Bookish Giveaway & Review: A Looming of Vultures by Richard Storry
Author: Richard Storry
Narrators: Jake Urry
Length: 4 hours 57 minutes
Publisher: Richard Alan Storry
Released: Oct. 5, 2017
Genre: Suspense
Where I Got It: Librivox via Ambling Books.
Who I Recommend This To: Classic SF nutters.
Narrator: Mark F. Smith
Publisher: Librivox Recording
Length: 2 hours 12 minutes
In essence, this is a story about saving the world. A horrible, but hardly described, fungus (or mold?) is taking over the world, destroying life as we know it. Affectionately known as the Red Tide. Modern science has barely caught up to meet necessity and the human race may not survive this unthinking evil. But fear not! For we humans shot a group of pioneers into space decades back, and they made hold the key to defeating the Red Tide, and if not that goal, then at least prolonging the existence of humans in the galaxy. Commander Greylorn has been tasked with finding this colony and reestablishing contact, and hopefully saving the humans of Earth.
Too bad there is mutiny on the ship while in transit. Tsk tsk….. Greylorn barely manages to control it long enough for their ship to bump into a sentient alien race. Food and energy are exchanged. Unfortunately a wee surprise joke by the aliens enrages the crew even more, and once again Greylorn faces mutiny. And that is all the plot you are going to get out of me.
I don’t recall there being a single female in this tale, so major negative points for leaving out not only have of the human species, but also half of the alien species too (I’m making a biological assumption there). Other than that, I had fun listening to Greylorn try to thwart the various insubodinates, their half-assed attempts in the beginning, and final culmination. Also, I was not expecting there to be an alien race, and their joke had me laughing. If you read this, or eventually do read it, you will probably question my sense of humor. Overall, not a bad way to spend 2 hours. I’ll be keeping my eye out for more Keith Laumer tales.
Mark F. Smith was our narrator, and for a volunteer at Librivox (free audiobooks, like Project Gutenberg supplies free ebooks), he did pretty darn well, tho everyone had a very slight Tennessee or Kentucky accent.
What I Disliked: Zero females, just like The Hobbit. Sigh……
This month is the tail end of The Science Fiction Experience hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings. Stop by his blog to catch up on other great SF stuff.
" data-medium-file="" data-large-file="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1349 size-full" src="https://i2.wp.com/audiobookwormpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Pink-Rectangle.png?resize=257%2C91&ssl=1" alt="" width="257" height="91" data-recalc-dims="1" />
While an ugly war with its neighbouring realm continues to rage, the insulated members of Ruritania’s upper class laugh and dance their way through their superficial lives. Some people, increasingly disillusioned by the pointless conflict, start to consider how the King might be persuaded – or forced – to end it.
Meanwhile, an increasing number of items of great value are going missing from those attending these high society gatherings.
At whom will the finger of suspicion point? Who can be trusted?With so many competing, yet intertwined, agendas, what will be the outcome of this looming of vultures?
Where I Got It: The library
Who I Recommend This To: If you like mech warriors, then this is a great book.
Publisher: Ace (1998)
Length: 368 pages
Series: The Forever War Book 2
Sites such as Goodreads list this book as a sequel to The Forever War (which was fascinating, far future, fighting aliens), however Joe Haldeman wrote this book 20 years after The Forever War was published, and it is set solely on Earth with no space travel or aliens. Anyway, unclear if the two are meant to be linked in anyway other than a similarity of title. The world is roughly divided into the technically advanced and educated and the starving, farming masses. Julian Class has a degree, a jack in his head, and was forced into the soldier boy program for the military. For 10 days at a time, he will be jacked into a full-body pod that allows him to operate a mechanized warrior from afar, along with his team. They will know each other intimately for those days, often blurring who is who. Being jacked with another human is one of the most intimate things a person can experience, and if that jack is ever broken or removed, a person often feels they have lost part of their mind, if not their soul.
Julian spends his non-military time teaching at a university. His lover Blaze, and once upon a time mentor, is also a professor. And an older woman, which is a fact that only seems to aggravate Julian’s mother. The world is in constant turmoil by the ongoing conflict, much of which rages in South America. So far, the South American forces are fractured and lack the same level of technology as the American forces. Add to this, a radical religious group that works unceasingly to bring about the end of the world, quickening Man’s reunion with The Almighty.
Haldeman introduces the revolutionary technology of these miraculous boxes that can provide any item requested, provided the raw materials are provided. This allows several governments of the world to provide the basics for all their citizens. Holding down a paid job is not longer necessary for day to day living; now such a paid job provides extras and a sense of self-worth. In Haldeman’s book, this created a society that is largely made up of people leading pointless lives, often enjoying a little bit of crime to obtain the credits needed to purchase such luxuries as alcohol. Only a small percentage of society elect to pursue some career, Julian and Blaze being two such folks.
As the tale unfolds, the nitty gritty side of the mechanized warriors and the unclean war Julian has been forced into become more clear. Haldeman also doesn’t shrink from exploring the suicidal thoughts of Julian, delving into his reasons. There is also sex, which is equally beautiful and messed up (which is often how it is in real life). Blaze and a fellow scientist stumble into a discovery about the Jupiter Project that could end the known world, but how will they convince the right politicians and the scientific world in time? Add to that, Blaze and Julian have friends working secretly towards world peace, and they may just have the key to it…..using the jacks. All told, it was an amazing story wholly different from The Forever War yet just was compelling having grabbed a hold of me (by the short and curlies) from the start and not letting go to the very end.
What I Liked: Mech warriors are destructive yet bring intimacy for the jacked team; Blaze is a strong, educated, and still faulted woman; the various discussions of suicide are done within the storyline; the struggle for peace is not simple and nor would there be a lack of casualties; the sex; I clicked with Julian from the beginning; the fanatical religious group was well-organized and chilling; the women are just as real, flawed, and deadly as the men.
This month is The Science Fiction Experience over at Stainless Steel Droppings. Make sure to stop by over there for more great SF.
" data-medium-file="" data-large-file="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1311 size-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/audiobookwormpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Rectangle.png?resize=282%2C72&ssl=1" alt="" width="282" height="72" data-recalc-dims="1" />
Richard studied at the Royal Academy of Music for five years, between 1984-89, graduating with high honours and a recital diploma – the only guitarist in eight years to be awarded such an honour – and winning the Julian Bream prize.
After recently being adapted for the stage, Richard’s first novel, “The Cryptic Lines” has now been published and is available for download from the kindle store at Amazon here; and his song “Until You’re Safely Home” is being performed frequently by various Military Wives Choirs in many different parts of the world.
Richard’s second novel, “Order of Merit” was published in September 2015. His third novel, “The Black Talisman” was published in January 2016, and his fourth – “The Virtual Lives Of Godfrey Plunkett”, was published in April 2016. You can find out more about Richard’s books at the Cryptic Publications website here.
Facebook⎮Twitter
Jake Urry has been narrating and producing Audiobooks since February 2016, and in that time has released 28 titles, including The Cryptic Lines by Richard Storry, White is the Coldest Colour and A Mind to Kill by John Nicholl, the PI Harlan Ulrich series by Ambrose Ibsen, The Tesla Gate by John D. Mimms, and The Dragon Apocalypse Series by James Maxey. In 2018 Jake will be working on a wide range of Audiobooks across the genres of Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror and Sci-Fi.
Website⎮Facebook⎮Twitter
This was a fun listen! Rudolph (Rudy) enjoys relieving high society individuals of their valuables. I think he does it mostly out of boredom. His manservant, Wilhelm (Willy), has tried everything he can think of to break him of this bad habit. This situation provided plenty of humor throughout the story.
At a fancy dinner party, an expensive necklace goes missing and this newspaper reporter gets blamed but perceptive folks don’t truly believe he stole it. Rudy has a naughty laugh up his sleeve because he knows exactly who took that necklace. Meanwhile, Willy is trying really hard not to roll his eyes at this while others are around.
So this baron or count or some such decides to take extra precautions concerning his safe. He brings three others into the plan, including Rudy because he believes he is an honorable man. Of course, this just presents a challenging opportunity for Rudy to get rich. Willy once again tries to persuade him not to do so… including threatening to never, ever make Rudy his favorite chocolate tiffin ever again. Ha! This story had me chuckling at every turn.
So while I know I shouldn’t root for Rudy, I didn’t want him caught and punished either. Luckily, the story gives us a true villain. There’s murder and deception and politics! Rudy and Willy inadvertently get drawn into this and when pushed up against the wall, they have to decide where that moral line is.
My one criticism for this story is that the ladies don’t really get to do anything. They flutter about in expensive sparkly jewelry and tell their men how clever they are. Really, you could have left them out all together and the plot wouldn’t have been impacted at all. So I would have liked some real female characters.
Overall, this story was a delicious mix of humor and serious crime. The play between Willy and Rudy was great and often had me laughing. Rudy is a bit of a scoundrel but I can see him taking on greater things, especially if there’s a bit of silver or gold in it for him. I love that the author included a recipe for the chocolate tiffin. 4/5 stars.
The Narration: Richard Urry was excellent in performing this book. He has distinct voices for all the characters and his lady voices are feminine. I loved his voice for Willy as I could just picture all the facial remarks this character made (rolling eyes, grimacing, etc.). Also, there’s a recipe at the end of the book and Urry proves that he’s delightful to listen to no matter what he’s reading. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Jake Urry. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Without further ado:
1) In this section of the reading, we learn that Perrin and Mat are also having wicked dreams. Add to that, Min’s visions for each of those in the small party. Prophesy, portents and dreams are playing a bigger and bigger role in this epic tale. Are you enjoying this plot device?
Often in Fantasy, I see this type of plot device used as a convenient way to move the story forward, or to save the heroes from some nasty end. Robert Jordan isn’t doing that here, at least not so far, and I appreciate that. Rather the dreams, portents, and Min’s visions are building tension in the tale. I definitely feel that Rand, Perrin, and Mat are getting a bit freaked out; but these dreams, etc. don’t dictate their actions. The many, many broken-backed rats was a bit disturbing, even for me as the reader.
2) The Whitecloaks (AKA Children of the Light) make their first real appearance in the tale and of course, Mat has to play one of his tricks. Funny? Dangerous? What did you think of Rand’s reaction?
I get the impression that Mat’s jokes in the Two Rivers never truly got him in trouble, like a couple of village seniors giving their consent to let some farm wives take some sticks to Mat, etc. Does anyone else want to know what Mat and his buddy ended up doing with the badger from the beginning of the book? As for Rand, I don’t really remember this book very well, but since he is central to the story, I have to say that this may be the first glimmer of him manifesting some power. Though I am not convinced yet that Rand or the other two are male Aes Sedai.
3) Nynaeve found them! What do you think Moiraine and Nynaeve said to each other behind that closed door at the inn?
By now, I am wondering if Moiraine has some slight Jedi mind trick capability. Remember when she pressed those silver coins on the boys back in Two Rivers, insisting they take them? Well, I would have loved to see if she tried some similar thing with Nynaeve…and found it didn’t work because she is too stubborn and had to fall back on telling some of the facts, all in truth, and logic.
4) The party has to do a swift exit from the inn because of the Fade Rand saw during his milk run. How do you think they were found?
For one, they are not that far from Two Rivers. I am not sure if the Whitecloaks, while they say they spend day and night stomping on the face of evil, some number of them could be Dark Friends. Then there was that shady guy with the scar at the inn who is purportedly a spy for the Whitecloaks, and if he spies for them, he could spy for others. My last possible suspect is Padan fain, but I am just not sure. He must have run like hell to get there; didn’t he loose his horses at Two Rivers? Was the Fade just a projection? I mean, it didn’t even touch Rand and then it disappeared.
5) Moiraine burns a lot of power in these chapters: appears to become a giantess to step over the city wall; a wall of flame to hold off the Trollocs; laying a false trail; setting wards in the spooky city. Do you think this shows the limits of her powers, or has she got more to give?
Since this is such a long series, I want to say that we haven’t seen all her capabilities yet. However, this could be the edge of her current limits and circumstances later in the book/series push her beyond even what she thought she was capable of. She’s the only Aes Sedai we’ve met so far, and I am getting mighty curious to learn what others are like, in temperament and abilities.
6) A lot happens at Shadar Logoth, where the party hopes to hide from the Trollocs and Myrddral. What do you think Mordeth is? And the misty Mashadar? As Lan contemplates, the Myrddral must drive the Trollocs into the city to search for them, but what is driving the Myrddral?
Mordeth, and I assume he has buddies hiding in the city (all those eyes!), strikes me as vampire-like. He stuck to the shadows, had a odd face, needs the life force of living humans, did that trick with shadow in the treasure chamber. As far as the Mashadar goes, I am not sure. Perhaps if I had been a little more D&D nerd, I would have some monster comparison. The closest I can come to in my little world, is government paperwork. Once it touches you, you are lost in it forever, perpetual slave to it, sucked into the misty white bureaucracy. I don’t know what is worse than a Myrddral in this collection of nasties. Perhaps there is a Balrog equivalent?
7) This section certainly leaves us on a cliff-hanger with the party separated. Worried? Perrin and Egwene found each other, but then galloped headlong into the river. Mat, Rand, and Thom made it onto a boat, The Spray, captained by Domon. Now Captain Domon makes a comment about the Trollocs following him; why do you think that is?
That whole big scene of them escaping the spooky city was nail biting. I was pretty glad that Thom was able to keep some wits and get 2 of the kids to safety. Hurray for throwing knives! though I can commiserate with Thom over loosing a favorite knife or two. That one comment by Cpt. Domon has me very curious indeed. If the Trollocs are after him, that could mean he is a good guy in a bad situation…..or it could mean that he is an idiot who double crossed some Dark Friends. I look forward to learning more about him.
(caption id="attachment_828" align="alignright" width="300")
Other Tidbits:
Nynaeve knows something about Rand’s parentage, or she at least suspects. Still, I was a little frustrated that Rand and Nynaeve didn’t share the fact that Rand was born outside the Two Rivers while Tam was roving with Moiraine. Or rather, shouldn’t this be something of common knowledge in such a small village? I can understand why Rand doesn’t want to share his suspicions that Tam may not be his father.
When Lan and the boys charged the Trollocs, they shouted various war cries, in foreign tongues. And afterwards, Egwene felt like she almost understood them. Moiraine translates, revealing the war cries to be of ancient Menetheren. I need to memorize something monumental in ancient Byzantine, just in case I find myself in a similar position some day.
If the Mr. Linky below is misbehaving, or out to lunch, or sitting in time out, please leave your link to your post in the comments, and I will list it in my post old school style. Thanks!
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…
" data-medium-file="" data-large-file="" class="size-full wp-image-984 aligncenter" src="https://i1.wp.com/audiobookwormpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Giveaway-2-e1498331465573.png?resize=307%2C116&ssl=1" alt="Giveaway" width="307" height="116" data-recalc-dims="1" />Win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Runs Jan. 23rd-30th, 2018. Open internationally!
A Looming of Vultures Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card
Below is the rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you would like to join us in our crazy quest to read along the series, you can check out the schedule for Book 1 and sign up for the weekly email over HERE. If you’d simply like to catch up on what has been discussed so far, here are Part I, Part II, and Part III.
MacMillan Audio also provided Anya with an audioclip from The Eye of the World so that you can check out the quality over at On Starships and Dragonwings. My man and I are listening to Book 1 ourselves, and we are quite enjoying the performance.
This giveaway will run for two weeks. No comment is necessary to enter this giveaway, but comments are always appreciated ; )
" data-medium-file="" data-large-file="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-991" src="https://i2.wp.com/audiobookwormpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Schedule-2-e1498331284730.png?resize=307%2C116&ssl=1" alt="" width="307" height="116" data-recalc-dims="1" />Jan. 23rd:
Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews
Jan. 24th:
Jan. 25th:
Jan. 26th:
Jan. 27th:
Jan. 28th:
Jan. 29th:
➜Sign up as a host here
