Makes You Think

What I love about Sawyer’s writing is that it always makes me think. His set ups are always something I never would have thought about, but I always find enthralling. Another great story, sir.

The voice acting, and production was also very well done. I find some full production audiobooks distracting because of all the noise. This one was enjoyable to listen to.

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2 people found this helpful

A great story and entertaining.

I enjoyed this very much. I highly recommend it and would love to hear more about the characters beyond this story.

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Surprised how much I liked it

I normally have very low tolerance for mostly dialogue stories and I'm a hater of the multi-POV and interviewer tropes. But this story captured my interest early and fully; I never had to work at paying attention. I'm still befuddled how much I enjoyed it. It's a pretty unique version of the "digitally stored consciousness" theme, and it successfully integrates widely differing story lines from old fashioned mystery to interstellar ambition. It's a great audiobook.

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1 person found this helpful

Just not good

Characters reaction are often "not real". They feel stupid at times or devoid of proper emotions. They get over stuff way too quickly unless we are supposed to understand that there was a lot of time that passed but as it is it's like a what a week for the whole thing?

The story doesn't really make sense either, I won't spoil but if the events described really happened that building would not be there still. The robot thing is also weird and shoed in. It's like the author tried to look as progressist as it could be, you have religious people that are better than everyone else, gender identity, AI rights, politics...

The voice actors and sound effect were very good, they did the best they could with what they had.

Good thing it was free and only 5h39.

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1 person found this helpful

bringing up covid

too much about covid and complying with the government and mandates enough already let's move on

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Idea-rich hard SF with a terrific cast

Packed with both near-future and far-future SF ideas. It's narrated by an all-star cast, and accompanied by just the right touches of foley--supporting the stoy's atmosphere without intruding--and the result feels like a radio play. The best science fiction doesn't shy away from moral and political issues, and this story is no exception. I was both entertained and left with plenty to think about.

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Compelling but…

Interesting and original ideas for a mashup of several popular literature genres. Detective story (poorly executed) space opera (only in the last chapter) apocalypse (I counted at least three) class wars, religious persecution, robot rights… voice acting, sounds and dialog were immersive enough. The slow reveal of the strange voice of the "narrator" was good. But the stilted story and poor transitions never failed to through me out of the story. Chopped down from a much longer story? Concept not blocked out by the writer? Come down to just poor storytelling in the end.

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Captivating and contemplative

At times I found the story a little bit hard to follow, but overall I definitely enjoyed this audio book and its premise, and I found the length to be satisfying but not drawn out. In a time where the future seems uncertain, it’s a thought provoking work about the nature of humans and our place in this universe.

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mostly really enjoyed. hated the sudden ending that just works out?

for the most part I absolutely loved the book! most of the overall story was great. as a trans man, it made me happy to see how Valentino was written. the author obviously put some research into how a trans person feels. up until the last 10 mins I loved.

the story mentioned the 7 years until the asteroid multipule times so you think its super significant. and youre all geared up and excited to see how these astronaughts and past convics will work together and survive, atleast til that 7 year deadline. but no. suddenly 10 mins left, 7 year time jump we get nothing. and all their problems are solved by the people of Mars? it feels like the autor just got sick of writing the book and just needed to end it. he could of done so much more charater building and story in that 7 years. maybe them spending some of the time trying to find way to bring Valentino back to the real world? like somehow another body is found? transferring her consciousness to a robot sinxe a whole debacle in the book is robots having freewill.

it just completely ruined the ending for me. I was absolutely disappointed with it. before the last 10 mins, absolutely 5 star.

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The Downloaded is a fantastic story

What I didn’t like? I just wanted more…. I wanted to hear how everyone managed in their chosen futures. All the factions. The new colonists on Mars, the galactic colonists on the new planet, the “Martians”, the robots…, All their stories could be in their own book. (Please?!)

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