyed it. had a lot of elements I've grown to look forward to in a Jeremy Robinson story, but some parts felt alien. which isn't a bad thing at all. I laughed when hearing Jeffery Later in this story. He sounded so young though it isn't that old of a book. but still, nothing like the narrator is now. still good and coherent.

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10 full listens, probably should leave a review

Revisado: 09-18-19

Robinson seems to be at his best when he sticks to writing about stuff he knows. Luckily, much like the story's protagonist, Robinson knows a lot about a lot. for the science involved, it isn't heavy handed and boring to get through, it isnt overly complicated and at the same time isn't watered down for the month breathers. He also seems to have a solid grasp on politics (but the interesting aspects of it, like historical and geopolitics) and military, though as a scientist I only know what I remember from long nights of getting lost in Wikipedia.

As for the fantastical elements of the story, he always has a way of uniquely dragging them off the beaten path. The Apocalypse Machine didn't go straight to a major metropolis to kill. Robinson took him on strategic journey through locales that you can tell weren't picked for their potential marketability. through the eyes of one chapter characters you get the idea of the place, but more than that you understand the characters connection. this is always done in his books so well by treating those characters with respect (not with mercy, though. never with Mercy). since these characters have lived full lives before the snippet you see through their chapter, they don't feel a need to insert unnatural exposition into their thoughts and actions. To me that's important. it what sells me the most on the realism I feel when reading his stories (Maybe not Space Force, but come on, fun can just be fun sometimes).

As for the Narrator? if I was put under some curse where I could only hear one word over and over again for the rest of my life but I still got to choose it, it would be Jeffrey Kafer saying "Bardarbunga.". But, of course, then it wouldn't be a curse at all.

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Perhaps the weakest of Timothy Zahn's Star Wars

Revisado: 07-23-19

I just had to start that way. Officially I do think this is my least favorite of all the Zahn penned stories in this Galaxy, Canon or otherwise, but it is still a 5 star A+ story that I loved for all time.

and I am so happy this Marc Thompson version came out. I've been listening to the same abridged version read by someone else who just did not capture the voices like Thompson can.

Short Version, Thompson and Zahn catch lightning in a bottle every time they collaborate.

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I'd listen to Rosario read me the phone book.

Revisado: 11-15-18

Andy Weir has a way about smart, near future concepts that few sci fi people have. he takes a hypothetical, and turns it into a living breathing environment. is this what the first city on the moon will be? maybe not. but if you are asking yourself that the whole time you listened to this, lighten up cynic. Immerse yourself in the world, and you will have a fun time with this one. another clever story by someone who has shockingly similar humor to my own.

as for Rosario Dawson, I may be too biased to give this a review, since I have a huuuuge crush on her. but I she does what seasoned voice actors struggle with. Each character has a voice, sure, but you also get the sense of personality. No spoilers, but the daughter of the rich guy, she goes through different emotional states that Rosario translates amazingly with just a voice to go off.

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Who is Rutger? I want more!

Revisado: 11-07-18

The book is smart, funny, charming, and provacative enough to get me to listen to the whole thing in one sitting. And it's a horror/thriller that actually had me in suspense mode more than lots of movies can manage. whoever Michael Rutger is, I'll be looking for more by him, and it will be an instant purchase.

As for the narrator, he gets a high grade. he was able to match the change in mood that some of the duplicitous characters switch between so I knew when they where being c*nts. Well done sirs. o enjoyed this immensely.

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Please more Thrawn! Please! I beg of you!

Revisado: 08-20-18

have I not reviewed this yet? I figure I should since I've just finished my 5th connected listen of Thrawn and Thrawn Alliances back to back. I haven't even seen that cheaply made Cartoon yet. I am a huge fan of Timothy Zahn. And the way he brings this character to through his own evolution is a masterpiece. And in this book in particular, the evolution of his crew is felt out, presenting itself through minor asides dealing with thought and emotion, nothing major, but you Feel the change that Thrawn has affected on those people.

And as for Vader? hands down the best depiction of Vader in a story. And to me, this is the finest Vader we have ever seen. This shines a light on Vader's connection to his past, and even under intense scrutiny, nothing seemed out of place. You see the jedi alive deep in Vader. And I don't think many could have done this lime Zahn did.

And as for the voices, I will say this and say this over and over for as long as he is around; Marc Thompson is the best narrator on Audible, and he should be given cheats full of gold and his own private island so he can relax and narrate every story I want to listen to. I guess Roy Dotrice is perfect for Game of Thrones, but Thompson, man. Marc Effing Thompson. an insane talent. does he work on any of the cartoons? he does Vader better than Vader does Vader! I cannot imagine Thrawn sounding any different than this.

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Marc Thompson and Timothy Zahn can do no wrong

Revisado: 06-21-18

First, I went in to this book skeptical. the Original non-Canon Thrawn trilogy is one of my favorite stories period. so to have a new version of Thrawn as Canon, although exciting, was going to be hard to swallow. After my fifth complete listening, I chuckle at doubting Zahn. this Thrawn has similar characteristics to the old, but is a completely fresh take on the tactical genius. the story built around it is amazing, and now has me desperately wanting to know what did Thrawn and Anakin get in to together?

ok, so forgetting the book, I have to say, the duo of Zahn and Thompson is perfect. Timothy Zahn can build a story with many characters and each one is so well written that it never gets crowded or confusing. To bring each one to life while holding on to their uniqueness would be a hard task for some. Bring in Marc Thompson, one of if not the best reader audible has. the voices he comes up with are incredibly diverse, but even more than that, he is able to add nuance to voice-over work. such a talent! hi

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