Reviews – Page 122

Review of Chrysalis by Ray Gross

Science Fiction Audiobook Review

Chrysalis
By Ray Gross; Performed by a Full Cast and a Narrator
1 Mp3 File – 2 Hours 6 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: AudioCinema.com
Published: 2006
Themes: / Science Fiction / Science / Religion /

GRAHAMScience is the purest form of religion.
Struggling genius Graham Godfrey, together with his select team of young discoverers, is led from Georgetown University to the mysterious Bainbridge Institute by his ambitious uncle in a quest to harness a new quantum energy source. But the project takes an unexpected turn and unfolding events thrust Graham into his haunted past where a dark secret shrouds an unspoken family tragedy.

Audio Cinema’s Chrysalis is a screenplay done for audio – when you listen what you’ll hear is a new hybrid – you could think of it as a complete table reading of a film script by the cast of a film prior to the filming. Added to the reading are a soundtrack and sound effects. A narrator reads all the non-dialogue lines in the script, in an conspiritorial, almost whispering, voice. The character’s lines are all performed by individual actors. Sound effects and music accompany the action. Now you might think this sounds like audio or radio drama, but it isn’t, nor is it a full cast reading of a novel, instead it is something I’ve never heard before, a completely new thing. This is a movie screenplay 9/10ths of the way to completion – a complete movie without the visuals. The experience is comparable to listening to the Descriptive Visual Service® found on some WGBH (PBS) television dramas.

The script is interesting and the production moves along at a nice clip. There are few, difficulties here and there, the narrator mispronounces “facade,” one or two other minor things ruffle the experience. I quite liked the ideas. The plot is thoughtful and in some respects echoes like a happier version of Theodore Sturgeon’s short story Microcosmic God. In structure it’s like the 1983 film WarGames. I worry about the format though. I’m a fan of audio tracks of film and tv. Sometimes the narration, the sound of the story, will tip you to things you’d have missed in the visual landscape. If you take the audio track from Babylon 5 and just listen to an entire show you’ll get 90% of the story. Stories, good stories, are idea driven, whether it is narration or dialogue, good ideas come from the soundtrack not the visuals. The ideas in Chrysalis resonate. I don’t need to see the movie of Chrysalis, I’ve heard it.

Posted by Jesse Willis

Review of the Audiofy Audiobook Chip

Science Fiction Audiobook Review

Audiofy Audiobook Chip

Amongst other titles, Audiofy has re-released a number of Simon and Schuster’s well-produced Star Trek titles on Audiofy Audiobook Chips. What’s an Audiofy Audiobook chip? Well, it’s an SD chip with an audiobook on it. In my little world, the SD chip works with my laptop (which is my main computer – I’m typing on it now) and my Pocket PC. I inserted the chip first in my Pocket PC, and the audio started to play automatically after asking me if it was OK to do so. After about 15 minutes, I stopped the playback and put the chip in my laptop, where it resumed right where it was playing on the Pocket PC.

Anti-DRM folks will not be pleased to find that the chip is not just a collection of MP3 files – in fact, a quick exploration of the contents of the chip didn’t provide me a clear idea of where the audio files actually are on the chip. The player that plays the files is contained on the chip, and it will work in Pocket PC’s, Palm Pilots, Macs, Smartphones, and PC’s. They also have an application on the chip that allows for easy transfer of the audio to an iPod.

Audiofy Audiobook Chip - Imzadi Overall, I had a good experience with the Audiofy Audiobook Chip. It did what I wanted it to do – played the content, bookmarked where I was from device to device, and sounded pretty darned good – the sound is not of the highest quality, but it’s certainly more than adequate. They are easy to use and are definitely space savers.

Apart from the many Star Trek titles, Audiofy offers some excellent audiobooks in their science fiction collection. Lois McMaster Bujold’s Paladin of Souls and Curse of the Chalion are there, along with The Consciousness Plague by Paul Levinson, several from Edgar Rice Burroughs (Mars and Tarzan), Roger Gregg’s superior audio drama The Last Harbinger, and a couple of Spider Robinson’s Callahan novels.

ADDENDUM: I didn’t explain that picture very well… ok, not at all. What you have there is the Audiofy Audiobook Chip version of Star Trek: The Next Generation: Imzadi by Peter David, read by Jonathan Frakes. You can see the chip itself, and a credit card-sized holder for when you are not using it. The shiny round silver thing is a quarter, provided for perspective. Of course, if you don’t know how big a quarter is, I suppose it won’t help much. –sd

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Review of Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card

Science Fiction Audiobook Review

Shadow of the Hegemon
By Orson Scott Card; Read by David Birney, Scott Brick, Gabrielle de Cuir, and Stefan Rudnicki
11 CDs – 13 hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Audio Renaissance
Published: September 2006
ISBN: 1593974809
Themes: / Science Fiction / War / Politics / Youth / Strategy /

In Ender’s Game, Ender Wiggin and his jeesh won the war against the buggers. From there, the story of Ender and his sister Valentine continues in Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind. But what of the people Ender left behind? What of Ender’s power hungry older brother Peter? What of Bean and the other Battle School kids? Orson Scott Card gives us that story beginning with Ender’s Shadow, then continuing with this novel, Shadow of the Hegemon, and on to Shadow Puppets and Shadow of the Giant. (NOTE: Shadow Puppets is the only novel mentioned here that has not yet been released in unabridged format on CD by Audio Renaissance, but it is in their schedule for January 2007.)

One of the things I admire about the Ender novels as a whole is that Orson Scott Card has not written the same novel twice. Speaker for the Dead is a different kind of novel than Ender’s Game, and Xenocide different again. Ender’s Shadow marked a return in tone to Ender’s Game, but this book was different again. Shadow of the Hegemon is boardgame of a novel, a sort of international chess match between nations battling for dominance after the outside threat of the Buggers has been eliminated.

The Battle School kids are 14 or so now, and have all returned to Earth. Achilles (a failed Battle School student from the previous novel) works for Russia and is given a LOT of power. He orchestrates an operation to kidnap all of Ender’s jeesh from wherever they are in the world, then proceeds to convince these kids that they need to help Russia or rot in a cell where no one else can use them. I had tough time believing that this young man would be given authority to do what he does – what kind of government would give such power to a young teen? Even though history is full of young men in positions of great power, it didn’t ring true for me. The actions of all the other characters in the book were not problematic for me, but I couldn’t help but feel that Achilles just had too much authority, and I just couldn’t see adults readily giving that authority to someone that young.

The main character in the book, and in all the Shadowbooks, is Bean, who is a fascinating and engaging character throughout the series. He manages to figure out what’s going on before getting kidnapped himself, and thus starts the story.

The book switches point of view frequently, moving from Bean to Petra to Peter Wiggin. Scott Brick read the Bean chapters, Gabrielle de Cuir read the Petra chapters, and David Birney the Peter Wiggin chapters. Card provided plenty of dramatic moments in the novel for these performers, most notably the first meeting between Bean and Ender Wiggin’s mother, powerfully read by Scott Brick.

Card kept the scale of the novel both personal and global, and mentions Tom Clancy in his afterword as an influence. The book is an enjoyable addition to the Ender universe, and I’m eager to hear the next book, Shadow Puppets, when it is released. In fact, when it is, I may treat myself to the entire Shadow series again. They are superb productions, every one.

Audio Renaissance’s website has a page dedicated to the entire audio Ender series – find it here.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Review of Alien Voices: The Time Machine

Science Fiction Audiobook Review

H. G. Wells’ The Time Machine
By H. G. Wells, performed by a full cast
2 Cassettes, 2 CDs, Approx. 2 hours – [AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 1997
ISBN: 0671575538 (cassettes), 0671575546 (CDs)
Themes: / Science fiction / Time Travel / Evolution / Future /

When a time traveler seeks a better world 802,000 years in the future, his optimism is shaken when he discovers that the human race has turned upon itself in a primal display of horror.

For their first adaptation, Alien Voices choose one of the most important stories ever written in SF. And with Leonard Nimoy as the time traveler and John DeLancie as the narrating friend of the time traveler, we’re among the pantheon of SF deities.

This adaptation is very faithful to the original story. A gentleman of the late 19th century invents a time machine. Over a dinner conversation with colleagues he explains that time is the fourth dimension. At their next dinner engagement he comes in bedraggled and tells them the amazing tale of his journey in time. The story he tells is of the year 802,000. He meets a gentle race called the Eloi. A Garden of Eden of sorts, but the Eloi are as simple as small children, but without their curiosity or enthusiasm. Another threatening race live in subterranean tunnels. They are the Morlocks and feed upon the innocent Eloi. After befriending a female Eloi, named Weena, and losing her during a battle with the Morlocks, the time traveler returns home to tell his tale to his colleagues.

The dramatization is well produced. Nice original music and crackling sound effects. But one effect was totally distracting and detracting to the story. The Eloi all spoke with this strange chorusing effect to their vocals. It reminded one of an alien or telepath, certainly not the sound of a child-like being described in the story. It’s as if their voice boxes bifurcated into a strange mutated form. This destroys the illusion that they are simple child-like.

Much of the time is spent with the time traveler reciting his adventure in long monologues of his future adventure. And although this is faithful to the book and Leonard Nimoy’s voice is golden, it does not take advantage of a cast recording and is more reminiscent of a traditional audiobook for long stretches at a time.

posted by The Time Traveler

Review of A Different Point Of View by TD-0013

SFFaudio Review

A Different Point Of View
By TD-0013; Read by TD-0013
Podcast Book – Approx. 60 minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Podiobooks.com
Published: August 2006
Themes: / Science Fiction / Comedy / Star Wars / Jedi’s / Sand People / Sand troopers / Thugs / Clones / Rebel Scum /

“The Rebel Alliance is a terrorist organization, plain and simple.”

For fans of the Star Wars saga, you’re going to enjoy this podiobook. ADPOV began as a segment on ”Michael and Evo’s Wingin’ It” podcast. It received such a great response, the segments were put into a podiobook format for all to enjoy. TD-0013, an Imperial Sand Trooper, brings you a set of 15 essays, all of which dispel myths and accusations you have come to know as fact from the Star Wars movies. From how Skywalker and Solo were allowed to escape with Leia from the Death Star (and most likely even assisted), to how there is no way the Emperor has been oppressing the galaxy, TD will have you believing the Rebels are indeed manipulative and evil. He has the facts to back it up, too.

In the eighth report, “I Am Not A Clone”, TD very matter-of-factly explains if he were indeed a clone, there is no way he would be as high-strung or outspoken as he is. He joined the Empire for one reason only- to restore order to the Universe! One of my favorites however is the third report, “Rebel Terrorists”. Being of the political mindset that I am, the way he made the Alliance out to be bloodthirsty, “shoot first and ask questions later” anarchists just had me in stitches. I mean, it makes complete sense how they deceived those poor, peaceful, cute-as-a-button Ewoks and used them to fight their battle on Endor!

It’s a quick listen, well-written, and just plain fun. We also get these reports from ‘in the field’, so we hear TD speaking through his helmet. A trooper’s work is never done.

You do need to know the Star Wars saga if you want to completely understand TD’s perspective. There are also several others in which you only need to know basic background. TD-0013 also maintains his own webpage, so I certainly hope he will continue to bring truth to the Star Wars universe. Who knows, he might even convince this Rebel sympathizer to change which side of the Force she is on.

posted by Dani

Review of Superman: UP, UP, and Away!

Science Fiction Audiobook Review

Superman: UP, UP, And Away!
Starring Bud Collyer as Superman
2 CD’s – 2 hours – [AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: Radio Spirits
Published: 2006
ISBN: 1570197806
Themes: / Superheroes / Superman / Old Time Radio /

A Review by Jake Black

Long before anyone named Reeves, Routh, or Welling portrayed America’s greatest hero, there was Bud Collyer. Collyer played Clark Kent and Superman on the Radio for close to a decade. During that time, he also voiced Superman and Clark Kent in the beautiful Fleisher cartoons.

I recently heard Superman: UP, UP, and Away, a two-CD set that covers the first 12 episodes of the epic radio series. The series itself is notable for its many contributions to the Superman mythos, including kryptonite, Jimmy Olsen, and the famous catchphrases “Look, up in the sky,” and “Up, Up, and Away,” used because the visual of flying couldn’t be accomplished, because it was, after all, radio.

This CD set is enjoyable for its historical significance. The radio show really was that important to the mythos. Bud Collyer’s first performance as Superman is notable as he drops his voice when Superman, and speaks higher as Clark. A clever way to distinguish between the two.

There are two stories featured in the set. The first begins with the explosion of Krypton, and a very unusual origin of Superman. It is as though the adult Clark had been secluded for 30 years, wandering the Earth without talking to anyone. His earthly parents are conspicuous by their absence in the story, and Superman seems to be created by two regular Joes that Clark runs into. In fact, these strangers give him the name Clark Kent!

As one who has studied the evolution of Superman, this new origin took me out of the set, but I did enjoy the rest of the story – partially because it deals with a train and Salt Lake City (where I live). It was fun for me to hear that my hometown was featured in the first non-comic presentation of Superman!

The second story deals with a crazed scientist, and an attack with an “Atomic Beam” on the Daily Planet building, among other stereotyped Superman situations. The second story is focused on Lois, and is her debut “off the pages.”

Throughout both stories, Superman seems to hide in the shadows, more like Batman of today. No one really ever *sees* Superman. Kind of funny when compared to today’s version.

The sound quality is very clear. I am certain that it has been digitally remastered as it doesn’t sound like it is inside a tin can, as other radio plays on CD have. I really appreciate that.

The actors are wonderfully committed to their characters. Even though the occasional mad scientist laugh occasionally takes me out of the moment, there is a high level of commitment. The flying sound effects are well done. They remind me of the wind-blowing sound that was utilized successfully in the George Reeves television series. (They also remind me of the flying Superman toy that was found in Burger King Kid’s Meals this summer.)

One of the strengths on the CD is that each episode (6 episodes per story/disc) is it’s own chapter. Plus each features a short recap of where we are in the story as it begins. This is helpful, though if you sit for an hour to listen to each story straight through, it gets a bit redundant, as does the “Superman is a copyrighted character” spiel that closes each episode. But this is such a minor issue, that it hardly detracts from the whole presentation.

The biggest weakness of the set is the lack of music. Some scenes seem to move much more slowly because there is no music in the entire set. No opening credit music, no background music. It is noticeably absent, and hurts the set overall.

Hardcore Superman fans will really enjoy this CD set, if only for its historical value. The performances are wonderful, there are only a couple of minor complaints about it (the music, primarily) but over all it a fantastic addition to a Superman CD collection.

Jake Black is a writer based in Utah. Credits include comics, books, magazines, and much more. Visit www.jakeblack.com for more.