Audio Book Review: Two by Vonnegut: The Big Trip Up Yonder and 2BR02B by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Quick, engaging and thought provoking vintage sci fi. (ABB-Narrator)
Two by Vonnegut: The Big Trip Up Yonder and 2BR02B
Written by: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Narrated by: Kitty Hendrix

Length: 44 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:12-08-16
Publisher: Listen2aBook.com
Genre: Sci Fi, Vintage
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (1922-2007) was a prolific and genre-bending American novelist known for works blending satire, black comedy, and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Cat's Cradle (1963), and Breakfast of Champions (1973).
These two short works, "The Big Trip Up Yonder" and "2BR02B", are science fiction tales originally published in the magazines Galaxy Science Fiction and If: Worlds of Science Fiction in 1959 and 1962.
©2016 Kurt Vonnegut (P)2016 Kitty Hendrix

Review:
These are two short sci fi stories that address aging in the future; or more accurately not aging. They reflect two different extremes which make them interesting as a pair.

The Big Trip Up Yonder tells of Gramps Ford, a 172-year-old, who is the head of his clan of children and grandchildren. They are all living together cramped into one three bedroom apartment where the head of the family gets the perk of the best bed in a private room. Gramps gets to dole out the use of the bedrooms as a reward to his favorite child, grandchild or great-grandchild of the moment, as well as changing his Will bequeathing his bed and couch anytime one heir falls out of favor. If Granps continues to take the special medicine that keeps him from aging and dying the family is stuck in this terrible routine. Everyone’s nerves are on edge and Gramps decides something has to be done. The solution is an ironic twist that I have seen so often in these vintage sci fi stories…and in the modern ones.

2BR02B is another satiric story that deals with death in a future world where government controls the population and a new child is only permitted if another person dies. I really liked the authors use of the wall mural to mirror the events that were happening.

I wouldn’t want a steady diet of these stories, but they are fun to read/listen to. I particularly like to compare the “vintage” tales of the future with the current day imaginings. Often the themes are similar and certainly the twists of irony are always present.


Audio Notes: Kitty Hendrix does an excellent job with the narration. This is not so much an issue of presenting character voices, although she does that well also. The plus is that the narration focuses on the story so the listener gets to think about the point that Vonnegut is making. I’m glad I received this audio for an honest review.

I received this audio title from the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review. This qualifies for 2017 Audiobook Challenge, 2017 TBR, Sci Fi Experience and Vintage Sci Fi.

The 2017 Sci Fi Experience and Vintage Sci Fi Not a Challenge

The 2017 Sci-Fi Experience began December 1st, 2016 and runs through January 31st, 2017. It is hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.

Image art supplied by Stephan Martiniere.

The Sci-Fi Experience will hopefully give people an opportunity to:
a) Continue their love affair with science fiction
b) Return to science fiction after an absence, or
c) Experience for the first time just how exhilarating science fiction can be.

Since I have been increasingly enjoying Sci Fi this past year, I fall into the a) category. I have several reviews already for December and have Vintage sci fi titles lined up for January.

Here are Sci Fi books read  in December, 2016:
1. Audible Book Review: Swarm: Star Force, Book 1, by B. V. Larson; Narrated by Mark Boyett; Military Sci Fi, my rating 4.0.
2. Audible Book Review: The Synchronicity War, Part 1 by Dietmar Wehr; Narrated by Luke Daniels; Military Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
3. Book Review: Toru: Wayfarer Returns by Stephanie R. Sorensen; Sci Fi, Steampunk; my rating 4.5.
4. The Circuit: Executor Rising by Rhett C. Bruno
5. The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn; Narrated by Ray Greenley


Read in January, 2017:
{See Vintage Reviews below to be added}

I also have several books already lined up for January, especially Vintage Sci Fi titles.

The Vintage SciFi Not-a-Challenge event is hosted by Andrea at Little Red Reviewer.

I am starting with these Vintage titles:
1. X Minus One: Old Time Radio, Sci-Fi Series (broadcast from April 24, 1955 to January 9, 1958) by Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, Robert A. Heinlein, Frederik Pohl, Theodore Sturgeon, Isaac Asimov, Ernest Kinoy, George Lefferts
2. Invisible Man: A Novel by Ralph Ellison; Narrated by Joe Morton (1953)
3. Time for the Stars by Robert A. Heinlein; Narrated by Barrett Whitener (1956)
4. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin; Narrated by Grover Gardner (1921)

Book Review: Brilliance (The Brilliance Trilogy Book 1) by Marcus Sakey

This is a well written sci fi thriller with social parallels and lots of suspense.

Brilliance (The Brilliance Trilogy Book 1)
by Marcus Sakey

File Size: 4301 KB
Print Length: 453 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (July 16, 2013)
ASIN: B00AESRRQS
Genre: Suspense Thriller, Sci Fi
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

In Wyoming, a little girl reads people’s darkest secrets by the way they fold their arms. In New York, a man sensing patterns in the stock market racks up $300 billion. In Chicago, a woman can go invisible by being where no one is looking. They’re called “brilliants,” and since 1980, one percent of people have been born this way. Nick Cooper is among them; a federal agent, Cooper has gifts rendering him exceptional at hunting terrorists. His latest target may be the most dangerous man alive, a brilliant drenched in blood and intent on provoking civil war. But to catch him, Cooper will have to violate everything he believes in—and betray his own kind.
From Marcus Sakey, “a modern master of suspense” (Chicago Sun-Times) and “one of our best storytellers” (Michael Connelly), comes an adventure that’s at once breakneck thriller and shrewd social commentary; a gripping tale of a world fundamentally different and yet horrifyingly similar to our own, where being born gifted can be a terrible curse.
A 2013 Edgar Award Nominee
“The kind of story you’ve never read before.” —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher Series
“Ridiculously good. I love this story so much.” —Gillian Flynn, New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl
Nominated for the Edgar, Lovey, Sideways, and Prometheus awards.

Review:
Nick Cooper is a federal agent in a special division (Department of Analysis and Response, Equitable Services) whose job is to hunt down “Brilliants” deemed to be terrorists. “Brilliants” are humans gifted with extraordinary skills. The skills may be reading the emotions of others, being able to move with great speed or stealth, being able to instantly see patterns in movement or numbers, and other “extra” skills that help the Brilliants excel beyond the normal humans. Although the Brilliants, aka “abnorms”, make up only a small portion of the population their high level of achievement frighten the normal people causing authorities to seek ways to control the Brilliants.

Cooper is extremely successful as a DAR agent since he himself is a one of those Brilliants. The team has a particular target terrorist, John Smith, who has evaded them for years. Smith is accused of a massacre of a Senator and 70+ other innocent civilians. He is also suspected of planning an upcoming bombing. As Cooper gets closer to the target, he begins to learn facts about the treatment of gifted children who are tested at age 8 and removed from their homes to be raised in academies. Cooper has cause for concern when the testing issue impacts his own family.

When Cooper runs into blocks trying to get Smith, he decides to go undercover to try to infiltrate Smith’s organization. Cooper collides with Shannon who is suspected to be one of Smith’s top operatives. Their joint escape from attacking DAR agents leads to a prime opportunity to get close to Smith. The people Cooper meets and the facts he uncovers will change his world.

The writing is crisp which fits the intensity of the talents of the Brilliants. I really enjoyed the creative observational details shared as part of Cooper’s skills. Cooper’s character is well developed, including building the relationship with his ex-wife and children. There are interesting pieces of news articles or songs that begin or end chapters and help to create an atmosphere of racial tension in this alternate society. The author uses this as one parallel with our real-life conflicts and conspiracies.

This is a good page-turner with twists and (suspected but still) surprises. There is just a touch of sexual grittiness but not enough to mar the overall engaging and remarkable effect of the work. The sci-fi element is an alternate society world and should not deter the interest of those who love a well crafted, fast paced thriller. I highly recommend this and I look forward to continuing in the series!

I received this through NetGalley. This is a contemporary Sci Fi for Sci Fi Experience. It qualifies for my NetGalley challenge, “B” for Alphabet Soup Challenge and TBR Triple Dog Dare.

Sci Fi Experience and Vintage Sci Fi Participation

As I noted in my First Book of 2016 post, I decided to participate in two Sci Fi events that are going on right now.

Image art supplied by Chris Goff.

The 2016 Sci-Fi Experience begins December 1st and runs through January 31st, 2016.
It is hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.

The Sci-Fi Experience will hopefully give people an opportunity to:
a) Continue their love affair with science fiction
b) Return to science fiction after an absence, or
c) Experience for the first time just how exhilarating science fiction can be.

Since I have been increasingly enjoying Sci Fi this past year, I fall into the a) category.

Here are Sci Fi books read (or reviewed) in December, 2015:
1. Audible Book Review: The Genuine Particle by Stephen Punt; Comedy, Radio Broadcast; my rating 4.25. (Not read in December but review posted.) 
2. Audible Book Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld; Steampunk, Fantasy Adventure; my rating 4.5. 
3. Audio Book Review: Goon Squad, Vol. 2: Without Sin by Jonathan L. Howard; Sci Fi, Comic Storytelling; my rating 4.0. 
4. Book Review: Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger by Lee Stephen; Sci Fi, Fantasy; my rating 4.5.

Read in January, 2016:
5. Audible Book Reviews: Three X Minus One #VintageSciFi Stories; Vintage Sci Fi; my ratings 4.5, 4.25 and 4.25.
6. Audible Book Review and #Giveaway: Time Heist: Firstborn Saga Volume 1 by #Anthony Vicino; Sci Fi, Mystery; my rating 4.5.
7. Book Review: The Feral Sentence: Part One by G. C. Julien; Dystopian, Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
8. Book Review: Brilliance (The Brilliance Trilogy Book 1) by Marcus Sakey; Sci Fi, Suspense Thriller; my rating 5.0.
9. Audible Book Review: To Live Forever by Jack Vance; Vintage Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
10. Book Review: Steamborn (Steamborn Series) (Volume 1) by Eric R Asher; Sci Fi, Fantasy, Steampunk; my rating 4.25.
11. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein; (Review to be linked.)

I have several books already lined up for January, including some Vintage Sci Fi titles.

The Vintage SciFi Not-a-Challenge event is hosted by Andrea at Little Red Reviewer.

I am starting with these Vintage titles (the first three I listened to as First Book(s) of 2016); The review links are above under Sci Fi Experience:
1. X Minus One: Protective Mimicry (October 3, 1956) by Algis Budrys, Ernest Kinoy - adaptation
2. X Minus One: Cold Equations (August 25, 1955) by Tom Godwin, George Lefferts - adaptation
3. X Minus One: Target One (December 26, 1957) by Frederik Pohl, George Lefferts - adaptation
4. To Live Forever by Jack Vance (original publication 1956)
5. The Moon is A Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein.