AudioBook Review – Silicon World

I had the great opportunity to finish this trio off. And I was very happy with the twists, and characters, although not tied together unless you count just AI’s and super twisting plots.

Reviewย as follows, if you’ve something to spare, and want a good few hours worth of story telling, this is a bargain!

I was excited to get the last in the series on this, and it didn’t disappoint. It was great to re-listen to these amazing stories.

Silicon Dawn

The whole story didn’t linger, it started off fast paced and didn’t let up. I am not a ‘drawn’ out person and it held my attention from start to finish and it held my attention throughout. It wasn’t something I wanted to put down, although, during my day, I have to. I get to listen in 30 min sections.
What I enjoyed the most, was the fact that even though there are many AI stories, and some are very similar in nature. This didn’t follow the ‘plan’ I first envisioned. I’m an avid reader, of both scripts and stories, and listening to this was great.
There were quite a few to be fair. And Adam’s realisation’s came with great consequences, the fact that he could and would have jumped into the crusher to save his partner, and the fact that Tera basically had been lied to and abused all her life. There were huge decisions going on as Adam processed all these.
I think everyone will be glad when Adam isn’t dead. We all think Tera’s killed him off. It was both written well and narrated well. Just enough emotion, sadness and then joy when we switch chapters and into Adam’s POV inside the police computer.
Considering I’m not a ‘cop’ kinda girl and thriller stories really aren’t my thing either, this was well executed. I would defo listen to more from both the writer and narrator.
I did buy this the other day and hadn’t expected to get through it so quick. I kinda wished it had been longer, because I’d only just started to get into it, and then it was over.
Although the story itself didn’t warrant being any longer, perhaps I just hoped there was more for the pair, then I went to look and I guess there is, as this is book 1. So now I’m happy.
Thanks for the ride, I’ll be back! lol

Silicon Man –

Thoughts as follows and some 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 ๐Ÿ™‚

Waiting on the next instalment!

Crossing the Darkness.

This was a shorter piece, and not really interactive with the others, but it held the same ideas and style of characters. This I enjoyed, along with William Massa’s usual traits, it was well written and very thought provoking. I could imagine the characters, and I was really routeing for Faith, she wanted everything to be so much better. She never imagined what she would wake up to. As a wide read and listened reviewer I found all of these stories very refreshing, thought engaging, and real. They make you think on so many different levels, that sometimes it really hurt.

Joe’s narration sets all these stories off to an amazing start, from the get fo there’s feeling, inflection, and character traits that you learn to love through each story. What Joe puts into each person is something second to none. And I have him very high on my narrators to follow list. I don’t think anyone would be disappointed in these tales.

I think really my only quibble was the length of the last story, of course, it sets of the set, but I thought and felt there could have been more from the writer on this. That it just didn’t quite satisfy me in as much as I got to know the characters, the story unfolded with a few twists, and it left me satisfied, but still like I needed more.

Overall this is a set I’d highly recommend, because of the content throughout and the narrator. I look forward to more from these two, I know they are a great pair.

๐Ÿ™‚

 

AudioBook Review – BrainRush

RC Bray is the man, and I was introduced to Richardย Bard with this fab story!

3 books in one, I can’t complain at all. Took me a week to get through it, but I also know there are more, I just gotta clear some of my backlog before I buy them!

  • The Brainrush Trilogy: Box Set | [Richard Bard]

    “Really enjoyed.”

    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Really enjoyed this book set. I was a little unsure going in, as it seemed a little more fantasy than my usual books, but I was highly surprised.

    There was lots of action from the get go, no sooner had we met Jake and his dire circumstances than the whole world was rocked apart and his life drastically changed.

    There was intense character development, and interaction between friends, and those who just seemed to get involved, especially those in the military side of the story.

    Through all 3 books there were huge obstacles, and fights. It got more Sci-Fi than fantasy and I was very happy with the outcome, most of the time I was sat on the edge of my driving seat while listening. So much to go wrong, so many of our fav characters to get injured, or die! eeek.

    Almost tempted to get the next few in the series, but I’ve just got them on my wishlist for now, as I’ve more than a few to get through. ๐Ÿ™‚ I’ll defo be back for some more, thanks Richard and of course to RC I’m a huge fan.

AudioBook Review – The Great Martian War – Invasion

I picked this up and was totally hooked – am waiting on the next one now ๐Ÿ™‚

The Great Martian War: Invasion | [Scott Washburn]

“Very interesting!”

Overall
Performance
Story

There were a few things that I really enjoyed about this book, the original concept is well known, but I think this gave us a few more things to think on, and enjoy. ๐Ÿ™‚

The ideas to fight the Martians were pretty cool, and the journey from ‘believing they’re coming back’ to them actually doing just that is exciting. The characters are well developed. Although the death of a loved one really can make you choose a different life path I was glad that the story evolved as it did.

I’ve listened to a few of Ray’s books now, and this was a very refreshing change to the other style of Sci fi, more realistic and enjoyable. (the Martians POV was just great, to listen to and to think on, would they really think of us so badly… I guess so. I also think this was truly a good performance because of that, lots of different characters for Ray to dialogue, and they were great to listen to and easy to distinguish.

Totally worth the credit, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to both writer and narrator.

AudioBook Review – Chains of Destiny

 

Chains of Destiny – Episode 2 – The Pax Humana Saga written by Nick Webb and narrated by Greg Tremblay.

This AudioBook had a little break in-between because of the UK bank holiday and I have to admit it killed me to leave it alone for the 3 days, but it’s the way it goes.

I was very glad to get back to it, and 100% loved this one. It’s by far one of the most interesting and character driven books I’ve had the pleasure of listening to. Because of this I actually will put it on my ‘listen to again’ list…. although I really enjoyed the other series of Nick’s this one has exceeded that.. and I think I’m going to have to really think about which one I like the most, or which characters, haha.

Anyway, you can of course find the AudioBook here – UK of course…

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Chains-of-Destiny-Audiobook/B00UXIP2MK

and my review will be posted soon. (depends on if Audible are being nice to me) haha

 


 

“I loved it! 100%

Okay, thoughts as follows.

After the first Audio, I still admit I wasn’t totally sold on this series. But, this second Ep, totally blew me away. (I listened to the first 6 hours last week, and because of the break at work. UK may bank holiday I had some time away from it) and I was very eager to finish off as soon as I was back behind the wheel.

I was totally blown away by the depth of character to this episode. The MC’s Megan Po, Ben Hemez, (sp) and Jake Mercer were almost alive in my head!… I felt everything they were going through, and the story just kept on and on surprising me and making my head hurt all at the same time. Great job to both writer and narrator here ๐Ÿ™‚

Some of the best moments for me – SPOILERS

Jake – We all know he’s making the biggest ‘daft decision’ of this book in going down to the planets surface with the pirates. The little altercation with the November family is very interesting though… a hint for book 3 there and that of course, Pritchard is alive. Hope on a different level.

But even though Jake has now been captured along side Alexandro and Ben, (plus two guards) he still never gives up in thinking and plotting to escape. This kinda of punishment and place would break so many and I do kinda wish that there were a few more destitute thoughts from him, but still with Ben elsewhere they have a plan, and a good plan. Not many of the decisions down in the mines are Jakes, some are just circumstantial and to me for this episode he does play a more downsized role.

LOVED LOVED LOVED – Megan leading the fight against Admiral Trajan. What a woman! what an absolute star and fighter she is. They all kinda question what Jake did for them in the previous book, but here she is and she’s doing death defying moves under the ocean to prolong their time to prepare to kick the Admirals’ behind.

I really enjoyed her story, as a character she’s such compassion, and yet such depth to her decisions. Maybe just as much reckless as Jake, but fab job and good on her!

The scenes with Ben, were just awful. I cringed, I hated it, but it was brilliant writing and just as brilliant in the narration department. Greg really delved in deep I think to become this crazy psychopathic doctor, as he scared me so much, I kinda wanted to skip those parts, but couldn’t because I wanted to know what would happen to Ben. I felt everything that they did in that room, and ugggh so so glad that Six eventually helped him to get out.

So on the whole this Ep really came alive for me. I am being honest though as I did have a couple of moments where I was jarred out of the story by a couple of repetitive words and phrasings. I do think that comes part and parcel of listening to something as opposed to reading it, reading it takes much longer, so anything that can be perceived as a crutch word/phrase is easier spotted and makes me want to avoid them myself. It’s just an observation, that’s all.

This book written by Nick and read by Greg is one of my fav so far, it has all the elements of an epic space opera and characters that you just can’t help but feel for and love.

PS I already started on the next… ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you both for an amazing ride.

TSK Productions is looking for staff writers

Hey guys/gals. For all my writer friends, Sci fi, SO, LGBT, ๐Ÿ™‚

I know TSK is a large project with even more stuff coming in all the time. So I’m sharing this as the company director, who knows I cannot do everything, so we have the following proposal.

TSK Productions Ltd would like to offer writing assignments/collaborations out for their short story collections (or more) in the TSK world.ย 

Contract will be provided, and payment would be on word count, (open for some discussion depending on experience), anything 5-10k (open to discussion on larger projects) in length, with an assigned percentage of profits from publishing the anthology later on, albeit in Anthology 1 or 2. (not decided yet)

A link to the copy of the first short to be released as an example can be pm’d to interesting parties.

I will be organising an online group for anyone interested in doing this at http://www.scribophile.com ย (free profile available)
Our main character file, is in Scrivener format. So downloading this (free for 30 days) will be helpful.

Editors, proof readers and the line artists are provided, schedule will be organised on the characters and story written, but they’d be released to the members only section on the website first for paying fans, and then published in the anthology with the rest of the team.
Please message me here, facebook, if you think anyone would like to talk more.

~ Dawn

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Secret-King/836723299691777

www.thesecretking.com