Story is good, but production needs work

I'm listening to this story, recalling the first time I experienced it decades ago when I read the book. It's every but as good a story as I recalled, but the story production needs tweaking.

This outfit doesn't do any pause, transition sounds or even a change in inflection of the narrator between scene/story changes. If you're not paying close attention, you could completely miss storyline POV jumps, which can be very disorienting. This really should be addressed for future releases.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Twice as long as it needs to be.

This is a space zombie story, I'm not going to bother with the sequel. When did space zombies become a thing? Not interesting to me at all.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great story, racist voice actor

Very fun start to a massive space opera. Life and death, space and habitats, cultures and religions.

The hitch was the voice actor reading doing funny accents for the black characters, Scottish accents for English descendents etc.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Long

Keep in mind when starting this book that you will have to keep listening through the whole trilogy. Each new book doesn’t waste time catching people up that jumped in part way, so you’re best off listening to all three in a row.

If you like more hard sci fi, like long books, and like multiple plot lines... this is for you.

If you want a light read that has a story line that wraps itself up in the first book... this isn’t for you.

#Audible1

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Fantastic story, average performance

The story itself is absolutely phenomenal, lots of complex, really well told stories that end up winding into each other at some points, and you can really feel for the characters.
On the other hand, the performance by John Lee is average at best, and sometimes makes it hard to follow. There's no breaks where there should be, and I've found myself rewinding multiple times because I didn't realize that the story head switched from one story arc to another. Overall, I will still listen to the last 2 books narrated by him.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

narrator issues

I personally had a lot of fun with this book and after a little bit got used to the quick flipping back and forth nature of the writing
but I must say this might have been a bit more enjoyable and easier to listen to if the narrator had put in more pauses when the story flipped from one story line to another

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Incredible Series!!

How is this series not a TV or movies series yet I don't know but it should be, and probably will be soon. If you are a Sci-fi fan and like vast well defined story universes this is for you, no question. If you are going to get into it, I recommend just buy all three books as bundle if you can, your going spend the $$$ anyway, trust me. John Lee's narration is incredible he uses a verity of accents and vocal tones brilliantly throughout the series to really get the reader immersed in the characters, and there are alot of characters. Hamilton does a great job of giving them all complete stories, no one is forgotten, 99% of the plot is resolved but still leaves room to imagine the characters futures which is great. My only criticism is that there are basically no breaks between storylines and you will get lost if you are not listening attentively, but you just rewind alittle and get caught up and it's fine. I don't blame Lee for this it's probably a post-production/editing decision maybe to cut down the time? Anyway the take away is 10/10 Audiobook series here in my opinion.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Surprisingly good

Awesome character, ideas, and not dry like lots of sci-fi tend to be. Also super long so awesome value.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

I won’t continue this series

I find a good deal to like in Hamilton’s later work, but I think this book has a lot of problems. First, the main character’s immaturity and selfishness makes him completely unlikeable. Second, the women in this book seem like they exist primarily for sexual exploitation. Third, this feels more like a fantasy story set in a sci-fi setting. Fourth, even by Hamilton’s write-by-the-pound style this story is far too long. Lastly, no matter the author, I’m not a fan John Lee’s narration. His narration is boring and dry and his character voices range from silly to borderline racist. If you haven’t read Hamilton before, skip this and start with his Commonwealth series, or the standalone story, Great North Road.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

unlikable main character, too much sex

at some point I expected every new female characters to have sex in the next scene, every female character is a teenager and oversexualized. How they find the main character attractive I don't know since he seems so boring and average at best. too much sex scenes, it's distracting and overused.
story takes forever to get going and hard to follow. not interesting, I stopped half way

I like the ships and the world's, the technology. I enjoyed the description of the ships and technology.
those scenes I enjoyed.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!