Dust: Before and After cover art

Dust: Before and After

The Dust Series, Book 1

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Dust: Before and After

Written by: S. E. Smith
Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
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About this listen

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author returns with an emotionally charged fantasy adventure story filled with heart-pounding action and suspense for listeners of all ages.

After fragments of a comet hit Earth, Dust wakes to discover the world as he knew it is gone. It isn't the only thing that has changed though; so has Dust. He now possesses powers that continue to grow, but they also come with a price.

A deadly encounter after Dust leaves his home leads to a new discovery - other survivors. Dust soon learns that another creature has risen from the ashes, one that is determined to possess the powers he now has. On a journey filled with danger, it will take the skills of not just Dust, but those of his friends, if they are to survive.

This time the race is not to the swift but to the deadliest in a world where a changed human boy and an odd assortment of friends must face their worst nightmares and accept that life on Earth will never be the same again.

Join Dust and his friends as they fight to overcome an evil force determined to create a new species unlike any the world has ever known.

©2016 Susan E. Smith (P)2016 Blackstone Audio
Fantasy Fiction Horror Science Fiction Scary Heartfelt Horror Fiction
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What listeners say about Dust: Before and After

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recommend!

a couple of the narrators characters were hard to listen to. but such a neat end. leaves room for a second book for sure.

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great short novel

Loved it, just found everyone always having "a husky voice" extremely grating. I know it's nitpicking but wow did it get frustrating. Other than that I really did enjoy the book and how it wasn't afraid to leave questions unanswered

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Pretty good series

This series was surprisingly good. A different take on the apocalypse. Looking forward to the next book. And you really can’t beat the price.

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why is everyone always speaking "in a harsh voice"

This book is just ok. I am listening to the second one because it's included.

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good till the shitty ending.

didn't like the ending, was really hoping it didn't turn down the shitty road of werewolf and vampire.

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Ooof

That was a rough one. Ended up using it as background noise while working. Sorry, cannot recommend.

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my child could write better

This is bad. Hardly makes sense, and sucks don't read . Seriously don't waste your time. Mountain man is so much better. Read that instead.

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Written For A Specific Audience

.. unfortunately, I'm not 13 years old anymore.

This take on post-apocalyptic literature is distinctly sophomoric. S.E. Smith imagines a reality where a civilization-ending comet has struck - sentencing a devastated earth to intermittent/unpredictable deadly mass storms.. and transforming a few apparently random humans (and animals) into near-magical beings with energy manipulation powers.
Smith's chief protagonist (15 year-old 'Dust'), for example, can control electricity and phase in and out of invisibility/etherealness.. at the cost of having to continually stuff himself with junk food to restore his energy pool. The speculation is imaginative.
Unfortunately, the author wastes an opportunity to pen something interesting in favor of a superficial trope-heavy morality play ("fight prejudice & use your powers to help those who are weaker than you" are messages pounded into readers). The book actually has no plot - not even a "rescue someone" or "get somewhere" mandate. The only nod to story progression is having Dust start to evolve new powers and recognize his teenaged-love feelings for 16 year-old friend 'Sammi'. They otherwise just wander the landscape hunted by a Werewolf-like "She-Devil".

On the positive side of the ledger, reader Paul Heitsch does remarkably well delivering chuckleworthy text. True, he reads with occasional over-the-top voice-acting - but his dedication to performing with a straight face is impressive.

'Dust: Before and After' merits a mere 3.5 stars out of 10. It's appropriately included as a 'Plus' selection - not being worth a Credit (unless - maybe - you're in Grade Seven).

[NOTE: The ending of the book is legitimately stupid - but I found myself curious where Smith is taking this story. The same narrator for Book Two? Okay, I'll bite. On to 'A New World Order']

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