An excellent short work from Michael Patrick Hicks

An excellent short from Michael Patrick Hicks that reads (listens) much larger than its word count and packs quite a punch.

Waging war on poverty, one person at a time.

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3 people found this helpful

Scary, Brilliant

Truly one of my favorite books to hear AND listen to. Mr. Hicks has a fabulous eye for what horrors may come if certain factors continue as they are headed in America.

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Speculative Fiction at its finest

Although this Audiobook is not long in the length of time it will take a reader to listen to, it's storyline and content will remain on a person's mind for a very long time.

The thing that struck me most about this story was it's terrifying plausibility.

The story is set in the future United States where it is law to carry a gun openly. It is illegal to not carry a gun. Some people may scoff at this notion, but you only have to turn on the news to realize that this type of thing may come about all too soon.

Although this story was written in 2016, it seems like it was written this past month. Within the last few weeks there have been TWO school shootings and when discussing solutions, President Trump actually offered up the idea that maybe teachers should carry guns.

It is a short step from this to the dissolution of the United States, as happened in the book. They become instead, the Corporate States of America. Scary!

In the audiobook, Cara, who has struggled with depression is labeled "lower class." These citizens have no rights and horrible things can be done to them without fear of retribution.

The television show REVOLVER offered desperate people a way to help their families and would earn each participant a minimum of $5000. What do they have to do on the show? You need to listen to this audiobook to find out. I will say that it is Reality TV taken to the extreme.

From the very first minute, listeners will be drawn into the story. This book is so enthralling that you will find yourself tuning out the rest of the world and becoming completely immersed in this terrifying tale.

In an audiobook whose length is just over one hour, I did not expect much in the way of world-building. I was WRONG. The world-building in REVOLVER is top-notch. In fact, I am hoping that author Michael Patrick Hicks has since written a full length novel, or at least more short stories about this same dystopian future.

I am rating this audiobook as highly as possible. The narration was quite simply PERFECTION. Narrator PATRICIA SANTOMASSO's voice and the emotion she is somehow able to instill in that voice, make the story seem even more realistic. Listeners will feel as if they are living in the story itself. I admit to being extremely impressed by both the author and the narrator.

I rate REVOLVER as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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2 people found this helpful

Absolutely, terrifyingly real

Warning, Revolver contains pretty much everything that people will find offensive: Language, Mentions of Rape, and belittling of women. With that being said, all of it (minus the language) was written for a reason.

The world has been turned on its head and Cara is given the chance of a lifetime to give her family a much-needed financial break. She just has to star on the crowd-funded hit TV series Revolver...

Patricia Santomasso provides the narration for Revolver and does a perfect job. She took an already great book and made it amazing. Her performance will stick with me. The story was good, but Santomasso made it great.

Revolver is a perfect short story/novella to read right now. The political extremists are gaining more and more power and they aren't easily ignored anymore. Revolver tells the story of what would happen if we let this extremism go too far. And wow was it good.

There are books that you finish and they leave you with a sense of awe and an emptiness. And then there are books that you will never forget. I have a few of those, including 1984 and Brave New World. This takes some of the same things that 1984 talked about and put them to the extreme.

I had to write my warning because this book will offend people, I actually think that it was meant to. But it did it in a way that really makes you think. Revolver is a big "what if" book that will leave you feeling raw and full of emotion.

I actually can't think of the last time I read a book this short that left that much of an impression on me. It's just proof that you don't need 400 pages to make someone feel something. Just a great premise and a better narrative voice.

I was given a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion by Audiobook Boom!

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4 people found this helpful

Excellent narration of a strage story.

I was given a copy of this book free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review through AudiobookBoom.

As I started listening to the story, I thought it was a parody of what liberals consider conservatives to be. By the end, I just had the feeling that the author considered anyone not rabidly Liberal or an ultra SJW (social justice warrior) to be a member of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), just a crazed Homophobe/bigot looking to kill off or oppress some minority or other, and the book was a deadly serious look at it. While technically well written, the ridiculous future this posits, about a US that is basically a countrywide WBC, with the nightmare policies those wack jobs would put in place, that the forward by Lucas Bale actually said is entirely too possible? (really, its not. Paranonid much?) is just so over the top, so much so that I burst out laughing throughout, even though I don't think I was supposed to. All the characters except for the main character are over the top caricatures of what SJW's consider conservatives/libertarians to be, while the train wreck of a main character is not really responsible for the situation she is in, she's a victim. Maybe by the twisted world this author put together, but then again, Westboro Baptist world.

Patricia Santomasso is a revelation as a narrator. She really gives feeling to the various characters, really giving all the characters their own voices, although how she wasn't laughing all the way through shows just what a professional she is. I will be looking for more of her work.

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2 people found this helpful

Wow.

When I started listening to this I actually had to go to goodreads to see when it was written because this book had matters in it that are in the news today. This was written in 2016 and it was earily spooky actually!!

The plot centers on Cara Stone. She has basically given up on life and has no choice but to go on the reality show, Revolver. Each contestant can earn 5000$ or more for their family and it's the only way she knows that will give them some hope.

The plot was..... I keep trying to find words to express what I thought, but I won't do it justice.... harrowing, haunting, terrifying, plausible in this day and age, and sad. This is a short story yet it gave me all the feels!! Women have little to no rights in this world, abortion is illegal, guns are god basically, and it's almost like reading the news at the moment. I became lost in the book and it truly scared me.

The fact that the author has made a short story so powerful made me think that this author is one to watch. The story and character have stayed with me since I finished it and I can't wait to read more by him!! I think it's a book everyone should read, though I will say that if you like the current American president, then I don't think this is for you!!

Brilliant book and one I highly recommend!!

Patricia Santomasso read this extremely well. She put emotion behind her words and it really brought Cara to life. She made me root for Cara throughout the story.

I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.

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6 people found this helpful

Sense Overload

First, Wow. Then, kudos for Mr. Hicks writing.

Many other reviewers tell you the story and they do so very well. I'm giving my feelings about this only.

It is short, however so much is in there that I listened to this 3-4 times already. Brilliant story, gut wrenching and relevant (maybe too much so). Narrator is perfect for this.

I received this book for free from the narrator/author in exchange for an unbiased review.

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1 person found this helpful

It wasn't the ending I thought it was going to be.

Except that the author writes from the perspective that men are all women hating bigots, that all media is right-wing owned, and that Jesus is a fairytale, this is a pretty good story. I can see it happening. Two thousand years ago the Roman's had the collaseum. Bloodlust runs deep in the hearts of humanity.

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Rollerball and running man fans will love it

Great short story. Very much captured the spirit of society in such stories and film adaptations such as running man and rollerball. A morally corrupt society that hides life behind fake news and crazy game shows to distract an overburdened populace. Very enjoyable. I received this audiobook from the author narrator or publisher for free via audiobookboom in exchange for an unbiased review

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3 people found this helpful

Disturbing but Overdone Premise

What made the experience of listening to Revolver the most enjoyable?

Don't get me wrong, this is not a "bad" story. But it's been done before by the likes of Richard Bachmann / Stephen King. The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, even going back to the classic movie "Naked Prey" starring Cornel Wilde are memorable for nearly the same premise. As well as lots of other examples.

Would you be willing to try another book from Michael Patrick Hicks? Why or why not?

I would, he is a very good writer. Writing isn't the issue here. Originality is important though.

Which scene was your favorite?

The premise is. That's why the examples above were so successful and memorable.

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

"The best (women) don't run for president, they run for their lives..." that's from "Running Man". See what I mean?

Any additional comments?

Though it sounds like a negative review of the audio book as a whole, I don't mean it that way. Patricia Santomasso's voice work is very good. The saving grace possibly. I would like to listen to more books she narrates.

Thank you for allowing me to review this audio book.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com.

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2 people found this helpful