Two Audible Book Reviews for #Fraterfest: Material Witness: A Joe Ledger Bonus Story and Deep, Dark: An Exclusive Short Story by Jonathan Maberry

I enjoyed the military and supernatural elements in this short story.
#Fraterfest #1.
Material Witness: A Joe Ledger Bonus Story
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Joe Ledger, Book 1.2
Length: 1 hr and 16 mins
Release date: 07-14-11
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Military, Paranormal, Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's summary
Here is another highly entertaining short story featuring Jonathan Maberry’s compelling hero, Joe Ledger.
This short thriller takes Joe Ledger into the mysterious, troubled town of Pine Deep, Pennsylvania, the setting for Maberry’s chilling Pine Deep Trilogy. In Pine Deep, nothing is what it seems.
©2011 Jonathan Maberry (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Joe and his team are trying to retrieve a material witness who is believed to have created the evil bioweapon that the US government is trying to keep under control. Joe meets the unusual, Native American Chief of Police and his deputy who offer to assist, but Joe rejects their help saying he and his team will handle it. When they get to the house where the witness is supposed to be, they realize they have walked into a trap with more than one enemy on the way in. Maybe they should have accepted help.

I enjoyed the action, the mystical elements, and the character interactions. I want to listen to more of this series. I recommend this to fans of the paranormal, military action genre.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter makes it easy to listen to this series. He does a superb job of narration as always.

Source: December 2021 Free from Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023Audiobook goals.

This next Joe Ledger ‘adventure’ deals with genetic mutations and is another strong short story.
#Fraterfest #2.

Deep, Dark: An Exclusive Short Story
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Joe Ledger, Book 1.3
Length: 50 mins
Release date: 07-14-11
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Military, Paranormal, Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's summary
This chilling short story is the prequel to The Dragon Factory, the second installment in Maberry’s action-packed Joe Ledger novels.
Before Baltimore cop Joe Ledger goes up against two competing groups of geneticists looking to continue the master-race program in The Dragon Factory, he must battle another foe using human test subjects for his sinister plans.
©2009 Jonathan Maberry (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
This story finds Joe and team entering a secret bunker facility which is supposed to be a secure testing lab. What they discover there is gruesome karma as the mutations the doctors have created turn on the staff. Do the mutants still have enough sentience to distinguish foe from friend? Can Joe and friends escape the carnage before an automatic shut down sets off a destruction code?

[Audio Notes: same as above.]

Source: December 2021 Free from Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: To Serve and Protect by Glynn Stewart

I enjoyed this action story with supernatural villains and heroes.
To Serve and Protect
Onset, Book 1
By: Glynn Stewart
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
Release date: 10-24-17
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Action, Paranormal, Superhero, Supernatural, Urban
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
A small town cop with an unexpected gift. A shadowy government agency on the side of justice. A call no good man could turn away.
When vampires attack David White's small town, only luck, firepower, and the intervention of an elite government task force saves his life. The aftermath of the attack leaves him in the middle of the world's biggest secret: the existence of government agencies that regulate the supernatural.
They insist that David's "luck" is actually a supernatural gift, and he's immediately recruited into ONSET, the most shadowy part of America's thin blue line of police protectors.
Questioning both his gifts and the agency he now serves, David is drawn into an escalating battle that threatens all of humanity. If he isn't what ONSET thinks he is, the entire world may pay the price.
©2016 Glynn Stewart (P)2017 Podium Publishing

Review:
David White is a small town cop, dedicated to the mantra of “serve and protect”. One day he chases after a group of young ‘punks’ who have murdered a store clerk in a bloody fashion, and on their escape path they also brutally murdered his own partner, a young, new officer.

A secret government police force known as Onset sees his valiant efforts to fight the pack of vampires. They barely save his life and take him to their secret facility to heal his injuries. When he wakes up they offer him the chance to work with the elite supernatural team. They recognize he has skills that he isn’t even aware of, just as he wasn’t aware of the existence of vampires, werewolves, and other creatures from the realm of fantasy and myths.

Initially David isn’t sure but a discussion with an old friend convinces him that he can “serve and protect” in a broader sense with this covert organization. Can David really help this team that includes a werewolf leader, a good demon, a mage and more? His initial training doesn’t reveal the extent of his powers but when he gets in the thick of battle a hidden ability appears. The dangers progress to a deadly battle with a large terrorist organization and the evils they summon. Not all of the good guys will make it out alive.

I liked the moments of introspection included in a consistent pace of action. I enjoyed the development of the primary character and the uniqueness of the supporting teammates. I will be getting more in the series. I recommend this to fans of action and supernatural characters.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter is a wonderful narrator. As with most of the works he narrates, his performance with distinct voices and fitting energy, added to my enjoyment of the audio.

Source: 7/31/2022 July Audible Credits. This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Heaven's River, Bobiverse, Book 4, by Dennis E. Taylor

I enjoyed the entertainment of this space adventure.
Heaven's River
Bobiverse, Book 4
By: Dennis E. Taylor
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Bobiverse, Book 4
Length: 16 hrs and 57 mins
Release date: 09-24-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.75.

About This Audible Original
Civil war looms in the Bobiverse in this brand-new, epic-length adventure by Audible #1 bestseller Dennis E. Taylor.
More than a hundred years ago, Bender set out for the stars and was never heard from again. There has been no trace of him despite numerous searches by his clone-mates. Now Bob is determined to organize an expedition to learn Bender’s fate — whatever the cost.
But nothing is ever simple in the Bobiverse. Bob’s descendants are out to the 24th generation now, and replicative drift has produced individuals who can barely be considered Bobs anymore. Some of them oppose Bob’s plan; others have plans of their own. The out-of-control moots are the least of the Bobiverse’s problems.
Undaunted, Bob and his allies follow Bender’s trail. But what they discover out in deep space is so unexpected and so complex that it could either save the universe — or pose an existential threat the likes of which the Bobiverse has ever faced.
Heaven’s River is the fourth installment in the blockbuster Audible Original Bobiverse series—which has sold more than 1 million copies.
©2020 Dennis E. Taylor (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC
.

Review:
Bob was the original human brain loaded up to become an AI entity to head into space. A hundred years later, Bob’s organization has expanded to the 24th replicative generation. That presents its own problems, but Bob’s first level replicate, Bender, hasn’t been heard from since he set out to explore the distant galaxies a hundred years ago. Bob has never let go of the idea of finding Bender even as the Bobiverse continues to move out to deep space.

Bob suddenly comes across a new world where he thinks Bender may be found. Now the goal will be to infiltrate the complex megastructure with a ‘river’ environment, in order to determine if Bender is a prisoner or something else. A handful of Bob’s generational ‘children’ are excited to help in the challenge to get into the structure and then move among the beaver like society that has been forbidden to use former technology.

While Bob and friends are pursuing the quest to find Bender, other replicant families are involved in an ideological argument. There are those who insist that the Bobs have no right to interfere with the societies that they come upon…even if it means watching societal genocide. This creates a second story line with some interesting discussions and actions.

I enjoyed the virtual settings, the creative societies, and the ideological arguments. There is plenty of humor in this series, including fun references to movies, books, and authors that sci fi fans will recognize. I recommend starting the series at book 1 to get to know the main Bob replicates. I recommend this series as an easy and entertaining listen.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter delivers the narrative with his usual excellent presentation and spot on voicing and energy. His narration enhanced the story for me.

Source: October 17, 2021 - September 2021 Audible Credits. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023Alphabet, and 2023Location goals.

Audible Book Review: Dark of Night, A Joe Ledger Novella, by Jonathan Maberry and Rachel Lavin

This is a good zombie survivors' story that can be read outside of the series.
#FRATERFEST-4
Dark of Night
A Joe Ledger Novella
By: Jonathan Maberry, Rachael Lavin
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Dead of Night, Book 2.5, Joe Ledger, Book 8.5
Length: 4 hrs and 59 mins
Release date: 06-21-16
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Action, Horror, Zombie
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
The dead rose. We fell.
The survivors are trapped in a world of monsters who prey on the helpless. Some of them are zombies...but they are not the only predators who feed on pain and suffering.
Dark of Night is a story of worlds in collision. Three heroes who have survived the apocalypse are in a deadly race to save a busload of children from ravenous zombies and ruthless human scavengers.
This brand new novella brings together three of New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Maberry's award-winning series. Captain Joe Ledger (Patient Zero and Code Zero), Officer Desdemona Fox (Dead of Night and Fall of Night), and Rachael Elle (Bits & Pieces) are caught between an endless wave of the living dead and an army of corrupt men who want to enslave the last human survivors.
©2016 Jonathan Maberry and Rachael Lavin (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Many years ago the zombie virus started taking over the world. The rare survivors are still struggling to find safe refuge.

Officer Dez Fox is struggling to get a busload of children to a safe camp under control of the National Guard. Then they see the dead passing the bus and realize that these dead are wearing National Guard uniforms. Fox will continue to do whatever it takes to protect these young survivors.

Meanwhile, Rachael Elle is a young woman who has managed to survive the zombie apocalypse in cosplay or LARP gear, fighting the dead “Orcs”. She stumbles upon the bus after Dez has gone out to scout and ends up leading the children by harnessing their superhero inner voices.

Joe Ledger is a career military man who sought to take down Patient Zero. Although he couldn’t stop the virus, he is a legendary warrior against the dead, traveling with the help of a smart warning and killing dog, Captain Joe and Baskerville stumble on the scene and is quick to step into the fray. First he saves a young girl from horrible NKK (New Klux Klan) bad actors. Then he proceeds to fight both enemies, the dead and living, to help the girls save the children.

I’ve read the prequel to this series, so I am aware of the beginnings of Joe Ledger facing the zombie hoard. I enjoyed the startling meeting between Joe and Dez and I appreciated the determination of all three characters to fight the dead and help other survivors. I had not met the two female characters and I will definitely backtrack to find their stories. There is plenty of fast paced action. However, the story is really only about two and a half hours as there is a second, totally unrelated story written by someone else that is tagged on. I am glad I got to listen to this and I will be reading/listening to more in the series. I recommend this to fans of battle action and some snarky character interaction.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter is an excellent narrator. He does such a good job with action and distinct character voices. I would feel comfortable searching out books narrated by Porter, and I could likely enjoy those stories. His narration enhances the story for me.

Source: 3-3-2022 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: Murder by Magic by Glynn Stewart

I totally enjoyed this combination of magic and mystery.

Murder by Magic
By: Glynn Stewart
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Onset, Book 0.5
Length: 1 hr and 59 mins
Release date: 02-25-20
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

Publisher's Summary
Before he was an Elfin Lord - before he even joined that secret group of Mages - Jamie Riley was a Mage recruited by the FBI and the Office of Supernatural Policing and Investigation. A new-minted Inspector sent into one of the most complicated supernatural regions in the country: Los Angeles.
The rest of OSPI’s LA team has grown comfortable with allowing politics and pragmatism to decide which cases they pursue, which criminals they charge - but when Jamie’s investigation suggests that a pillar of the supernatural community has killed in cold blood, he will let nothing get in the way of getting the murderer.
Not even his career.
©2019 Glynn Stewart (P)2020 Podium Publishing

Review:
Jamie Riley is a young mage and a new FBI agent assigned to the special Office of Supernatural Policing and Investigation (OSPI). His new partner seems like a good guy, but he is attention is focused on a serious case related to drugs made with deadly magic. Jamie’s brusque supervisor assigns him two small cases. One case is a “murder by magic” where the obvious suspect is a wife learning new magic skills.

Jamie’s boss expects him to make a quick arrest. However, when he interviews the wife, he is sure that some stronger magic was involved. First he needs help to release the information from the magic chains on her mind. Then he will have to face political backlash as well as a powerful mage to take the real murderer into custody.

Jamie is a very likeable character – a man of self-motivation, integrity, and determination. The other characters are not deeply developed but I like the variety in their backgrounds and attitudes. I enjoyed the magic elements in the world building and enjoyed the mystery. The blurb implies this is an early story of Jamie who later becomes a famous Mage. However, the next books in the series feature a different lead character. I do have the first book in a different series by this author on my Kindle TBR shelf. I will read or listen to more by the author. I recommend this short novella as a good standalone for a quick listen.

Audio Note: Ray Porter is a skilled narrator. He brings to the work clear voices and fitting energy and emotion. Porter’s narration easily enhances the story for me.

Source: February 2022 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins by Matthew Mather

I was pulled right into this apocalyptic techno-thriller.
Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins
by Matthew Mather
Narrated by: Ray Porter

I

10 hours and 43 minutes
Release date: 06-07-22
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Techno-thriller
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

An apocalyptic supernova flashes over the South Pole. A mysterious mission sent deep into the Amazon.
The story of one family’s struggle to reunite…
Max Carver, a down-on-his-luck truck driver and Army vet, joins a rescue mission into Brazil. The target is a utopian tech village, the Colony, hidden in the rainforest and run by a charismatic genius. Max’s pregnant wife, Talisha Carver, is the NSA analyst who intercepted encrypted Colony messages signaling a mysterious impending event.
Dr. Xin Rou is a Chinese researcher working at the IceCube neutrino experiment at the South Pole. On lucky days a single flash might signal the passage of a ghostly interstellar particle. Suddenly, IceCube’s entire array lights up. A million detectors at once. Which is impossible. The Antarctic sky is clear and calm—but she is already running for the door.
Because the world is about to end.
But the mystery only just begins...

Review:
Max was reluctant to leave his pregnant wife, but the fee offered by Colonel Buchannan to retrieve his daughter, Iona, was too attractive to resist. No one planned on an unexpected supernova incident which wiped out technology around the globe and set off drastic climate disasters.

Max is miles away trying to survive in the jungles of Brazil after the helicopter crashes. A handful of the retrieval team, including their guide, a fierce Afrikaner mercenary, are taken in by the Colony whose leader, Ben, is an old friend of Max. The Colony is a utopian tech village that was initially assisted by government agencies who now fear Ben and the Colony have gotten out of control.

Max doesn’t even know if Iona, a doctor working with Ben, wants to be rescued. Then he discovers that the Colony nano technology is creating monster creatures set on stopping Max and his escape. Max just wants to get back home, not knowing that Talisha is caught up in secrecy between the Colonel Buchannan and a rogue revolutionary group that wants to eliminate AI.

Meanwhile, the only scientist who tried to give a short warning of the solar event, Dr. Xin, is trying to save the data from the IceCube neutrino lab at the South Pole. Americans are desperate to get the data, but Xin wants to deliver it to her agent handlers in China. Xin and the IT expert, Dag, get left behind as the lab begins to flood and unknown assailants shoot at them. The

Back in Washington, DC, Colonel Buchannan and the authorities are scrambling to protect the president (and themselves) while trying to make sure that the mission to stop the Colony will be successful. They need to get their hands on Tal to keep some leverage and make sure she doesn’t get into the wrong hands. They would be even more desperate if they knew that Tal was getting guidance from a mysterious AI, Nyx.

There is a lot of action going on in this novel with four character groups/locations being tracked. The reader/listener is busy trying to sort out the good guys, the bad guys, and how the evolving technology is going to help or hurt. As a backdrop to the plot conspiracies, the solar event has thrown everyone into chaos anticipating worldwide devastation.

I enjoyed the fast-paced action, even though I struggled to sort out where the author was going. The Colony technology reminded me of scenes from the Matrix, crossing boundaries between reality and simulation. Even as the story closed out, it wasn’t totally clear who the good guys are and how the characters were going to survive. I will be looking to read the continuation in the next book set to release in December. I recommend this to readers who enjoy techno-thrillers and apocalyptic sci fi.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter is a wonderful narrator. I can always rely on him to deliver distinct voices and energy that enhances the story. I will always be glad to listen to books he narrates.

Source: NetGalley 2022. This qualifies for 2022NetGalley and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Invasion: Alien Invasion, Book 1, by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant

Although the title indicates this is sci fi it is really post-apocalyptic with a twist of anticipating first alien contact.

Invasion: Alien Invasion, Book 1
By: Sean Platt, Johnny B. Truant
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Alien Invasion (Platt/Truant), Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
Release date: 07-21-15
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: First Contact, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
They are coming. The countdown has begun.
First visible only as blips on a telescope image, the discovery of objects approaching from Jupiter's orbit immediately sets humanity on edge. NASA doesn't even bother to deny the alien ships' existence. The popular Astral space app (broadcasting from the far side of the moon and accessible by anyone with Internet) has already shown the populace what is coming. So the news has turned from evasion to triage, urging calm and offering the few facts they have:
The objects are enormous, perfectly round spheres numbering in the dozens, maybe hundreds. They are on an approach vector for Earth. And they will arrive in six days.
©2015 Sean Platt, Johnny B. Truant (P)2015 Podium Publishing

Review:
Meyer Dempsy is a high energy, successful film producer. He controls those around him by his sheer presence. He has participated in meditation and training with a shaman which he obsesses over, while being unable to get his current and former wives to take it seriously. Fortunately for Meyer and his family, which includes his teenaged son and daughter, he has acted on visions of future danger and secured a protected bunker home for everyone in his personal circle, which includes not only his current wife, Piper, but his ex-wife, a popular star, Heather.

Although the government and NASA stayed quiet, a popular space app has revealed that a multitude of unexplained ships are approaching from outer space. Society begins to panic when they are told the ships will arrive in six days.

Meyer gathers Piper and his children, Trevor and Lila, along with Lila’s boyfriend, Raj, and heads out of New York trying to get to his bunker in Vail. He has told Heather to meet them there. Of course, they will all face dangers on the way as others are leaving cities to seek more sheltered areas. And will they be protected if they can get to Vail?

This story warns of the invasion but has little to do with the sci fi invasion aspect. Instead the author focuses on the family journey across country and develops the six primary characters – almost too much. There is a strange twist near the end which of course leaves open the next book to wonder what happens to the family.

I liked the premise but there is quite a bit I don’t like. I am not in favor of marital infidelity, and it is really unpleasant when the ex-wife is a (not totally secret) lover. I liked the danger and logical way that Meyer deals with problems, but he is such a controlling person that he borders on abusive – at least emotionally if not out right verbally. The female characters are portrayed with less than strong features. They appear as weak, whiny, and unable-to-follow-directions, ditzy women.

This introduction was free on Audible Plus. I am not rushing out to buy the series. There are more positive reviews, so check around and decide for yourself if you want to try this.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter is a very good narrator. He delivers distinct voices and emotion that fits the story. I am glad that I had the audio version.

Source: 3/22/21 'Sci Fi' title from Audible Plus. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook and 2022Alphabet goals.

#FraterfestRat Audible Book Review: Countdown: A Prequel Story to Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

I liked this Prequel and the Joe Ledger character.

Countdown: A Prequel Story to Patient Zero
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Joe Ledger, Book 0.5
Length 19m
Release date: 07-14-11
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Horror, Suspense, Zombie
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
“I didn’t plan to kill anyone. I wasn’t totally against the idea, either. Sometimes things just fall that way, and either you roll with it or it rolls over you. Letting the bad guys win isn’t how I roll.”
Meet Joe Ledger, Baltimore PD, attached to a Homeland task force … who’s about to get a serious promotion.
©2008 Jonathan Maberry (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Joe Ledger is a hardcore Baltimore detective who has a reputation for taking bad guys down with his steely nerves and skilled shooting. His is pulled into a task force that steps into a situation to shut down a terrorist operation and stop the release of a unknown deadly bioweapon. While Joe and a close friend on the team are dodging bullets, Joe notices a locked box which turns out to have a man in it. During the melee the man gets loose and stumbles out. The drugged looking man isn’t armed so initially Joe ignores him. But after bouncing off a kick, the man lunges at one of Joe’s teammates like a snarling dog. When the biting man gets in the way of eliminating shooters, Joe takes him out of the way.

Joe’s actions, taking out a multitude of hostiles, catches the attention of Mr. Church, the commander of a black-ops organization, the Department of Military Sciences (DMS). Will Joe be recruited by the DMS?

I have been eyeing this zombie series for a while even though (or maybe because) the first book, Patient Zero, has a rather gruesome-looking cover. I like the ‘super-hero’ nature of Joe’s character, including what appears to be a snarky attitude. I am glad to have had the opportunity to listen to this quick book and will likely try the series. There is limited zombie action in this short audio, but I do recommend this introduction to fans of the zombie genre.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter is a wonderful narrator, and his performance enhances the story for me. He portrays the hardcore nature of the prime character and also delivers the fast paced action. I always enjoy listening to Porter’s deliverance.

Source: September 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and #FraterfestRat goals.

Audible Book Review: Outland by Dennis E. Taylor

Skilled narrator Ray Porter helps make this quick, fun listen.

Outland
By: Dennis E. Taylor
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
Release date: 05-16-19
Publisher: Audible Originals
Genre: Alternate World, Science Fiction, (time travel)
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, it's up to six college students and their experimental physics project to prevent the end of civilization.
When an experiment to study quantum uncertainty goes spectacularly wrong, physics student Bill Rustad and his friends find that they have accidentally created an inter-dimensional portal. They connect to Outland - an alternate Earth with identical geology, but where humans never evolved. The group races to establish control of the portal before the government, the military, or evildoers can take it away.
Then everything changes when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts in an explosion large enough to destroy civilization and kill half the planet. The team has just hours to get as many people as possible across to Outland before a lethal cloud of ash overwhelms them.
Nothing has prepared the refugees for what they find - a world of few resources and unprecedented dangers. Somehow, they must learn to survive, because Outland may not just be a safe haven - it could be their new home.
©2019 Dennis E. Taylor (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Richard and Kevin, two college physicist students, are involved with experiments on quantum uncertainty. They approach Bill and his friend Matt to add their technical skills to the science project. As the team gets deeper into the project, without clear university sanction, they soon realize that they have created an inter-dimensional portal. When a blast of gas comes through a portal, Erin, a geologist student adds to the information. Next, they add in Monica, a biology major, to chime in on apparently prehistoric animals seen through the portal.

These six young people soon initiate plans to move their experiment off campus and find creative ways to fund their continued work. Once they have some funds available, they begin to expand the experiments, gather, and stock supplies needed for their projects. When the team cashes in with significant funds, they become the target of thugs. The thugs think they will take advantage of the kids but they have no idea who they are dealing with!

The portal team is stepping up their activities just when Yellowstone goes supernova covering their community and others in lethal ash. The team realizes they have a safe place to go and they must move quickly if they want to save others from the university. Quickly a group of refugees are escorted through the portal to “Outland”. There they struggle to build shelters, organize food, set up security patrols, and send out scavenging teams to gather supplies. And if it isn’t enough to try to survive among hostile animals, soon there is a vocal, angry activist group seeking to challenge the leaders. Add to that another threat that lurks beyond their gates.

I found the story easy to follow, quick and fun listening. I would say that the characters were not deeply developed but there was sufficient to know what each added to the team. The personal interactions seemed mostly superficial but that was okay as it didn’t cause distraction from the dangers and struggles of a new society trying to survive. I have enjoyed the ‘Bob Universe’ series by Mr. Taylor and will no doubt read more in the future. I recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic, dystopian and alternate world genres.

Audio Notes: It is hard to go wrong with any book narrated by Ray Porter. He always contributes his strong, creative voice skills to make a book a good listening experience.

Source: 8/11/19 I picked these up with July Audible Credits. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet Audio goals.

Audible Book Review: Orion Colony by J.N. CHaney, Jonathan Yanez

I enjoyed this fast dystopian to space adventure.

Orion Colony
An Intergalactic Space Opera Adventure
By: J.N. Chaney, Jonathan Yanez
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Orion Colony, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins
Release date: 06-04-19
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Colonization, Space Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0; Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Humanity's Exodus is about to begin.
When half of mankind revolts and demands more opportunity, those at the top decide on a compromise: They will build the first colony ships and allow the rest to discover new worlds and start over.
Twelve ships are built. The first is called the Orion.
Many are eager to go, but only 100,000 are chosen for each vessel. Far from Earth, a new life awaits, and it promises the prosperity they've always wanted.
But still, resistance stirs.
There are those who are eager to sabotage this new expansion effort, threatening the promise of a new life. As Orion moves through the void of space, towards a distant world, its passengers must fight for survival in an unprecedented conflict.
Win or lose, their future will be forever changed.
Experience a sprawling galactic tale in this first entry to The Orion Colony series. If you're a fan of Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, or Indiana Jones, you'll love this epic, space opera adventure.
©2018 Variant Publications (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Dean Slade has a past life as a champion fighter. This he keeps secret as he works as a Transient Mechanic, grade 2. Earth society is ruled by the Eternals who modify their bodies for immortality. The Transients rebelled against the powerful Eternals which resulted in the Eternals agreeing to send the Transients to their own space colonies to begin anew. Twelve ships are scheduled to go out but there are still rebels who are attacking the crews and attempting to sabotage the plans.

Dean is working on the Orion which is in its final stages of preparation to launch. When rebels attack the work yard, it is decided to launch early and finish the work on the journey. Dean didn’t plan to go on the trip but gets stuck on board when he rushes on to save a friend.

The Orion crew is headed by two sibling Eternals who seem to truly care for the people and want the recolonization to be successful. Dean is initially accused of sabotage but the AI cameras show that the true culprit is camouflaged. Dean’s qualifications, other than his mechanic skills, are the ability (and somewhat reluctant) willingness to fight and capture the enemy. He is recruited to investigate alongside an undercover agent.

The rebellion attacks continue, throwing the ship out of the slipstream and forcing a crash landing on an unknown planet. As this book ends the survivors gather around an existing domed facility.

I liked Dean’s character as a reluctant hero surrounded by mystery and courage. This is clearly a dystopian society that sets up the background. The story runs to the ‘cheesy’ side, but it is easy enjoyable action. The grammatical errors are not as obvious with audio but I agree with other reviewers that additional editing would help. Although some readers might object to the cliff hanger or half story nature of this book, I found it to be a reasonable length that stops before the next adventure. I recommend this to fans of light sci-fi colonization adventure.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter is a good sci-fi narrator. He delivers this story with fitting emotion and personalities. I enjoyed the listen and would listen to more in the series.

Source: 11/2/2019 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: All These Worlds, Bobiverse Book 3, by Dennis E. Taylor

This is a fun and engaging space sci fi.
All These Worlds
Bobiverse, Book 3
By: Dennis E. Taylor
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Bobiverse, Book 3
Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 08-08-17
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Military Space, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The epic and highly anticipated conclusion to the listener-favorite series that had countless Audible listeners (and employees) hooked from the very first Bob—featuring, as always, a flawless performance from the inimitable Ray Porter.
Being a sentient spaceship really should be more fun. But after spreading out through space for almost a century, Bob and his clones just can't stay out of trouble.
They've created enough colonies so humanity shouldn't go extinct. But political squabbles have a bad habit of dying hard, and the Brazilian probes are still trying to take out the competition. And the Bobs have picked a fight with an older, more powerful species with a large appetite and a short temper.
Still stinging from getting their collective butts kicked in their first encounter with the Others, the Bobs now face the prospect of a decisive final battle to defend Earth and its colonies. But the Bobs are less disciplined than a herd of cats, and some of the younger copies are more concerned with their own local problems than defeating the Others.
Yet salvation may come from an unlikely source. A couple of eighth-generation Bobs have found something out in deep space. All it will take to save the Earth and perhaps all of humanity is for them to get it to Sol - unless the Others arrive first.
©2017 Dennis E. Taylor (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Review:
This is a satisfying conclusion of a fun series. Bob was a human who woke up to find his brain had been used to create a sentient AI spaceship. Bob and his many clones have spread throughout the universe. They have helped develop new worlds for human colonies and even helped with alien species on their own planets and as refuges to a new planet to survive.

The author follows several threads on different planets. Many of the Bobs have created Android bodies to interact with the colonists or other aliens. The original Bob is living, undercover, with his aging Deltan friend Archimedes. Howard returns to comfort Bridgette when her husband dies and they renew a close friendship over the objection of her children. Marcus joins the rebels in Poseidon.

While the younger Bobs worry about their new colonies, the older ones worry how they can save humans from decimation by the Others. The Others have already committed genocide of several worlds. The Bobs fought them but failed to save the planet where the Pavs lived. Now there is concern that the Others will attack the earth where millions of survivors are still waiting to be paid.

This book is a little calmer than the first too but still engaging. There is a good balance of humor, danger and even family drama. I enjoyed the interesting dynamics of the AIs trying to balance the extent of their involvement with humans and experiencing loss as long-time companions age and die. The fantasy doesn’t require a lot of hard thought but provides light, fun entertainment.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy a lighter sci fi fantasy.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter is a stellar narrator. He provides many varied voices and conveys equally well the somber and snarky characters. His narration definitely enhances the enjoyment for me.

Source: Audible 2018 April Credit Purchase. This qualifies for 2018 Audiobook Challenge.

Audible Book Review: We Are Legion (We Are Bob) Bobiverse by Dennis E. Taylor

This is wonderfully entertaining and I am getting book two soon.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
Bobiverse, Book 1
By: Dennis E. Taylor
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 09-20-16
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Sci Fi
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
There's a reason We Are Legion, We Are Bob was named Audible's Best Sci-Fi Book of 2016. Unique, hilarious, and utterly addictive, Dennis E. Taylor's debut novel kicked off an Audible-wide obsession among sci-fi diehards and new listeners alike.
Bob Johansson has just sold his software company and is looking forward to a life of leisure. There are places to go, books to read, and movies to watch. So it's a little unfair when he gets himself killed crossing the street.
Bob wakes up a century later to find that corpsicles have been declared to be without rights, and he is now the property of the state. He has been uploaded into computer hardware and is slated to be the controlling AI in an interstellar probe looking for habitable planets. The stakes are high: no less than the first claim to entire worlds. If he declines the honor, he'll be switched off, and they'll try again with someone else. If he accepts, he becomes a prime target. There are at least three other countries trying to get their own probes launched first, and they play dirty.
The safest place for Bob is in space, heading away from Earth at top speed. Or so he thinks. Because the universe is full of nasties, and trespassers make them mad – very mad.
Listener-favorite narrator Ray Porter (14, The Fold) brings the many Bobs into being in all their glory, delivering a performance that listeners have described as "outstanding," "nuanced" and a "dizzying tour de force."
©2016 Dennis E. Taylor (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Bob Johansson has sold his software company for millions. He has uploaded his brain cells/scan to be saved for future placement in a body when the technology is available. Meanwhile he plans to enjoy traveling, reading and relaxing for his retirement. He didn’t expect to die suddenly.

Bob ‘awakens’ in a future world to discover that he is being prepared to become part of a computer. He is property of the state and has no control over where he is assigned. Bob is in competition with several other saved brains to see which – or, who – will be used to control an AI probe heading to space to search for habitable planets. Bob learns through his mentor that the US project is in a race with other nations to be the first successful launch. There are also enemies who object to the use of the brains.

Bob manages to survive a launch that is rushed to escape sabotage. He must search his system to make sure that there are no remaining sabotage traps. He successfully makes it to a safe place in space where he begins to replicate himself, with each new “Bob” picking its own name. As the team continues in the mission to develop stations and seek habitable planets, they discover that some of the other nations have made it into orbit also. And some of those do not want to share space or what remains of the home planet earth.

This story is full of fun humor as well as exciting suspense, danger and strategies. The brain expanded with computer capabilities is an intriguing and creative notion. It was fun that the replications have different personality strengths, or weaknesses, from the original Bob. It is also fun to have the original Bob, and brothers/sons, share bits of the far distant past which is our current culture.

This is fast-paced and well written. I highly recommend this to sci fi fans, especially those who like their sci fi adventure served with a good slice of humor.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter does a great job narrating this. He pulls in the nuances of the characters and makes the story zing along. I loved this audio experience and look forward to book two!

This audio was added with a credit to my Audible Library in 2016. It qualifies for Mount TBR and Audio Book Challenge.

Audible Review: 14 by Peter Clines

This is a totally engaging story with unexpected twists.
14
Written by: Peter Clines
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:06-19-12
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Sci Fi Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Audie Award Nominee, Science Fiction, 2013
Padlocked doors. Strange light fixtures. Mutant cockroaches.
There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s. Because every room in this old Los Angeles brownstone has a mystery or two. Mysteries that stretch back over a hundred years. Some of them are in plain sight. Some are behind locked doors. And all together these mysteries could mean the end of Nate and his friends. Or the end of everything....
©2012 Peter Clines and Permuted Press (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Nate is a mediocre worker at a dead end job, with no real friends.  He struggles from pay check to paycheck and is glad to find a new apartment building at a great low rent. Soon after he moves in he begins to notice oddities about the building. The light in his kitchen will only work as a black light. The light reveals strange green, iridescent roaches in his apartment that have one extra leg. He shrugs off the strangeness until he begins to see inside other apartments and finds more oddities. Nate begins to make friends with other tenants: Veek, the brilliant computer nerd downstairs; Tim, the ‘new guy’ who always seems to have the right answers and the right tools. Next door is Xela, the frustrated artist with blue hair and an attitude. Roger who lives downstairs with his loving wife, is a “grip” who deals with the shadows of movie making.

As the tenants become friends they discover that each of their apartments are different shapes and sizes. Other apartments are locked with chains and there is the old elevator that has never worked as far as anyone remembers. And where is the power source to feed the building and computers considering there are no apparent power lines?

Nate becomes obsessed and the group works together uncovering clues about the building. What they discover is scary and amazing. The author sets Nate and friends as Scooby Doo characters on a haunted house type mystery and makes fun references to H.P. Lovecraft. I think this is not a story to listen to at night as it is creepy, bordering on horror at times. The twists are startling and awesome.

I found the entire story unexpected and totally engaging. I recommend it to readers who enjoy humor in a dark mystery with suspense and weirdness.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter does a wonderful job with the narration. He captures the different voices and characters and keeps the story moving at a steady clip. Although I may not have heard Mr. Porter as a narrator before, I can appreciate that he is a popular narrator. His reading enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

I selected this from my own Audible Library. It is part of my Audio Challenge.