Category novel

Apr 6 2016

AudioBook Review – Silicon Man

I’m back with Silicon Man by William Massa, narrated by Joe Hempel.

I can’t help but love I-Robot, as the original story and as the film, so there’s so much potential I see in this series, even after the TV show Humans, which was pretty awesome. So diving into this story was great. 🙂

You can pick up the audiobook at –

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Silicon-Man-Audiobook/B01DCMFIU4

and read my review there to. (always copy them here now) Spoilers follow.

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“If you love Cybernetics you’ll love this. “

 

Thoughts as follows and SPOILERS

I was interested to follow this series and see what happens next. Or with whom I’m kinda glad that we got new characters to enjoy. Though it was a little predictive, (hence the mark down) I still enjoyed the performance from Joe and got involved with all the characters.

Cole Marcellus, is a cop with a terrible past, he’s dedicated to his cause and wants to stop all AI from hurting others, or running away.

There are some very interesting facts given very early on in this story. The Alsatian. The procedure for the upload… (which I have to say had me cringe over anyway, I mean uploading to a mechanical body… if this were possible… and it got out, how many ‘people’ would want to do just that. Doesn’t bare thinking on. However it does seed doubt in your mind from the get go.

So when AI cole is out and on his mission he gets to see some really awful ways that humans abuse the AI’s, and it’s kinda sad. The AI that rescues the cat is great, cause I am sure Cole was going to do it otherwise. But I do agree with him Cole should have let the enforcer zap him, he got in a whole lot of trouble. haha but saying that he wouldn’t have got to the underground as quick otherwise.

In regards to the whole underground and getting Solace. I honestly thought this whole section of the story was way to quick. Really stupid, no QT period or checks, or well it was just that, too quick and stupid on their part. And for me listening to it, I was shaking my head all the way through.

I did love Kira, and her background with Ron, that was well interspersed. When the Tak Team came in and they broke the underground up again another thing that was a little too predictive was the fact that Cole was still human and AI cole was never going to get back to his body.

The realisation for him though was well played. Even down to Zora putting in a safety memory wipe.

Solace was also one that was never going to get out of AI tak’s grips. I think for me what let me down here wasn’t the fact that I knew it was coming, but if there had been that little bit more build up with Cole and him (not just that one conversation) then it might have felt harsher in my ears, I might have gotten to know him and care for him. When they find him as a blank, I’m pretty indifferent to his story. Even if he’s been this huge hero for everyone, he kinda wasn’t for me.

The ending was pretty awesome, Joe added a depth to the excitement with the tone and pitch of his voice. Human against machine, brilliant and so so glad that Human Cole went back to see to Janson.

So much scope for this world, and the series. I’m still a fan, but sometimes slower is better with the story 🙂

Waiting on the next installment!

Apr 2 2016

Listening to your own work as an audiobook!

 

Well it kinda says it all really. The last few weeks and well the whole of this year so far almost seem a blur, from one thing to another, ups and downs as with life always…

Yet today I had plans, I woke early and couldn’t focus, back on the good ole plan (lipotrim) to get me in the healthy zone in the docs. I did so fab last year, but I’m still at the top end of the weight I want to be, and what is healthy for me, so almost 2 weeks in and feeling the pain of it all haha, the second time is so much harder. But the benefits are worth it, I know they are.

So yeah, no focus and you know when you really need it and it’s just not there yeah. So, ibuprofen, some paracetamol and lots of coffee and I just about started to come around.

I have always so much to do, that never ends, write up crits for the team on Scribophile, (which I’m near done on) and continue with a script I’m working on, I did sign up for camp nano and my cabin is awesome, yesterday I hit the ground running with a few wordwars after work to write 3.5k on my futuristic SO with my fav female character, Sarah Mendoza. I have to warn everyone this is a little out of my comfort zone, space battles and hardship I can handle, but she’s leaning towards a slightly erotic tone of content, haha, I love her but boy she’s opening my eyes.

But, I had an email late last night… A good one, squeeee and cue all excited jumps etc. I had the go ahead to go over the first section of audio for both TSK’s book 1 – Lethao narrated by Greg Tremblay and for our Shorts, The Truth Hurts narrated by Holly Adams.

I’ve only just got into listening to AudioBooks, so the experience of living inside the world someone else created for a few hours is just settling into my mind.

It’s a whole different ball game when someone else is narrating your world, your characters and their story.

It’s not like I write it and forget the story, no, but it’s like experiencing it all for the very first time.

I still haven’t done as much as I’d like, a house to clean and stuff to do here, but I listened to Holly’s work twice (loved it) and then moved onto the first book which I’m now up to chapter 4 on. This might take me all weekend. Haha, but I’m loving it. Kinda here thinking, I didn’t write this did I? but yes, I did. I’m very proud of the team where we’ve come from and where I hope we’ll go.

Thanks for being there with me @TeamSecretKing you brought to life what was only in my head. Now it’s free for everyone else to enjoy or hate, hehehe

Hugs –

 

Dawn

Feb 22 2016

Discovering Audible!

Okay, okay, so I’ve had my Audible account since like last year, and whispersync and ‘read aloud’ on my kindle since I broke my arm in 2013, but I have only recently discovered that I can actually LISTEN while I’m driving.

At work, I get these spates where, to and from the bigger sites, I have 20-30 mins to listen straight.

I gotta admit, the first full book I listened to was – Constitution written by Nick Webb and Narrated, by Greg Tremblay.

My review of this is here – http://www.audible.co.uk/listener/kanundra/A17DGMWIBKQAZC/ref=a_pd_Sci-Fi_c9_1_2_rwTtl?asin=B013S27Y2I

But, the fact remains, I’d never done it before, and now I’m hooked. I got through a couple more books this week, and I’m onto the next. This is going to get pretty darned expensive. lol

What I’ve found more relaxing and exciting than anything is I’m also discovering new stories and ‘sub’ genres that I might not have even looked at. I don’t get anywhere as much time as I used to for reading. And my reading lists now consist more of helping out ‘other writers’ in The Ubergroup on scribophile or my other writing friends with projects they’re working on.

Of course, TSK takes a lot of my time, and so does promoting, organising things and other people. Time is so darned precious at the moment. I have to use it the best way I can, for everyone I’m involved with.

So, I’ve also just finished, Silicone Dawn, written by William Massa and narrated by Joe Hempel. Another book, I just couldn’t put down. the review of that one is here.  http://www.audible.co.uk/listener/kanundra/A17DGMWIBKQAZC/ref=a_pd_Sci-Fi_c9_1_2_rwTtl?asin=B013S27Y2I

I’m telling you, if you travel or do anything where you can listen to a book. Audible, and these guys rock.

Love it!

 

Feb 12 2016

Squee! Bolton Comic Con tomorrow!

Yes, researching, honest. I’ve never had the pleasure of going to one before. And wishing to take TSK along to one, I decided that it was necessary to do this. 🙂 So, dragging my mum along for a day out, haha. one she’s prob never gonna forget, don’t think this is something she’s ever done either. Motorcycles, Car’s and Airplanes. But yeah not comic books and people dressed up 🙂

Hoping to meet our animator there, fingers crossed. And also a friend from work is going, so there should be plenty to see and do.

Quite excited, and I will take pics and lots of notes. We’re so much planned if we do get to an event, don’t think it will be this year, but defo for next year. 🙂

Dawn

Jan 23 2016

Hard but exciting week.

TSK banner advert

This week has been just as tough as others. I don’t know sometimes how I fit everything in, but I really do try my best, it just ain’t easy!

Progress on the script editing has been okay, despite a full on cold and meetings Tuesday through Friday. So, I’m pleased with that side, of course the day job gets in the way of everything, and time zone issues. Everyone in the US is wide awake as I’m going to bed. Nightmare.

But, the exciting part for me is seeing our vision of how TSK’s world can come to life in the physical and audio side of things. Meeting with creative people like mums lifelong friend, Pat Howard of WudStock, a wood design expert to a talented audio artist who I met this week, Steven Jay Cohan of Listen 2 a Book. It’s been worthwhile.

I’m quite the believer of the right people will come along when timing is right for things to move forward. So keep everything crossed for us, with the hard work I’ve put in this week, there will be some very exciting prospects for TSK coming. Keep checking out our websites and facebook page for up to date info. 🙂

As for the House and DIY, well hubby put a screw through our new electrics… and has now destroyed our loft hatch. hehehe. I don’t know. Life is full of so many little ups and downs.

It’s exciting, daunting and yet amazing all at the same time. lol

Have a very happy saturday, I’m off out tonight with my dad for a few, and I’ve a team meeting later, midnight my time. I love my second job!

Hugs

Dawn